The morning call., 1893-10-12
Important Work of the
Big Congress.
ADMISSION OF THE PROXIES
Good Plan for a Way to Admit
Territories to Statehood.
DEvELOPrlENT OF ARID TRACTS.
Many Resolutions Presented and
Papers Defining the Duty of the
National Government.

Los ANGELES. Oct. 1.-The Inter
national Irrigation Congress did lots OF
hard work to-day. The attendance was
much larger than the opening sessions.
Most all of the delegates were IN their
seats when President Emery raped the
gavel, and the visitors gallery was
crowded
There is widespread interest mani
tested In every word or act done by the
congress, and though in its nature the
body can do little more than suggest and
| resolve, it's deliberations are carried on
| with the utmost rigidity to parliamentary
usage, and the committees are as carefully
selected as though great material interests
depended directly upon their actions.
| Aside from the several valuable papers
read during the day. the most important
work of the convention was the adoption
of the motion allowing proxies. California
opposed this measure, putting forth the
claim that her delegation represented
vastly more important irrigation proper
ties than any other State or Territory.
Nevertheless, the motion was carried, and
each State is now entitled to thirty votes.
| Still, California, with her monster delega-
tion, will have things largely her own way
when it comes to voting. Indeed, had not
the proxy system been allowed the Golden
State would have virtually controlled the
action Of the congress.
| 1t is expected that lively fight will be
made in the committee on resolutions
on the question of the cesslon Of the arid
lands to the States. Colonel Richard j.
Hinton will fight the resolution with all
the vigor he has, and those who know the
] doughty colonel know that he is very
energetic. Colonel Hinton declares thai
| If the arid lands are ceded to the States
there will he complicated dispute over
| in nterstate water rights, and the States that
have the supply can dictate to the others
who have it not. He says that the Gov
ernment should have exclusive jurisdiction
| in the matter.
It is thought that the committee on
resolutions will hardly be ready to report
before Friday or Saturday. Jerry Milay
of Arizona anticipates lively times on this
question of cession of arid lands to the
States and Territories by the General Gov
ernment.
William E. Srnythe of New Mexico, edi-
tor OF the Irrigation Age. says that it is a
larger question than that of the cession of
the lands to the Government, and depre-
Gates any contest on this question, pre-
fearing amicable agreement TO wordy hos-
tilities. 1t is the opinion of large num-
ber Of. the delegates that the whole ques-
ton should be submitted to a committee to
report on at the next meeting Of the con-
gress. and this disposition of the question
will be fought for stoutly.
There is much discussion and some cau-
cusing over the selection of the chairman
of the executive committee that is soon to
be chosen. The friends of William E
Smythe are working hard in his interests.
and the number Of delegates who think
Richard j. Hinton the best man for the
place is formidable to the prospects of all
other candidates. This is by far the most
important Office the congress will have at
It's disposal. though the monetary emolu-
ments thereof will be scant enough.
This is the first international irrigation
congress ever held. and Count Comodzin-
sky, the Russian delegate, says that In a
very few years every nation in the world
will be represented in Irrigation con-
crosses to come. 1t has ceased TO be an
American matter, he says. and will soon
be question of the utmost Importance to
every civilized Government
Monsieur Lefebvre, who Is at the head
of the French delegation, expressed the
same sen ailments. and declared his belief
that all Europe will be represented in the
next congress.
Where this next congress is to be held is
already question that is demanding much
informal attention. San Francisco is max
Ing good fight for the honor, but she
iaborS under the disadvantage of being IN
the same State as Los Angeles, and the
outside world is apt to think that Califor-
MIA has been hOnored enough for the
present. Kansas City, Omaha and Denver
are putting forth their best licks for the
next congress, and the odds are in favor
of Denver.
The delegates are being entertained roy
ally by the people of this city. Especially
Is this true of the foreign representatives,
though none of the others have cause to
nor Is one complaining.
The ladies Of the foreign delegation are
being made much of by Los Angeles
society, and many social functions are in
progress for their entertainment.
| In his paper treating Of the results OBJ
| tanned by the Federal Geological Survey
and by the Census Bureau, F. 81. Newell of
the Department of the Interier gave a
great deal of valuable information. He
| described the great map of the United
| States, which is now being made by the
| Geological Survey. 1t is being made in
small sheets about fifteen inches wide by
| twenty long. and these can be combined to-
gether to show any desired area or political
division. They exhibit the character of
the surveys size of the catchment areas
| and their relations to irrigable lands. AL
though prepared primarily for geological
purposes. they are of practical utility in
considerations of water supply and Of the
general development of the country.
ut is Obvious" said Mr.. Newell, "that