Arizona republican., 1916-08-21
SALT RIVER VALLEY PLAN FUR / AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

One of the big items in the fall work ot the Arizona Farm Improvement as- Sociation, and incidentally, a big thing m the uplift work for the valley, will be the resumption of the study of a plan for the agricultural development of the state. It was last May that the plan was first conceived, and al that time, strong committee of valley men w9s named 10 work it out. Their report edited by Stanley F. Morse, state leader and superintendent of the university extension work, is now available.
 In preparing the report for publica- tion. Mir Morse writes of 1t:
 Several months ago l became con Vinced that the greatest need of the Salt River valley in order 10 insure the success of its agriculture was thorough systematization and organi- zation of its agricultural activities With this in mind a skeleton plan was worked out which was privately sub mitted to a very few of the leading farmers of the valley and their opin- Ions asked on it. After discussing this proposition somewhat with these men. it became very evident that such a plan could never he successfully car ried out unless it were possible to se- cure the unqualified backing. not only of the farmers. but also oi the influ- ential land owners, business men and bankers of the valley. lt was very plain that in order to get such d plan ubder way, certain amount of money would he needed and that this money would have to come in a large degree. slot from the farmers themselves. but from men holding large interests in the valley. who could see that the working out of such a plan would benefit them financially and for that reason would be willing to raise Suf- ficient money 10 carry it out. With view, therefore, of getting the backing ot group of such men, talked the matter over at various times with Dr. J. C. Norton president Of the Arizona Farm Improvement association, and also incidentall- president of the Phoenix chamber of commerce. man m whom l have always had the ut most confidence Together We picked out a small group of men to whom We proposed to submit this plan, which had now been modified by suggestions from various farmers and others in the valley. to sec if they thought it worth while considering, and if so. whether they would give it their moral and H. nanCial backing
 Tt was agreed that the president of the advisory council of the Maricopa County Farm Improvement Associa- ton should appoint a special commit tee Co take charge of raising the funds and seeing to it that this plan was put -ato operation. and it was also agreed thnt so faI as possible this committee should include the informal committee which had rendered this report the idea being that the members of this fmfnFFrau1 faea rxsprtfd bership in the County Farm Improve ment Association as active or asso- ciate members, according to which class of membership they might be entitled, and that such other members be added to this committee as might be deemed necessary by the president As a result of this the following com mittee was finally appointed by Presi- dent Green:
 At present the writer has been se- curing information about men who might be able to fill the positions of farm advisor and marketing specialist. respectively, and he has now secured the names Of some very high class men whom it may be possible to secure if sufficient funds are raised Co pay the salaries which it will be necessary to offer them. The amount of money which it will he necessary to raise for AlAlN NAAHbSt- iS &ts-NW. S4fhNV dutduN being available from the state and federal governments and the county of Maricopa. The s2.S00 now avail able is to be used for defraying the salary and expenses of a county farm advisor, and in order to answer the in- quiries of several who have recently asked about the appointment of a new county farm advisor. will state that If Sl.2OO can be raised in the near fu- ture it will be possible to make definite arrangements for the new county farm advisor. since the money for his salary and at least part of his expenses will be assured
 We would suggest that each local farmers organization in the county discuss this report, ana il is hoped that they will thoroughly understand thai the purpose of the work which has been done in this line is absolutely tC increase the profits of the farmers ir the Salt River valley. Many who ar, anxious for marketing operations 10 D, engaged in immediately do not seen to be able tO realize that the most sue. cessful marketing organizations in tn. country have taken anywhere from ter 10 twenty-five years to perfect an, that I've must creep before we attemp 10 walk.R By first thoroughly organ izing our farmers and getting them {, work together with some of the snaIle things, We shall soon get them read
 for marketing. and if we meanwhn