Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-10-21
WHAT DRY FARMING
meant TO ARIZONA
STARTED THREE YEARS AGO ~
THAT STATE AND HAS BEEN
VERY SUCCESSFUL
have EXHIBIT At TULSA
Ave Cmntidi Represented Ia tile
Display AT International Soil
Products Exposition.
(BY MALCOLM A. FRASERD
Arizona state Industrial Commits
siOner.)

CBY MALCOLM A, FRASER)
CArizona state Industrial Commits
sioner)
Dry farming In Arizona Is just three
years old, the first active steps to-
wards peopling the so-callod semi
arid valleys OF that state, having
been taken In the spring Of 1911,
through the efforts OF the Prescott
Chamber Of Commerce. .
On the advice of Secretary Burns
Of the Dry Farming congress. then at
! Colorado Springs, Or. " r. Cooke
now minister Of farming in Brazil
was brought to Arizona and made a
thorough Investigation Of soil condi-
tons, rainfall, evaporation and other
questions He pronounced dry farm
ing for a profit more than II probable
ity provided the principle of scien-
tlfic soil culture be followed, and
his predictions have been morS than
verified by such Of the Arizona dry
farmers who have farmed by the use
of modern implements, good stock
and dome small recourse to their
brain power.
r. Arizona first became Identified with
tho Dry Farming congress at the sixth
International exhibition nj Colorado
Springs in 1911, where thirty-two en-
tries carried off twenty six prizes,
mostly gold awards. This exhibition
was made up of products of Yavapai
county only Last year at Lethbrldge.
Alberta. three counties participated.
and at Tulsa products OF the five dry
farming counties Of Arizona will have
their pieces I'm tha state exhibit.
It Is difficult to state shortly what
the dry farming congress has done for
scientific soil cultursts IN Arizona,
but the influence has been strong and
the successful work of farmers in
other states with less rainfall than
that with which Arizona semi-arid
areas are blessed, has greatly enheart-
ened our farmers and increased their
numbers the amount of acreage un-
der cultivation and the profit from
their work.
From having been laughing stock
among the miners and cattlemen
three years ago, the dry farmers OF
Arizona now command the respect
not only Of these men, but they are
obtaining help from experts Of the
University Of Arizona and other in
stltutions. and from the railroads who
own vast stretches of hitherto unpro-
ductlve lands.
A large measure Of this growth in
Arizona is due to the cooperation af-
forded by the International Dry
Farming congress. Arizona farmers
have begun to realize that the exhibit
ton Of their productions abroad fur
nishes not only the best stimulus to
their work, but enables them to learn
from the competition how better to
produce the articles exhibited. The
interchange OF seeds which seem to
be adapted to sections having similar
climatic conditions. has also been OF
vast benefit.
Governor George w. p. Hunt has
always lived and prospered through
mining. but since he became Arizona &
chief executive he has travelled much
over that vast domain and has been
deeply impressed with the sturdy ef-
forts OF the settlers from the middle
west and by the occasional green
spots which present themselves along
the railroad lines, and betoken what
the future may hold in store for ART
zona. Governor Hunt is a member OF
the Dry Farming congress and looked
forward with n great deal Of pleasure
to Joining in the discussions OF this
section. but more pressing duties pre-
vented
The attitude toward settlers in Ari-
zona is in all ways honest and
straightforward. No information
which eXagcrates true conditions is
allowed to be disseminated. on the
contrary. the average settler remarks
that he has found conditions much
more favorable than as they were rep
resented. Recently the Arizona State
Land commission has chosen 1850, 900
acres Of the agricultural and grazing
lands of the state, to he sold to the
highest bidder, the minimum price
per acre being $500. No single pur-
chaser ls allowed more than 1G0 acres
for agricultural purposes. nor more
than $40 acres for grazing. II is ex-
pected that within the next five years
at least % per cent OF these lands,
formerly open for entry under the
HON mestead and desert acts, will be
marketed. and that a large part Will
be in cultivation or under fence FOR
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