has been to restore and develop a large acreage through the introduction of animal husbandry. Here again, on originally productive and well-farmed lands, the former slaves had become tenants, the former owners had moved to the city, the tenants allowed the drainage to deteriorate, ditch banks to grow up in shrubs and trees; they abandoned from year to year the portions of the land which became unproductive through exhaustion of soil fertility and through lack of drainage, and had finally taken the plant food from the residual acreage, leaving land which was worse than valueless. It was the purpose to develop this farm without growing the usual "staple " crops cotton, tobacco, or peanuts. An endeavor was made to follow the advice customarily given to farmers. It was found that the task of bringing back exhausted lands to a state permitting profitable agriculture was one of magnitude and, from a financial standpoint, not practicable for the average farmer. It has required 15 years because of the experimental work necessary, to prove right methods and to solve the problems which have finally led up to a profitable dairy farm. Had it been possible to follow successful demonstrations adapted to the region, made by people skilled in animal husbandry, this same result could have been obtained-and without excessive financial outlay-in from three to five years.

There has been a drift against agriculture which has caused many intelligent farmers to go into more favored lines of industry and to educate their children away from the farm. This drift has strengthened the other industries, but it has seriously hurt rural life conditions. On this subject Prof. Charles A. Beard, the distinguished historian, makes the following statement:

The coordination of agriculture and machine industry in the interests of a balanced economy, related to the task of maintaining the essential economic independence of America, is the supreme task of the contemporary statesmen. We need a new science, which we may call nation planning maintaining a fairly balanced system of a national economy.

The chief economist of the National Industrial Conference Board of New York, Mr. Virgil Jordan, in a recent address stated:

The time has come in the life of the American people, as it has come before in the history of all great nations, when we must deliberately and wisely formulate a national agricultural policy.

After what has been said, gentlemen, it is not necessary to say again that Doctor Mead's vision and the work that he has done represent that national policy that we should follow.

These opinions are not stronger than those expressed by Doctor Mead. They are given because they are typical of the best thought which supports his position.

The consensus of opinion of those who have visited the Castle Haynes rural community was reflected in the frequent remark, “This is a demonstration work-one which should be carried forward through the cooperation of the State and the Government." It is certain, that with any expectation of profit-private capital can not, on an extensive scale, do pioneer work of this kind in a way that will be just to the families endeavoring to get a foothold on the land; certainly not until several of the important obstacles which can easily be removed by the State and the Government are eliminated.

Our organization has reached the conclusion that one planned rural community under the direction of the Bureau of Reclamation, if placed in each of seven Southern States, will prove an example which will set in motion important changes which in turn will revolutionize the agriculture of these States. Further, that such communities can be developed through the use of a revolving fund of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 for each community, and without loss of a single dollar to the Government. The variation in cost would be determined by the type of agricultural development adopted in each case. Communities engaging in intensive, diversified farming would require the least capital. Those engaged in more intensive types of diversification, which include animal husbandry, would require the larger amount.

Our experience leads to the further conclusion that for intensive farmers who would be required each to provide $2,000 of capital, there would be needed as an advance, on easy terms of repayment, a sum not exceeding on the average $3,000 per family.

If we bear in mind the small total cost of seven southern projects, the sum of approximately $14,000,000, and if we measure this with the program for the West for the immediate future, an expenditure of $67,000,000 in addition to the very large expenditures heretofore made, it is apparent that, if the South is to be considered in reality a part of the Nation, it should not be allowed longer to make an unaided struggle against the conditions which now prevail in southern agriculture.

The South contributes sufficient to the revenues of the Government, to the national well-being, so that it can expect the carrying forward of this program, not as a favor but as a right.

It remains for those of us who are interested in the development of the South and who have some knowledge of the needs of the Southern States, to recognize the reclamation program as an essential constructive work, and place behind it such influence as will insure its success and will prove the claim that it is important to the well-being of the United States. [Prolonged applause.]

Mr. COKER. Gentlemen, we have a little business to transact before we leave. Before I get to the next order of business, I want to tell you gentlemen a little story. I will take only a short time.

About two years ago Mr. MacRae and your chairman made a visit to the north-central part of Florida to see some of the agricultural development up there and to interview a man that we both very much desired to meet, because of the very constructive work that he had been doing, and its effect in the development of that general section. Occasionally, in the agricultural world a man strikes a new idea. Sometimes he has to fight the whole country to get it over. This man struck a new idea there which I have some testimony to offer on.

It would astound those of you who are familiar with the agriculture of this country when I tell you that that man proved that alfalfa will grow successfully on acid soil. He proved to the satisfaction of Mr. MacRae and myself that he not only could grow it under those conditions, but that he was growing it with great success.

About a year ago I decided to grow alfalfa again. I tried several times but failed; due to what, I don't know. I have a cousin who is fairly successful in the growth of alfalfa. I consulted him about what to do. I intended to plant it in the spring. The first thing he did was to advise against it. He told me to apply manure and plant soy beans in the spring and plant the alfalfa in September, using a certain amount of fertilizer. I said, "Arthur "—his name is Arthur Rogers-" how about lime? You haven't said anything about lime." And he said, "Alfalfa does not need lime.”

