The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-19
CYRUS L. SMITH BECOMES IDEN-
Titled WITH NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION.
Is Now in WalIa WaIla in Connection
With the Palouse Project-TelIs
Of Conditions in State.

Cyrus L. Smith, editor of the Inland
Farmer, is in the city In the interest
of irrigation matters connected with
the Palouse project. In speaking of
the irrigation situation in this state,
Mr.. Smith today said:
1.-The average product Of irrigated
land is more than double that Of the
! land of the prairie districts of the mid
die west, or even the rich valley land
of the eastern or middle states. Ex-
perience has demonstrated that when
the farmer depends. on the natural
rainfall he is always uncertain as to
the result. Under a proper system Of
irrigation he is practically in control
of all the factors bearing on crop pro-
duction, and can figure with reasonable
certainty just what the product will be.
1t is a well recognized fact that the
hay produced in the irrigated sections
Call Ue CuIeu III liISt-cldSS COIlOlliOIl
without any of the risks incident to
hay making in district subject to fire.
quent rainfall. The work can be car
ried on to much better advantage, and
the quality Of hay is simply perfect.
'Dairying, which is one of the surest
most profitable and intensive lines of
farming, is we'll adapted to small hold
ings in the irrigated area. In the east
and middle states as far west as the
Mississippi valley, the larger portion
of the feed for dairy stock even in
summer is some form of soiling CROP
such as corn, peas, clover, rye, vetch
or alfalfa cut and fed green. 1t has
been demonstrated that three to four
produced in this way as by pasturing
Under irrigation alfalfa is one of the
best known soiling crops and when fed
in combination with fodder corn or
corn slage, it furnishes one of the
cheapest and best balanced rations for
the VARY cows.
"A much smaller area of land is re-
q9ired to furnish supporkf for a family
under a system of irrigation, than
where the soil cultivator must depend
upon the elements for one of the most
vital factors in the problem of crop
production The results accomplished
by every irrigation project that has
been promoted by proper capital and
that the small holdings and intensive
methods lead logically to better social
conditions, better roads, better schools
and better homes. With the improved
conditions of living, better business
methods and general prosperity.
The experience of such localities
as Charleston, North Yakima, Sunny
side and Kennewick indicates what
water will do in Transforming a desert
waste to a populous. thrifty, product
i've community; with orchards, gar
tlens, fields and vineyards; veritable
hives of industry with pleasant cot
tages, churches, telephones, school
houses ana all of the other modern ap-
planes of civilization.
THE hundred thousand acres in the
district that would come under the
proposed Palouse irrigation project
would in my judgment add to the pop
ulation of the state 100000 people:
millions to it's wealth, with miles on
miles of green groves, fertile fields,
vineyards and orchards, where now
there exists nothing but sagebrush.
To work this transformation, the gen.
eral government can we'll afford to ad-
vance the necessary funds. Those
| VINO occupy the land can equally well
afford to pay back every dollar in an
nual nstallments. To foster and en-
courage the work of multiplying the
opportunities for homemaking. causing
these desert places to bud and blossom
and bear fruit, is work well worth the
best efforts of every American citizen