Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-11-25
THE WEST TO BLAME.
FOR HIGH COST OF LIVING so
so SAYS WILSON.
Secretary Of Agriculture Made Ad-
dresses at Chicago, saturday--Cut-
ting Up of Big Ranges Into Small
Farms Reduces the Meat Harvest
He Tells His Remedy for Same.

The United States land irrigation ex-
position was formally opened Satur-
day in Chicago. James Wilson, secre-
tary of agriculture, delivered the prin-
cipal address. He declared that the
homesteader of the west is in part to
blame for the present high cost of
living, and also predicted return to
hard times under democratic control of
congress.
"The homesteader, he said, "is re-
ducing the field of operations of the
ranchman, which is reducing the meat
harvest of the west and becoming quite
factor in the cost of living.
"Other causes,' he said, care the
great immigration to this country, and
the movement to the cities.'' The
recent tumble in prices of meat he at
tributed to drought in the range coun-
try, and to the big corn and oat crops.
He declared that much remains to
be done in improving the country Is
farming conditions. The new lands
opened up under the homestead act
of half century ago "were often ex-
plotted" he said, " for temporary profit
by soil robbers, who were experts of
their kind" Owing to such manage
ment the yield Of the acre in the
United States gradually decreased.
Little intensive farming was done.
Soil Can Be Redeemed.
"But none of our Soils" he added,
care beyond redemption. The soils of
the country are the greatest asset the
nation has. Progress in all directions
depends upon the condition of the soil,
and there is no material inquiry of
such great value as that which per-
tains to our soils"
After speaking briefly Of what al
ready has been done by the depart
ment of agriculture in establishing ex-
pertinent stations and agricultural
colleges in various states, and sending
experts into all parts of the world to
discover new grains and plants most
suitable for cultivation under all
weather and soil conditions, he told of
further needs. t"The day will come, "
.he declared, ''when irrigation will be
applied as matter of national neces-
sity to the growing of crops in the
humid regions of the country, some
thing that has been done for hundreds
of years in European countries that
have over 40 inches of rainfall.
Must Build Reservoirs.
"We will have to begin at the
sources of our rivers in the mountains,
where the rivllet forms the creek and
the creek eventually forms the river.
Reservoirs will be built at the heads
of our streams to be used in periods
of drought. All countries of which l
have any knowledge have periods of
drought. Some of our states have go
inches of rainfall, and yet they have
periods of drought. These dry times
prevent the growing of maximum crops
"But more is needed than irrigation
Those who grow crops by irrigation de-
pend too much upon added water, and
too little upon cultivation of the soil. .
He cited the sugar beet industry, point
ing out that whereas the average yield
in this country is 10 tons an acre a
reasonably good yield would be 20 tons
"When they reach that point, - he con
tinued, "we can produce within the
continental United States all the sugar
our people need. We are paying out il
the neighborhood Of $100,000,000 yeal
for sugar that could be grown here il
our farmers understood how to grow
the sugar beet. Efforts are being made
by the federal and state governments
to help in these directions.
Praises Progress in South.
He spoke in glowing terms of the
work being done in the southern states
in the way of offering prizes to boys
who would produce bumper crops Of
corn, potatoes, tobacco and othet
things. cit is only a question o.
time, !" he added, "when the south viii
ship cattle and hogs to the great cen
tiers of population, and contribute
toward the food of our people. 1t ha
increased its maximum of crops thu
last two years.
"All parts of the country, the cas-
particularly he said, "should pro
duce more of its own fruits, which,
he added. care at home there but no
grown anywhere in sufficient guam
Ftities to enable the people Of the Unite,
States to get fruit at reasonable prices