The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-29
RELIEVING THE FOOD SITUATION.

EROM Lawton comes the encouraging news that great
supply of the lake near that city is TO be used
TO irrgae 300 of land making it possible to more
than double the crop yield that acreage and giving aid
in relieving the food situation
The Lawton project is merely the beginning of great
movement which is to envelop Oklahoma and cause this
state become formidable rival Of California, the state
that produces crops each year worth than $1,000
100000
While Oklahoma is not an arid section, sem-arid
except in few outo heway spots, irrigation is about to
expand bring added riches to the state The fact that
the farmers of Comanche county readily agreeing to
mortgage their land the rate of $40 for water
rights is indication that they fully comprehend the
value of additional water at critical times OF the growing
season Also this action near Lawton indicates that the
capital OF Comanche county is about plunge forward in
riches and population 1t seems a safe prediction declare
that in years Lawon will be the second city in size in
Oklahoma, for history points to such growth when a
eitzenry will take advantage Of natures offerings and
develop them to the maximum
All around the world we hear the call for food
Oklahoma 10 prepared to respond the call Along this
line, it will be recalled that about four years ago State
Auditor T. Howard suggested that the prisoners at the
McAestcr peni,cntiary be put work digging irrigation
bitches in such parts of Oklahoma that presented naura
advantages instead OF the inmates OF the gray prison pasSin
their time in dlcness at the expense Of the taxpayers
But the Howard idea didn't get the right kind of support
II this had been pressed when first proposed io
the public benefit we'd have thousands of
producing more than double what we dare expect from
normal rainfall And the prisoners would have been bcne
fitted both physically and mentally by the labor along the
streams and in the forests
While we have lost good deal Of valuable time in the
four years that have neglected to put the F. b. Howard
plan into action the food shortage demand that
tackle this once Probably the board of affairs will
atory put them to work the farms of the and
allow this valuable water to to the saed
A lot of irrigation work he done this year. We
must not get the idea that good crop in the United
States is to settle the food question for keeps There
other years coming in which the food crisis may he
severe than the OF 1917,
There are a lot OF people who think the will b.
ended some time be,wser-ow and autumn We hope viii
be- but it won't Thisis not that kind of a war, gloomy
may be to contemplate the conflict from such view
point.
The world will clamor for food next year. our ow
troops almost certain to be European battlefield
next year. Only miracle prevent it, And we dar
not take any risk which may bring hunger to our boys
foreign shores.
So, again the Howard plan is urged as i, was 70,
years ago. Let's pu, the from Granite and McAles
INTO the agricultural fields to develop all the irrgatic
projects possible Such action will relieve the food situate
home by causing increased production And may hei
off famine for brave American soldiers at the front