The Elbert County tribune., 1908-01-30
DRY FARMING
CONGRESS
REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL AND
HARMONIOUS GATHERING
AT SALT LAKE.
cheyenne NEXT YEAR
ASK CONGRESS FOR 800 ACRE
HOMEsTEADs IN THE ARID
REGIONS.

Salt Lake.-That the Transmissouri
Dry Farming Congress, which closed
its second convention here Saturday,
will never again be classed among the
minor industrial congresses is con.
ceded by all who have watched the
daily increase in attendance, interest
and enthusiasm.
Beginning with 2S2 delegates the
convention closes with nearly 600 in
attendance and when the congress
makes its bow to Cheyenne, Wyo., a
year hence. there will be still more.
Technical points of great value have
been brought out in the relations of
actual experiences by practical men.
Alternate cropping and following OF
dry land was generally endorsed.
Deep plowing and frequent cultiva-
tion were insisted upon and one of tho
Utah delegates today convinced the
farmers that there is more danger of
overseeing than of underseeding in
planting wheat Forty pounds to the
acre was the exact amount recon-
mended by the speaker.
The proceedings of the congress, in
cluding all addresses delivered. will be
mailed to all affiliated members. other
wise those who pay the annual mem
bership fee.
The congress has been modest in
its requests for legislation. A law in
creasing the acreage of homestead in
the arid regions from 160 to 800 acres; ;
the establishment Of more expert
mental farms by the states and the
boring of experimental wells at state
expense are the principal boons asked
from the lawmakers.
The congress refused to be drawn
into the warfare that has arisen over
the forestry policy of the government.
although an attempt was made to
bring the matter up for debate.
A resolution from the committee on
resolutions endorsing the efforts to
preserve the forests and thus con-
serve the moisture called forth from
Daniel Harrington of Utah. criticism
OF the restrictions placed upon stock
grazing on the public range.
A motion to reoommit the resolu-
tion was made, but the congress, TAX
ing the view that water is more i'm
portant than grazing from farming
standpoint, declined to tamper with
the committees report and adopted It
Overwhelmingly.
Other resolutions commendatory of
government activity in behalf of agri-
culture, including one of gratitude to
Secretary Wilson for his interest in
dry farming, were adopted.
Prof. e. H. Webster of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, then read an in
teresting paper on "Dairying Under
Dry Farming Conditions" and w. C.
Barnes, inspector of grazing, spoke on
"The Relation Of Dry Farming to the
Live Stock Industry"
Mr.. Barnes told of the settlement OF
eostern New Mexico and the success
Of dry farming, a success that has
driven thousands of sheep and cattle
from that range. loss to the stock
growers, but gain to the nation.
w. s. Parish of Limon, Colo, gave
his experience as a dry farmer.
This congress has created a per
manent salaried secretaryship, inaugu-
rated system of annual dues and life
memberships and established bureau
OF information which will instruct the
membership in all discoveries and de-
velopments in the science of arid land
culture
The winning of the next convention
by Cheyenne was the most exciting in
cident OF the final session. Idaho Falls.
Idaho. third in the race. withdrew at
the last moment, but Douglas, Ari-
zona, ably championed by the Arizona
delegate, ]. G. McCabe, remained until
the last vote was counted and the re-
suit, Z2 to 81 for Cheyenne. announced