Evening star., 1914-10-25

fected the optimism of the irrigation
| farmers in the
Irrigation Makes western states.
En-, p~o,nor;%% With agriculture
as the principal
| industry, the western people, par
| ticularly those operating on large ir-
| rigation projects, have already begun
| to reap the benefits of the increased
prices for foodstuffs. Clarence J.
Blanchard, statistician of the United
States reclamation service has Just
returned to this city. after visiting
all of the government irrigation
projects, and. according to his reports
the western irrigation farmers look
forward to one of their most PROSPER
Gus years
The irrigated west'' said Mr.
Blanchard yesterday, lis just now
taking an inventory of the greatest
crop i'll its history and the settlers are
correspondingly optimistic and cheer
ful. The effects of the war have been
felt as yet but slightly, because the
prices OF all general crops are good,
with rising tendency. Settlers in the
governments irrigated lands are max
ing substantial progress in all lines
pioneering on the reclamation prof.
ects is largely passed and with in
creased areas in successful tillage the
returns are promoting good feeling.
Secretary Lanes New Year prom
Use, We shall endeavor to give you
full opportunity to make good has
been fulfilled in good faith. During
the long period of congressional de-
bate over the Secretary's twenty-year
extension bill payments on farms We're
postponed and all proper measures of
relief were extended to encourage re-
newed efforts on the part of the farm
ers to increase their irrigated acreage.
The splendid results of Secretary
Lanes policy are manifest everywhere.
Crops on government projects never
looked better. An addition of 100000
acres to the producing area has been
made and healthy increase in the
number of new homes has followed.
Zone of the most encouraging fea-
lures of the progressive work now un-
der way on the reclamation projects is
found in the various forms of co-opera-
tion now being initiated One of the
best evidences of the new agriculture
is found in the educational facilities
which these people have established.
You will look far indeed to find more
! lures which have been built during the
past two years. The consolidated
schools uniting the country and the
| town are. common, and their popularity
spells the end of hundreds of the little
and lonesome red schoolhouses which
have occupied SO much space in fiction
and poetry.
The daily mingling of children from
both the town and the farm in the new
consolidated schools on the reclama-
ton projects is promoting an era of
good fellowship among all the people.
On these projects many of the farmers
are prominently identified with the
cham berS of commerce, boards of trade
and other civic associations Co-opera-
tion is found in good roads work, in
| creameries, canneries. cold storage
| plants, banks. and in organizations for
producing and marketing special crops.
There is growing up fine community
spirit which is adding greatly to the
attractions of country life.
The development of electric power
| on several projects has stimulated the
farmers to make use of this cheap force
| in their farming operations. 1t is some
what surprising for the visitor to go
upon these projects which only five
| years ago were desert and uninhabited,
and find modest houses equipped with
electrical apparatus which represents
| an investment probably equal to the
cost of the house itself. In numerous
such houses you will find electric heat
ers. electric cooking stoves and electric
| lights The cream separator and the
churn, as well as the pump and the
feed grinder, are operated by electricity.
| In many houses / found the housewife
| with electric iron putting the finishing
| touches to the family laundry. On the
Minidoka project in Idaho groups of
farmers have Incorporated. built their
own transmission lines, and are now
distributing power to their homes In
the towns electricity is gradually re-
placing coal; the hotels. stores, schools
and residences are being heated with
electricity, and the government is sup
plying the lights for these communi-
| ties.
Groups of farmers here and there are
buying their farm implements in CO.
| operation and are working together il,
! harvesting of the crops. Community
purchases of registered stock for breed
| ing purposes are frequent. In various
other ways the irrigated west is forg-
| ing ahead and in numerous instances
setting an example of intelligent and
practical advancement which may well
| be followed by older communities"
X
| The fighting in Europe has called at