The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-07-20
DELEGATION MEETING.
Arrangements. Made Tor an Excursion Il
Colorado,

Colorado.
Last Saturday meeting of the farm.
ers of Sherman county was held at the
court house and County Irrigation
association organized. The following
officers were elected: A. B. Meade
president; G. r. Shook, vice-president
W. F. Hunter, secretary; T. NJ. Simmons
treasurer. A E. Montgomery was first
chosen president, but declined the
honor on account of business cares
which would make it impossible for him
to assume the duties of that Office
The meeting was addressed by A. B.
Montgomery, G. h. Austin, j. F. Kim
mel, A. B. Meade, Thomas Butts and
others. The meeting was big and en-
thusiastic one aud all were confident
that this county could be made to bios
som by applying water to the soil by
means of wells and pumps.
Mr. Montgomery had just returned
from a trip east where he had made ar
rangements for an excursion to go to
Colorado Springs, Pueblo, La Junta,
Rocky Ford, Las Animas and Granada,
Colo, and Garden City, Kan, where
can be seen irrigation in al its forms.
The fare for the round trip will be 81,
providing that 30 go in the car. This
is riding at less that = cent per mile
and every farmer, that can, should go
and investigate for himself what can be
did by irrigation on these arid plains.
In getting this car, at such low rates,
Mr.. Montgomery has done the farmers
a great favor, for it is certain that there
is not another man in the state that
could have made the same arrange
ments at such a low figure.
On the Goth day of last January a
farmers institute was held in this city,
during which the question of irrigation
was brought up. This meeting was adj
dressed by men from all over the stai e
who had Investigated the subject of i
rigation and who were confident that
it would be a success in this county.
This institute, which was composed
of nearly all the farmers in the codniy Y,
petitioned the county commissioned
to put in an experiment station to show
the farmers what could be done with
irrigation.
They did this, and although getting
late start, the plant has proven big
success. If there are any who doubt
this, they eau be convinced by making
a personal investigation of the court
house grounds.
In addition to this numerous farmers
have put in numerous plants on their
own accord, and are now being reward
ed for their labor and expense by hav-
ing plenty OF vegetables for their own
use, aud in some cases, considerable
for sale.
There has been some scoldiug about
the expense incident to the putting in
of the irrigation plant at the court
house, but the time is not far distant
when the tax payers of this this county
viii regard it as the best investment
that could have been made.
1t has formed nucleus around which
has gathered countless other smaller
irrigation plants upon which the future
advancement and prosperity of Sher-
man county most certainly depends.
1t has marked Che beginning of an era
of pI oftable farming which the old
system could never hope to reach.
This excu rsion will take you through
a country that now brings in immense
profits to the agriculturalist, a country
which was once as barren as any part
of the great American desert. When
you are feasting your eyes upon the
productiveness of those fields, remem-
Der that less than decade ago range
cattle and horses roamed over that
land which was then supposed to be of
no other value than for grazing pur-
poses. Sherman county can be subject
ed to the same condition by adopting
the same methods.
Your eyes will be opened to the great
possibilited Of the west when its wild
nature has been tanned and its powers
made setvient to man.