The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-29

are to accomplish the industrial de-
velopment of our continent.
Il owe the privilege of attending this
congress to the growing conviction of
my country that irrigation should be a
fundamental feature of agricultural ex-
panSion in our state. This conviction
has been greatly extended by the per-
sistent insistence of the chairman Of
our water supply commission, DR.. FL
wood Mead, who came to us from this
country three years ago. We sent for
DR.. Mead to take charge of a system
of irrigation on which the state had
expended about sixteen million dollars
but from which adequate results had
not been obtained. In his first public
address, he said that he had great con-
fidence in the 100 acre farm. Two
years later, he said he now had equal
confidence in the fifty acre farm and
this is the basis of the new develop
ment.
Need More People.
1.-THE closer settlement of a large
area of irrigated land requires, how
ever, a large number of people. Our
state found itself last year needing 80,
900 people to utilize the surplus of its
irrigation works and we turned to
English speaking nations to secure
them. The next matter to receive con-
sideration was the consideration on
which settlement would be invited.
The state reorganized its closer settle
ment board, authorized it to purchase
100, 600 acres of irrigated lands; to sub
divide this into holding of from two to
200 acres; to sell these to settlers at the
purchase price giving BIZ years time
in which to pay for it, the annual pay
ment which covered both principal and
interest, being 6 per cent of the orig
inal cost.
1.-The state agreed to erect houses
for settlers and to give the settler Is
years to pay for these houses, with in
terest at per cent and to loan to
settlers so per cent of their passage
money for five years. Under these
generous conditions the closer settle
ment of the states irrigated area is
progressing much more rapidly than
we anticipated.
Want Uncle Sam Experts.
I'VE are especially DESTROYS to get
from America some men who know
how to grow sugar beets and alfalfa
hay.
I'VE believe that it would be the
| best thing for the United States to
| give US a few of it's best farmers. The
! demand for American tools which they
would create, and the profitable inter-
course which they would promote
would be of mutual advantage. 1t is
regrettable that there are not more
| facilities for commerce between Aus
/ Jralia and the United States, we being
| lalSS puACHoo0l9 VI SOOl "5ilS I'll q
machinery, steel rails, etc, owing to
J the fact that there is only one port
| from which there is a regular passen
ger line; such a limited service must
initiate against the development of
| trade that otherwise should exist.
! lone of the most enjoyable expert
! ences of this visit has been my visit
| to President Taft and the interest he
| showed in irrigation development no.
only in his own country but in ours
This cordiality was seconded on our
visit to your veteran assembly of ag-
riculture Secretary Wilson has prom
/ ised US the invaluable publications OF
his department and, if nothing else is
| accomplished than the results already
secured. we will believe the time and
| money well spent
Greetings on behalf of the foreign
! countries were extended to the con-
gress by Chew De Grivic of AustriaI
/ Hungary.