The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-10-27

dred men in our penllentiaries and 1
rrformatories for whom We must /
necessarily provide means OF employ
menl and believing that it would bR
better 70 use these men III improving /
our agricultural Interests, which at the
same time would mean the improve
ment OF our towns and cities, until /
some hetter means Of doing this can
be found have made up my mind |
TO urge upon the people OF this state
20 take mp this matter and Keep il be-
fore he public until such time as some
kind of arraneements gre made 70 put
our farms IN better condition than at
The present and urge movement
that viii Immediately put these unem.
ployed men who are being supported
by the state. 20 the work Of building
dams. ponds or some other arrange
menia for preserving the moisture
thar We need during the months OF
inly and August when We have dry
year m his country
Z believe oklahoma could take up
no better slogan than that which has
been recently broached in Missouri
Of WATER FOR EVERY FARM
I'll has been -uggested that reser-
yoirs be established along rivers 10
/ take care OF the overflow waters, Per.
haps tlat scheme could be carried
out. but Why shouldn't a state com.
mission or someone. AXE up the sub
ject and work out a plan Perhaps
Z il might be better for each county 60
handle It's own problem. but be thai,
as Il may let's 10 sumething' I think
IT would be mistake Tor a. % lei
the lesson OF this season BE- wasted
4 We are going to have SUCH seasons as
this occasionally. and we might AS
well make up cur minds to DO what
we can to reduce the evils by making
reasonable preparations Tor presefv.
ing our water and having il at such
times as this when It would mean 60
much 10 our people and TO this state.
"ln addition to studying the matter
OF irrigation while away ! also took
occasion 10 observe the many good
roads built by The state OF Colorado,
with their convict labor. These good
roads have been one Of Colorado's
greatest assets and have not only
meant q great convenience to the citi-
zens but have attracted the invest
ment Of thousands Of dollars in that
state.
Il talked with people ~ho had
charge or had an interest in the work
during the time these roads were be-
ing built by the c0nvicts OF Colorado
and without exception found that ev-
eryone and every person cognizant OF
what had heen done not only praised
the officials of the State for their
work, but assured me that the very
TACT Of working these convicts out on
the roads in the fresh air Hnd the
better treatment. made of them. when
their terms expired, better men. and
: those whose terms had not yet expired
j better prisoners.
IN fact, from every standpoint
Colorado is greatly benefited by rea
son Of working convicts upon her
roads. and why should Oklahoma not
: DC likewisel
~The conditions are such that as
GOOD. If not better. roads can be
made for a minimum cost and. q mini
mum amount OF work. as compared
with the roads that it was necessary
for Colorado to build through heI
, canyons and mountains.
Good roads and practical appli
cation of some scheme OF other. We
tc be figured out OF irrigation woul,
be the greatest thins that 0klahom;
can do for herself It would NO
only assure 70 our farmers. crops
. each year. but would assure to ever
mechanic and laborer in this state
4 work at his own trade in lhe future
/, with good roacs over which TO trans
! port the products OF our irrigated
farms. The Improvement by reason
4 or these roads and this irrigation
I would mean yearly great deal mor'
q to our state than some OF our ricl
9 mineral interests 70 which We pay 81
much attention al the present time.
E Z suggest that the people 81 Okla
' homa take up the matter ~ eool
u roads and Irrigation and that no ston'
a be left nnturned until both are an &C
= complished fact. and u this suggestion
Z. ask that every man n this state
!. who is interested in this movement
either communicate with ne or y
y some way start an agitation and keel
at it untf thsse things are an accom-
!. plished fact"