The record-union., 1891-09-19
IRRIGATION.
Further Proceedings in the Irriga-
tion Congress.
Resolutions Order of Business Per-
manent Officers Elected
Speeches.

rigation Convention at Salt Lake not
heretofore published were the following,
had on Tuesday:
Colonel John w. Donnellan was chosen
temporary Chairman and Frank K. Gil
lespie temporary Secretary. After the
credentials had been passed upon and
committees named on permanent organl-
Zation and order of business, G. c..
Wright Of California was chosen Presi-
dent
residents-Oregon, J. w. Shell
ton; New Mexico, d. H. Veneer; Ne
vada. NJ. D. Foley; Montana, w. A.
Clark; Kansas, j. w. Gregory; California,
}. r. Mcdonald; Utah, w. S. McCor-
nick; Texas, DR.. w. III. Westfall; Colo
RADIO, G. III. Sanborn; Idaho, J. M. Jones;
Wyoming, e. a. Slack; Nebraska, Colo
mel Jack Mccall.
Secretary, Frank K. Gillespie of Utah.
Assistant Secretaries, George A. Robet-
hon of Idaho and Robert Morris OF
Wyoming.
Sergeant-at-Arms, Colonel Nicholas
TreWeek of Utah.
The announcement of the choice for
President was the signal for an outburst
of applause on the part Of the California
delegation. They also gave Gillespie and
Nick Treweek send-off when their
names were announced.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
On taking the chair President Wright
said:
Gentlemen Of this Congress: need not
tell you that / esteem my promotion to
this position of chairman of this con-
gress as d very great honor. am deeply
impressed with its Importance. l be-
llcVe ii to be a pioneer step in a move
ment which is almost without parallel in
Importance. Systems of irrigation have
been developed in the various States and
Nf.F- rinh
good purpose, and which have met the
end OF developing large areas OF terri
tory, so as 10 make them worth millions,
whore formerly they were worth but
thousands; but this is comparatively a
new movement. 1t has no forerunner; it
Is an entirely new movement in many
respects. In the first place we are out
lining policy TO be pursued with refer
once To the so-called arid public lands of
al the States and Territories. 1t means
more. In the States aud Territories
there has been granted to individuals and
corporations the right TO go to the vari-
GUS streams and to construct canals and
% divert waters and to apply them TO the
lands for which they were intended, but
this IS more. Ii Is, tirst, the adoption OF
Il policy by the United States Government
with respect TO the arid lands within these
States and Territories.
But that is only a small portion of the
and we cannot expect here, 1t seems to
me, To develop this system in Its entirety
We are only seeking, as l understand IL,
here at this congress to outline plan
and policy which shall be submitted to
the General Government for its adoption.
That l understand TO be the purpose of
our meeting here, that We shall advise
the General Government with respect to
Il course to be pursued with reference to
the arid public lands within the States
and Territories. Now, that is but a
small portion of the work which is in
prospect The adoption of the wisest and
best system of irrigation for the irriga-
ton Of these lands, when once this gem
eral feature has been attended TO, is the
next step to be considered, and that, it
seems TO me, is one of the most important
that can possibly be addressed to the
human mind. We have within these
various States and Territories domain
OF arid lands which are well capable of
SUPPORTING a GREATER POPULATION
Than is now living east of the Mississippi
River. Now that is an astonishing state
ment, and yet the slightest examination
viii prove IL to be true. In outlining q
policy, then, which is to govern this vast
new empire about To be created, l be-
Heye this to be the pioneer step out of
which must grow the greatest results to
this GOVernment-the irrigation of these
tories.
There must first, then. be this recon-
mendation to the General Government as
TO the policy to De pursued by it, as to the
manner in which this cession of public
lands may be made, if at all; and there
may be difficulty in convincing the Con-
gresS OF the United States that this policy
OF ceding to the States and Territories
these public lands within the various
States and Territories, that may work
such magnitude, is the best policy. That
Is something that this convention ought
to consider maturely, because the subject
when presented there viii be presented
To men who have never given it any
thought whatever or nearly so. There
are some, OF course, from this coast who
have given IL mature consideration but
there are others who have never given it
the slightest consideration, and when it
comes to the proposition Of ceding so
many millions OF acres to the various
States and Territories it may meet with
determined opposition. 1t seems to me
then the plan to be made and carried out
and the course to be pursued with refer
ence TO these arid lands, when it comes to
the point Of their being ceded to the vari-
Gus States and Territories ought to be
very nIatUrely considered, and those who
may have this subject in hand and who
may go before the Congress Of the United
States with this proposition and seek to
have II carried out in accordance with the
views of this congress il seems to me
have n very important work in hand and
one in the preparation of which they
ought to have the advice of this congress
after the matUfest consideration and de-
liberation. Now that is the first step to
he taken.
Then there is the further step, if YOU
please, when once the Government has
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