San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-12-04
CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.

The irrigation convention assemblies in
San Antonio today, and IL is TO be hoped
its proceedings will be exceptionally dis
tinguiShed by common sense, practical
ness and sound judgment.
The majority Of such conventions are
monopoliZed by the windbags and trans
formed into stages for the display of
cheap defamation and windy Oratory.
The men who attend and dominate them
are more intent on making individual
reputation than accomplishing practical
things.
1t is to be hoped that the wind bags
will not be able to capture the irrigation
convention and convert IL into a wind
machine, but that it will be a common
sense and business meeting, and that its
labors will result in practical suggestions
which will achieve a great deal OF good
Southwest Texas must have irrigation.
or remain just as it is now. 1t is out of
the question to talk Of immigration into it
an accomplished fact. The rainfall
is too slight and infreQuent to justify men
In planting crops, Settlers desire to make
good crops. and to enjoy a certainty of
maning fair crop each year, They can
not succeed when crop failures constitute
the rule and good crop is the exception.
When irrigation shall have become
reality, Southwest Texas will soon be
densey settled, for the reason that irri-
CATION of the soil will insure abundant
crop and award the farmer for his toll.
With irrigation two crops year could
be grown on the same land, and alfalfa
and johnson grass could be mown half a
dozen times in the year.
The great advantage of irrigation is the
certainty Of growing abundant crops on
irrigable land, and the exemption from
the disastrous effects of both flood and
drouth.
The people 10 Southwest Texas must
depend upon their own resources and eff
forts for securing irrigation and go to
work in an earnest and practical way 10
secure ii as soon as possible.
NeighbOrhOodS and counties can unite
together for the purpose of boring artesian
wells and constructing tanks for the StOr-
age OF the water, during the months when
lt Is sot wanted for irrigation. The an
clients had a saying to the effect that the
gods helped those who helped them
selves" and Self-helD is the only method
nf securing irrigation In Southwest
Texas.
This matter Is too important for SEN
Sible people 10 grow tired OF its discussion,
when they realize that It is only through
discussion, that public opinion can be
concentrated on any SUBJECT. DISCUSSION
fixes the minds of men on a subject, and
thought leads 10 action.
Each neighbOrhoOd should unite to-
gether and secure irrigation for its own
lands through artesian wells. Begin the
work at once and don't wait for some one
else TO start the movement.
The land owners, who first secure irri-
cation, will reap the largest profits from
their increased or Ups, and this reflection
should prompt them to active measures.
The vegetables off of twenty acres of
irrigable land would be worth a small
fortune as they would be ready for market
considerably in advance Of the California
crop and command the highest prices.
Make start Immediately, and prose-
cute the work with tireless energy. until
it shall be crowned with success. Irriga-
ton by means OF arteSian wells, is prac-
ticable In Southwest Texas. There is no
doubt about its practicabllity.
The owners of large bodies of land
should secure irrigation for their lands,
not only with the view of rendering them
salable, but of enhancing their value. lr-
rigable lands would be worth 500 per
acre, in the genial climate OF Southwest
Texas,