The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1913-08-29

dred men in our penitentiariss ana
reformatories for whom we must
necessarily provide means OF employ
ment and believing that 1t would be
better to use these men in improving
our agricultural interests, which at the
same time would mean the improve
ment of our towns and cities, until
some better means of doing this can
be found, | have made up my mind
to urge upon the people of this state
to take up this matter and keep 1t be-
fore the public until such time as some
kind of arrangements are made to put
our farms in better condition than at
the present, and | urge movement
that will Immediately put these unem.
ployed men who are being supported
by the state, to the work of building
dams, ponds or some other arrange.
ments for preserving the moisture
that we need during the months of
July and August, when we have a dry
year in this country.
81 believe Oklahoma could take up
no better slogan than that which has
been recently broached in Missouri
of WATER FOR EVERY FARM
ut has been suggested that reser
vohS be established along rivers to
take care of the overflow waters. Per.
haps that scheme could be carried
out, but why shouldn't a state com
mission or someone, take up the sub
ject and work out a plan? Perhaps
it might be better for each county tn
handle its own problem, but be that
as 1t may, let's do something! / think
IL would be mistake for US to let
the lesson of this season be wasted.
We are going to have such seasons as
this occasionally, and we might as
well make up our minds to do what
we can to reduce the evils by making
reasonable preparations for preserv.
ing our water and having 1t at such
times as this when it would mean so
much to our people and to this state.
"In addition to studying the matter
OF irrigation while away, | also took
occasion to 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 a great convenience to the citi.
zens but have attracted the invest
ment of thousands OF dollars in that
state.
Il talked with people who had
charge or had an interest in the work
during the time these roads were be.
ing built by the conyicts of Colorado
and without exception found that ev.
| eryone and every person cognizant OF
what had been done, not only praised
the officials of the State for their
work, but assured me that the very
iact of working these convicts out on
the roads in the fresh air and the
better treatment. made of them, when
their terms expired, better men, and
those whose terms had not yet expired.
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
do likewise?
"The conditions are such that as
good, IL not better, roads can be
made for a minimum cost and mini
mum amount of work, as compared
with the roads that it was necessary
for Colorado to build through her
canyons and mountains.
Good roads and a practical appli.
cation of some scheme or other, yet
to be figured out, OF irrigation, would
be the greatest thing that Oklahoma
can do for herself. 1t would not
only assure to our Farmers, crops
each year. but would assure to every
mechanic and laborer in this state,
work at his own trade in the future.
with good roads over which to trans
farms, The improvement by reason
of these roads and this irrigation
would mean yearly great deal more
TO our state than some of our rich
mineral interests to which we pay so
much attention at the present time.
Il suggest that the people Of Okla
homa take up the matter of good
roads and irrigation and that no stone
be left unturned until both are an ac-
compllshed fact and in this suggestion
| ask that every man in this state.
who is interested in this movement.
either communicate with me or In
some way start an agitation and keep
at It until these things are an accom-.
plished fact"
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Ourno anurov,nr