The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-23
DOING GOOD WORK.
IRRIGATION CONVENTION LISTENS
TOMANY INTERESTING PAPERS.
General Opinion is That the Government
Should Institute Series Of Expert
ments-Plans for Retaining
Arid and Unproduc.iva
LandssAdvaneed.
Irrigation" is the watchword for west,

Irrigation" is the watchword for west
ern Kansas.
The convention commenced in this city
yesterday, at the Board of Trade hall, is
one of The most important ever held in
the state, and one that promises to be far
reaching in its results.
1t was the general opinion that the
meeting would he dry, but the reverse
was the case and it is doubtful whether
there was ever an audience embed
in this city, no matter what the occasion,
which gave the participants such close
attention. a great novel could not COM
mand more attentive interest than did he
papers read at he meeting. For this rea-
son, if for no other. irrigation is bound to
become popular, for when any truths are
promulgated that the people can be inter
ested in it to such degree as in this in-
stance success is inevitable.
Major Powell, director OF the United
States geological survey. says it is the
biggest irrigation convention ever held in
this country, from all the facts of which
he has any knowledge. Others who have
been interested in the irrigation movement
express themselves similarly.
The officers Of the association are de-
lighted and not a single man can be found
who does not admit that the convention
is pronounced success. There are about
200 delegates present, but so far the Gre
dentials committee has not made full
report, and the names of the delegates will
not be obtainable for publication till TO-
morrow.
The meeting is being held in the board
or trade hall, and every seat in that large
building WAS occupied yesterday during
the entire session.
FORENOON SESSION
At 10 O'Clock a. m. the convention was
called to order by President Frost. and
City Attorney Wyatt YVES introduced who,
at the request of Mayor Cox. who was IN
avoidably absent, read the following adj
the city:
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Mr. Chairman, ana Gentlemen OF the Irrigation
Association OF Kansas
On behalf of our citizens | extend to you
the freedom of onr city and bid you
hearty welcome here. And | beg 10 assure
you that no assemblage ever gathered in
our city which we more gladly welcomed
than the one assem- bled in this hall. You
have come here from various parts of this
state and / see by your program some
have come from other states all interested
in one common cause, that of furthering
the material growth and welfare Of a rich
and fertile section of our country.
The cause which you represent is of
manifest Importance not only to Kansas,
but to that M magnificent and fertile domain
from the Missouri river to the Pacific
slope, and extending both north and
south.
We have anxiously awaited your COM
ing and numerous inquiries from different
sections have come to us concerning this
convention.
And the successful accomplishment of
youi objects here, would be received with de-
aght ana gladly accepted as lasting bene-
fits by the inhabitants of this whole west
ern country.
You meet here fully cognizant that the
people who sent you are Interested IN your
doings, and are willing and anxious to aid
you and to cooperate with you in the good
work you have undertaken; and / should
say, Judging from the audience | see here,
that while the question or irrigating our
lands will not be entirely settled. Yet great
good will result from the work OF this CON
vention.
The people who have founded here on
these plains. once known as the great
American desert, mighty empire in the
short space OF n quarter OF a century; the
people who have contributed their might
IN building our various institutions:
whose energy and activity have brought
about the general development aud pro-
gress in our mighty state-never before
equalled anywhere. now hope that the mas
ter stroke OF ali this progress may be made
by you IN bringing about plan of lrrlga-
ton that viii enable orr fertile soil TO au-
nually give forth its products in aoun-
dance. We have here in Kansas climate
that IS not eXcelled by that OF the regious
famous Tor their health resorts.
Put into operation a plan of irrigation
which Will give Us little more moisture
aud the fertility OF our soil VIII know no
bounds IN its production. Our fruits
ripen with lustre and richness not sur
passed in the climate of the tropics.
Our hills and valleys will surpass in
abundance OF their yield the corn belt
region of Illinois.
10 the production of the cereals India
would have a dangerous rival. And
our uplauds Will produce grasses
with the stock traversIng over
their untrodden pastures in grades
aud number which would surpass the blue
grass region OF Kentucky
To you who come from our neighborins
states on the west with your mineral
wealth we welcome you to the rich and
productive valley OF the American Nile.
To you who come from the great states
on the north, We cordially greet YOU in the
fair aud sunny land OF this mild cline:
and 10 you who come from the states on
the east and south, we greet you with the
visor, spirit and energy that Is so cnarac-
teristic of our people. And to you who
come from Kansas we receive you with
that community OF interest and brotheriy
feeling which has always firmly bound ali
kausapS.
Again on behalf of the citizens OF
Wichita | tender 10 you all the free dom of
our city and bid you hearty welcome.
d. NJ. FRosT's RESPONSE.
Mr.. D. NJ. Frost of Garden City, presi-
dent of the Stats Irrigation association re-
sponded a. follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN-On behalf of the members Of the
Kansas Irrigation association / return
grateful thanks for the cordial welcome
rendered Us by the mayor of your city, who
SO cneerfuily invited US To partake of your
bountitul hospitality, which at once makes
US feel that We were not IN land OF
strangers, but at home. We cheerfully ac-
cept the kind and generous Invitation of a
people who have "a worldwide reputation
as wide-awake, progressive and enter
prising people, inasbting city where
culture, refinement and the spirit of pro-
greSs Is evidenced on every banu With Its
broad streets and avenues, its stately bus
mess houses ON either side. whose very
tops seem TO touch the sky above them,
-FOUR magnificent residences, your numer-
Gus church buildings and splendid |
schools and Institutions of learning of /
which you are Wei supplied and of
which you are so justly proud. with an ex
celIenG system OF street railways electric /,
lights water service and ons of The most /
perfect and efficient ire departments ia /
the west, clearly indicates your enterprise /
and prosperity. Your city, county and /
government buildings stand as monu- |