The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-17
WEST PROSPEROUS.
DECLARES WILSON
Secretary Returns to the
Capital After an Ex-
tended Tour.

Secretary Of Agriculture-Japes Wilson
returned to Washington today after a
protracted tour Of the Western states
He returned impressed with the pros
perity he had seen on every hand in the
West.
The farmers said Secretar.r Wilson,
are buying more farms and more au-
tomobiles. The prospects this year are
for big crops. The prices OF land are
steadily going up"
Secretary Wilson offers little encour-
agement of the idea Of cheaper cost Of
living.
4 see no prospect" he said, of
cheaper meats. Cattle and other live
stock are high. Meats will not be
cheaper this winter. The price Of corn
is dear and is now about 60 cents. 1t
will 20 higher.
The ranchers in much Of the West
are going out OF business" added the
Secretary. New settlers are going in
and occupying the ranches, and break
ing them up into small farms. They
are not producing as much meat as the
rancher In time they will produce
more. Through the reclamation work
and the dry land farming. we are going
TO have greater production Of crops and
live stock Just now, production is not
keeping pace with the increase of popu-
lation.
Better Methods.
I'VE must use better methods Of farm
ing, more intensive methods. believe
the high prices will help to bring about
these better methods"
The severe drought in the corn belt
has hurt the corn, according to Secre-
tary Wilson. but there is gtiIl a big
crop in sight. The grain crops gener-
ally. he SAYS, are fine, and while there
are some short pastures the hay crop
is good.
While in the West, IN Idaho. Utah.
Colorado. and other Rocky mountain
States, Secretary Wilson gave especial
attention 70 the question of dry-Iand
farming. He says that he has lived
through two great movements OF pop
ulation West Now, third movement
is in progress It is the movement 10
settle up the Eemi-arid lands Of the
West. embracing hundreds Of millions
Of acres from the One-hundredth mer-
idian west to the Pacific coast
The problem Of helping the vast num-
bers Of settlers pouring into these re-
gfOus IS a great one. Secretary Wilson
has been studying II, and Is setting all
his available experts TO work on II. He
IS convinced there are great pJssibil-
titles in IL. but the system now in use
OF dry-land farming. tho invention Of
a man named Campbell. he pronOunces
wrong and hurtful The great problem
is how 10 get plants TO grow in the soil
which can he plOwed under and increase
the soil fertility and help the soil 10
hold such moisture as does fall.
Departments Work.
Secretary Wilson says that certain al
faIfas and clovers found by Or. Han
sen in Siberia. the common sweet clover
OF the Middle West, which will grow
anywhere and even the Russian thistle
are valuable, and the great work be
fore the department Is to spread the
use OF such plants and grasses.
Another problem is TO teach the people
not 20 waste the water In the irrigated
country Study Is being given the ques-
ton Of how much land can be watered
by a windmill and Il Is found this ranges
from two to five acres, depending on
conditions. Secretary Wilson feels there
are great prospects for increased pro
duction in the irriEable lands and the
dry lands.
Secretary Wilson investigated the
question Of whether the complaints that
too much farm land is included in the
forest reserve are well founded. He
found the people wanting more grazing
land taken into the reserves. instead OF
less. and that there was little farm land
included.
Secretary Wilson attended the pure
food convention at Denver. He SAYS
the enforcement Of the pure food laws
will go ahead as before and that there
has never been any controversy save
on half-dozen questions. and that the
law has been enforced effectively.
AS 20 the Ballinger-PinchOt Contro-
versy, Mr. Wilson declined TO comment
Nor would he discuss politics.