The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-14
THE IRR1eArroS CONGRESS.
Some Very Lively Debates at Yesterdays
Session


Los Angeles, Cal, Oct 1S.-At last
evenings session of the irrigation con-
gress. C. r. lockwood. of the irriga-
ton engineers, spoke of irrigation be-
low the sea level; r. 3. Stanton on
the Grand canyon of the Colorado
river from an engineering standpoint;
and Gustave DeTaveraux of Los An
geles on the relation offorestry 10 irri-
cation.
The platform was read. 1t declares
that the pressure Of the surplus popu-
lation still seeks an outlet IN the west,
as was evinced by the scenes recently
witnessed in the Cherokee Strip, and
that settlement in a portion of the
public lands where the rainfall was
sufficient to support agriculture has
reached its limit. The unsettled land
now belonging to the United States is
mostly arid or semi-arid.
The platform confidently predicts
that these lands are destined to be-
come the seat of the highest civiliza-
ton and the greatest average pros
perity yet developed on this continent.
The development of these lands can
only be successfully attained by ma
tional legislation. The laws now COW
ering the waters and lands in a num-
Der of the states and territories are
AAtNNACNA4cAlC olA0 0dLSCiOAlS. lie Wdl0I
in the natural channels and beds is
not private property and can neither
be bought nor sold. The platform
claims that the streams arising in one
state and flowing in natural courses
through one or more of the other
states must be conserved and equitably
divided under equitable authority.
The policy of forest ard storage reser-
walton covering the mountain water
beds is Endorsed as an act of simple
justice, and it is declared the govern.
ment should devote a portion of the
money received from the sale of lands
lit for agriculture to a scientific in
vestigation of the means for reclaim
ing lands.
In regard to the arid lands the com
mittee recommends that the national
executive committee, composed of five
competent men from each state and
territory in arid or Sen1i-arid regions.
shall at once enter upon a careful
investigation of the conditions existing
in each Of their states and territories
and formulate a plan looking to the
adoption of a national policy.
After speeches favoring the platform,
the convention took a recess.
At the afternoon session, Major
Powell. director of the United States
Geological Survey. said he was pro-
foundry impressed with the wisdom,
vigor and lucidity of the report, but
there were questions therein needing
discussion. The major then gave his
views in length, as deduced from his
thirty years work in this connection.
He predicted that the acquisition of
more lands from the government for
irrigation was simply piling up g. her
itage OF conflict over water rights. The
people in the valleys ought to own and
control the lands and water, and the
,n-,f CHI civ
title to the area on which their lands
depended.
There was vigorous discussion at
this point, several delegates protest
ing against PoweI's views.
The major said the main point he
wanted to ! 1press was that those
owning lands now should be protected
in their water rights.
A Californian delegate protested
that all the people should have the
same right per acre as the specu-
lators. He didn't like Powelrs po-
sition.
The major retired at this point.
Col Hinton, of New Mexico, made
an energetic talk, in which he gave
the government scientists a dig.
Governor Sheldon also combatted
Powells views and contended that
not one-fifth Of the available water
was yet utilized.
The platform was then taken up by
paragraphs and a hot session followed
Several delegates attacked Powell
Who arose and said he wanted fair
play. He had said that $50, 900, 600 acres
of public lands have passed from the
government to private ownership and
there are millions Of acres more that
can be irrigated, but there is not water
to do it with.
snythe, Of Utah, said if he meant
railroad lands they Sidn't want to
irTigate them.
Hinton, ofNew Mexico, said Powell
was making conflicting statements.
Mulholland, of California, said
Powell's position favored getting back
the land Of railroad grants and de-
voting them to the use of the people.
Hinton said Powell didn't talk to
this effect, and called for the Of
fetal records.
Great confusion ensued and the
wrangle lasted several hours.
After a lengthy and heated debate,
action on the platform was deferred