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Show WEBER COUNTY 11 BUREAU IIEMCOOO Will Continue as Permanent Perma-nent Feature of Agricultural Agricul-tural Activity; Work Is Systematized. SEVENTEEN BRANCHES JOIN ASSOCIATION Annual State Institute of Farmers and Housewives Is Planned for January. -s an institution created for the purpose pur-pose of benefiting a particular branch of the industry of a community the "Yeber county farm bureau has attained a record during the past year which will ! not be equaled by many organizations of the city or county. In the year 1916 the organization accomplished its first full year's work and the results are such that the bureau is destined to continue con-tinue not only as a permanent feature of agricultural activity in Weber county, coun-ty, but also a most Important one in tne development of one of the most important im-portant industries of the county and state. The bureau was organized late in 1915 and did not get down to its real programme of proposed activities until 1916. D. D. McKay of Huntsville, leader lead-er in the movement which brought about the organization of ' the bureau, remained re-mained at its head as president throughout through-out the year and is still in that position posi-tion pending the annual election of officers of-ficers in January-j 1917. It is largely dne to his individual efforts that the work of the farmers' organization has been systematically outlined and the scope of its activities extended until every important "branch "of the industry is now thoroughly covered. U. S. Co-operation. Another important factor which has contributed largely to the success of the bureau's work during the year is the co-operation of W. P. Thomas, county coun-ty agricultural agent. As direct representative repre-sentative of the United States department depart-ment of agriculture and the Utah Agricultural Agri-cultural college of Logan, ilr. Thomas gives all of his time throughout the year to agricultural problems and exercises exer-cises a general jurisdiction over the project work of the bureau. As a member mem-ber of the central bureau, made up of directors from the various district associations, asso-ciations, Mr. Thomas is kept in close touch with every feature or the work. There have been but few changes in the original plan upon which the county bureau was organized. The farmers of each district or settlement were invited to form branch associations and elect one director to the central bureau. These directors adopted the general constitution, constitu-tion, elected the officers, mapped out the projects for approval by the agricultural agri-cultural college and transacted the general gen-eral business of the central organization. organiza-tion. During the year the bureau obtained ob-tained permanent headquarters in the Utah National Bank .building. These quarters are also used by Mr. Thomas, the agricultural agent. Seventeen Branches. According to the annual report of Mr. McKay, the president, there are uow seventeen locals or branch associations affiliated with the county bureau. These cover virtually every farming district of the entire county. In Xovember of this year the constitution was changed to provide for reorganization of the associations as-sociations within a thirty-day period, from November 15 to December 15. in order to have the central organization perfected for the 1917 campaign. This reorganization is now virtually completed, com-pleted, as the branch associations, the final programme of 1917 projects and the work of the bureau in general is to be mapped out at an early meeting of the directors. At the present time the officers and directors of the bureau are busily engaged en-gaged with plans for the annual state institute of farmers and housewives, which is to be held in Ogden during January. This conference, which has been held at the Agricultural college in Logan during nast years, was transferred trans-ferred to Ogden because of the more central location and better railroad facilities. fa-cilities. It will embrace a week of meetings for the farmers and their wives. To Drain Lands. One of the important projects taken up by the bureau in 1916 is the proposed pro-posed drainage and reclamation of water-logged lands in the Hooper and Plain City districts. With tne assistance assis-tance of W. N. Hall of the drainage bureau of the department of agriculture agricul-ture and R. S. Corlew, county surveyor, survey-or, preliminary surveys of the districts and estimated cost of construction were procured. The Plain City district comprises com-prises 1100 acres and tbe'estimated cost of drainage is $11.42 per acre. It is estimated that 3000 acres of land in the Hooper district can be reclaimed at a cost ot $10.50 per acre. Arrangements are now being made to organize drainage districts and complete the projects. The bureau, with its corps of investigators, has also ascertained that approximately 45,000 acres of land in Weber county are susceptible to drainage, the reclamation of wliicl would virtually double the amount of land under cultivation in this county. Many preliminary surveys are to he made during the corning year to ascertain ascer-tain the cost and best methods of draining drain-ing much of this territory. Through a campaign taken up hv the bureau early in 1916 it seems almost certain that Utah is soon to have a secretary sec-retary of agriculture as a department of the state government. Committees were appointed to the county conventions conven-tions of both political parties with a.' view to procuring support through j party platforms. The organization wwA successful in having the plan indorse! in both the Democratic county and state conventions. j |