Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-07
10 MITIGATE DROUIH
Secretary Wilson Says Rapid
Settlement Of the Southwest
Will Help.
Trees and All Kinds Of Growing
Vegetation Will Modify
Southwest Winds.
Also Suggests Diversity Of Crops
Will Be Safeguard to
Farmers.

Washington, Sept. 6.-Mr. Wilson,
secretary of agriculture, was at the de-
rartment Tuesday for few hours. He
came to, Washington from the west,
where he made tour thru the corn
belt, and left that evening for Buffalo,
where he met President Mckinley and
other members of the cabinet.
The secretary says that misappre-
bension exists on the part of the press
recent western trip. He went to study
existing conditions. and to devise, If
possible. some means Of lessening Of
neutralizing the effects Of the drouth in
parts of the stricken west. 1t was not
his intention to learn by personal obser-
walton the extent of the drouth. This
is matter which has been entrusted to
the special agents of the department.
They have spent weeks in taking care
full and accurate observations and
when all of their reports are in the de-
partment will be able to announce the
result with scientific accuracy. The
secretary expects to embody the result
of his observations in the corn belt in
publications which will be issued by the
department. In parts of the west he
found the corn entirely destroyed be-
You'd the hope of recovery in the pres
ent season. In other parts the corn was
injured, but there were indications that
saving rains came in time to make a
partial crop possible. The recent drouth
was peculiar, in that its most destruc-
tive feature was the prevailing hot
winds, which blighted vegetation even
in sections where the ground was not
dried, and where the conditions of the
soil We're excellent. The secretary says
that means may be used in future to
meet the effects of the winds and neu-
tralize them. He does not contemplate
any chimerical scheme Of controlling
the winds, but from his observation ON
his own farm, he believes that the plan
lows will have the effect of protecting
the entire fields.
1t Is definitely established that the hot
winds come from Oklahoma, or portions
of the new country in the southwest.
which are now being rapidly settled up,
and turned from open plains into culti-
waited fields. Broken by trees and
growth of vegetation. he believes az the
country grows older the winds will dis
appear. Changed conditions in this re-
spect will bring changed winds and rob
them Of their blighting qualities. If 1t
10 established that the hot winds come
from off the arid plains of Arizona and
New Mexico. and futher to the SOUTH
ward, the time may be much further re-
moved when they Will disappear. In
any event, the secretary believes judi
cious use of hedge and trees will have
mitigating effects.
He advises that the crops in the corn
belt be more diversified. He believes
that repeated attempts to raise corn on
the same land year after year has the
effect of impoverishing the land. The
diversification and rotation of crops, in
his opinion. will bring about better re-
suits for the farmers of the middle
west. Better methods of disturbing the
coil and to a greater depth are advised
by the secretary lie says that such
disturbance Of the soil will permit the
better circulation of moisture beneath
the surface and will also result in the
retention of moisture.