El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-24
DRAINAGE THE
VALLEYS NEED
Farmers Assert That This
Must Be Done Before New
Land Is Cultivated.

plant from 500 TO 1000 additional acres
in food stuff this season.
J. A Kraksuer said the irrigation
project was a half built house; that
/ this was neither the fault Of the recla-
nation officials nor of the farmers.
B but was because Of lack Of coopera-
ton. He said that the farmers should
! cultivate the land now under cultiVa-
ton more vigorously and prepare for
drainage The speaker said that many
times the amount Of food stuff could
he raised in the valley on the lands
already under cultivation. He did not
) favor cultivating new land. saying this
would increase the seriousness of the
seepage which now threatens to ruin
the farms of the valley.
Plant All Available Land.
lack White stated that ne believed
every available acre that can be made
productive should be farmed now that
the United States and Germany are at
war.
George H Clements stated that there
were thousands of acres of land in the
Z valley that face the seepage problem
+ that could be cultivated by the plant
( ing of beans and similar crops.
The water is still six feet from the
surface on my land he said 1T has
killed my fruit trees. but I can still
Z plant beans and other crops Of this
! character There is much land in the
valley. which. though soaked with
4 Seepage At a depth Of few feet. is
: still good land for short root crops"
I Says Shortage of Animals and Inn
pIementS-
Robert Krakauer said that there is
serious shortage of farm implements
and horses and mules to cultivate
! farms He said he thought IL better
to cultivate properly a 500 acre tract
! than 1000 acre tract if the 500 acre
tract can be made to produce as much |
food as tract twice that large
George Clements said the corrals /
about FL Paso were full Of animals l
that could be Communicated for farm
ing purposes. If necessary and that /
enough in the valley TO supply the /
needs.
" c. Roe said there were inple- I
ments enough for all purposes.
The Draft Question.
Mrs David HoiOuiu spoke Of the
conscription views of president Wilson
and Theodore Roosevelt. She said that
the serious question of their views is
that If they draft office employees, who
is to pay them and provide for their
families.
W H Austin said there are millions
of men available for farm work in this
country and plenty of farm implements. I
He stated that the question OF securing (
farm implements was not a serious one
II the government really wanted farm |
implements TO work the farms, as il
would order them from the factories
and would see that they were made and
delivered as per order
Offers Whites Land.
Horace B. stevens stated that on De
half of Zack White and his associates
he desired 10 offer 10 the government
q tract OF 1000 acres Of land from four
10 seven miles north of F. Paso. as long
as the government wants IL for culti-
vation- He said the land was cleared
q M that Mr.. White and his associates !
were paying for the drainage work,
now in progress
The speaker said Mr. Clements was
correct in his views. that he had an
interest IN a "A rm near NSleta where
he faced the same condition lie said !
he and his brother were ready 10 give I
their farm 10 the government He con- |
Guided by saying that If they waited l
until the drainage problem was solved
the European war would he solved.
rEes Cooperation.
H n. Camp said he had a LARGE num-
her of ploWs and other farm imple-
ments ne would willingly loan 10 The
farmers Of the valley when ne was not
using them He said cooperation was
needed IN solving the question and one /
Way 20 do this was for the farmers to
loan each other implements and horses
TO work their farms.
James l. MARI said that john T. Nc
Elroy- W H Austin and himself owned T
5000 acres OF land in the valley. which
they We're willing TO turn over TO the
government for cultivation during the
war
Beans Ordered For seed.
D T. White, Of the firm of White &
Grant * Co. announced that he had
been offered $4,000 pounds Of beans
for planting. by an AIbuquer-
que firm The directors OF the cham
Der OF commerce ordered the beans
by wire last night and Will distribute
them TO the farmers OF the valley
Charles Stevens brought up the bean
question by asking what was the best
time for planting There were several
different views on the subject Mr.
Stevens said o found 10 rTa 7
ing time during June and July If you I
plant before this time" he said. the
beans viii be destroyed by lady bugs"
Best Time to Plant Beans.
7 got best results from beans planted |
between June j. and July Is" he
said He said he planted 20 pounds to
he acre.
Several others agreed with him as to
he time Of planting, but some thought
il took as much as 40 pounds of beans
70 plant an acre.
W B. Vaudeville said it depended
N how the beans were planted and that /
{ should require from 10 to 80 pounds
o plant an acre.
W q. Roe brought out that many
'arloads of beans are arriving here
ZACH week from Mexico. but the point
vas raised that these were raised BY
dry farming" and would not make
good seed for irrigated land.
Mrs. Holquin said that she thought Il
and owners who give tracts To be
feared and farmed for two years,
ught at the end Of this period give a
.ortion Of the tract TO the man who
Ills it.
Great Cricis.
J. NJ Wyatt sounded "A warning 20 !
hose present on the serious problem ;
he United States faces in its war with
He said this government - /
aclng the greatest crisis in its history;
hat before the war is over thousands
lives may be sacrificed. He spoke !
I the danger of Russia falling down" !
: its fight because Of internal trouble /
If IL does, he said. the war VIII fan
D large extent upon Uncle Sam and !
ngiand, as the man supply IN france J
last giving out The spea ker sad
nat he hoped the United States would !
ever surrender TO foreign foe if II
)ok every drop Of blood and every dol
IT in the country
MI Wyatt said il was the duty Of the
nted States to supply food TO her al
es and to do this the land Of the VAL
Us of the Rio Grande must be more
Itensively cultivated. He said this
)untry has sent more than 100000
cad OF horses and mules TO Europe
40 that there is a shortage of animals
Urges More Money.
H. = Brook agricultural farm der {
lstrater Of DOna Ana county. y. NJ
70 Of hsn. d + Frr.rrN -.