davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06
PAGE THREE

my discussion Of results to the work
with which am personally familiar.
The state has built a system Of
canals and reservoirs which covers one
million and half acres Of land, and
has cost about s16,000,O0000. Prac-
ticaIly all this land was privately
owned when the works were built.
Many Of the farms or ranches were
large, varying from 1000 to 10000
acres. The average number of people
to the square mile under the largest
scheme, which embraces over mil
lion acres, were less than ten. This
was in state which has the climate
of Southern California, and grows the
same valuable and diversified prod
ucts. What was needed was ten times
as many people and small farms in
stead of great estates. In America,
! this change would have been left to
private enterprise. In Victoria, the
( state is working the transformation.
1t is doing it in the following way:
/ An area is chosen for closer settle
ment. To this area an ample supply
of water for irrigation is allotted. The
works to distribute this water are
built and a charge is imposed on the
land that pays interest and operating
expenses. The state then says to the
! l
pusory charge for water may work
you {. hardship; if this is so and you
are unable to cultivate your land and
use the water allotted, the state will
buy the land at price fixed by three
impartial valuers and find settlers who
will value the opportunities which
irrigation Offers" The land owner IS
usually willing to sell and the LOCO
acres and the 10000 acre estates arc
coming into public ownership. The
land bought by the state is classified
and subdivided with the object OF
meeting the needs of all classes OF
settlers. There are two-acre blocks
for the farm laborer, ten to thirty
acre blocks for orchards and vine
yards, forty to one hundred acre farms
for the dairymen and alfalfa growers
and few larger holdings for mer
of ample means, the limit on sizs
of holdings being fixed by value rather
a than acreage.
The purchase and subdivision OF
land under irrigation schemes in Vie
toria by the state gives cheaper lana
e to the settler, better arrangement ol
S canals and more equal distribution Of
o water, than does the haphazard prl
I vate subdivision of private land.
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06
AUSTRALIAN PLAN
OF DEVELOPMENT

address by DR.. Elwood Mead, c. Ed |
For the past seven years I have
had the privilege of working for a
government that has shown great
wisdom and sagacity in its social and
industrial legislation. Nowhere has
this been more conspicuous than in it's
land and water laws and the policy
folio wed in irrigation development. In
this it has blazed trails which this
country can follow to advantage. Re-
Gently ] explained to Governor john
son Of California the methods by
which Victoria, one of the Australian
states, is securing settlers on it's irri-
gated lands and aiding them to rapidly
become self-supporting and prosper
Gus. He was greatly interested and
asked me to come to this convention
as a delegate from California and eX-
plain what | told him. Believing that
q national policy of aid to settlers Oil
irrigated lands will prove of immense
value in developing this country and
stop the drift of American farmers to
other lands, | availed myself of the
Governors suggestion, and did this
the more readily because of the op-
portunity of meeting many whom I
had formerly known.
The absence of adequate financial
help for settlers, during the first five
years, is the main cause for the stag
nation in irrigation development in
this country, and for the calling Of
this conference. One only needs to
put himself in the place of the set
tier to realize what costly and seri-
Gus venture it is to attempt to trans
form unimproved land into an irri-
gated farm and how much danger
there is to the man of small capital
that the attempt will prove disaster.
Before the settler can have any re-
turn from his land he must do many
things not required in an unirrigated
country. A house must be built,
bitches dug, land cleared and graded,
seed sown and the somewhat difficult
art of irrigation mastered under un-
tried conditions before he can have
any return. While this is being done
there is no return. His scanty capital
is swallowed up in living expenses.
Often there is much hardship for him.
self and his family. Many a poor
settlers wife has aged ten years in
ten months. If money has to be bor-
rowed, interest rates are excessive
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06

