El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-20

y S5,ooo'OoO was represented oy
L - Southwestern Alfalfa associa-
ton members who met at the chamber
Of commerce Wednesday afternoon 70
perfect an organization that WOuLu
safeguard ana conserve this great re
source Of The southwest Claims rang
ing from the statement that the alIalIa
crop would become the southwest S
greatest product to the statements
that the huge irrigation systems now
being built would cause a rulnous over
production, were made
So extensive was the field covered IN
the various arguments that the meet
ing was continued at $3.50 Inufsdsty
morning. The meeting was originally
intended 10 be held at Clint, but a con-
fusion as 10 the place Of meeting re-
suited in FL PasO being chosen
Alfalfa Growing Discussed.
The present status Of alfalfa grow
ing in the southwest and the bearing
OF the proposed association were DIS
cUssed in the report Of president How
ard Russell, who is head Of the Ioyan
Valley Cooperative association The re-
port Of the president read In part as
follows
1--WE are gathered here TO devise ways
and means to grow better crops, 10 bet
ter market the crops and for the pur-
pose OF having a general conference
among the members Alfalfa growing
is comparatively a new industry. even
though IL has already grown TO huge
proportions So new is 10 that many Of
the plans for growing are Inefficient
The federation is also new and IL is
up 10 the members TO make il strong
factor that viii not only result in the
best possible methods being applied TO
the growing Of alfalfa, but also TO the
marketing Of our product Some years
ago a federation was formed but IL
was so loose that IL did little good
Now, however we have the opportunity
D. D. q
utmost benefit TO the alfalfa growers
Of this section
Must Extend Market.
-One Of our first objects must be the
extending Of our selling fields There
may be huge OverprOducrton when
all the land that IL is now contemplated
to irrigate under government projects
is placed in cultivation The farmer
is not wise 10 give all his energies and
land 10 the production Of alfalfa The
rapidly extend our markets. TO the
great advantage Of all"
The possible elimination Of the brOk-
ers. by the establishment of a selling
agony; necessity Of strict grading OF
product with suggestion that the
state legislature be called upon TO fix
a standard weight for alfalfa bales,
were other points covered In the adj
dress Honest growers were Just as
necessary To the continued success OF
the industry as honest dealers the re-
port stated The central selling office.
10 be located I'm FL PasO. was advocated
The high tide OF the alfalfa industry
Of the southwest viii center in FL Pasos
the report concluded
Rate Expert Makes Address.
Rufus b. Daniel. OF Ell PasO, a freight
rate expert, addressed the meet
ing on freight rates There never
was and never viii be a freight rate
thac viii be reasonable in the eyes Of
all" he said. Low grade freight like
alfalfa should pay a low rate Recent
". however, the railroad commission OF
the state has recommended a IS percent
increase and this. Of course. viii make
an increase on the charges on alfalfa
shipped from FL Paso. The railroads
came here TO set TO the coast. and onw
that the Rio Grande valley has de-
velOped, there is no reason that its
rate"
IF we can keep the faith with which
we have started. we viii maintain a fine
organization" said c. A Thompson. OF
Anthony. Il wish 20 say that I do not
agree with the president in the state
meut that the brokers should be eliml-
mated. You can find good brokers who
get the business. Just as IL is true that
you can find crooked brokers Until
the federation is strong enough TO deal
direct with the little buyers. we will
have plenty Of use for the brokers' I
think that IL viii be many years be-
fore we can get a central selling
agency and 7 believe that IL is better
that We continue. for the time being,
at least, TO retain our powers locally"
Defends Honest Brokers.
That there were honest brokers and
that the central selling plan was good