Mr. Rogers had never heard of Mr. Charles F. Leach. These independent, open-minded investigators had both proved to their own satisfaction that alfalfa could be grown and that both were growing it without the application of lime on their particular type of soil. Now, I will be the last man to say that that is a universal rule, and neither one would claim it. Mr. Rogers made numerous tests to prove how much lime per acre the alfalfa needed, preparing a large number of plots as preliminary check plots to see the effects. The check plots made just as much as any other. I am telling that as a tribute to a man who has come a long ways to attend this conference. He claims to produce eggs the year around on a clover pasture at a lower price than I have ever heard of their being produced. I would like Mr. Charles F. Leach to stand up before we proceed with our program.

We have some committees to appoint. There is the committee that has already been appointed; we should arrange for a meeting place.

Mr. MACRAE. A note on the bottom of the program takes care of that. To facilitate the actions of that committee, I would ask if the committee will take dinner with me at the Lafayette Hotel?

Mr. COKER. We are invited to have dinner with Mr. MacRae. On behalf of that committee I will accept that invitation for all of us.

It is very important that we have a publicity committee that is really going to do something constructive. I don't feel competent to appoint that committee. I know a number of men who would serve excellently. I think the chairmen of the different States should themselves select a State committee. The chairmen should act as the executive committee on the general publicity program, and each State committee should handle the publicity matters within its own State. If that meets with your approval, I think we may ask the chairmen of the different States that are present here-all are present, I believe to name a committee of not less than three, and as many more as in their judgment they may see fit to name, as the publicity committee for this movement.

Doctor MEAD. Mr. Chairman, how would it do to announce that in the morning after consideration to-night?

Mr. COKER. O. K. It will be announced in the morning as to whether this plan is proper, and the chairman will be prepared to dicuss it and if agreed on to announce the names of that committee.

Doctor MEAD. I wonder if the people interested in this publicity committee could meet in my office for about one-half hour in the morning.

Mr. COKER. The chairman with those they have designated on the publicity committee will please meet in Doctor Mead's office promptly at 9 o'clock.

Unless there is some other business we will adjourn and let the motion-picture man start to entertain us.

Colored lanter slides were then shown by Doctor Mead, illustrating planned community development in Australia, Scotland, and Germany, followed by a few scenes on the irrigation projects of the West, showing the primitive homes of the early settlers and the present homes of well-to-do water users. Then followed two reels of motion pictures showing scenes on the tracts in the South which have been under investigation by the bureau, and planned community development on the MacRae colonies near Wilmington, N. C.

The conference convened at 9.45 a. m., December 15.

Doctor MEAD. The hour has arrived for our conference to begin its work. I wish all the people in the house would move down front. I had a telephone message from Senator Harris yesterday expressing his interest in this meeting and saying he would be here this morning. It will be impossible for him to be here this afternoon. When he comes I hope it will be agreeable to everybody if a place is made for him on the program so that he can talk to us.

Mr. Hugh MacRae has kindly consented to preside this morning. Mr. MACRAE. Doctor Mead, gentlemen of the conference, and Miss Schnurr, I am very glad to preside for one reason. My friend Mr. Coker presided yesterday and I want to get back at him during the morning if I can.

So far as the business of the meeting is concerned, it is set forth in the program and we will follow that quite consistently in order to save all the time we can.

The first address of the morning is to be made by Hon. E. C. Finney, the First Assistant Secretary of the Interior. I will say that Judge Finney is in the legal department of the Interior and has for years very wisely guided the department in all matters of legislation which, as you know,. is very vital for the proper functioning of a great department. Because of his long service he has a thorough knowledge of the activities of the Department of the Interior. I think we are very fortunate to have him to address us. [Applause.]

ADDRESS BY HON. E. C. FINNEY, FIRST ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, I was reading in one of the newspapers the other day an account of a tribe in Central Africa whose custom it was to require a speaker to stand on one foot to limit the time of his speech. As soon as the other foot came down he was out, and the next man took his place. I don't advocate applying that rule to those men who are going to address you who really have an important message to give you, or some suggestions that might help in attaining the objects of this conference; but I would not object to having that rule apply to myself. I am afraid I will not offer anything useful. My excuse is my desire to be present and to be counted among those who ardently desire to accomplish southern reclamation and development. Also, as stated by your chairman, I have had some little experience in legislative matters, and I hope to be of some assistance in formulating and passing upon legislation to this end and possibly may be able to help if and when legislation is had and in administering the law, so that is my excuse for taking up a few moments of your time this morning.

As you are aware, 25 years ago the Federal Government embarked on the policy of reclaiming arid public and private lands in the Western States by irrigation. The moneys for this purpose-receipts from sale and leases of public lands and resources-were diverted from the general miscellaneous receipts in the Treasury of the United States and set apart in a special fund in the Treasury called