earlier generation of irrigators, until
the marvel is not that many fail, but
that any endure. With water rights
costing from $4,000 to $4,000 per
acre, and with the present western
interest rates, the chances are all
against the success of the settler who
has less than $5,000.00 or S6,000.00
capital. The question which now needs
to be decided is whether opportunities
under national or private works are
to be restricted to men with this or
larger capital, or poorer men encour-
aged by helping them to improve their
farms.
Problems of Settlement.
Thus far in America we have al
most entirely ignored the require
ments of colonization and settlement.
We have looked upon the building of
irrigation works and the marketing of
irrigation securities as the main prob
lens of irrigation development. We
have not given enough to the obstacles
which confront the farmer in COM
pleting the work of reclamation, and
the risks and hardships imposed on
himself and his family when they un-
dertake the development of raw land,
and the payment of high charges now
imposed. Another mistake has been
to regard irrigation enterprises as
something which could be paid for
quickly. We have taken it for grant
ed that if the works were built the
farmer would come forward and foot
the bills. The actual facts are en-
tirely different. Irrigation works do
not create irrigation agriculture. The
money spent on dams and canals must
be followed by an equal or greater
expenditure for houses, farm build
ings, fences, grading and ditching
fields before the water can be used
and irrigation works have either
revenue or productive value.
Owing to settlers not being able to
obtain financial aid many have not
been able to complete the preparation
of their land for irrigation in a rea
sonable time, and, as result, have
failed when through timely assist
ance they would have succeeded
These failures have deferred others
from attempting settlement, hence a
large part of the irrigable land is un-
occupied. Until this is changed the
reclamation of irrigated land will con.
tinue to involve regrettable hardship
and loss to many deserving settlers
Development will be slow, and irriga-
ton securities will have uncertain
value. Irrigation works will not full.
fill their greatest purpose, which is
to create opportunities for poor men
and American farmers will continue
to emigrate to the ready made irri-
gated farms of Australia and Canada
State Aid Is Feasible.
Adequate financial aid for settlers
during the first five years is the great.
est question before this conference
1t is also the one about which there
is likely to be the greatest difference
of opinion. No one, / think, doubts
it's need or value if wisely and hon,
estly managed, but many do not re
gard it as feasible simply because il
has not been attempted.
With respect to the latter, / have
had during the past five years a mos
convincing and instructive experience
AS chairman of the State Water Com
mission Of Victoria, have assisted il
carrying out one of the most complete
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06

schemes Of state aid to irrigated set
tlement ever attempted.
Seven years ago the situation under
the irrigation schemes of Victoria was
not unlike that under the Reclamation
and Carey Acts projects today. Ca
rails were built, water was available
but settlers were not there to use it
and hence the works were unprofit-
able. The state government dete1-
mined to change this by creating con-
ditions which would enable anyone
who had industry afss thrift to secure
an irrigated farm even if he had
little or no money, and which would
warrant it's inviting settlement from
distant countries. 1t has succeeded
in its purpose by requiring only small
initial payments and giving adequate
aid and direction. No charge is made
for water rights and the annual pay
mentS for water are only intended to
cover A per cent interest on the
cost of works and the expense of
operation and maintenance. The cash
payment on land is only 8 per cent
of its cost and thirty-one and one
half years is given in which to COM
plete payments with interest at Az
per cent. Houses are built for set
tiers en- cash payment of about one
fourth the cost, payments of the re-
mainder may extend over twenty
years with per cent interest. The
state, when desired, grades and seeds
portion, up to one-fourth of each
farm, on the payment of one-ffth the
estimated cost and allows the pay
ments of the remainder to extend over
ten years. 1t employs disinterested
expert advisers to help the settler
select his farm, buy his horses and
cows and do what is needed to get
established on his farm. The saving
in money and time which this system
effects can only be appreciated by
those who have seen it in operation.
Many settlers select their farm and
arrange for the erection of their house
before leaving Europe; are able to go
directly from the ship to their new
home, and have living income from
a dairy herd within a month from
their arrival
The state follows up this initial as
sistance by loaning the settler 60 per
cent of the value of any improvements
|! he makes. This enables men with small
capital to complete without delay the
grading, seeding and improvement of
their farms. The settler does not need
to halt when he exhausts his own
capital. When he has one field graded
he can borrow on that to grade an
other.
This scheme of comprehensive aid
has now been in operation for six
years. The settlements that are three
years old are practically established
and self supporting. 1t is the unani-
nous opinion of all those familiar with
development that nowhere else have
they seen such rapid progress in the
cultivation of land or such large re-
turns in the earlier years of settle
ment. One of the inspectors was
formerly a successful farmer in the
Imperial valley, California. 1t is his
belief that as much progress is made
in these settlements in Victoria dur.
ing eighteen months as was made oy
an average in the Imperial valley ii
five years.
Aid in Land Settlement.
The state of Victoria, Australia
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06

state made aid to closer settlement a
national policy, carrying on this work
alike in districts which require irri-
cation and those which have an ample
rainfall. My connection with this
work has, however, been confined to
the irrigated areas and shall restrict
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06

and all combine to discourage those
to whom these conditions are strange
and rev.
To these have been added, in recent
years, great increases in charges for
land and water Costly dams and
permanent works mean much higher
water charges than were paid by the
Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-06

furnishes an illustration of a special
value, because the conditions so close
ly resemble those of Western America.
Settlement had come to a standstill,
private enterprise was doing nothing
to solve what was really a problem
of the public. To remedy this, the
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
Mayor Town of Gov ngton
DAMAGE SUIT FILED.

