The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-01-18
GROWERS OF WHEAT
LARGE ATTENDANCE or FARMERS
AT ANNUAL MEETING AT
PULLMAN.
Dry Farming, Eradication Of Weeds,
Prevention Of Smut. Insect Pests
and Other Topics Of Interest Dis
cussed- Work Of Railroad Commits
4 sion Outlined by Commissioners Law.
renee.

= sion Outttneo ny commissioner. Law
renee.
Pullman, Jan. 1.-THE third annual
wheat growers convention is break
ing all previous records for attendance
and interest. The attendance is made
up largely Of farmers.
The first subject discussed was "The
Effect of Twenty Years Of Continuous
Cropping of Wheat on the Soils Of
Eastern Washington What Does It
Show?" o. q. Young of Pullman, P.
w. Cox of Hay, J. Monroe Martin Of
Dusty and James Phillips of st. John
made interesting and instructive talks.
Professor Severance Of the college
gave an interesting and instructive
talk on dry farming theories and ac-
tual practice, in which he showed that
by continuous cultivation it is possible
to raise good crops on dry land con-
tinuously without summer following.
This was discussed at length by sew
eral farmers who have had experience
in this line.
To Eradicate Weeds.
At the afternoon session President
McCroskey of the Wheat Growers AS
ISOLATION read his annual address.
Byron Hunter OF the department Of
agriculture, Washington, D. c., gave
an address on weed pests and how to
kill them, in which he advocated con-
tinuous tillage and showed by expert
ence of extensive farmers that this
method had not only dispensed with
the weed pests, but had yielded enough
more grain per acre to much more
than pay for the extra cost of labor.
President Bryan gave brief account
of his European trip, which was well
received. The president received an
ovation when he entered the church.
Insect Pests was discussed at length
and DR.. 8. B. Nelson spoke on Meth
DDS Of Graduating the Ground Squir-
rels," which are such pest to many
localities.
Professor Beatty gave an instruct
i've talk on preventing smut and s. C..
Armstrong, secretary of the conven-
ton, spoke on advantages Of correct
methods of growing and marketing
grain.
Work Of Railroad Commission.
At the evening session Hon. ]. c..
Lawrence of the state railroad COM
mission told of the benefits Of the
commission to the wheat growers of
the state, and Joseph B. Wing of Chi
cago spoke on Wheat Fields, Old and
New" Mr.. Lawrence said in part:
"The first important work of the
commission was directed to ascertain
ing the value Of railway property in
the state OF Washington. To find such
value it was necessary to find out how
much money the railroads had actually
spent in construction and improve
ments, as well as the cost Of produc-
ton now, less the depreciation in the
use of cars. ties, rails, bridges, etc.
"The method by which this informa-
ton should be secured required care
full study. and several months were
spent in perfecting it. No state had
secured such values for rate-making
purposes.
TN the decision of the courts refer
red to, it was held that a state, in de-
termining the reasonableness Of rates
within the state, should not take into
the profits from inter-
stat traffic.
State and Interstate Values.
"After a careful consideration the
commission determined to divide the
value of its use for state and inter-
state purposes, and to take that valu-
alton representing the use for state
purposes as the amount of capital
stock on which reasonable returns
should be allowed in fixing state
rates.
The work done by the commission
toward encouraging the early adoption
OF the bulk method Of handling wheat
was reviewed.
"It is costing the people Of the state
$4,000 year to maintain the railroad
commission. This win increase rather
than decrease as the work develops
and the scope Of the commission may
be enlarged. A pertinent question is,
what has the commission been worth
to the people? Against the cost IA
dollars arises the question, What has
been the value Of its work in dollars? s
A large part Of the work, as shown, is
prospective In its benefits. OF princi-
pal value to the people In regulations
and corrections Of DETERMINATIONS