The Ordway new era., 1911-06-09
LEARNING FROM U. S.
England to Enlarge Upon Irriga-
tion Methods Used Here.
Sum Of $2,5oo,ooo a Year 10 Available
Now, and AZ Work Broadens
More Money viii Be Ex-
pended as Needed.

States department of agriculture and
by experiment station workers In this
country, and guided in The venture to
no small extent by citing American
experiences and results. Great Britain
Is formulating plans for the greater
development of the economic re
sources of the United Kingdom by
means OF government aid. This move
In England, one Of the most compre.
hensive OF the kind ever undertaken
by any nation. Is OF much interest to
those in this country who are interest.
ed In the American methods Of stimu,
lating agricultural advancement.
The plans are the result Of an act
Of I!arliament known as the develop.
ment and road improvement act. Al
though not restricted to agriculture,
the act seems likely to lead to far
reaching benefits to that industry.
Having studied the methods Of the
American department OF agriculture
and the United States reclamation
service, which was created for the
benefit Of the people through the ef-
forts of the National Irrigation Con.
gress, the British idea is to enlarge
to a considerable extent upon Ameri-
can methods. one Of the first provi.
sions OF the act providing for a board
whose recommendations advances
may be made from the treasury.
These advances may be employed
for the aiding and developing of agri-
culture and rural industries, forestry.
the reclamation and drainage Of unoc-
cupied lands. the general improve
ment OF rural transportation. the con-
struction and improvement of harbors
and inland navigation. the develop
ment and improvement OF fisheries
and for any other purpose which the
commissioners decide will promote the
economic development Of the United
Kingdom.
The funds available for this work
consist Of what is known as the con-
solidated fund. for which the new act
appropriates $2.500.000 annually for
Eve years. To this. however. may be
added any special appropriations which
may be made subsequently. or any
gifts or legacies which may be forth
coming. The fund Is available until
used. and any revenue derived from
such sources as interest or profits In
the repayment OF loans or the sale Of
farm products may also be utilized.
The commissioners constitute the
administrative body in charge Of tho
fund. There are five Of these com.
missioners. appointed by King George
for ten years each. the tenure being
30 devised that the term of one men,
ber expires every two years. Two Of
the commissioners may receive sal.
aries not to exceed $4,000 per year
each.
The term agriculture and rural In.
dustries. as used In the act. 10 subse-
quently defined as including agricul.
ture. horticulture. dairying. the breed.
ing of horses. cattle and other live
stock. the cultivation and preparation
Of fax, the cultivation and manufac.
ture of tobacco. and any industries i'm.
mediately connected with or sub
servient to any OF these. The lines Of
development open also include the
promoting Of scientific research. In.
struction and experiments in the SCI
ence. methods and practices Of agrI.
culture. the organization Of cooperat.
ing bodies, instruction in marketing
produce and the extension OF the pro-
vision OF small holdings. Forestry
work likewise may include expert.
ments. the teaching OF methods of
afforestation and the actual purchase
and planting Of lands.
The road improvement clause pro.
vides for the appointment by the
treasury OF a road board distinct from
the development commissioners No
funds are directly appropriated for
this work. but provision is made for
borrowing money from the consoli.
dated fund or from any other avail.
able source. the sums SO obtained to
be repaid from the road improvement
grant.
The various provisions OF the act
make 1t apparent that broad discre-
tionary powers are vested In the de.
velopment commissioners. and that
the results obtained will be largely in.
fuenced by their decisions regarding
the lines Of work to be entered upon
and the way In which the work is to
be conducted. AS would be expected,
keen interest has been manifested In
the move throughout England. and
the applications for aid already have
been SO general that statement has
been Issued that the grants already
sought would involve. II granted an
expenditure three times greater than
the sum available.
Bordeaux Mixture