A suit of considerable interest has
been filed N the District Court, as
a decision of the case Will denote
how far an employer can exercise
authority over the action of en-
ployees who patronize saloons and to
what extent restrictive discrimina-
ton can so without becoming liable
for damages. The suit has been en-
tered by A. Hartman, by his attorney,
L. c. Noise. for $4,000 damages,
against the Po.tevent & Favre Lum-
ber Co., the claim being made that
this company instructed its en-
ployees that they would not be al
lowed to drink at the Hartman Bar
ROOM
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
CHILD OF SIX YEARS BURNED
TO DEATH.
Daughter of MIR. and Mrs. Henry Nc,
Kee. While Playing in Front Of
Of Fireplace, is Burned.
Folsom, La. Feb. 16, 1914

Folsom, La. Feb. 16, 1914.
Little Vera, aged six years and one
month, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Mckee, of Folsom, La, re-
ceived burns, while playing in front
OF the fireplace. last Monday morn
ing, about 6 o'clock, from which she
died in New Orleans at o'clock
Wednesday morning, where she had
been taken for medical treatment.
She was buried Thursday, the fun
eral taking place from the Bogue
Falaya church.
When her dress caught in the fire
her father reached her almost i'm
mediately, but before the flames
could be extinguished she had receiv-
ed the severe burns from which she
died. This is the second incident of
this kind that has occurred within
two weeks, the other being that Of
little Dorothy Thomas. published last
week.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
s. S.M.VVAELPLEY
PASSESAWAY

In the passing of Samuel NJ. Whelp-
ley, who died at the resdence of Mr..
and Mrs. w. A. Hood, his daughter
many parish, loses a citizen who has
been prominent in the affairs of The
country. a man of high literary at
tainments, a soldier n the Mexican
and Civil Wars and United States
consul, stationed at Barranquilla,
Columbia, South America. and cor
respondent Of the Associated Press
while in Africa.
Mr.. Whelpley was born February
%, 1926, and ed February 19,
1914. II he had lived till next Sun
day he would have been SS years of
age. He enl sted in the First Regi-
ment of New York Volunteers, Co.
A, under command of Col. Ward D.
Bennett, and was wounded in hand
to hand combat at the stormIng Of
the City of Mexico. He was also a
member of the First New York
Mounted Rifles, Troop M, in the C vii
War and was wounded at Longstreets
attack of Norfolk. and was d.scharg-
ed as an invalid at Fort Monroe. He
was engaged to write up the fisher es
of the coast of Labrador and also
made a survey of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains for Rand -McNally. Mr..
Whelpley was q man of very strong
conv ctions and was remarkably well
read.
He had lived in and near Cov.ng-
ton since 1889. and preferred our
climate to that of any country n
which he had lived during his ex-
tensiye travels.
HIS death was sudden and due to
heart trouble, from whice he had suf-
fered several years.
Mr.. Whelpley is survived by his
two daughters, Mrs. w. A. Hood and
Mrs. Elmer E. Lyon. He was inter
red in the Cov;ngton Cemetery, be-
side the remains OF his wife, the fun
eral taking place Friday.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21

/ to by the Rev. Clergy and the Sisters
followed by, the beautiful song, Voca.
ton. When the young novices re.
appeared, they were att:red in the
sombre habit and white veil of the
Order. They knelt again before His
Lordsh!p to receive their religious
names and crowns of white roses,
| and after short prayer, returned
to their tastefully draped pried eux.
One of the young ladies: Miss
Margaret Goblowsky, will be known
in religion as Sister Mary Alloys g.
She is native of Hungary and a
former pupil of st. Scholast:ca's s
Academy. She IS the second daught-
er of Mr.. Goblowsky to enter the
Benedictfne Order, at st. Scholastica,
besides, a son, who is a novice at st.
JOseph's Abbey, st. Benedict, La.
Miss Genevieve Peuler in religion
Sister Mary Agnes. is native Of
New Orleans, a member of Holy TIN
ity congregation and a 1913 gradu-
ate of st. Scholast:ca's Academy. S
The choir sang the soul-inspir ng
hymn in German, Farewell to the
World" which was followed by bene-
dictton of the Blessed Sacrament.
A solemn te deum concluded the
imposing ceremonies of the day.
The happy young sisters repaired
to the reception room, where their
numerous friends and relatives eager
ly awaited to congratulate them on
their wise choice of life.
Shortly after, His Lordship, the
Rev. Clergy and the other guests
were invited to sumptuous repast.
The preparatory retreat for these
young aspirants was conducted by
Very Rev. Father Prior, who with
his usual fervor and eloquence, I'M
pressed upon their minds the serious
ness of the step they desired to take.
The visit Of our genial. generous
hearted Right Rev. Bishop Laval left
q host of pleasant recollect.ons N
the memories Of the pupils OF the
Academy. who succeeded in obtain
Ing an extra holiday.
CORRESPONDENT.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
CONVICTION HIGH SCHOOL.

