The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-08-17

next SUBJECT IheSe staples nave TO
be cultivated in too large an area to be
profitable by irrigation, but by trusting
to favorable years they may be raised
in an irrigated county without irriga-
ton.
"Oats, Rye and Barley by Irrigation"
by William Walker, ST., and Asa Frank
lin was the next on the programme.
They were of the opinion of the proceed
ing gentlemen. That they could not
be raised profitably in this county by
irrigation, but favorable seasons would
warrant putting in these crops.
Horses, Cattle and Hogs in an 1rri-
gated Country" by A. B. Meade and w.
]. Koon They told of what they had
seen on their trip and were confident
that by raising alfalfa, these domestic
animals could be raised with great pro
fit to the farmer and county.
ssDairy and Poultry Farming, Aided
by Irrigation fell to the lot of Joe S.
Williams. On alfalfa lands cattle, and
eSpec ally mich COWS do exceedingly
well as that grass is a very nutritious
one and is the best feed for dairy and
beef purposes. Chickens also do we'll
and pay profits to the keepers. Bees,
also, in alfalfa counties are big money
makers, and he saw carloads of honey
ready for shipment.
servoirs." You would have thought if
you had heard J. r. Eicher tell those
fish stories of carp coming at the call
of the farmer who fed them from his
hand. The German carp is a fast
grower, and is very delicious and can
be grown easily at practically no cost
in the reservoirs.
ssDoes Irrigation Aid the Towns and
COuntry-If So, How?" Frank Robin
son read an able written paper on this
subject which was as follows:
II shall endeavor in as short a space
as possible, to give you my ideas of the
benefits of irrigation to a town, ire
spective of the farming industry.
have no practical knowledge of farm
ing, and cannot work my gall up to the
pitch of lecturing the farmer upon the
details of his vocation.
"Other speakers have amply illustra-
ted the commercial value Of irrigation
to the farmer and it would be useless
for me to demonstrate the fact that
what benefits the countryman, also be-
nefitS the toWnman. Their interests,
in an agricultural community, are well
known to be mutual
''ThoSe of us who visited Rocky Ford
and Garden City feasted our hungry
eyes upon the shade trees and shrub
berry, the beautiful flowers and well
kept lawns to be seen there. Rocky
Ford is a town of over 800 inhabitants
but judging by the view from the prin-
cipal hotel, one would hardly think
there were half so many, so hid are the
buildings by trees. The shade trees
are principally cottonwood, but the
box elder, catalpa and willow flourish
and grow rapidly It is only about
seven years since irrigation was at all
common at either of these towns, yet
each now resembles a landscape garden
or park.
sour soil is fully equal, if not sup
eriOr, to the soil at either Of these
places. Yet while our streets and
homes are barren of all ornament, yet
we are not as rule either lazy or unap-
preciable of beauty, why then, it is
asked, have not some steps been taken
to beautify o~r homes and streets? The
answer is, we know not the means Of
doing so. Many attempts have been
made by our citizens in this direction,
resulting as rule in lamentable fail
ure. The most notable exception to
this rule is the residence of Mr. E. F.
Murphy, whose trees, shrubbery, lawn
and flowers are like an oasis in the
desert or ''the shadow of great rock
in a weary land" By a study of the
science of irrigation, and the practical
application of its principals, any man
can easily equal, if not surpass Mr..
Murphy's results.
''Most of us have been born and
raised back east under the shade of
iaddy's apple tree where the perfume
Of flowers, the songs of birds and the
hum of bees ministered to the comfort
Of our better natures, and one of the
greatest privations we have had to en-
lure upon these plains is the absense
Of these things. We now have the
means at hand ever more to enjoy them.
Can it be doubted that we will take ad-
vantage of them?
SIN conclusion, desire to call the
attention of all men to the condition
of the trees in the park. This block
of ground belongs, l am informed, to
the county, but has not town and coun-
try an equal interest in its improve
ment?
''Why should we care in whom the
title rests, if we, as citizens of Good
and, are allowed an equal share in its
benefits with our friends from the
country? And then is not Goodland a
part of Sherman county?
ut is shame to US all that this park
has had no better care. Had it been
properly watered and cultivated we
would now nave a place Tor outdoor
gatherings. Under the grateful shade
of it's trees our people could now pass
quiet hour in reading or conversation.
Here upon our national holiday would
the great American eagle flap his wings
and screech defiance to the world, and
the small boy exercise his genius for
fireworks.
seriously, however, we need a park,
and must have one. 1t is needless to
locate the blame for our present lack.
''What we should all do is to put
forth our best efforts to supply it. We
must get after the powers that be, and
give them no rest till we get enough
shade to protect US from the sun, and
enough grass to keep Off"
This closed the meeting for the day.
Much good is sure to come of it for, as
one of the speakers said, it was getting
to be "a ground hog case" Without
the fruits of irrigation no one will care
to pass their life in this country, beauti-
full and productive as it is in seasonable
years, but without that all-important
factor, certainty of rainfall.
In making up the programme the
versatile Colonel Bradley was from some
unaccountable reason, entirely over
looked. Knowing this, some of the
speakers told of wonders which only
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