The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-28
SUGGESTIONS TO THE ALLIANCES
And Point Relative TO the Charges of
Express Companies

u
Express Companies.
Editor Morning Nel1S:: You have seen,
suppose, the articles published in the March
and May numbers of the Century in refer
ence to the proposed undertaking to utilize
the arid lands of the west through irriga-
ton. The subject, 1 understand, is already
under serious jnsideration and the govern
ment officers are preparing maps and making
1 estimates for a titanic work out of which
almost fabulous returns are estimated to ac-
crue to the country at large. Can't we of
/ the south, who have as well watered a coun-
/ try as any under the sum- take a hint from
what is proposed to be done at the west
and make up our minds to introduce
| irrigation to our crops in at least
/ those sections where cheap machinery can
| help to do the work economically Large
rivers, swift streams and living creeks of
all dimensions are passing through vast
areas of land, great portion of them under
cultivation, and yet at certain seasons of
! the year our crops suffer intensely from
drought, ana oftentimes are cut short 20,
so. and as much as so per cent. of their
yieldl Your paper IS always prominent in
advocating progressive ideas and everything
| that tends to ameliorate the condition
of the south and develop her vast
| resources. Will it not be advisable to bring
| the question before the agricultural class of
the country-provoke intelligent discussion
upon it, and call out such practical sugges-
tons as would lead to finding and adopting
the proper means for the accomplishment of
the desired ends
Irrigation is most extensively used in
many parts of Europe. | well remember
how easily my uncles used to harvest four
and sometimes five cuttings year of as
beautiful a crop of lucerne (alfalfa) as |
ever saw on any part OF the globe. have
seen irrigation carried on in the most
primitive way in great many sections of
Egypt and the East Indies Many other
Asiatic countries depend almost entirely on
irrigation for their agricultural work
Shall this country, the most favored of all,
ignore much longer all the immense adj
vantages it could derive by utilizing the
gift that kind providence has
placed within easy reach! What a subject
for the alliances to considerl By
turning their attention to such questions,
and using their efforts to solve them, they
will serve the agricultural classes far better
than by asking impossibllities of the federal
government, such as to build for them ware
houses, make advances on land, etc.. etc.
The progress OF this great country, unpar-
alleled In all the history of the world, is due
solely to the energy and self dependence of
its people. To ask now such help from the
central government, as some of the alliance
suggest, is to go backward, and that the
country will not do. The formation of the
alliances will prove an inexhaustible source
of good to the farmers of the country, pro-
vided they stick faithfully to their mission
and ask and suggest only such things as
may be reasonable and are needed to
ameliorate the. condition of the farmers.
May / be permitted to suggest that the
alliances should take in hand the fence
question, and the dog question, and see that
the stock and dogs are finally fenced in?
This question is of the utmost importance
to the farmers, and the good that would
result by its solution would be immense.
We are certain then to have better and
cheaper raised crops. We will have only
such stock as we can properly take care of,
and, as matter of course, it will be of the
best and kept in the best condition. Fur
Their, we shall have lambs to eat, wool to
sell, and sheep to fertllize our worn out
fields. If we could but look only
to the more prosperous condition
of those sections of the country where the
fence law exists we would be easily con-
WINGED of the fact, and would at once take
such steps as are needed to secure to our
selves the blessings which many of our most
progressive counties enjoy. Discussions are
in order on all unsettled questions. but in
this instance the problem is solved by
others. We have only to profit by their
experience.
Then the alliances should also look little
into the exorbitant charges of the express
companies. L have read time and again
strong complaints against railroad compa-
MES. but don't remember to have seen a
word said against that gigantic institution,
the express company. The railroads as a
matter of course have finally made, and are
still making, concessions to the public. 1t
is time for the express companies to come
forward and do the same. They can we'll
afford, believe, to reduce their charges 25
or 80 per cent. and have enough besides to
declare big dividends. This subject deserves
the most serious consideration of the ALI
ances throughout the country, and hope to
he pardoned if l call their attention to it.
c. MENELAs.
Brookhaue,a, Mss, May 81, 1890,