Bisbee daily review., 1909-02-25
MARK SMITH ALWAYS ALERT
 AT CAPITAL
Arizona Delegate Has Estab- liShed Reputation for States manshlp and Resourceful- ness


 the Fl Paso Times sends his paper
 ile following on Mark Smith: WASHINGTON. Feb. 2O.-It Is not
 often that Mark Smith of Arizona
 makes speech in congress and no
 wonder should be expressed at this. in view of the restricted privileges
 of delegate in the house. but when
 tbe sage of Tucson arises in his seat it is usually to voice the rights of
 h.5 native land. This was the case
 the other day while the agricultural appropriation bill WIS under discus
 sion in the lower house and heated debate arose over the merits or ce- merits of soil surveys. A large ele- n.ent favored q liberal appropriation fos the continuation of soil surveys. whereas on the other hand another clement was as determined in it's op- position Co the provisions. declaring
 ttat the work was of no great benefit .o the farmer and therefore a waste of the public funds. and this despite the assurances of a great number of members who are familiar with the charae;er of the work and the praise expressed for it by the agricultural.
 masses.
 Mir Smith was one of those who
 lad heard from the farmers of his
 terrisuy to this effect, and it was not
 long before he precipitated himself in-
 e the discussion which seemed to
 grow warmer and warmer as It. pro
 gressed. Now. Delegate Smith pos
 Scsses a sense of humor that Is sVery taptiTating in congress and has been
 known on more that one occasion 70
 prove the very oil that stills a Item.
 pcstuous sea.
 Sizing up the situation carefully and
 seeing that the aHtis were in the mi
 nority. but making q lot Of noise, he a. once determined 10 pUrsue the.wise course. which was Co Support the proposition in a speech and thUs in-
 gIatiate himself into tbc good wili of the department Of agriculture. The delegate, it will be remembered. has DO vote. and the only thing he can tic at times is to talk. and that is of ten denied him, but this afforded a rare opportunity to help Arizona to get more soil surveys and satisfied taIt the department would not prove 1 . 3grateful. Mir Smith made a strong ald forceful plea for the continuation l Cf soil surveys. He qualified his l statement that he would always be ia | favor of an amendment that would l make possible the prosecution of the l work On a broader scale and provided | always that more of it came to ATi- l zona. Much laughter greeted this re l'ark. and upon the conclusion of his | speech the amendment was agreed 10. i
 If the department of agriculture | fails 10 hear what MT. Smith did for l nore soil surveys il will not Dc his I fault.
 The Smith speech is in. par: as fol- iows:
 Afr Chairman. do not know much about soil surveys, because there has been so little of il done around my country. There has been. as the man before you shows. some surveys made ou the Salt and Colorado rivers. I am informed by various boards Of trade in telegrams received yesterday tat these soil surveys have been of great value in the selection of soil for crops. I am very much in feyor of this amendment, provided ai- V avs that a little more Of it comes to Arizona. U-aughter.) We have tracts of land containing vast number of acres of the finest soil in the world. ! populations to ascertain by costly ex- neriment what crops can be most prof itsbly grown upon it Without dc tsining the committee, should like Co gay that this amendment ] hope will rass. if the appropriation will give 10 ibe soil of that territory a little more II is more needed in the west than elsewhere. for the reasons Indicated. I have no doubt that vast tracts of land lying in many fertilci valleys in Arizona, the great value of which k yet unknown. may shortly b,'come the most fruitful fields on e:-th. when the anxious homeseekerl is informed. through Jhe publication as scientific experiments. Of the crOpsl -o which these lands are peculiarly D 3'apted.
 But if these soil surveys are to be confined t0 old and thlcSIy settled az -icultural districts. l doubt whetheri .he appropriation should be enlarged. These experiments should be largely confined to govern mcnt lands. with Of building homes i8 Che waste places rather than on soils iEati have been cultivated by intellisenJl | farmers for the lasJ fifty OF one hun- fred years.
 ! have iltiic doubt that certain nis-l r,cis in Arizona c0uid grow Che hn ast tobacco in the world Eu; who Is O ascertain this fact2 The poor seI- fer is not able to do it He can ls rely make good living on his lit le homestead entry in the desert by .aisins the crops costing the least ia- 1or. He cannot afford to hire help O experiment on the agricultural possibilities of the soil. am sure the , inest cotton in the world can be sfoWn on thousand of acres of the 1, ,Gbiic domain in Arizona. Soil sur 'eys should reveal to the cotton grow ITS this fact and make the growing v that staple a great western indus ry. I hope the amendment will bel o0pted. but whether 1t is or moi. 'Bcerely hope that much larger sum . aan usual under this soil survey ap- ' ,rOpriation may be dedicated 10 it's ht eSt purpose. in pointing out 10 the ! the lands on which, byl B ndustry and intelligent work. be may ( Ind shelter and comfort for his fam " on farm and under a roof of