The state herald., 1893-01-06
IRRIGATION ENGINEERS.
They Gather at Denver from All Parts
of tho West tn Confer Tossther

They Gather at Denver from All Parts
of tho West to Confer Together.
Tho American soce,v NJ IRRIGATION Enriu.
ecrs hegan n. animal convention in Denver
an the os,b Charter mcmbcrs were present
from colorado Iitah Idaho California and
NohrosL, pros,5on, Foo,a de,ivered nm nd.
are.s NJ ve,como
The fo,lowlny ncw officers were chosen:
prosido,t profes.orJ q carnenter nj thu
Agricultural college Fort Collins. Colorado:
vice presIden, william II Hall. San Fran.
ciscn t,.I,fornt.. s.crotarv and treasurer
J,,,, Tu,,or,h nonvor. a,roo,ors n X
punr,.,or NJ IT,ah n 4 s,oyonson ~ sait
Lake civ n r. Rockwooa of California
The secretory read n ,.,er bv survcvor
GencroI Hobart ~ yc,y Ncyico on "a R.ser.
vo,r Mt Santa re ), TIM nroblom nj STORAGE
rcservolrs was nb,v treated and the result. Of
som, ,rtor.s,ing cyperlmen,s riven Il, detail
a Foster nj Ogden ITtnh re,d the second
Manor epti,,ea ..pi,c Irriga,ion " Mr. Fos-
ter,s observations were confined tn wooden
stave nine Tho manor nrovol.j cop s,l.rablc
discussIon. lint Its prlncipal conclusions met
with general assent.
The Thursday morniup,s session WAS omen
Cal by u. y. Green. px-state engineer OF Colo
RADIO. who rcad n papcr IN .Needed Irrlpa-
ton Lepislation.n The uapcr ELECTED n
stirring debate led by Mayor Rogers. who
was present nv snecIal Invitation Tho debate
WIS also participatcd I'm by Colonel Stephcn-
son of Salt Lake. A. ID. Foote of Boise CITY,
Donald Campbell Of Denver. Prof Bailey OF
Chicago, and Others.
Mr. Green's paper embodied the draft of
a proposed law. giving In detail special points
for legislation, defining more clearly and
foraibly the rights Of appropriations aud uscrs
of water, which his official experience had
led him TO believe to he imperatiycly called
for. This paper defined the rights as between
parties dverting water from natural streams
and those taking into canals for the purpose
of disposal TO other parties, themselves not
owning or using the land.
After the reading Of Mr.. Green's paper
Mayor Rogers was requested to review the
main points OF II. lie gave as his opinion
that the same necessity which had compelled
the state of Colorado To abrogate the common
law doctrine OF riparian rights within the
state indicates that the best policy for the
state would be to control the application Of
opinion that no person or corporation can ac-
qure any absolute ownership OF water, but
that 1t should be under the control OF the
state.
At the afternoon session, President Footc
being indsposcd he called Mr.. ID. W. Foo,c
To the chair, lie introduced the draft Of a
bill TO be offered In Congress, providing for
the irrigation and reclamation Of arid lands
for the protection Of forests and utilization
Of pasturage, and asking that the members
give the matter their consideration that they
might be ready to vote upon 1t. The bill con-
sIsts of ten sections and provides that all
lands not mineral nor already taken up or re-
served between the 9g,h standard meridian
and the Coast and Cascade mountains. sbould
be turned over to a commission for the bcnc.
lit of the various state, and territories in
which they are The second and third sec
tons call for the amendment of "A national
commissioner of land and water for each
state and territory by the President,
Other sections give details for the control
Of the lands Thl. shall bc by local boards,
All lands are to be- let to actual settlers.
The proposed bill elected lively debate.