The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-18
HYDRAULIC co. WILL CULTIVATE
 LAND HOLDINGS
Owns and Controls Many Acres Which May be Used to Increase Production

The Bridgeport Hydraullc GO. touHy signthed it's iitenaoD Of cuItivasing the immense t1Hcts ofy1and, now idle, which 1t has been fofced to purchase from time to time for the protection of it's water supply. The company is al ready producing and marketing at a profit, and this system will be ex- tended
 It owns and controls many acres of property A vast part of this, of course, is used for storage basins for it's IA reservoirs. The company has from time to time, however, been con- pelled to buy large farms, only a part of which were actually required to flood. The rest has been needed, how ever, to protect the water supply and it is from this portion of it's holdings that the company proposes to cultivate and plant rye, wheat, potatoes, corn and such other vegetables as can be properly handled. These crops will be harvested in due season and distrfb- uted at various stations in the towns served by the company. The prices will be controlled by the actual cost of production.
 This action is the result of con- ference of the company's officials called yesterday by DeVer H. Warner, its president. In an interview today MT. Warner said: "I have had the matter in mind ever since 1t became apparent that we ought to conserve every possible factor of food supply. My first thought was to parcel off sections of land owned by the com pany to responsible people who would raise their own supplies but this was found impracticable for two reasons: First, because it offered a possible danger of contamination of the water supply and secondly be- cause most of the land owned by the company is miles from the city and therefore not convenient of access. Our present thought is to work out a plan through our own organization and give the public the benefit. We now have about 200 acres which we have cultivated regularly under skill ed agriculturists, the product of which has been marketed at profit. This same department will be enlarged and the work carried on systematic ally. The great problem will be in procuring sufficient help and our suc- cess in this direction will largely con trol the service we propose to render the community. Labor is scarce in populated centers and the securing and housing of men in the country is no sNall task. We will overcome this as far as possible by the introduction of the latest improved farming ma chinery. Just what we will attempt to raise has not been fully determined. We will endeavOr to help meet the more common needs and of these pO- tatoes are perhaps the most important.
 'FThe company will operate the ex- pertinent entirely independent of it's regular business. We will open a separate account and charge against it the actual expenses involved in rais- ing the crops and the cost to the pulp lie of the produce will be based on the actual expense. It will of course be impossible to figure on delivery to the consumers but we will try to establish convenient stations in each town where the company has inter ests and distribute through this chan nell This, however, is a matter of de- tail to be worked out. Plans are al ready in the works which will be made known when definitely deter mined. It can be said, however, that the company is alive to the future needs of the community and will exert every possible effort to do it's share towards helping to solve a problem which has to do with the need and comfort of the people we serve in other directions''