The Daily Missoulian., 1909-10-27

Billings, Oct. 2S.-Ihat big iight
Is to he made tn change the name 81
the dry farming congress became APP
parent mt the very first session of til"
fourth annual meeting which convened
here today. The movement cropped
out a half dozen times and il certain
tn be a feature of every business ses-
sion until it Is settled one way or the
other. Suggestions for a suitable sub
stitute for the word dry are forth
coming. but none seems tn suit all.
Some want il to be scientific" while
others favor the term 'pra ctical."
The opening sessions were largely
attended and were of great interest to
the delegates. The first session was
taken up with the addresses OF well
come. chief of which was that Of
Governor Norris of Montana.
Norris Speech.
Governor Edwin l.. Norris of Mon
tana. in calling the Second Intcrna-
tinnal Dry Farming congress to order.
said in part:
Ladies' and Gentlemen-Tha people
of Montana extend tn the delegates at
tending the Second International Dry
Farming congress Il welcome as hearty
rs our area is extensive and as gener-
Gus as our spirit of hospitality is broad.
And here. when the opportunity is first
offered. permit me to dieress suff-
ci"ntiy to express my objection To the
word dry in the title of this congress
II is misnomer: it is not truly de-
scriptive. and conveys wrong i'm
preston to those familiar with the
cultivation of the soil by irrigation
or by moisture from seasonable rain
fall. In my opinion. it Is no more cor
rect to call farming without irriga-
tion in semi-arid regions dry farming
than il would be to designate the eli
mate Of the north pole as tropical II
seems scarcely necessary to explain
that | am referring to the actual tenn
perature of the north pole and not that
existing between the discorerers of
that long sought for place.
More Suitable.
Il trust that this congress will adopt
n name that will more correctly de-
scribe cultivation with moisture stored
in the soil | am informed by Louis
w. Hill that unless "A more appropriate
name is selected the Great Northern
Railway company will seriously con-
slider the adrisahilitr of withholding
future contributions for the support of
the congress.
THE lands in the rain belt are rapid
" reaching their HIGHEST degree of ef-
ficiency. and the reclamation of arid
lands cannot he indefinitely postponed.
There are millions of acres Of lands
that can be scientifically farm"d. and
il is from such lands that the added
production must come IN supply the
increased demands. There are nit
lions nf acres of lands that await only
the touch of the intelligent and dill
gent farmer to become productive, The
day for the use of the waste placIs of
the earth is At hand. Production Is
not the only benefit that will result
from scientific cultivation. The con-
servatinn of moisture in the soil by
cultivation as Il means of raising crops
without irrigation will teach the users
Of water for irrigation purposes the
economic value of such storage. Much
thorough cultivation or irrigated soil
and the use of less water will follow.
thus leaving Il surplus nf water for
otiisi 1StAaI puiIost~
Valuable Service.
"Those engaged in the work of teach
ing the principles of scientific farming
are performing valuable service
Those of us who live i'm the west and
have observed its splendid develop
ment. look with pride upon this final
conquest nf the d, sert. We have long
known that the West will be the gran
airy of the nation. and We now realize !
that the so-called dry lands will he the ]
largest contributing factor. Progress. !
prosperity and the highest type nf civil
lization GO hand in hand with the cul-
tivation nf the soil.
I'VE are pleased tn have YOU see this
splendid young state. In know our peo- !
pic and tn assist lis in the development /
of n great industry. We have noun
,ains that contain minerals of untold
value: immense wealth in our extern
sive forests. that also serve as reser-
y0irs for water: rich and productive .
valleys. and water 10 reclaim them ~
the extent of millions of acres: swift
running streams that will produce
power tn supply all industrial needs:
ranges sufficient tn sustain millions
of head nj livestock during the grazing
season: Il vast domain that will yield
when scientifically cult /
waited: we have everything tn make
glad the heart If the hame builder
Preston IT, Moss. chairman of the
Montana hoard If control. also wei
coined the delegates.
Friendly Talk.
James j, Hill. chairman II the hoard !
of directors of the Great Northern