The herald., 1894-09-08
IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
Delegates Already Return
ing Home.
Several Interesting Addresses
Made.
Lengthy Session of the Resolutions
Committee.
Views of tho Majority and Minority Sub
mtttsd-A Hot Discussion Ensues.
Neither Report
Adopted.
By the Associated Press.

the irrigation congress today was
smaller than heretofore, some delegates
having already left for home. The
chairman announced that the committee
on resolutions would not be ready to
report until 2 O'Clock. This raised
storm of protests. On motion OF Joel
Shoemaker Of Utah, q committee was
resolutions and demand report at once.
While waiting for the report, Thorn as
Cutler of Utah read paper on Beet
Sugar Culture, after which Seflor Ybe-
rolla of Mexico spoke on the necessity OF
having an international water commits
eion to settle disputes between Mexico
and the United States regarding water
privileges.
David Boyd of Greeley, Colo. read
paper ON The Nature and Behavior OF
the Platte River.
Judge Emery of Kansas, national Ices
turer of the congress, spoke on The True
Significance OF the Irrigation Movement
in Regard to Arid Lands.
'The arid section of the United States
ia over one-half of the possessions OF the
government, not including Alaska. This
section," he said, has not over 5,00O.-
600 population. The greater portion OF
this vast tract can he irrigated, and il
reclaimed will provide for 100000
people,"
He denounced the letter OF Secretary
Morton to this congress in which he
said, "These meetings have nothing to
do with practical irrigation" IS utterly
untrue.
Judge Emery advocated small farms
and storage reservoirs and an irrigation
survey for the purpose OF discovering
and distributing the water of the coun-
try for irrigation purposes.
The congress then took recess until
o'clock.
Immediately upon reassemblng, the
committee on resolutions submitted q
majority and minority report. The
majority report was as follows:
The national executive committee OF
the irrigation congress is hereby in.
struGted to prepare series of bills for
preaentatic~ to the congress OF the
United Ssales, embodying the following
propositions:
First-Repeal of the desert land law.
Second-Withdrawg from settlement
of all arid lands within the arid region
not found to be capable of irrigation, all
such lands, except mineral lands, to be
held for catchment areas, pasturage and
timber.
Third-Leasing the pasturage lands.
giving preference to actual occupants
and cultivators OF adjoining irrigable
lands, and the sale of eurplus timber,
the proceeds arising from ouch sources
to be devoted to the development of
water supply for irrigation within the
state, and when no longer required for
such purposes, to belong to the stale.
Fourth-That the states be permitted
to select lands for reclamation and make
them the basis of security for the con-
etruction of irrigation works; title to
such land to remain in the federal gov
ernment until such tims as it shall have
passed through the state to the actual
settlers, no one individual being per-
mitted to acquire title to more than 40
acres of irrigated land, except in case
of laRds where the local conditions
necessitate the enlargement of the home
unit, because of the small value of the
crops produced the money received
from such aources to be reserved for the
purpose OF discharging obligations in
Cured in the work OF reclaiming public
Is
pendent OF the Carey law. and is not in
tended to conflict with, or modify, the
provisions of that law.
Fifth-That when any state shall have
reclaimed land under the plan provided
in section tshall form irrigation divis-
ions according to the photographic
divisions, and wher sufficient mum ber
of settlers shall have actually located
upon the land within such division the
state shall, conditionally, turn over the
land administration to the authorities of
said water division.
Sixih-That before any state can
avail itself OF these provisions it shall
have legally constituted state irriga-
tion department. That there shall be
appointed national irrigation commits
sion, veeted with the admin stration of
government, pastoral and forest lands, of
such irrigation works rs may be under
taken under federal authority, and be
empowered to consider and authorize
general plans OF reclamation submitted
by the irrigation department OF any state.
The national irrigational commission
shall also be charged with the work of
making an immediate investigation OF
the problem OF interstate streams and
report TO the congress- OF the United
States, as early az possible. measure
providing a means for the speedy and
final adjudication of the questions bo-
tween states and a plan for the division
Of streams on a basis of justice and
equity.
Ssventh--That the several territories
be included in the provisions of the
Carey law.
Eighth-That en International com
mission be constituted, composed OF rep
reeentatives OF the United States, Cana
da and Mexico whose purpose it shall
be to thoroughly examine into and arbi-
trate questions arising between said
nations because OF the waters of rivers
partly in each of the two countries. or
serving as boundary between two, and
to settle upon a basic and method for
the equitable division OF the watera OF
Ruch a1reamR whan uaaA for irrivatinp