Last months report showed an en-
rollment for this term of $50. The
average attendance of the high school
pupils was 81 per cent. A number
of pupils were neither absent or tar
dy the entire 20 days.
Miss O'Brien is very happy these
days. Her sister, Miss Margarite, of
Minneapolis. Minnesota, is visiting
her. .ijif
The girls glee club sang for the
play at the pavilion last Wednesday
night. The girls are getting along
finely and Miss O'Brien is to be con-
graduated upon her splendid work
in her departments.
Our school is prom ised a writer Of
meritorious verse, in the person OF
Sophie Quave. She will likely COM
pose a rally poem. to appear in the
Rally Edition of the Farmer.
Alise Ray is making a good record
for spelling. She never missed a
word all last month. We have a
number of good spoilers and ought
to win some points rally day in this
event.
There will be no school next Mon
day and Tuesday, Monday being CIV
en- in lieu of the 22d. Washington's
birthday, which comes on Sunday.
Tuesday Is for Mardi Gras. A good
Washington program was rendered
In oil the rooms Friday afternoon.
Roll Of honor for the fourth grade
for the week ending Friday. Feb. Is,
was as follows: E. G. DAYS, Jr..
Percy Theriot, Lucy Glass.
Spelling match won by Paul Mer-
ritt. Annie Schultz, Elma Maddox.
JEFF Thomas. -
The last half hour of Friday after
noon was pleasantly spent by the
pupils of the fourth grade, giving
valentines.
E. G.. Davis, Jr., received the larg-
est number of good marks for the
nth school month, VIII ch was "A.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
CORRESPONDENT DESCRIBES
RECEPTION OF NOVICE TO
BENEDICTINEs.
MISS N. GOBLONSkY
AND MISS 6. PEu(ER
Large Gathering Of Relatives and
Friends Witness the Ceremonies
In St. Sch0lastica Convent.

Saturday. February 14th, at 1886
q. M, two fair young maidens. theil
faces radiant with the joy that per.
meated their hearts, discarded the!1
beautiful bridal attire for the sombre
robe of the Benedict.ne Nuns. These
sweet blooming young girls, like the
fresh flowers of spring, still MOST
with the sparkling dew, renounced
the false pleasure of the world ere
it could tarnish the youthful inno-
cence of their pure souls.
Long before the appointed hour,
the handsome chapel was filled to the
utmost with relatives and friends,
anxious to witness the impress.ve
ceremony. The affairs looked beau
tiful, with a profusion of pretty flow
ers, pot plants and ferns, through
which many brilliant lights f1ickered.
shedding a soft radiance over the
whole sanctuary.
While the organ pealed forth the
Joyous strains of "Ecce Sacerdos, .
the procession. headed by the Ven.
Mother Pr Dress and the Novice Mis-
tress, slowly advanced towards the
elegantly decorated chapel. Each of
the happy brides was attended by two
little maids of, honor, carrying bou-
quets. Rt. Rev. Bishop Laval, of
New Orleans, accompanied by Very
Rev. Father Prior, of st. Joseph's
Abbey, St. Benedict, La, and Rev.
Father Koegerl, of Covington, formed
the rear of the process On. After all
had taken their respective places,
the Veni Creator was sung by the
choir, after which, Very Rev. Father
Prior addressed the aspirants. elo-
quently explaining the many priv.leg-
es of the religious LIE, and exhorting
them to become faithful children Of
their illustrious founder, St. Bene-
Diet. He admonished them to thank
God daily, not only for their rellg Gus
vocation, but most especially for hav-
ing been called to serve God in the
holy Benedict ne Order, whose his
tory dates back over fourteen hum
dred years.
At signel from the Ven. Mother
Pr.oress, the asp rants entered the
sanctuary apd knelt on the altar
steps before HIS Lordship, who ad-
dressed them in these words: "Since
you scorn the world, its follies and
its vanit es, do you desire to submit
yourselves to the rule of st. Bene-
d'ct?" To which they firmly and
distinctly replied: I'VE desire it
most ardently and ask 1>or it most
humbly.'' A short prayer followed,
after which the beautiful wreaths
and ve'ls were removed and the pref
ty curls cut OF in the form Of cross.
The black religious dress was blessed
and handed to the happy nov .ces,
who retired to the socristy to discard
forever their worldly costume. In
the meantime. His Lordship, intoned
the Miserere. which was responded
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
1.-THE QUALITY OF MERCY"
A Two Reel Feature for Saturday
Night, Feb. Fl.

