The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-07

~ H. NOV. -
Francis q. Tracy Of the Pecos Water
i'rern' association has replied to an
editorial In Wallaco'a Farmer oppos'
ing further reclamation projects In
the west at the present time. In u
letter he has addressed 10 Frank w.
Brown. secretary Of the Western
states Reclamation association.
At the same time he has called
attention TO the fact that the state
should have a large delegation at the
convention Of the association in Salt
Lake city on November 20 n 30.
| when tho question Of extending rec
lamation projects In the west will
come up for consideration.
The SebraHka state Irrigation as
ISOLATION, IN resolutions, has taken
exception TO the editorial ana sent
copies OF the resolution to western
members OF congress.
The editorial IN question was
| based upon Secretary Falls assertion
In n speech In Idaho that farmers OF
the central west were opposed to eX'
| tension Of reclamation projects. II
went on to point out that this asser-
| lion was correct and that thea farm
| ets ala not believe the government
| should cNpend any more money In
| projects Mt this time. while there was
uctH. The editorial wound up by
calling upon tho farmer %organiza-
tlons to pass resolutions opposing amy
more expenditures AZ the present.
Reply Of Tracy.
Mr.. Tracy In HIT reply to n letter
from the secretary OF the rCclama-
ton association, says:
AS ! understand It reclamation
has always been opposed by the
farmers OF the central west and II
seems a monumental task to try TO
clear up the dense Ignorance evil
donccd In the editorial IN the Wallace
Farmer OF September %. Nor would
this be worth while were II not for
the fac that an editorial Of this class
has appeared In n publication belong
ing to the present secretary OF agti
culture. / must say "a I am cl-
cecdingly surprised hat any such
editorial should be published In
Wailace's Farmer. OF all places on
earth thc corn belt Is certainly
immune from competition by irri'
gated lands!
"Of course. II goes without saying
that the irrigated lands OF the west
can not possibly compete owing TO
cost Of production and remoteness
from market with the farmers OF the
central west In the rain belt IN re-
gard to staple crops. Except for 10
cal consumption without which civt-
~lization could not be sustained in the
arid west at all special crops OF high
priced production such as can bear
tine cost OF transportation and meet
all the expenses OF irrigation must
be produced.
Therefore. II there IL any compe'
tition to be feared from increasing
the irrigated area In the west 10
would be felt first and foremost by
the present irrigated farm owners
themselves. who are the most cnthu.
siastic supporters OF the program OF
/ f1. AN.af.Tn Zfufnu ngflu namNtnn ma
sociation. The great wheat and corn
fields of the far west will never be
found on irrigated lands, h chief
production 81 the irrigated farm IL
alfalfa, which can be raised In only
a very small way In the central west
The larger portion OF this alfalfa will
always be used to winter and finish
the beef. pork and mutton which can
not possibly be produced In sufficient
quantity to feed IN nation on the
farms OF the central west and eastern
states. In addition to alfalfa and
meat products. sugar. fruits and can
teloupc are raised and in the south
crn projects a long staple cotton,
which IL produced nowhere else In
the United States.
1T il a curious fact that tho sta
~tistics all over our western irrigated
projects show hat for every farmer
upon the land there is at least one
settler added to the town population
Of the west. and that practically
every dollar Of production sold for
cash from the irrigated lands goes to
the manufacturing interests Of the
cnst and In this way furnishes them
the most stable market In tho world.
The greatest market for d corn
crop ~ the central west Is found In
tho range cattle ana sheep which
come from the irrigated western
states aud without an Increase In this
lrriratcd area thore can he no fur
thor increase In the production OF
range cattle.
These nrc a few main points 81
the argument familiar TO Ms all.
which w amply sufficient to rcfuto ali
such driyol as is contained In the cd
itorinl Of the Wallace Farmer"
The Editorial.
The editorial In the Wallace Farm
or said:
Secretary OF tho Interior Fail was
quoted hy tho daily press last week a.
saying that the farmers Of tho cen.
'trtl west are opposed to extending our
reclamation projects at this time. lie