Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-02-10
|SENAT0R SWlNK'S CALIFORNIA TOUR.
Interesting and Instructive Observations of Pacific
Coast Affairs.

always been found TO promote the con-
servation Of moisture to the great benefit
Of crops. California farmers have found
that a mellow top soil not only prevents
evaporation but aids in securing more
perfect distribution OF water over the
fields.
In some portions OF the state water for
irrigation is handled with an exactness
OF measurement that would give an Ar
ksngas valley farmer q nervous chill.
One fruit-grower with whom Mr.. Swink
talked said that his water right cost him
s55 for 100 inches of water. The water
melon senator thought this pretty cheap
but asked the ranchmnn how much use
he had OF the 100 inches. "Only thir-
teen minutes flow every week." was the
answer. A Colorado farmer confined to
thirteen minutes use Of head Of water,
however large, would come to the con-
clusion that the revolutionary fathers
had died in vain.
Mr.. Swink was much interested in
the history and success OF the fruit
growers organizations in California. He
found that the same unsatisfactory con-
ditions had prevailed there which had
caused such complaint among the pro-
ducers of Colorado. The commission
men have been scalping the farmers un-
mercifully. As an example, fruits which
netted the producer 20 cents per box
under the management OF the commits
sion men brought the truitgrowere' S1.20
under association management. Getting
weary OF making middle men rich thor
ough system Of associations has been or
ganized. Tho different valleys or con-
tiguous sections each formed local asso-
Citations. Representatives Of these Or
ganizations would meet in convention
and arrange the plan OF business for the
entire system OF associations, which en-
bracsd almost the entire state engaged
in growing similar fruits. AL orders
were filled, or their filling directed fIom
central office. This plan has been
found to work we'll. The fruitgrowers.
aftor trial OF both methods Of dispos-
ing of their pruducts, have been con-
vinced beyond question that the only
sal yation for the fruitgrowers is to main
tain their organizations in their present
high state OF efficiency.
Tho California fruitgrowers have not
gained this strength Of Organization
without o struggle. The commission
men have sought to break the associa-
ton by buying individual crops at q price
above their value. Thus they sought to
prove that the associations were valueless
to the producers. Whenever such tac-
tics succeeded the members OF the local
organization were once more at the mer-
cy Of those who had preyed on them in
the past.
Mr.. Swink's study OF the fruit associa-
tions of California has convidced him
that the melon growers of the Arkansas
valley can combine their various associa-
tions into one central organization which
can handle the entire melon product of
the valley 10 the profit OF all Interested.
Mr.. Swink was accompanied by his
wife and daughter, Miss Belle. The
trip was greatly enjoyed, but the party
came home devoid OF that enthusiasm
which fastens upon some impressionable
visitors to California. The senator Is
quite content to spend the remainder Of
his days in tho Arkansas valley, seeking
to grow melons OF steadily increasing ex :
cellence, and to aid in marketing them at
remunerative prices owe large portion
Of the grentest republic on earth.