'The Quality of Mercy is an ex-
cellent two reel drama produced at
the Selig studio and tells story Of
great interest. The scenes inter
woven around the little country maid
are interesting from the very begin
ming and the splendid ending of the
feature makes it one to be looked for
ward to.
In addition there will be one reel
Lubin.
A special program Is being prepar-
ed for Parkview's patrons on Carni-
val day, when there will be special
matinee at 4 o'clock and an unlimited
amount of pictures shown. Regular
matinees every Monday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday at o'clock.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
FIRE ALARMS.
As Arranged for the Cov;ngton Fire
Department.

Explanation: The system Of thu
St. Tammany Ice & Manufacturing
Company's whistle will be as follows;
For instance, If an alarm IS given
from District No. IL, the whistle
will blow once, then a pause of five
seconds and the whistle will blow
twice-No. IL. There will be pause
of ten seconds. between each full
number. A general alarm will be
2-2-2, and the district number.
District No. 3-Seiler Hotel, 42A
Columbia Stree.
District No. St Tammany Ice
& Mfg. Co., 21O1 Theard Avenue.
District No. 5-Mrs. Jos. Koffler' s
store. 1913 Florida Street.
District No. 6-St. Tammany Laun-
dry, 9O4 First Street.
District No. Sulphur Springs
Addition.
District No. Sd. I. Addison &
Co. store, Corner Jackson and 9th
Avenue.
District No. 9-W. A. Dutsch 8
residence, 1403 25th Avenue.
District No. bloomington Bank
Building, Corner Columbia and Bos-
ten Streets.
District No. 13-Southern Hotel
Building, COS Boston Street.
District No. 14-St. Tammany
Farmers Office, 2O2 Boston Street.
District No. 15-Miss L. Hosmer's
Residence, 1917 Louisiana Street.
District No. 16-Capt. H. T. G.
Weaver's Residence, 1403 America
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21

WHY NOT HAVE GOOD ROADS?


TRYING
STRIVING FOR RMTTRT
Al
M II
EeusHu
HAVE
EWERr
DOUBT nHEru
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-02-21
ST. PAUL's TEAM PROVES ITSELF
ONE TO BE RECKONED WITH
IN THE FUTURE.
PLAY IS FAST FROM
BEGINNING TO EMO
st. Paul's Also Defeats New Orleans
Hight School Team In Game
Played Last Saturday.

| st. Paul College again demonstrat
ed the high standard of her athlet:
work when the basketball team o
that college defeated Louisiana Stat,
University, Thursday, by score o
IS to Is. The teams lined up as fol
lows: .
st. Paul-R. Gueno, center; A
Gueno, forward; A. Cassagne, for
ward; J. Hughes, guard; Sam Ian.
sing, guard.
L. S. U.-L. Dupont, forward; O.
O'Qu:nn, forward; Walden, center;
Johnson, guard; Wilkinson, guard.
Ross, forward and S. Wilkinson,
guard, were substitutes.
The score was 35 to Is, in favor
of St. Paul.
The game was fast and snappy and
the TIGERS fought hard. but tn efast
work of st. Paul was too much for
them.
Features Of the game were: st.
Paula. Gueno, 8 field goals; A..
Cassagne, field goals; Sam Lam
sing, 13 foul goals.
l.. s. U.-Walden, 2 field goals, 5
foul goals; E. Wilkinson, l field
goal; Ross, l field goal; s. Wilken-
non. field goal.
Timekeeper, FIR. Aldarbert; scorer.
Edgar Barre; referee. Julian Smith.
St. Paul easily defeated the New
Orleans High School team, Saturday,
by a score of 20 to Is. Good work
was done by A. Gueno and A. Cas-
sagne.