The state herald., 1904-12-30
RAILWAYS PLAN TO RECLAIM
LAND WITH NEW KIND
on ALFALFA

Omaha, Neb., Dec. 25.-The Union Pa
citic and burlington railroad, insisted by
the United States government, have a
now scheme for reclsiming the several
hundred million acres Of arid western
lands, without the aid and assistance OF
expensive irrigation work. DIR. Ewooe
Mean, head OF tho agricultural depart.
mcnts in Washington, will represent tue
government in the deal, aud 10 IN Oma
hs now, comforting with the general
managers OF both reads rs to details OF
the work, which will begin in the spring
The new scheme Is based on grasses
and new alfalfa which grows in south
rrn Russia md which requires 80 little
moisture as to exist wherever sage brush
and prairie Digs Can live. Experimental
stations will 10 built Mt once slopg the
railroads, and from these tho surround
Ing country will be seeded with the new
alfalfa. Ii the scheme 10 successful hun
ufeds Of millions Of acres will be added
TO the tillable lands IVES; Of the Missouri
Iiver.--Denver News.
From the nbovs II Ia seen that Uncle
Sam and the railroad companies have IL
plan ior reclaimipg land in tho semi.
rid localities OF tho west. u they have
what 10 claimed for them IN the line oil q
forage plant. there is no question but
he introduction OF it in this western
country would prove Of great beroit In
retaining the lands OF tho plans. II Is
called an alfalfa and We naturally con.
cludc that it must be someehat similar
to The alfalfa raised under irrig ,tioa only
very probably no, OF SO large growth.
Buffalo grass as forge plant caurot lc
surpassed considering the sma'l ersSih
1t makes but the great drawback IN de.
pending upon il to furnish forage Tor u
T.ock country 10 the fact that it's small
growth forces the stockmnn to own q
tract OF land thst for SIZE 10 on, OF all
reasonable prop )rtions to the number OF
stock grazing upon las range. II THE
new alfalfa will enable tho s,ockman to
10 business on a smaller acreage and at
the same time furnish HIM with winter
feed, 1t will revoiutionize the stock rais
ing busipess OF the plans aud soon
thickly settle this great ter, itory with
small stock men.
Again. II this new forage plant is whs,
IL is represented to be. We arc justified
10 concluding that. during the growing
season. 1t would furnish feed for hos
The great drawback to the hog raising
industry in this country has been found
10 be the great difficulty in securing
green feed for this hogs during the grow.
ing season. When 1t comes to keeping
hogs IN dry pen aud feeding corn or
other grain the year through, the resul,
~ neither good Tor the groNth nud
health of the hog nor for increasing The
revenue Of the hog raiser. With good
summer forage for hogs, the hog raising
industry in this plains country would te
o mora profitable business than even tho
cai,ls business. Judging by the reHul,s
this climate cannot be sarpassed for ihi,
industry. Cholera. tho dreaded disease
OF this industry, ID practically unkuov to
this locality aud, 90 Tar as wa can l.srl
10 MI Of eastern Colorado. Ia the las,
Il years, tho unly case of hog cholera 70.
ported In this county wAs At Holyoks
aud the hogs had been shipped In Iron
somo point in Nebraska to fst,-n aod
really had tho disss,e before they
wore brought inis tbs st.te.
Tho experiments with this new iorna.
plant ~ill DO watched Nth much inter
eat by tho people Ui our county Tor i,s
success may mean much To thcm aud
aoy,hipg tina, tho HrMAtp csn do to aid
10 this movement will be done.