The Arizona sentinel., 1893-09-30
by the Gov
 eFnOr.
ExEcuTIvE DEPARTMENT,
 TERRITORY ur 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 Irrigation Con gress. at which leading irrigationists of the United States, Europe. Asia and Aus tralia will be present, and at which a number of important questions relating to irrigation law, irrigation securities. irriga- ticn methods, ets., will be discussed and determined.
 The importance of this congress has re- ceived recognition from the national gov- crnment in a circular letter issued by the Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, secretary of state, dated July 7th. 1893, inviting the attendance of representatives from au for eign governments interested in the subject of irrigation. The department of the in- terior will be represented by an officer specially detailed to impart to the con- gress such information as may be in the ossession of tn government, obtained by surveys which have been carried on tor several years by the United States geolog- ical survey under and by direction of the government.
 As delegates will be present from all the states and territories where irrigation is carried on, and from foreign countries. where this mode of agriculture has been experimented with for years, the discus. sions will prove of the highest practical value to every citizen interested in the de- velopment of Arizona.
 There is no question which presents itself to the western half of the United States, especially to our owa section, which Is of greater importance and fraught with more momentous results than the solution of the arid land problem. It means the reclama. tion of many million acres of land, the em- ployment of thousands of people, and the providing of myriads of families with farms and homes, resulting in the production of untold wealth.
 Our people can point with priie to the wonderful results which have been achieved by irrigation within our own borders, in the reclamation of over half million acres of land and the contemplated recla- nation of million more in the immediate future. This is enough to inspire enthusi. astic hope in the possibilities of Arizona's horticultural and agricultural resources, and should serve to excite the deepest in terest of our citizens in this congress.
 The congress will no doubt discuss and by resolution adopt and recommend to the congress of the United States policy by which these lands may be most easily re- claimed. Such policy. if simple. practi- cal. and involving little or no cost to the federal government, will in all probability be crystalIzed into a national law, and it may be that the states and territories com. prised in the arid section will be given the reclamation of these lands. Now, therefore, I, 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 com- ing congress. both by the discussion of the subject and recommending to the proper officials the selection and appointment of delegates specially qualified to present the views of our people on the irrigation inter- ests of Arizona, and by their practical ex- perience to assist in bringing the delibera- tions fo 2 successful conclusion.
 In witness whereof, have here
 unto set my hand and caused the great seal of the Territory
 to be affixed at Phoenix, this [SEAL.l the eleventh day of September,
 in the year of our Lord one
 thousand eight hundred and
 ninety-three.
 L. 0. HUGHES, Attest: Governor. l c. M. BRUCE, Secretary of the Territory.