The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-28


fourth and fifth sessions Of the fourth
Dry Farming congress was the speech
of Louis w. Hill. president of the
Great Northern railroad. His talk this
afternoon was devoted to showing
of the results of the dry farming
movement in Montana. and he proved
by his figures. shown upon charts.
that the state Of Montana is now to
be classed as an agricultural state. Mr..
Hill had little bad luck bccaus" he
wanted the name of the congress
changed from dry farming to
something less suggestive of bar
rem land. In this he was not entirely
alone. but when the vote was taken it
proved that there were too many
against him. In his morning talk. Mr..
Hill declared that the name would
have to he changed or the Great
Northern would. in a measure at least.
Withdraw its support from the move
mcnt. After the noon recess. when he
made his set speech, he prrfaCed ii
with the statement that, no matter
what the action of the congress had
been. he would continue to give tn"
movement the support Of the Great
Northern as far as he was able This
and 1t is foresaid that rcxt year his
effort to change the name will meet
with greater success.
Urges Boosting.
Mr.. Hill said in an interview this
afternoon that the people of Montana
are not alive to their opportunities.
and he urged in his set speech the
pushing of the movement from which
the congress had been organized. Mr..
Hill characterized the government
opening Of the F1athcad reservation as
huge fake. for which they drew pco-
pie from all over the United states To
draw land and only 3 per cent drew
farms. He said the people spent not
less than sl2,000,000 In railroad fares.
and. while the Great Northern got its
share he said that the money was not
what II wanted.
Mr.. Hill has some pronounced ideas.
and he expressed them in Il forcible
manner. He said the biggest mistake
the government is making is in setting
apart a million acres of land for the
Cree Indians. He said that, thorgh
Indians. they are not American In
dams, and that they do not speak the
language of any other United States
tribe. He regards this as Il particn-
larry bad piece of management on the
part Of the government in view of the
fact that the land could he we'll used
by people employing dry farming
methods. Mr.. Hill spoke of the erro-
neous impressions which prevailed in
the east regarding the western
country. saving il Is generally believed
there that this section of tn" country
is barren vast" of land and that the
present designation of the congress
does not tend to diSpci such views VI"
called attention Ia the work hein" dor"
by the railways and said tho railroads
owe duty ta the Deop'e as we'll as the
state. and they do not want To nut
the vest in the classification of
desert"
As to Montana.
Referring particularly tn Montana.
he said: We can get larger yields
of crops Of every description to tn"
acre than in any other state. 1t is now
before the people Of all sections. and
this name should he changed SO that
wrong Impressions shall not bc con-
veyed."
Addresses were delivered at taday's
sessions by Thomas Cooper. assistant
to the president of the Great Northern
railroad Professor W. NJ. Jardine. as
sistant cerealist in charge of dry land
grains nf the United States department
of agriculture: Professor ]. c. Fritz
tcrer of the University of Wyoming:
Professor Walter II. DIN. vice presi-
dent of the Dry Farming congress.
Denver: Professor H. W. Campbell of
Lincoln. Neb.: +. r. Parsons. Parker.
Colo: c. r. Worrai. Clovis \. NJ:
Professor w. III. Fairfield. supcrintend-
ent of the experimental farm. Leth-
bridge. Canada.
The adoption Of the report of tn"
executive committee. which embraced
the new constitution Of the congress.
and the election of officers occupied
the most of the morning session.
Attacks Wilson.
At this afternoons session III. w
Campbell. known as the father of dry
farming delivered an address in which
lie attacked Secretary Wilson of the
department of agriculture.
That the plain and practical farms
of the west have made wonderful
progress in reelaiming the half deserts
without irrigation. in the past quarter
of a century. that what they have done
in the past five wears is little short
of miracle. and that this dry country
is destined to lie the last and best great
grain garden of the world" Was the
declaration OF Hardy W. Campbell of
Nebraska to the Dry Farming con-
gress. He repeated the warning he has
given at previous congresses against
going too fast, and insisted that the