Arizona citizen., 1873-11-15
IRRIGATION.
What the Denver Convention Ask.
 of Congress.


 to take some definite steps toward perfecting 8 general system of irri- gation on the dry lands on the na- tion's vast plains, and solicit con- gressional aid therefor. The conven- tion met about October 20, with very large attendance from some States and several Territories. Letters were read from senators and representa- tives in Congress, showing their will ingness to zealously assist the work in hand. That the organization might be continual with officers al- ways ready to cooperate with others, call meetings, or press Congress in op- perfume times and ways, 8 National Central Committee of Irrigation" was appointed, viz: Governor s. H. FL bert, chairman, Colorado; Governor Stafford of Arizona; Governor Potts, of Montana; Governor Burbank, of Dakota; Governor Furnas, of Ne braska General James K. Proudit, New Mexico; Governor John A. Campbell, Wyoming; G. c. Barton, Nebraska; Bishop Musser, Utah. There were diverse opinions presented by various members, but the follow ing was unanimously adopted and is we'll worth careful consideration
 To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress or the United States of Amer1ca:-4Our memo rialists, citizens of the States and Terri ries west of the Missouri river, would most respectfully represent:
 That the portion of the public domain lying between the ninety-ninth meridian of longitude west from Greenwich, and the Pacific ocean, is arid and generally tn- capable of cultivation, except by means of irrigation:
 That this arid region embraces more than one-third of the geographical area of the United States, or over one million square miles, and comprises the territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana, and the state
 
 of Oregon, California, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas, and of the territories of Wash ington and Dakota;
 That the soils of this vast region are re- markable for their productiveness, when subjected to irrigable agriculture;
 That the water supply of it's rivers and smaller streams is abundant to reclaim millions of acres that now lie waste and unproductive;
 That a system Of irrigation that will fhn 1tr-X-x 10 extensive and costly for either individuals, private corporations, territorial or state governments to successfully construct;
 That the present agriculture of this re- zion is confined to the immediate valleys of the water courses where 1rrigating ca anls are of easy construction and compara- lively inexpensive, and it will remain so confined to these narrow limits unless some extensive system o1 Irrigation can be established.
 That for these reasons vast areas of land will remain unSold by the government for years to come, or perhaps forever, unless they can be made available to the agricul- turist by irrigation.
 That the public domain outside of these regions, subject to the homestead and pre- laws, is com paratively exhausted, and the tides of immigration westward an- nually increasing in volume, are unable to make available, under these beneficent laws, the millions of acres of rich lands
 
 ardity of the climate, and their financial to construct extensive irrigating canals.
 That no interest is more important to the nation than the development of its min- eral resources. Thousands of gold and silver mines are now unWorked for lack of water to drive machinery to crush the ore. This can be secured only by governmental aid. Reservoirs constructed near the Sourc- es of mountain streams will furnish the necessary supply, and the water, after driving the stamp mills at the mines will flow onward to enrich and fertiliZe the arid plains we are now seeking to reclaim for cultivation.
 That the general government has estab- lished ample and numerous precedents for the granting Of the relief we now ask, by the donation of lands to various states to aid in the construction of canals for navi- gation, and for the building of railways, and by the outright gift of all swamp and overflOwed lands to all the western states;
 That the aid we ask is an absolute neceS- Sity to the states and territories herein and will contribute far more to the general prosperity of the whole nation than any, or all, of the above classes of 
 That the control of the water supply and its distribution for irrigation should for ever remain in the hands of the people through their representatives-the legis- lative assemblies of the several states and territo tories-and should in no case or degree be surrendered to individuals or corpora tiOnS;
 Therefore your memorialists would most pray that law be enacted by your honorable body embracing the fol- lowing general provisions:
 First.-TO grant to the several states and territories named in the preamble to this