The sun., 1891-07-16
The Irrigation Convention in Utah.

and tho Car.
The Irrigation Convention in Utah.
Tho Governor of Utah Territory has is
eucd call to the Governors OF fifteen
States and Territories west Of tho Missouri
River to send delegates to an Irrigation
Convention to meet at Salt Lake City on tho
18th, 10th, and 17th OF next September.
Tho Importance OF this Convention can
hardly bo overestimated. Tho so-called
arid region comprises four-tenths OF tho
area OF the United States, exclusive OF
Alaska. or this vast territory 1t Is esti-
mated that 75O.OsO,OOo acres arc still
desert. which might be reclaimed by
systems Of artificial irrigation now
In use. In these days, when the
pressure Of population upon tho public land
still unoccupied Is already SO great that re-
Gently thousands Of settlers awaited, in
great hardship, the opening Of the COM
paratively infertile Territory Of Oklahoma,
there Is no purely economic problem OF
greater national interest and importance
than that OF adding to the purposes Of culti-
vation and civilization this hitherto neg
lected portion of Uncle SANS farm.
In the Eastern States the full significance
OF artificial irrigation is as yet imperfectly
understood. Not only are two blades Of
grass thereby made to grow where none
grew before, but six acres may be made to
support family where thousand acres
barely sustain herd OF cattle and two
or three ranchmen now. BY artificial
irrigation man is given control over
tho climate that could not be obtained
alo o1l tn rnt prry
experiments OF the socklcss but enterprisng
Secretary OF Agriculture were undsputed
and practical successes. A certainty and
adequacy Of moisture is secured by this
means to tho arid lands that makes them,
with their greater heat and no less productive
SOIL not only equal but superior for tho
culture Of grain. fruits, and sub-tropical
plants to the naturally irrigated lands OF the
eastern and central parts OF the continent.
Salt Lake City is very properly selected rs
the meeting place Of this Convention. Utah
is tho mother, SO to speak, of artificial irri-
cation in North America. Here for the first
time. by simple system of ditching, the
desert was made to blossom like a rose
garden in Ispahan.
There are yet many questions to be dis
cussed in tho Convention OF moro lasting
consequence to tho prosperity Of these
States than any question OF the tariff or OF
silver coinage. There is, for instance, the
question of artesian wells, which has been
solved to such practical purpose by the peo-
pie OF North and South Dakota. The dele
gates from Kansas and Nebraska should
have much to tell OF the best methods for
utilizing the underground seepage OF tho
rivers of tho great plains. Mountain
States like Colorado and Nevada havo
had varied experience with reservoirs and
the tapping OF water stored by nature in un-
foreground reservoirs that is OF general pub
lie interest. From tho California delegates
may DO learned something OF practical
use ancnt the sudden recent overflow OF the
Colorado River, and especially sollc detailed
account OF the operation OF their most i'm
portant District Irrigation law. Then, too
there remain for discussion the perplexng
questions OF water rights and OF the least
Objectionable methods Of regulating by law
the private conduct Of the various irrigation
companies that through their monopolistic m
control Of what is becoming q public neces-
sity, may well he subjected with advantag &c
tn some form OF public supervision.
Tho ccssion OF public lands in the arid dis.
trict to the States in which they are situated
for special appropriation, perhaps, to the
local maintenance OF public schools, Is
also n much-debated subject that may
wisely be discussed, aad II anything ap.
proaching unanmity should obtain, tic
| decision of the Convention on this
and other matters might have con.
| trolling influence upon tho action OF Con.
grcss. To the Eastern States, again. whose
interest in artificial irrigation is not so di.
rect 4s that of the States and Territories
west OF tho Missouri, a matter OF no small
| importance Is tho financial security Offered
| by tho irrigation companies, the nature o.
the guarantees they can offer to investors
and the method OF issuing and certify
ing their securities. AS tho grea,
operations now in progress, or In con
temptation, cannot be undertaken OF
carried to successful conclusion without tn,
financial assistance Of capitalists In tn,
| Eastern States and in Europe, the discus
sions at the Convention will receive careful
attention outside OF tho States and Terri
| tories most directly interested and it Nigh
be wise for the Governor Of Utah and til,
Chamber Of Commerce OF Salt Lake City t,
secure the attendance on this important oc
casion OF representative business lnen ant
bankers from New York and Boston. Londol
and Berlin. and not to conduct the Irrigation
Convention merely as local or sectiona
meeting for an interchange Of ,al opinion
and experiences.
The Lion and tho Lamb.
A few days ago letter written by tn
| How JnuN GrTT NJ Hr.ADucpN Io,,,