Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-04-05
OF STATE INTEREST.
Preparations for Next National
Irrigation Congress in
Progress.
Information Wanted in Regard
to the Practicability of
Diversified Farming.

Active preparations are now being
made for the next National Irrigation
congress, to be held about September
10th, at some point in the west not yet
determined on. The last congress, which
was In session an entire week at Los
Angeles, October, 1893, appointed com.
| Mlssloners in every western state and
territory. whose duty it Is to prepare q
| report to be submitted to the coming
congress covering all the features of
special interest in each state and ter
ritory of the arid west. These reports
will show the amount Of arid and semi
! arid land; the amount of land now irri-
gated, and the acreage believed to be
irrigable; the sources OF water supply,
deveoped and possible Of development;
the cost OF procuring, storing aud deliver
Ing water on lands; state legislation in
force, aud needed; national legislation
as to the disposition of arid lands and
government control OF water sources;
and such other points rs may suggest
| themselves to each commission as being
pertinent to their own state. The com
mission for North Dakota is composed of
NJ. f. Merchant, Glendale. chairman; d.
r. McGinnls. Grand Forks; N. W. Bar.
rett, Lakota; ". H. Mckee, Dunseith;
n. J. Woods, Church's Ferry. The citi-
zens OF this state are cordially invited to
correspond with any OF these gentlemen
and give them such information as they
may possess on the points to be covered
by their report. as it is designed 10 cover
every point Of interest which can be sug-
gested. Information covering the work
OF the national committee can be OBJ
tanned from Fred. l.. Allies, secretary,
Los Angeles, California, and information
as to the work in this state from any of
the commissioners named above.
The Case Threshing Machine company,
through General Agent Clary Of Fargo,
is sending out over the state circular
letter which reads as follows:
1--WE believe that the time has come
when farmers Of our state must change
their methods OF farming; that they
must stop making the raising of wheat
their sole dependence and only resource;
that they should raise more of the
coarser grains and root crops, which they
must send to market in the shape of fat
cattle, hogs and sheep; that every farmer
should raise more flax, m,llet, rye, barley,
clover and potatoes. That if all the
farmers Of the northwest would, by a
diversity OF crops, curtail the production
of wheat, 1t would not only bring them
more money for what they did raise. but
it would improve and increase the value
OF every farm in the northwest"
That this subject may be brought more
prominently before the public and dis
cussed by the farmers, the company have
decided to offer prize of s25 for the
best article by North Dakota farmer
upon the subject, "Diversified Farming:
Is it practicable and possible for North
Dakota; how Is 1t to be accomplished and
what shall he ralsed?'
| As matter OF fact the farmers OF
North Dakota are changing their
methods of farming AS rapidly as pre-
vailing conditions will allow and in a
manner which will be as beneficial to
them as possible. No radical changes, it
Is believed, are what IS wanted at present
but an Increase in the products which
can be consumed with profit Oh the farm
or by the home market, the latter
limited in extent. The idea of making
wheat sole dependence and resource
has long ago been seen TO be unwise
and steps to remedy this have been taken.
Wheat, unless conditions change mater
tally, is Of necessity and will be the staple
and the chief product exported
from the broad prairies of this state
which are SO favorably adapted for it's
production; following this will come
stock generally, and improved stock as
soon as this can be accom- mpiished. Diver
sitication, as applied to Illinois, Iowa
and other states situated amid different
surroundings, has contracted meaning
when applied to this state. Can the
farmer make a profitable staple crop OF
flax, mlllet, barley, clover or potatoes?
The northwestern farmer ls not in favor
Of curtailing the production OF wheat,
but rather by good farming to in
crease it together with general aud mis-
cellaneous farming which includes
horses, cattle, sheep, swine, chickens,
turkeys and those grams and root crops
necessary for their maintenance. Mis-
cellaneous farming IN the fullest extent
rather than diversiticat;on is wanted and
is being adopted by the North Dakota
farmer.
Bathgate. the Democrat believes. is
the first town in the state OF North Da-
kota to make use of the board OF con.
ciliators. A matter Of difference Of s16O
was brought before them Monday.
Or. Prices Cream Baking Powder
Worlds Fair Highest Award.