LEXINGTON GROWS WITHOUT WATCHING
WHEAWE1LD
VOL. I
LEXINGTON, OREGON, THURSDAY AUGUST 23, 1906
NO. 48
LEX
mwn
DRY FARMING THE HOPE OF
. THE WEST
A METHOD OF PRODUCING BOUNTIFUL CROPS,
WITHOUT IRRIGATION, IN SEMI-ARID
REGIONS
BY JOHN L. COWAN
(JULY NUMBER CENTURY MACASINE)
Nearly one third of the entire area
of the United States, exclusive of
Alaska and our Insular possessions,
consists of vacant public lands regard
ed as naturally unsutted to cultivation
on account of Insufficient rainfall.
In at least ten Westren common
wealths the public lands constitute so
large a portion of the total area as to
dominate their economic character.
Great belts of territory -are frequently
in a condition closely bordering on an
archy. ' Cattle-owners and sheep
owners struggle for possession of lands
belonging to neither. Forests are
burned and looted. Legislators, gover
nors, judges, and minor public officials
are elected and corrupted at the dict
ation of the cattle-kings; and laws are
passed, repealed, enforced, or disre
garded to suit their interests. Legit
imate settlers are discouraged, driven
off , tar bought out for a song. Agri
culture Is confined, Almost, to small
and scattered bib of rrtfeated land.
The vacant public domain now con
sists of about 900,000,000 acres. Of
this area probably 70,000,000 acres
are absolute desert, of sand, alkali,
rock, and Inhospitable mountain peaks,
on which no useful vegetation Is found,
and which will probably never be of
any considerable economic value to
mankind, excepting for their mineral
resources. Approximately 96,000,000
acres may be described as woodland,
sparsely covered with trees, Individual
ly of small value, but yet useful for
firewood, fence-posts, mine timbers
and similar purposes: and some 70,
000,000 acres are heavily timbered,
and of Inestimable importance to pres
entand future generations, not only
for lumbering, but also for the conser
vatfon of the water-supply. Possibly
70J000.000 acres may be reclaimed
oy irrigation, and thui brought to a
high state of productiveness. There
vSfl then remain more than 300,000
000 acres, useful, according to com
monly accepted Ideas, only for grazing,
However, the vacant public lands
comprise only a part of the region of
deficient rainfall known as Arid Amer
ica. To these must; be added the
great railroad grant, the allotments of
school lands to the several States, and
the princely domains that have passed
Into the hands of private owners. In
Texas alone there Is an area of unim
proved and uncultivated land almost
equal In extent to the whole German
empire. With the exception of
Washington, western, Oregon, the
northern half of California, and small
portions of Idaho and Montana, the
term Arid America includes virtually
all the land between the one-hundredth
meridian and the Pacific. Leaving
out of consideration the portions that
extend across the Canadian and Mex
ican boundary-lines, It covers a ter
ritory extending north and south for
"Hake Hay White the Sun Shines."
There Is a lesson In the work of the
thrifty farmer. He knows that the
bright sunshine may last but a day and
he prepares for the showers which are
so liable to follow. So it should be with
every household. Dysentery, diar
rhoea and cholera morbus may attack
some member of the home without
warning. Chamberlaln.s Colic, Choi
era and Diarrhoea. Remedy, which
Is the best known medicine for these
diseases, should always be kept at
hand, as Immediate treatment is nec
essary, and delay may prove fatal.
For sale by W. P. Me Mlllans' Drug
Store. .,'. twfc, . "" ,i
a distance of 1200 miles, and east and
west for 1300 miles, embracing four
tenths ot the total area of the republic
and containing not less than one thou
sand million acres of land. To this
may not Improperly be added the so
called sub-humid region, between the
ninety-seventh and the one-hundredth
meridian, In which occasional seasons
of sufficient, or even superabundant,
rainfall are followed by years of drought,
when scorching winds shrivel up the
growing grains and grasses upon which
depend the hopes of the farmers.
Over almost exactly one half the area
of our country, therefore, the rainfall
is insufficient for the successful culti
vation of the ordinary crop plants by
ordinary farming methods, at least.
Agriculture, wherever attempted at all,
partakes of the nature of a hazardous
speculation, generally resulting in dis
aster, or at best in a meager and
hand-to-mouth existence; and grazing,
backed up by ample capital and re
sources, Is considered the only safe
and profitable pursuit. This vast area
in which grazing is the principal in-
(Continued on page 4.) .
NOTICE
All accounts with the Pastime due
V. Grimes have been transferred to
me. if you owe a bill drop In and
settle at your earliest convenience and
the favor will be appreciated.
C. W. ClUUSTENSON.
HE WAS IN TROUBLE
l was in trouble, but found a way
out of it, and I'm a happy man again
since Dr. King's New Life Pills cured
me of chronic constipation," says
W. Goodies, 107 St. Louis. St., Dallas
Mex. Guaranteed satisfactory, , Price
25 cents at W. P. McMillan drue
store.
t IN o
OREGON
SHOWTIME
and union Pacific
TO
Salt Lake, Denver, Kansas
City, Chicago, St. Louis,
New York.
Ocean Steamer for 8atiFraiir,iico leavl
Portland at 8 P. M. every Ufth day.
riolct to and from all point or the Unit
ed State and Europe.
Trains Leave Lexington, Daily, ex
cept Sunday, - 9:25 A. M
Trains Arrive at Lexington, Daily, ex
cept Sunday , - 5:10 P. M.
Trains Connect at Heppner Junction
with Main Line trains for all .
, points East and West.
. ..A A. L. CRAIG, G. P. A.
" hi.
Special bargains on our Remnant Counters.
Large assortment of working gloves, $1.25 to
$2. values for $h
All kinds of harvesting machinery, wagons,
buggies, hacks, etc.
Drapers and all kinds of extras for headers.
Lace leather, belting, hardware, -hay forks, der
rick forks, blocks, cables, jacks, etc. :
We are herdquarters for all kinds of harvest
supplies.
Prescott Flour, the best in the Northwest.
eaci SB roth
ers
Zj fie 3$ty Store