The record-union., 1891-09-18
IRRIGATION.
The Great Congress at Salt Lake
City.
First Days Proceedings - Organiza-
ton The Welcoming
Speeches.

irrigation ana reclamation OF Ine anu
lands of the West assembled in Salt Lake
City Tuesday.
The attendance is very large, $50 being
present at the opening, and far in excess
of expectation The idea of holding such
congress originated with the State lrri-
cation Convention held at Lincoln, Neb.,
in February last. A committee was then
appointed to consider the matter, and at
their instance the Legislature of Colorado
took the subject in hand with a purpose
TO have the congress assemble at Denver.
But in the meantime the question was
called to the attention of Governor
Thomas by the Chamber Of Commerce of
Salt Lake City, and he forthwith sent out
circular letter, which at the time was
published in all the Western papers, in
viting the Governors of the Western
States and Territories to appoint dele
gates to meet with a congress at Salt Lake.
THE OPENING.
At 1890 O'Clock Colonel Donnellan
called the convention to order. Fred
Simon read the circular letter by Gov
ernor Thomas inviting the Western Gov
ernors to send delegates TO the congress.
Mr.. Simon announced the States and
Territories entitled to representation, and
Colonial Donnellan then introduced Gov
ernor Thomas to the assembly. -
The Governor advanced to the platform
amid applause and delivered the address
of welcome. We present some of the
more salient points made by the Gov
ernor. He declared the subjects to be
considered to be of vital importance to
the nation. The irrigation system which
has been developed in Utah is combina-
ton of the two systems which prevail IN
the Dakotas on the east and California on
the west In California great system OF
direct irrigation has been developed by
diversion of waters from her mountain
streams. In the Dakotas an extensive
system of irrigation has been developed
by water from artesian wells. In Utah
water is obtained for irrigation both from
mountain streams and arteslan wells. 1t
was fitting, therefore, in a business as
well as historic sense, that the first great
congress held by the Western people to
consider the important subject of irriga-
tion should assemble in the Salt Lake
Valley, in Utah.
THE PURPOSE.
The congress is called for the purpose
of Fastening the reclamation of the arabic
arid lands, so far as possible, and for the
purpose of petitioning Congress to cede
to the States and Territories the arid lands
within their borders for the purpose,
first of retaining the same; second, in
such other public purposes as the legis-
lative assemblies of the States and Terri
tories may respectively determine.
AN EDUCATOR.
He believed the congress would prove
great educator and open the eyes of the
great East to the physical conditions and
needs of the great West, and to the
amount of capital which is necessary to
be expended, and the difficulties to be
overcome before water can be success
fully diverted from the rapidly flowing
mountain streams for purposes of lrriga-
ton. These streams, some of which are
not perennial, rise in the hearts of the
great mountain ranges. Many of these
streams cut deep and enter the valleys
far below the upper levels. In order to
bring the water out on the higher lands
1t is necessary to commence the work of
diversion far back in the canyon and
make way for it along the rocky mount
ain side. When the open valley is
reached other serious difficulties are met.
The valley which appeared to the eye to
be so uniformly level, is found to be in
tersected by network of burrows and ra-
vines, made by the rainfall and the melt
ing SHOWS of spring-time. When the
ditch is completed, unless the work be of
an extensive character, the amount of
water furnished is only sufficient to irri-
gate a limited area, because in these arid
regions the supply is rapidly diminished
by absorption and excessive evaporation.
DIFFICULTIES.
If canal be constructed sufficient to
reclaim a large area another formidable
difficulty is met, the water supply cannot
be depended upon. In the spring time
the snow melts rapidly and the flow of
water being beyond the demand the sur
plus water runs TO waste. AS the warm
season advances the supply gradually de-
creased until, in the summer season,
when the water is most needed, unless
the stream is very large, which is not
often the case, the supply fails altogether,
or is so much reduced as to be practically
valueless for purposes of irrigation. The
building Of large canals is therefore use
less, in many cases, unless some provis-
ion be made for storing the water which
now runs to waste. The building of
large storage reservoirs is the remedy
proposed, TO be placed in the canyons and
other places specially adapted for the
purpose. 1 believe no one will question
the statement that but little land is left
and in but few localities for which water
can be obtained without great expense
Tt seems then, if the growth of the west
ern country is to depend upon the settle
ment of the public lands, a stationary
period has been reached, unless some in
telligent and immediate action be taken,
looking to the increase of the water sup
ply.
THE GREAT BASIN.
The Governor then sketched the history
and growth of development in the
"Great Basin,' and the laws that had
been passed touching upon the subject of
land grants and selection. ''Such action
should be taken by the general Govern
ment as viii place the States and Terrific
rieS Of the arid region on an equality with
the other States and Territories that have
been able TO realize more fully from the
bounty of the Government. We believe
our claim for aid in this respect is lust
and our action in presenting it, patriotic"
After outlining the work before the
congress and the need there is to aid the
sparsely settled territories to avail of
NATURAL ADVANTAGES
And to carry on the work of reclamation,
he added: There are several ways in
which the water supply can be developed.
In many places artesian wells may be
developed; in other places storage reser-
voirs built, and in others the construction
of large works will bring out upon the
land water from rivers, such as the Green
and Grand in Utah and the Snake in
Idaho. The area of the land of unsur-
passed fertility that could, by this means,
be rendered available, would furnish
comfortable and happy homes for
mighty population. There are few places
more inviting than the well-cultivated
valleys of the West, and the Government
can render its people no greater service
than to assist in material way in re-
claiming every acre possible. The policy
OF the Government has been, not to re-
gard the lands as a source of profit, but as
lands held in trust for the common good.
II has pursued the generous policy of aid
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