Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-15
HELPING THE ARID REGION
Senator Dietrich Urges Legislature TO Make
Appropriation for Purpose
GENERAL GOVERNMENT WILLING TO ASSIST
is to Purchase and Equip an
Experimental Farm In semi-Arid
Region Under Control of
University.
CFrom a stan Correspondent.)

VI aShh ltBlsldlure snail make liberal
appropriation during it's forthcoming ses-
sion for the establishment Of an expert
mental farm in the western or semi-arid
portion OF the state. He would have this
farm operated in connection with the Uni
versity OF Nebraska. the relations to be
the same as those between the university
and the experimental farm at Lincoln. The
purpose Of such a farm would be expert
mentation along lines for the benefit OF
that portion of the state which does not
and cannot receive attention, for the rea-
son that the humidity of the eastern sec
tion of the state precludes experimenting
In that district for vegetation in the arid
OF semi arid regions.
The senator has the assurance that the
Agricultural department will gladly CO.
operate in experimental work of this ma
ture. In fact, that department has already
asked congress for an increased appropria-
tion with the distinct understanding that the
Increase would be used in experimenting
in Nebraska.
Senator Dietrich was the first to recon-
mend the establishment OF an experimental
farm in western Nebraska. His views were
expressed at some length in a communica-
tion sent from Washington to the Nebraska
Real Estate Dealers association at it's con-
ventlon in Fremont early this year, and
were received with much favor by the
members of that organization. The real
estate dealers recognized the fact that a
farm Of the kind proposed would greatly
hasten and enhance the development Of the
vast territory which is arid or semi-arid,
and their views were shared by the state
authorities in agricultural work.
Trees VIII Grow in Sand.
Dean Charles E. Bessey OF the univer-
sity has demonstrated by practical expert
ment that trees can be grown in the
sandy lands Of Nebraska. In fact, he is
able to point with pride to what he terms
small forest of pine trees out in the
western and sandy portion OF Holt county,
which he planted himself many years ago.
These trees are thriving and he has risked
his reputation on the assertion that by
pursuing proper methods trees may be
made to grow in other parts Of the western
section.
The officials of the Department Of Agrl-
culture are confident that there is great
wealth in the undeveloped resources OF
western Nebraska and other territory Of
the same character in western states, and
they are willing to lend the assistance of
scientific investigation to any movement
The entire expense Of creating and con-
Quoting the forest reserves will be borne
by the government, but the department Is
willing to go still further by assisting in
scientific experimentation in the develop
ment of the arid and semi-arid territory in
every possible way along all agricultural
lines.
1t may be said that Of the state of Ne
braska one-thlrd is humid, another third
arid and the other semi-arid so that there
are three conditions presented for expert
mentation. In this regard Nebraska is un-
like eastern states, wherein practically all
land is OF the same character, so that the
experiments carried OIL in one section are
of equal value throughout the state.
Government Would Aid.
I'VE have an experimental station farm
at Lincoln that is located in a territory
where there is plenty Of natural rainfall" :"
said the senator. in outlining his ideas.
1--WE shouldpby all means have an expert
mental farm in the central western por-
tion of our state, so that experiments could
be made under irrigation and without. The
government has corps OF experts in all
parts of the world seeking for plants
which are adapted to arid or semi arid
4
farm or station Of the kind l propose, the
government would send experts there to
aid in experimenting with the various
cereals, grasses and plants which are
adapted to an arid or semi-arid region. I
have taken up this matter a number OF
times with the Agricultural department
here and know that the officials are anX-
ious that Nebraska shall establish the
farm. The department can be Of great
service to our state, and this is asserted
ofhcially in a letter have received from
one of its officers, in which he says they
are planning for considerable work in Ne
braska under a cooperative arrangement
with the state university, and they hope
that the secretaTy's estimate for an in
creased appropriation will be approved by
the house committee without any reduc-
tlon.
'I do not believe that there is any leg
islation that will be more important or
more beneficial to the state OF Nebraska
than liberal appropriation for an agricul-
tural college and the establishment Of an
experimental farm in the western part OF
Nebraska, where experiments can be car
ried on both under and without irrigation.
Nebraska has the Dakotas on the north,
Kansas on the south and Wyoming and
Colorado on the west ana Souln, IN Wnlcn
states the soil and the conditions are much
the same as those in Nebraska. and the
government recognizes that experiments
conducted in Nebraska would apply to the
other states as we'll. States east OF us
have plenty Of rainfall and do all OF their
experimenting upon one farm. but because
Of the difference of the conditions within
Nebraska there ought to be two or three
experimental farms within the state. one
in the humid region and another in the
arid. The government would send experts
to aid in the experimenting with the
various cereals. and, in fact, all kinds of
agricultural work. These same experts,
in performing that work, would be doing
the same service in instructing students
Of the agricultural college at the farm as
though they were employed by the state.
so that the students would have the ben
eft Of their investigations and instruction,
at the expense OF the government, for my
idea is to have the experimental work con-
Quoted In connection with the university
and the agricultural college to be estab-
lished at the farm. Just as the experimental
work is carried in connection with the ag-
rtcultural farm at Lincoln.
Method to BE Pursued.
What would be the method OF estab-
fishing the farm? The legislature should
provide the land upon which these ex.
Z eOuld carriad IN hv anna