The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-26
WHO THEY ARE.
Breezy Gossip About Some of -he Notable
Among Missonla's Guests.

Breezy Gossip About Some of he Notable
Among Missoula's Guests.
c. B. Booth of Los Angeles, who is in
attendance at the congress meeting is
one of the best posted men in the coun-
try in regard to irrigation matters. In
speaking today of the matters that the
congress will consider. Mr.. Booth said:
1T Is not generally known that Ne
braska has the greatest mileage of ir-
rigating bitches of any state in the
Union. That is, l believe, a fact. but
1t is one that l recently found that few
Nebra skans are familiar with. The
whole science of irrigation, for it
is science, is only just beginning to
be understood. In Southern California,
for instance they are now getting bet
ter crops and crops of finer quality,
with one-fourth of the water that was
used when they first began to irrigate.
bitches that 10 years ago We're used on
comparatively small tracts of land are
now watering with splendid results
three and four times the acreage that
they Were then. AS the science of the
use of water is better understood ii is
found that a little water properly used
will go a long way. People do no.
know till necessity compels them to
economic how much they can do
with little water. There Is one tract
of land in Southern California which
had to put In drainage bitches to carry
off the subterranean water that had ac-
cumulated for lack of proper drainage.
The vines and trees on this tract We're
becoming affected with a disease that
was said by experts to be due to too
much moisture. This was thought to
be remarkable In a district where con-
slant irrigation had been necessary
but it was found by digging that where
water had not been found 10 years be-
fore, in less than 80 feet below the sur
face. it was now within a few feet.
Since the drainage was put in and the
irrigation regulated, there has been a
disappearance of the disease that
threatened orchards and vineyards and
the crops have much improved. The
people of the arid belt have much to
learn about the proper use of water
for irrigation"
Scipio Craig. the veteran journalist of
California. who has been 'in California
30 years and hopes to be a Californian
some day." is one of the most pro-
nounced enthusiasts in matters of irr-
cation that is 20 be found this session
of the congress Mr.. Craig is a careful
student of matters that pertain to irri-
cation and is well posted in them all.
He comes from the famous town of
Redlands, the center of a belt that is
absolutely dependent upon irrigation
He predicts a great future for the So
called arid belt if the science of irri-
cation is thoroughly studied and APP
piled.
This is Mr. Craigs first visit to Mon
tana, and he expresses himself very
pleasantly regarding his impressions OF
the state. 1T is next to California"
he says, land that is the highest com
pliment that l can pay it"
Walter Graves, one of the irrigation
experts of the federal government who
has had much to do with the construc-
ton of bitches on the Indian reserva-
lions. is one of the delegates who ar
rived on the delayed train last night.
Mr.. Graves has much valuable infor-
nation regarding the reclamation of
lands that will be of practical benefit
to the farmers of this state. He is EN-
phatic in his statements that the prop
er methods of irrigation, properly APP
piled, will build up an empire in this
western country such as is not dreamed
of by those who are not familiar with
the conditions and possibilities. He
has had so much practical experience
in the retaining of lands that his
opinion is of much value,
Hon. l. D. O'Donnell, the chairman of
the national executive committee of the
congress, arrived on the late train last
pies of what the Yellowstone valley can
do. Il could not bring as much as /
wanted to- said Mr.. O'Donnell last
night, but have pumpkin that will
make you folks surprised. I wish that
| could have brought more, but this
pumpkin will illustrate what we can
do down our way when we try" The
Yellowstone exhibit was placed on the
tables in the exhibition hall this morn
ing and has attracted much attention.
The pumpkin is certainly a hummer,
and is the Jumbo of the show.
Director Emery, Professor Fortier
and DIR. Traphagen represent the Mon
tana state college of agriculture. They
came over from BoZeman last night on
the late train and are prepared to up
hold the reputation of their state in
agricultural matters. They have con-
siderable missionary work TO do among
some of the visitors, as there is an
opinion in some quarters that Mon
tana's farming area is not of much ac-
count. 1t is certain. however, that with
the arguments that these gentlemen
can advance and the practical demon
STATIONS that will be made for their
benefit, that most of them will return
to their homes with different ideas re-
garding the Treasure State. The ara
BILE area of the state of Montana is
equal to the total area of the state of
Iowa, That is a fact that the visitors
should paste in their hats for the bene-
fit of their constituents when they re-
turn to their homes.
Livingston was the first city OF Mon
anT