The St. Johns herald., 1893-09-28
Proclamation by the Governor
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. l TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.

Whereas, There will be convened at Los Angeles, California, on the 10th day of October, 1893, and remain in session for five days, an International Irriga- ton Congress, at which leading irriga- tionists of the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia will be present, and at which a number of important ques tions relating to irrigation law, irriga tion securities, irrigation methods, etc., will be discussed and determined.
 The importance of this congress has received recognition from the national government Tn a circular letter issued by the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham. Sec retary of State, dated July 7th, 1893, ln- viting the attendance of representa- tives from all foreign governments in- terested in the subject of irrigation. The Department of tbe Interior will be represented by an officer specially de- tailed to lmpart to the congress such information as may be in the possession of the government, obtained by sur veys which have been carried on for several years by the United States geo. logical survey under and by direction of the government.
 As delegates will be present from all the states and territories where 1rriga- ton is carried on, and from foreign countries, where this mode of agricul- ture has been eXperimented with for years, the discussions will prove of the highest practical value to every citizen interested in the development of Ari- zona.
 There is no question which presents | itself to the western half of the United States, especially to our own section, which is of greater importance and | fraught with more momentous results than the solution of the arid land prob lem. It means the reclamation of mil- lions of acres of land, the employment of thousands of people, and the pro- viding. of myriads of families with farms | and homes, resulting in the production of untold wealth.
 Our people can point with pride 10 | the wonderful results which have been achieved by irrigation within our own | borders, in the reclamation of over half a million acres of land and the contem- ! templated reclamation of a millien more in the immediate future, This is enough to inspire enthusiastic hope in the possibilities of Arizona's horticul- tural resources, and should serve to eX- cite the deepest interest of our citizens in this congress.
 The congress will no doubt discuss and by resolution adopt and recom- mend to the congress of the United States a policy by which these lands may be most easily reclaimed. Such a policy if simple. practical, and lnvolv- ing little or no cost to the federal gov ernment, will in all probability be crys. taliZed into a national law, and 1t may be that the states and territories com- prised in the arid section will be given the reclamation of these lands.
 Now, therefore, l, l.. c. Hughes, gov ernor of the Territory of Arizona, do hereby request and urge the people of the territory to interest themselves in the coming congress, both by the dis. cussion of the subject and recommend Ing to the proper officials the selection and appointment of delegates specially qualified to present the views of ou1 people on the irrigation interests oi Arizona, and by their practical expe. rience to assist in bringing the delibe. rations to successful conclusion.
 In witness whereof; have hereunto set my hand and
 sEAA/caused the great seal of the
 Territory to be affixed al Phoenix, this the eleventh day of Sep tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety three. L. c. HUGHES,
 Attest: Governor
 c. NJ. BRUCE, Secretary of the Ter'y