The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-09-25
Oak Grove Farmers Club.

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President butcher occupied the chair
devotional exercises were conducted by
our chaplain Mrs. Kent.
Associational topic. The value of or
ganization of farmers, j. F. Bilhimer:
No class of men is more in need of or
ganization than the men who till the
soil. Much has already been done in
the way of reform, by the Grange and
other alliances, both legislative and
otherwise. But the greatest benefit
arising from associating together in
meetings of this kind is in the educa-
tional, social and moral uplift which
must inevitably follow
Should the arid lands of the west be
irrigated at the public expense9 M.
| Wilcox said, That it seems to be the
| irony of fate, that while we are sub
merged in water, we should be called
upon to furnish irrigation for the arid
west. 1t is of no use discussing the
subject now as the law is already pass
ed. 1t certainly cannot be claimed that
| the land is now needed, and there is no
practical reason why it should be done,
unless it is to give lucrative employ.
ment to few men who are not willing
to work. But don't you forget for
moment that it is agriculture that has
| to pay the bills.
There may come time when those
arid western lands will be needed, but
at present 1 don't think we should en-
gage in the project. Millions of acres
of good land need improving, and need
ditching just now more than we need
irrigation
Mr.. Onyon thinks the government
has no call to irrigate the land for the
west. Their vast praries yield greater
crops at less cost than we can raise them,
and we ought not to be taxed to help
them to our detriment.
A. Parmenter said that we had cleared
our land without help from the govern
ment and if the west wants to irrigate
let them do it, j. Eveleth said that if
the government goes on and irrigates
those worthless lands, they will be sale
able and will be the source of great
revenue. NJ. Wilcox said, II am
pretty old rat myself, and have been
caught in that self same trap ere now.
Whenever a new expense is to be
foisted upon the people, we are told,
THE revenue will more than pay the
cost" But the facts do not bear them
out. The country now owes more than
forty billions of dollars and the govern
ment costs more than eighteen times as
much to run it as it did fifty years ago.
False views are held up before the peo-
pie to mislead, and it is the people who
have dug all the wealth out of the I'M
willing earth. A. Parmenter is glad of
the increased taxation and would rather
pay forty-fve dollars taxes, as he is do
ing than to be set back where his father
was, on the same farm fifty years ago,
and only pay six dollars tax.
Little Miss Kirby gave d cute recita |
ton. Mrs. Onyon read a fine paper on
the Ideal Home. The paper was full of
grand ideas and wholesome theories.
The ideal home does not necessarily de.
pend upon an expensive house or rich
furnishings but upon the hearts OF the
builders, and the husband is equally re-
spopsible with his wife for the building
and maintaining of that home. The
ideal home must be in the country.
Question box in charge of VIM. Cole.
What is the outlook for sheep feeding
for the coming season. A Wrigley
thinks that with proper care there will
be margin for profit even though
lambs and grain are both high at the
present time.
Would reciprocity with Canada be
good thing for Michigan? NJ. Wilcox.
as generally understood
Is a delusion and a snare. The more
people we come in contact with in a
business capacity the more wealth we
acquire and for that reason believe in
free trade with all the world.
How long would it take to waste
enough on a farm to build a good barn /?
A. Parmenter-not very long with such
weather as we are having this season.
Which is the better way, to rent a
farm or go III debt to buy? A. Parmen-
ter, Better buy, for then there is every
nducement to go ahead and succeed.
The October meeting will be at the
nome of Mr.. and Mrs. James Mcbride,
Hillside Farm. ,
Following is the progrom for the next
meeting: What is a good character
worth? Mrs. M. Wilcox; Is the State
AK commission benefit or detriment
20 the people? Geo. Winnie; Short cuts
n Housework, Mrs. j. r. Reynolds;
Select reading, Mrs. ID. butcher; Oak
Grove Union Editor, Mrs. j. F. Bilhimer;
recitation, Mrs. NJ. Derr; recitation
Mrs. Nellie Davidson f,
After partaking of bountiful supper !
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