George E. Barstow
George Eames Barstow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | April 30, 1924 (aged 74) Barstow, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, land developer, irrigation pioneer, politician |
| Years active | 1866–1924 |
| Known for | "father of irrigation in the Southwest" |
| Notable work | President of National Irrigation Congress (1908–1909) |
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George Eames Barstow (November 19, 1849 – April 30, 1924), recognized as a "capitalist and irrigation pioneer," was a land developer in Texas and served on the Providence, Rhode Island common council for four years as well as on the city's school board for fourteen years. Additionally, he held a seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1894 until 1896.[1] He earned the title "father of irrigation in the Southwest."[2]
Business career
Barstow launched his career in business at seventeen and went on to "found, finance or organize" five mills specializing in worsted textiles and paper production located in Rhode Island.[1]
Subsequently, he shifted his focus to Texas's Pecos Valley, where the Pioneer Canal Company was incorporated on September 30, 1889, with Barstow acting as treasurer. He later became president of its successor entity, the Pecos Valley Land and Irrigation Company.[1]
In 1891, Barstow collaborated with fellow land developers to initiate a project promoting a settlement along the Texas and Pacific Railway in western Ward County, Texas. By 1895, this community adopted the name Barstow, and Barstow relocated there from New York City in 1904. He also participated in establishing additional irrigation and drainage ventures throughout the Western United States.[1]
Volunteer work
As a member of the Republican Party, Barstow authored pamphlets covering a range of topics including immigration, cooperative movements, China–Japan relations, and aspects of Americanism. [1]
Irrigation and immigration
During 1908–1909, Barstow served as president of the National Irrigation Congress, a primary organization advocating for water infrastructure projects in the Western states. He presided over the annual convention held in Spokane, Washington in 1909. A Los Angeles Times correspondent noted that Barstow "has been instrumental in persuading the federal government to develop systems that will transform over three million acres of desert into fertile land." In an interview, he forecasted that isolated farmsteads would soon disappear as farmers would commute between their residences and fields using fast horses, automobiles, or interurban streetcars.[2] He elaborated:
The government is establishing towns every five miles... Farms will be modest in size—ranging from ten to forty acres—and farming practices intensive. Under these conditions, farmers will reside within towns of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 inhabitants, benefiting from urban amenities such as schools, churches, and social activities... There is already a movement from urban centers toward rural areas. Numerous college graduates have opted for farming on irrigated lands as their vocation.[2]
At the Spokane congress's opening address, Barstow advocated for federal efforts to provide employment opportunities for immigrants settling "out West," including facilitating their transportation and offering loans to help them establish homes.[3] He posed this question:
Though I have always held broadly conservative views, shall I now be seen as promoting paternalism or socialism by proposing that the National Government has a responsibility—under appropriate safeguards—to create a fund for making loans of suitable amounts to assist this industrious and prudent demographic in securing homesteads...?[3]
In 1912, Barstow led the National Immigration Commission and addressed the inaugural convention of the American Immigration and Distribution League in New York City that April. In his message, he highlighted that 65 percent of immigrants arriving were farm laborers and urged that the U.S. Government establish an Immigrant Land Loan Fund to provide small loans enabling immigrants to settle on Western lands.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Offices and Affiliations
- Served as President of the National Drainage Congress during 1907–08
- Held the position of President at the eleventh International Irrigation Congress, 1908–09
- Vice President of the Texas Conservation Commission
- Led as President of the West Texas Reclamation Association
- Participated as a member in the 1908 Conference of Governors
- Acted as Delegate to the World Court Congress held in Cleveland, 1915
- Designated Life Director of Euphrates College in Turkey
- Recognized Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London
- Served as Councilor for the World's Purity Congress
- Member and Fellow of the Society of Applied Psychology based in San Francisco
- Participated on the committee responsible for conferences within the American Agricultural Association
- Contributed as a member of the advisory committee for the University Forum in New York
- Affiliated member of the American Society of International Law
- Member of the National Institute of Social Sciences
- Engaged with the Southern Sociological Congress as a member
- Included among members of the National Child Labor Committee
- Active member of the National Civic Federation
- Member of the American Institute of Civics
- Part of the Academy of Political Science membership roster
- Member involved with the American Society for Judicial Settlement of International Disputes
- Associated with the International Peace Forum as a member
- Participated as a member in the League to Enforce Peace
- Member of the International World Conscience Society based in Rome
- Affiliated with the Navy League as a member
- Member of the Rhode Island Historical Society
- Belonged to the Empire State Society of Sons of the American Revolution
- Member within the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
- Associated with the New York Museum of Natural History
Personal Background
George Eames Barstow was born on November 19, 1849, in Providence. He was the son of Amos Chafee, a notable manufacturer and banker recognized as one of Providence’s leading citizens, and Emeline (Mumford) Eames. His early education took place at public schools followed by studies at Mowry and Goff's Classical School in Providence. On October 19, 1871, he wed Clara Drew Symonds. Together they had nine children: Caroline Hartwell, George Eames Jr., Herbert Symonds, Helen Louise, Harold Carleton, Marguerite, Putnam, Donald, and a ninth child whose name varies between John P. or Paris according to different sources. Barstow practiced his faith by attending a Congregational church in Providence and later a Methodist church while residing in Texas. He passed away on April 30, 1924, in Barstow and was laid to rest at Barstow Cemetery.