The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-16

convention shall be by call of The states and
vote no state or territory shall be entitled to
more than thirty votes and the affirmative and
negative vote OF any state and territory answer
ing 10 roll call shall be announced by the chair
man of the various delegations
c. w. IRISH, Nevada,
W. +. PERKINS Secretary Chairman.
Report adopted without objection. The
chair appointed Mr.. Irish, of California,
Mr.. Rogers, of Colorado, and MIR. Gilchrist,
OF Wyoming, to escort the newly elected
president to the platform, and formally
introduced him to the convention as It's
presiding officer for the session.
MIR. Wright, on assuming the chair said;
GENTLEMEN OF THIS CoNGREss-I need not
tell you that esteem my promotion 10 TINS
position of chairman of this congress as very
great honor. am deeply impressed with its
Importance. l believe 1t TO be ptonser step In
movement which Is almost without parallel1n
Importance. Systems of irrigation have been
developed in the various states and territories,
WMcn are serving very good purpose, ana
Whlch have met the great end OF developing
large areas of territory so as to make them
worth millions where formerly they were worth
but thousands; but this is comparatively new
movement. 1t has no forerunner, it is an en-
tlrely new movement in many respects. In the
nrSt place We are outlining q policy TO be pur-
sued with reference to the so-called arid pubic
lands OF all the states and territories Now,
Of G System ten ' Of irrigation f such
as has been developed in the various states and
territories. II means more. In the states ana
territories there has been granted to individuals
ana TO corporations the right to 90 to tne Var!-
Gus streams and to construct canals and 10 Oh
vert waters and to apply them to the lands Tor
which they were inten led, but this is more. 1t
is hrst the adoption OF policy by the United
states government with respect TO the ara
lands within these states and territories. But
that Is only q small portion of the programme
wnlch Is to be carried out, and we cannot expect
mere, IL seems TO me, to develop this system IN
us entirety. We are only seeking. as l under
stand IT, here at this congress
TO OUTLINE PLAN AND POLICY
Which shall be submitted to the general gov
ernment for its adoption. That understand 10
be the purpose of our meeting here, that we
shall ady1 e the general government with re-
spect TO course to be pursued with reference
TO the arid public lands within the states anu
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
irrigation OF these lands, when once this general
feature has bsen attended TO, is the next step
TO be considered, and that 1T seems to me, Is
one Of the most important that can be ad-
dressed 10 the human MIND. We have Wltnln
these various states and territories domain OF
arid lands which are we'll capable OF supporting
a greater population than is now living cast of
the Mississippi river. Now that is an astonlsh-
ing statement and yet the slightest exam1na-
ton will prove 1t to be true In outlining
policy then, which is to govern this vast new
empire about TO be created, believe this TO be
the pioneer SUep OUT OF WHICH must grow lH6
greatest results to this government-the irri-
cation OF these arid public lands OF the states
and territories.
There must first then be this recommended
ton TO the general government a TO the policy
10 be 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 Congress 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 Will be pre-
sented 10 men who have never given it any
thought whatever, or nearly so. There are
some of course from this coast who have given
it mature consideration, but there are others
who have never given it the slightest consider
alton; and when it comes 10 the proposition of
cEDING so MANY MILLIONS OF ACRES
TO the various states and territories it may
meet with determined opposition. IL seems to
me then the plan TO be made and carried out,
and the course to be pursued With reference TO
these arid landsyswhen it comes to the point of
their being ceded TO the various states ana ter
ritories, ought to be very maturely considered,
ana 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 it carried out in accordance with the
views of this congress, 1t seems to me have a
very important work in hand and one in the
preparation of which they ought to have the
advise Of this congress after the maturest con-
sideration and elaboration. Now that is the
first step to be taken,
Then there is the further step, If you please,
when once the government has been convinced
that it is the best policy TO cede these public
lands 10 the various states and territories for
the purpose OF retaining them and developing
them. that is of outlining plan
by which the irrigation OF these lands
may be effected, l do not know
that this convention viii care to undertake lnat
| important work. Probably as much as they
will desire to undertake is simply to outline u
plan and policy for the general government
upon whion these lands shall be coded 10 the
various states and territories. IL has now come
! to be generally acknowledged that the benefits
If irrigation are so great as TO be beyond any
| question in all the great west. The benefits of
| u system OF irrigation have been so firmly eS-
| tabliShed as to be beyond further question and
the fact that this great domain, the public
lands, may be developed into an empire Of un-
| told Importance, is one which viii be conceded
| upon the bare statement Of the facts. We are
| all prepared-we all came here with that con-
viction, we believe that to be true. 1t will not
be necessary for us to discuss the proposition
as to the benefits of irrigation. We all came
here convinced OF its superlative benefit to the
country, and we are therefore prepared TO go on
from that step 10 consider the ways and means
by which 1t may be best accomplished.
Now, it seems TO me that right here at the
very basis of ourtwork, after we dispose of the
proposition, If we can do SO, OF how best to ad-
Use the general government with respect TO
these lands, there comes up the further i'm
portant question, ana one which ought TO be
considered to some extent at least by this CON
gross, OF
HOW BEST TO IRRIGATE THESE LANDS,
how best to devise system that may be sue
cessfully applied in the development OF these
lands by irrigation. 1t seems to me that this
is one OF the imp rtant features which might
we'll be considered by this congress.
think you will not expect an extended
speech from me at this time. This honor came
entirely unexpected and without solicitation l
assure you, and while have not had much ex-
perience governing the deliberations of bodies
ike this, l shall crave your Indulgence and
your assistance as We proceed with the work of
this congress and hope that we may get along
harmoniously and successfully with the great
Work before US. thank you, gentlemen. TAp
plause
The vice presidents and secretaries were
Invited to the platform.
ON RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Badlam, OF California, moved that
the appointment of committee on resolu-
| tions consisting of one from each state and
| territory, which was agreed to, and the fol-
| lowing mem bers named John p. Irish,
California; Platt Rogers, Colorado; a. w.
Hager, Idaho; j. w. Gregory, Kansas; A.
c.. Botkin, Montana; James Stevenson,
Nebraska; F. G. Newlands, Nevada; w. H..
| Poore, New Mexico; j. +. Johnson,
Oregon; Morgan Jones, Texas; G. G. Good
win. Utah; Edwood Mead, Wyoming.
On motion Of MIR. Irish, of California, ap-
pointment of the committees mentioned in
The sixth and seventh order of business
was postponed till later in the session. He
then moved an adjournment.
IN FAVOR OF PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Mr.. Gregory, of Kansas-Mr. Chairman,
| will move that any member Of this con-
gress who has resolution or matter
which he wishes to present to this congress
for its consideration do now present it that
1t may be read by the secretary and re-
| ferred to the committee on resolutions.
| Mr. Clark of TTtah-I will aecond thot