The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-07-14
CONSERVATION
FIRST MEETING FOR PRESERvA-
TON OF NATURAL WEALTH
OF GREAT INTEREST
FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT
Many Subjects Of Vital importance in
States Development We're
Considered and Dis
cussed

Pierre-The first conservation and
development congress ever held in
south Dakota has closed its session,
n the results cannot but be bene-
hclaI in many ways.
Foremost it stands out as a gather
Ing OF the most representative citizen
ship Of the state. Men of prominence
IN practically every walk of life made
II their duty to attend the meeting,
n while many Of them took no active
part they are none the less interest
ed In what the different speakers had
TO say in regard to the many and
varied subjects assigned to them.
While many different subjects were
considered, through all the work ran
the Idea of agricultural conservat' on
IN some of its forms. Whether the
subject was that of the home, the
school, the mines or the factory, each
was placed in the light where it in
directly If not directly benefited the
large class of people who make their
living in the Sunshine state through
agricultural pursuits.
The delegates who came from every
part Of the state showed their interest
In the work of the speakers. man
times by asking questions to brig
out some point OF special interest il
a manner more clear to the aud ence.
Principal Of all the propositions pre-
sented was that Of conservation Of
soil and moisture. Fer while it is a
fact that a large territory along the
eastern border of South Dakota is a.
present engaged in immense d. ain
ing plans to get rid of the suTplur
waters, which for a number Of years
have made a part Of the state un it
for cultivation, it Is true also that a
large part Of the state lies in territory
where conservation of moisture he
ONE a necessity at some time In
practically every crop season, howe e"
much rainfall the whole season may
show.
While South Dakotans will work m
der the banner of Conservation" tNis
will mean not only that alone, hut
development and state building in all
it's phases. 1t will be broad enough
in its work to cover every phase Of
Industrial life in the state, and will
build by conserving to the people #
the state what is their own. To build
up the farm to a higher state Of pro
ductiveness through more intelligent
application of well-knOwn scientific
principles to soil and civilizations; to
aid in the development of fruit Cul-
ture, which work has been 50 well
started by PrOfessOd Hansen Of the
State School of Agriculture; to make
the schools more efficient: to bring
to the state better highways-these
are some of the intentions.
The endorsement by the delegates Of
tn doctrine of good roads, AID the
creation Of an immioratiOn bureau For
the state, will have a strong hea'ing
upon legislative action at the coming
session along both of these lines.
Among the delegates were mH0 le"is-
lative candidates, and with their in
dOrsement before the opening Of the
session. the movement both re eiVed
a great momentum.
The good roads problem is another
in which the legislatures have a So
lutely refused any forward movement.
They have retained the antiGuated
method of working out road taxes, 70
the detriment of the roads. The prop
Osition of the resolution committee is
for Joint national. state and county
expense of maintenance, but 10 begin
I with securing legislation which VIII
place the roads under county. instead
Of district control. From this it is
hoped to work to the point Of state,
then national aid. along that line. the
position being that toe national co.
eminent Is interested in the comfy
road as a post road: the state is in
terested on the grounds Of general
| travel upon the roads by the people
Of the state from all sections. and the
county Is interested in the local traf-
fc of it's people. With such a com
bined interest, each Is asked to do its
share toward bringing the time when
the public roads will be a benefit in
stead of a disgrace for a large part
of the year.
The educational men who were on
the program, however. foreign their
subject might be, each and all took
occasion to SLAM" the present COM
mon school system, which Is getting
TO be pretty well scored all over the
country at the present time. What Is
demanded by all who touched thu SUI
iect was a complete r%eorgani- alton W
the system to bring into the crrri-
culum the teaching of something
which will he of material beneft to the
hoys and girls of the state after thew
have left the school room-not to teach
under a system which requires the
nupil to go outside of what is taught
him in the school room as soon as
he begins to meet the real problems
Of life.
Elementary agriculture. man"a'
training and domestic science appeared
70 he the PRINCIPAL demands as to
what should be brought into s hoo'
life. But the need of a completa re.
or,opi1otiop of the common &. hOOl
system was declared by all to be the
CRYING need OF the educational de-
ne rtment of the public. and to prevent