The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-04

which amounted to s43O, 600 600 for that
period. This is SO times as much as
appropriated for agricultural purposes.
This session the senate has passed a
bill providing for So, 100000 to pay Tor
a few acres of land in Washington to
give a better view of the capltoi. This
is the kind of reclamation which Wash
ington understands and to improve
these few acres the legislators are ready
to give one-quarter as much as given
for agriculture.
IF the government would spend 11A
million dollars q year for II years for
drainage surveys and in opening water
ways to the Gulf, it will make available
%, 600 600 acres of Mississippi valley
land for cultivation and this would be
at a cost of IS cents an acre. This
average would provide so acre farms
for 312,e00 families or a million and
half people. It costs $35 an acre to
reclaim land by irrigation The states
of Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana
are begging for money for reclamation
by drainage but the politicians at
Washington are not disposed to heed
their appeals. ooo
During the last five years 100000
Americans, principally farmers, have
left the United States for Canada ana
they took with them $1,000 each. Cana
dian officials, all of whom are taking
q personal interest in securing the bese
class of farmers for their country, eS-
innate that this year they will get l30.-
900 American farmers and that they Will
bring with them $130,000,000.
Too Much Politics.
Nearly all we hear from Washington
is ahount military eyploitations and IN
important political controversies: Inere
is no word of encouragement Tor the
deveIopment OF the countTy's resources:
If we Rad men in public life VINO Woulo
take the same interest in working out
these questions on a practical common
sense basis, leaving OF tneir tlr4oes
against the railroads. their services
would he of greater advantage to the
farmers ard consumers TFe klho o.
notifies which has been preached 70 the
farmers for 20 years has Kept the tariff
ers from advancing their interests anu
Leeping pace with those who are Or
oonized To arrive at the high busl-
1Iess standard to which tie farmers are
destined. their business, like others,
must be conducted in the most econonll-
cal manner.
ar rroposing closer relations be-
tween the farmer and the railroad L
know that some politicians VIII crltl-
Give nv motives, but 1 appreciate the
fact that in having : business taik Win
Won am talking to the largest proouc-
ers Of railroad freight and 1t is TO our
mutual interest to talk over thlhss eilu
know each other better.
..rT1e farmers and the railroads nave
something to cooperate with ana Sohe
thing to cooperate for. me produces
md supplies of the farms constitute ~
per cent of the freight of the western
rai1roa5s. 1t is to our interest to work
with you in bettering your markenng
facilities, for the more prosperous YOU
. ,-e the mere business you have for us.
In working out economics. the consumer
is also benefited. First let US eliminate
The men who talk radical ideas to roster
hatred and malice between the producer
and transporter. Taking your prod9cts
&c. x-o,lr- farms to the market and in
aiding YOU to get the best prices are
The wavs in which we can prohtably
work together. We do not need any
middle agent. We can talk straight at
one another and save money by doing
co IN short, let US work together