Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-31
Issues a Statement Relative II
The Aims and Purposes Of
The Congress.
AYERS ALL ARE INTERESTED
Impression Prevalent That 0nb
Farmers Have a Right to
Take Part Erroneous.
Limitations OF Irrigation, He Claims
Are Nearly Reached and TiIlcrs OF
Soil Must Turn Elsewhere.

Hon Fisher Harris. president or tr
Transmissouri Dry Farming congress
and manager of the Commercial elul
of this city makes the following inter
esting statement relative TO the lin
and purposes OF the congress-. and ri
far-roaching scope OF its work;
Greatly to my astonisliment l fin,
here In Utah. where Of all places /
should not exist. a grave nisapprehen
ston concerning the purposes OF tn
Transmissouri Dry Farming congrsa
recently organized in Denver The I'm
preston seems to be prevalent that onll
those people who are actually engage,
IN tiling the soil have a right 10, o
should be, in any way Interested in III,
success OF this particular effort to ex
tend the culuYatable area OF the Trans
missouri, country. The fact IL, how
ever, that the whole subject of dir
farming is Of profound interest to ever.
be.
SMALL AREA CULTIVATED.
The people OF Utah have been farm,
Ing for so years by means OF irriKatioJ
and after all those years we find tina.
only four per cent of tho 20, oo0, 900 acre.
of land in the state is under cultivation
We know also that by private enter
prise and the aid received from the op
erations of the reclamation act we cal
never hope to extend this four per cent
to more than Is per cent OF the totm
area Yet all over the state there ar,
extensive plains and vast stretches Of
upland for which no water can ever b.
obtained, save such as falls from
heaven.
IF men. by taking counsel together
can devise some method of scientific
soil culture by means OF which thesi
numberless acres OF rich land now ",
Ing prohtless under the sun. can b,
brought under cultivation and thus b,
made useful to the human race II
would certainly seem to be an effoi-
worth the making. Its success woull
mean Increased population, more homes
more food producers. more wealth, NOR
| markets for the manufactures. In shot'
more Of everything that is desirable an,
necessary for the well being of the com
monwealth.
| WORK OF IRRIGATION.
irrigation has worked a moderl
marvel but II has its limitations ant
they are nearly reached The time hai
come when the economist, the publicis
and the statesman should consider til,
future and see that no means are neg,
lected that win furnish homes for thu
swarming population OF the nation,
Men are moving from the old and worn
out lands to the new and the increas
ing and importunate cry already Is To-
more homes.
TIME RIPE FOR EFFORT.
''As the circumscribed possibilities q
irrigation are realized 1t becomes an.
parent that the time is ripe for til,
making OF concerted, determined ant
intelligent effort for the extension O.
the productive area OF the country
This briefly is the purpose of thu
Transmissouri Dry Farming congress
and for Its accomplishment the organ
ization will encourage the establish
ment of more experiment stations ant
foster such agitation and discussion a
the subject as may be necessary. Tha
the hour has arrived for the beginning
OF this work was abundantly evi
denced by the numerously attended AMI
enthusiastic congress held in the cit
OF Denver The membership of tina
body was made up of presidents an,
other officials Of agricultural colleges
officers Of state and national expert
ment stations. representatives OF TIL
department of agriculture at Washing
ton, practical farmers and men, who
like II. w. Campbell OF Nebraska an,
and George l.. Farrell of Utah, hay
devoted their lives 70 the study OF dr..
farming conditions. Sixteen states wer
represented by creditabs delegations
and the discussions We're marked b
unusual thoroughness and thoughtrui
ness
The congress was scheduled nor
iwo-days' session, bur the delegates 10
fused 20 have II that way and insistei
on remaining another day. II win 81
terest your readers 10 know that ~
part OF the proceedings was more ca
joyed by those present than the az
dress Of Mr.. Farrell OF smithheld, Cach
county, Utah. Mr.. Farrell divide
honors with Mr.. H. w. Campbeli d
Nebraska. who ranks next 20 Luthe
Burbank as q benofactor OF his kind.
NEXT CONVENTION HERE.
THE selection OF this city rs In
place for holding tho next session y
the congress was deemed PARTICULAR
appropriate In View OF tho part plays
by Utah IA the Development OF arl
lands. The present Intention is 20 hol
the second session OF the congress ear
ly In October OF this year. coinciden
with our state fair. II Is proposed
have here at that time complete ex
hibition OF the products OF on-irfigat
ca lands; OF all mechanical devices 10
the cultivation or dry farms and 10
decision viii be grnced by the presenc
Of Secretary Wilson OF the department
" agriculture. Luther Burbank OF Call
foruia n. W. Campbell % NebfHslS
and many other noted experts.
The proceedings OF the Denver con
eress win be- published IN Hbout sixu
days. This work WIN unqueEtionabI
become text book OF great value. d
II viii contain nll tho set addrossa
made By experts ana o. complete recor
of tie debates thereon. ANY perso
desiring a copy Of this book can ssonr
IL free upon application from the ONO
~ fl,e Commercial club OF this city"