Gilpin observer., 1907-01-31
OFFICERS
DRY FARMERS EFFECT PERMA.
NENT ORGANIZATION.
NEXT Meeting AT SALT LAKE

N6AI m66luNO Ht Sh6u enN6
Presidents Leasing Policy Not Ap-
sroved-Note of Warning Sounded
Against Boom Methods Of Too Rapid
Settlement of Arid Lands.
Denver.-Dry farmers of the West
formed a permanent organization Fri
day afternoon and adopted constitu-
ton.
Salt Lake City, Utah, was chosen as
the next place of meeting after big
fight in the committee on the floor OF
the convention, in which the delegates
showed much feeling on account OF
their defeat.
Resolutions of interest to every dry
farmer in the county were passed.
President Theodore Roosevelts pol
icy of leasing the public domain for
grazing purposes, which was approved
by the American National Live Stock
Association a few days ago, in this
city, does not receive the support of
the dry farming congress. Considera-
tion Of the resolution was, by motion,
Indefinitely postponed"
Governor Brooks of Wyoming de-
claimed against the Presidents policy.
During the sessions Friday several
warnings were sounded against boom
methods in populating semi-arid dis
tricts. Government experts and others
said that those who engage in dry
farming must remember that 1t is not
perfected system; that various
methods of soil culture which have
yielded excellent results nevertheless
are in their experimental stage, and
that entire absence of moisture in dry
farming regions the coming summer
will mean suffering among colonists II
there is an indiscriminate rush to
populate such sections, with no provis-
ion for possible misfortune so far as
crops are concerned.
The resolutions, in brief, recon-
mended that the federal and state gov
ernments distribute accurate informa-
ton concerning dry farms; that
the work of such experts as
Prof. H. w. Campbell, Luther Bur-
bank and Robert Gauss, whose discov-
cries were Of the greatest value to the
dry farmer, be commended; that Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Wilson
of the Department of Agriculture be
congratulated for the lively interest
they have displayed in the welfare of
the settlers in the semi-arld regions;
that the railways receive the support
Of the congress for the advertising OF
dry farming; that the work under
taken by the bureau of irrigation and
drainage investigation is OF the high
est importance and should receive the
approval Of Congress and the Depart
ment Of Agriculture; that the estab-
fishing of model farms and experiment
stations should be encouraged and that
the government on the states appro-
pirate funds sufficient for the main
| tenance of the same.
Then came the resolution that was
later tabled-that Of indorsing the bill
now in Congress providing for the
leasing of the public domain for garz-
ing purposes.
'Tt would be the greatest mistake
ernor Brooks of Wyoming, ito adopt
this resolution. II the national gov
ernment steps in then and there the
settlement of the arid states stops.
There is no way, in my judgment,
whereby these arid lands can be ham
died by the government without re-
tarding development"
While there was a difference Of opin-
ion, said the governor, as to the value
and use of arid lands, the fundamental
idea was that these lands should be
under private ownership.
The following named officers were
elected:
President-Fisher Harris Of Salt
Lake City, executive of "See America
First" League, secretary of the Salt
Lake City Commercial Club.
First Vice President. L. Donahue,
president Scientific Farming Associa-
ton, Denver.
Second Vice President-A. r. Briggs
of San Francisco, president of the Wa
ter and Forest Association of Califor-
mia State Board of Trade, member of
the Chamber of Commerce Of San
Francisco.
Third Vice President-Col. e. ].
Bell, farmer and stockman of Laramie,
Wyoming.
Executive Committee-Arizona, G.
II. Adams; California, George H.
Bixby; Colorado, Prof. w. H. Olin;
Idaho, ]. Woodmansee; Kansas, DIR. E.
r. Nichols; Montana, p B. Moss; Me-
braska, Il. A. Burnett; Nevada, Cor
don H. True; New Mexico, J. d. Tins
ley; Oklahoma, Samuel Plummer;
Utah, ]. w. Paxman; Washington, r.
c. McCroskey; Wyoming, Prof. b. G.
Buffman; Washington, d. c., DIR. l.. ].
Briggs. A member from Oregon will
be named later.