The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-02-18

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only method is to engage in intensive
agriculture, and until a community
| makes this change, it will yearly have
| surplus of population that must be
| sloughed off on less thickly populated
regions or. else be thrust into the in
dustries.
From the very nature of things, agri-
culture cannot expand as do the indus
tries. Agriculture depends strictly on
| land--it is territorial in nature-its
national extension is limited by the
boundaries OF the nation. SO, While an
industry may expand and double or
treble the number of people employed
in it by slight addition to the ground
site already occupied or by adding
more stories to the buildings, the far
mer, in settled region, can only ex-
pand his acres by acquiring the acres
Of his neighbors. In that case, agricul-
ture has not expanded; there has been
mere wiping ont of a portion of the
OPERATORS, their removal to other and
distant fields, and. unless there is a
change in the cultural methods, the
agri cultural population will not be In
creased, for the reason taat the new
Cwner will merely give employment to
the same people VINO were employed by
the former owners In fact II the new
owners introduce improved machinery
In his operations, the population will
suffer distinct decrease. Therefore as
said before, a settled agricultural re-
gion expands, that Is, produces greater
crops, enjoys a greater monetary re-
turn and employs a greater population,
by only one method, the adoption Of in
tensive methods of cultivation.
In the past development of the Oro-
vile region, we may observe the nat
ural trend of events that illustrate and
give force to the argument I am at
tempting to make. The earliest per-
manent white settlers, aside from the
trappers and miners, were the horse
and cattle men, who needed extensive
range for the grazing Of their flocks
and herds, and as long as transporta-
ton was difficult, the growth of popu-
latiOn was slow, notwithstanding the
fact that large bodies Of free land were
open for settlement. But, when it be-
came certain that the Hill railway
system would invade the valley the
agricultural population experienced
definite expansion; the available home
stead lands were rapidly taken up and
desirable Indian allotments were leas-
ed. The range became restricted to the
forest and the Indian reservations and
wheat or dry land farming became the
prevailing mode of griculture.
The greatest law of perfected nature
is the law of change, from which we
may say that no community can stand
still. We are under the necessity of go
ing ahead, and while there are sections
OF the highlands that must confine
themselves to grain and the dry farm
ing system with all its limitations, the
valley lands are under no such neces
sity, because there is an abundance Of
water for irrigation. Here is oppor-
tunity for further expansion which we
find answered by the West Okanogan
Valley Irrigation district with it's ex-
teIsive canal and flumc
Probably the promoters of this
great enterprise knew nothing of the
law of agricultural expansion. 1t is not
to their discredit if they did not, (only
students and philosophers bother them
selves about such things anyhow, but
iG is to their credit that intelligent self
interest led them to undertake a /
work Of such magnitude and import
npca With If cOn ctructod wo coo ono
moro phase completed in this drama
of agricultural development. Intensive
agriculture must now rule the land
once so largely farmed by the easy
going cattlemen. A larger population
will be ours-larger problems will con-
front us. Another opportunity is ire
scented which we should honor our
selves by grasping and promoting to a
successful fruition.
AS l said in the beginning Of these
remarks, the economically ideal COM
munity is self supporting, it meets its
expenses from it's own resources, it
does not go beyond its own boundaries
to look for sustenance, it furnishes
year round remunerative employment
for it's own population; and it is just |
to that stage of development we are
now most anxious to attain. Commpni-
ties are like men-they succeed best |
when they work to well considered
plan. He, who is without plan, is
bound to falter when confronted by a
crisis in his affairs, and usually. che
who hesitates is lost"
Decision is often half the battle, and
in the future development of the Oro
vile region accurate knowledge of con-
ditions and wise decision will be of
greater value than the courage and
prophetic vision that has distinguished
the era now about to pass.
What plan has any one for the flu
ture development of this region? Has
any plan been decided upon by the peo-
pie who inhabit these acres? Is there
any other plan than the mere notion
that, given land, water and climate,
any Industrious farmer ought to sue
coed? What definite answers are ready
for the following list of questions, to-
wit: Is apple growing likely to prove
more remunerative than other
branches of farming? Will dairying
and hog raising pay? Can | make liv-
ing out of alfalfa hay? VIII it pay me
to raise seeds for the seed houses?
Are there any canning or preserving
works that will buy my fruit and veg
etables? Is there sugar factory,
creamery or condensery in that re-
gion? What going industries are there
that employ enough people to buy up
our produce? What is the distance to
good markets? Is there commercial
club in that valley and does it really
do things or is it four flushing? What