Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-18
THE WORK or Tng IRRIGATION
CONGRESS-.

Tiff irrigation congress p'Tptneu
good work during its three days session
In this city. The o9lec, In view Is
pral.owofthy. Whether the plans
devised aru founded IN the deepest
wisdom perhaps is open to doubt.
What Utah would DO with her arid
lands II they wero ccded 10 her by the
Government, opens question that In
wolves many diiiiculile-. Could capital
sufficient be obtained To supply
the needed water for irrlgat-
Ing thcm9 Would no, the
boring OF arte.isn wells and the con-
s,ruction Of storage appliances involve
an outlay 10 great that It would DO
apslling9 Would II no, be better for
the Government TO retain possession OF
the lands, devise means aud provide
funds for the production Of tho water
and then sell the lands 10 settlers?
We DO not pretend 10 answer these
questions In the affirmative or TO say
that the scheme devised by the Con.
grcss Ia not good one. We simply
put these queries forward for the
general public TO ponder upon.
One point decided by majority vote
In committee Of the whole we think
was well taken. II vas the provision
Ia regard to the schools, The post.
ponement OF any benefits from the
school lands-sections sixteen aud
thlrty.-lx-untll Statehood Is achieved,
has always appeared 10 Us absurd. A
Territory IL certainly niue more In
need Of help for public schoola than d
state would be- with IT, increased
wealth and diversified AMI matuted
means Of Income.
The proposition, therefore, 10 give tC
the school funds n secondary Interest
in tho proceeds Of sales OF arid lands
was a good one, applying TO the Terri
tories equally with the States to receive
tho benefits Of the measure. tn,
amendment introduced IN committee
Of the whole by Delegate w. II. Kinl
Of Provo, which carried by u large
majority OF the committee, was Infinite
ly preferable to the original resolution
ns prepared by Delegate G.. q. Good.
win, which only provided for the ap.
plicatlon Of "surplus" funds TO tn
schools. After the arid lands had beet
reclaimed there would he very little lef
for the schools, by way OF SURPLUS
The introduction Of tho ameudmen
was the cause Of a breeze that threaten
cd 10 raise ill.feeling, but II was dis
sipated before anything serious occur
red. The Congress rejected tho Who'll,
resolution, No the dispute was withou
avail, but tho question involved wa
brought forward In another shape
And this shows that the California de.
legation, In opposing the elaute refer
ring TO the schools, had no desire to Il,
injustice to Utah or any other Terri
tory.
II was a California delegate who In
tfoducci this separate resolution, which
carried la the Congress:
"R'solvci That 1t Is tho sense Of thl
convention shat the committee selected {.
propose aud present TO Congress the mo
! mortal Of this convention respecting
I public lands, should ask rs a prcliminnr,
To tho ces,ion ofail the land In tho Tori
torio. In accordance with tho resolution
ot the convention, liberal grant 10 sal,
Territories and tn tho salos to loo formed
thoroirom oftho public lands IN DO do
voted To public school purposes
Like all other Congresses, the dlspo
sition to display oratory rather thar
transact business was manifested, ant
much ability In that respeot was OK
hibtod. Hut after oil, the discussion Of
the main question was productive Of 4
good UNDERSTANDING Of many impor.
ant details, and tho necessities Of IN,
arid regions N the country win b,
placed in good shape to be presented /,
Congress,
We think the project which atarto.
with the Govorhornni 10 whom much
credit is due has no mr. been success
ful, aud that while the Irrigation uurs
ton has been well ventilated, tho visit
ing delegates have received avnrnhl.
Impressions VI our rcriIory AMI 10
people.