The record-union., 1893-10-14
and to vigorously prosecute the work of

and to vigorously prosecute the work OF
practical investigation.
While mining and its kindred employ
ments are vastly important to the West
ern States, directly and indirectly, the
irrigation industry is and must ever be
their supreme interest. Under just laws
and proper national encouragement it
will add new luster TO the American
name.
Major Powell, Director of the United
States Geological Survey, said he was
profoundly impressed with the wisdom,
vigor and lucidity of the report, but there
were questions therein that needed
special discussion. His prime interest
was not in railroads and other corpora
ton enterprises, but that which Will de-
yelop the greatest number OF cottage
homes for the people. His work for
thirty years had been in that direction,
and he gave elaborate details Of his OBJ
servations of the condition of the country
and the Importance of irrigation. Statis-
tics were given of the proportion OF
water falling from the heavens that can
be used for irrigation. There is not
enough rain water, he said, to irrigate
all the arabic lands. Only a small part
of the irrigation lands can be irrigated
with the water available for that purpose,
If the lands belonging TO private indi-
viduals on arid regions were alone 1rrl-
gated, to say nothing of Government
lands, there would not be enough water
to irrigate. Only one-third of the lands
now owned by private individuals can
be irrigated by all the water that can be
stored, so that it is not a-question OF get
ting lands from the Government for irri-
CATION. If Government lands are to be
irrigated, it follows that private lands
must suffer He held that Government
lands should be for mining and stock
raising, and not for irrigation.
At this point storm OF questions were
fired at the Major as to the great cost OF
water in Arizona, IN owens Valley anu
the Rio Grande Rivers.
The Major said 50,00O,0OO or 10000, 900
acres a year are being disposed of, and if
all the water could be caught it would
not be sufficient for the amount de-
manded.
Major Powell predicted that the acqui
sition of more lands from the Govern
ment for irrigation was simply plllng up
heritage OF conflict over water rights.
The people in the valleys ought to own
and control the land and water, and the
Government should give settlers title to
the catchment area on which their lands
depend.
Judge Emory of Kansas City asked if
Major Powell believed in small homes
from the arid lands, whether Uncle Sam
has no more of these homes, or whether
they must be obtained from private own
ers.
lands now should be protected in their
water right. He said that was the main
point he wished to impress.
A Californian protested that all the
people should have the same right per
acre as spectators, and he didn't like
PowelPs position at all.
The Major retired at this point and
Colonel Hinton of New Mexico made an
energetic talk, in which he gave the Gov
ernment's scientists a dig. He said the
knowledge of the world was not confined
to one smart man or set of smart men.
The platform now under consideration
was at variance with the report OF the
Geological Survey for years.
Governor Sheldon also combatted Pow
clips statements, and claimed that not
one-ffth of the available water is yet
utilized.
1t was decided to take the platform up
by paragraphs. Then followed a cross
fire of suggestions and amendments that
was bewildering.
w. 4. Smith said the statements of Ma
jor Powell about not enough water to ir-
rigate arabic lands was absolutely false,
SO far as Utah was concerned.
Merrill of Nevada and other delegates
also spoke in opposition to PowelFs state
ment, and all claimed that there are i'm
mense quantities of water running to
waste in various Western rivers.
Major Powell again arose and said he
wanted fair play, and NO misrepresenta-
ton. He said the 750, 600, 900 acres of pub
lie lands have passed from the Govern
ment to private ownership, and there are
millions of acres more that can be irri-
r,.NNrr TO- -
Smythe of Utah said If he meant rail-
road lands, they did not want to irrigate
them.
Hinton of New Mexico said that Powell
was making conflicting statements, and
called for official records.
Mulholland of California said PowelPs
position was in favor of getting back
large grants of lands to railroads in Gov
ernment hands, and devoting them to
use of the people.
Hinton said Powell didn't talk to this
effect, and again called for the official
records.
A dozen other delegates sprang to their
feet with motions calling for questions,
ETC., and great confusion reigned for sew
eral minutes.
Governor Gosper of the Arizona dele
CATION presided at the evening session.
Various paragraphs of the report of the
Committee on Resolutions were consid-
cred, respectively, and two or three
minor changes made. The platform was
so modified as to recommend that no one
but American citizens should be permit
ted to take up Government lands. After
making one or two lesser changes in the
wording of the platform it was referred
to the Committee on Resolutions, to be
again reported on tomorrow, and the
convention adjourned.