The Elk Mountain pilot., 1909-11-04
SPOKANE GETS
NEXT CONGRESS
EASTERN WASHINGTON METROP.
OILS WINS OVER STRONG
COMPETITORS.
ADOPTED
OPPOSE WITHDRAWAL OF PUB
LIc LANDS BY INTERIOR AND
INDIAN DEPARTMENTS.

Billings, Mont.-Spokane won its
fight and the fifth Dry Farming Con-
gress will be held there.
There were but three contestants
for the next meeting, Spokane. Colo
RADIO Springs and Rapid City. S. d.
At Thursdays session the most i'm
portant matter considered was the re-
port of the resolutions committee. In
the report adopted strong sentiment
against the policies of the Interior
and Indian Departments with refer
ence to Withdrawals of public land Is
expressed. At least two of the reso-
lutions call the attention OF the gov
ernment to the matter. One asks the
government to thoroughly investigate
the withdrawal from entry of more
than 100000 acres of public land in
Northern Montana for the purpose Of
allotting 1t to a band OF 1875 Canadian
Indians known as the Rocky Boys.
| The resolution concludes:
And II the facts are found to be as
recited herein to reopen these lands
to settlement by actual farmers"
| The resolution refers to the i'm
mense areas OF unsurveyed land in
\ sections now being rapidly settled:
urges upon the government their early
survey and requests members of Con-
| gress to give their attention to the
subject
Another resolution petitions the
government to classify and make sub
| ject to sale to actual settlers the mil
lions of acres OF rough. mountainous
lands unfit for dry farming. as graz
ing land. and suggests that such land
should only be sold to persons resid-
ing in the vicinitW that payments
should continue over period of ten
years before patent would be issued
and that such contracts by the gov
ernment should not be transferable.
Other resolutions adopted include
an Endorsement OF national farm lands
congress to be held in Chicago No.
vember 16: asking for a weather bu.
reau expert at each experiment sta.
ton in the states represented In the
congress: that the secretary of the
interior devise means to expedite is
suance OF final receivers receipts and
patent to homesteaders: praising the
work OF the Department OF Agricul
ture along dry farming lines, and the
discoveries OF DIR. Aaron Aaronson OF
Haifei. Palestine. along the lines OF
scientific soil culture and adaptability
to certain grains.
Hon. II. F. Newell, director of recla
nation service. in his address. said:
"The ideal combination of condi
tions leading to success in farming
in the arid and semi-arid West is
relatively small tract OF well irrigated
land adjacent to large area OF dry
farming and grazing land. This per
mits OF the widest diversity of occupa
ton and the rounding out of an estab
lishment practically complete in 1t.
self"
Hon. F. w. Mondell. the new presi
dent of the congress. said:
THE dry farmer upon the public do
main needs more than the historic
quarter section homestead. hence Con
gress provided. after some hesitation,
and against a good deal of opposition
in cerain quarters. 320-acre home
stead. A very energetic dry farmer
can successfully farm even a larger
area than this successfully. but the
32O-acre homestead offers sufficient in.
ducement to encourage the dry farm
ing OF many millions of acres of the
still unoccupied public domain.
III were going to advise those
who are seeking lands for dry farm
ing on the public domain. in general
terms l would say take to the hills,
seek the high lands; do not file on
lands where you can make adobe brick
and as between the east and west
slope of a range or divide select the
west slope.
Il am believer In the policy of bi.
ennial cropping. 1t is not essential to
success in all dry farming regions but
| believe in the long run 1t will be
found to be the most economical and
altogether satisfactory system in ev.
cry region with less than 20 inches
Of annual precipitation. and in many
regions of even greater precipitation.
Above all things, the dry farmer,
to be successful. must farm we'll"
Thursday night the close of the con-
gress was attended by a large crowd
of delegates. A banquet given by the
retiring officers to the new officers,
and members of the press, was a fea-
ture.