The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-19
THE sALT LAKE HERALD

bers of commerce, of boards of trade
together with a delegate appointed b,
the mayor of each Incorporated city o
the seventeen states and territorie
named as being directly interested il
irrigation, will be admitted as honor
airy members.
BY order Of the National Executive
Committee
4 WILLIAM E. SMYTHE, Chairman.
] FRED L. ALLIES, Secretary.
I The first congress held at Sal
Lake city in 1891, adopted platform
faVoring the cesSion of arid lands tC
the various states. The Utah legisla.
/ ture, 1892, memorialized congress, en-.
dorsing the plan.
The Los Angeles congress, held in
September, 1893 adopted a platform OIL
address to the people of the United
J States, giving the views of the con-
gress concerning needed legislation tC
secure a more rapid and successful re-
clamation Of the arid lands; also pro-
Viding for the appointment of ma ton
al executive commissioners, and OF
state commissioners. the duties of
which were outlined as follows:
AN ARID LAND POLICY.
There shall be appointed by the ma
tional executive committee of the Irri-
cation congress, a commission for each
state and territory in the arid or semi
arid regions, consisting of five men,
beTs each, who shall be competent and
experienced men. These commissioners
shall at once enter upon a careful in
vestigation of the conditions existing
in each of their states or territories.
and then formulate plans looking to
the adoption of a national policy to be
supplemented by appropriate local
laws.
The results of the investigation of
these several commissions shall be
submitted to the next Irrigation con-
Sfess, at time to be designated by
the executive committee, not exceed
ing one year hence, and upon these re-
ports the final and definite decIara-
tons of the people of the western
states and territories NAV be based
by TINS means we hope within a rea-
sonable time to suggest satisfactory
lrrlgauon policy to the nation and to
the states and territories and we here
by declare our purpose to erect it upon
proad foundations of justice and of
equity with due regard for the rights
or both labor and capital
Utah has much at stake in the adj
Justment of irrigation problems. and
we cannot remain Indifferent. Other
states are moving vigorously, and the
policy to be adopted at the Denver
convention will probably be one which
will be followed persistently until def
mite results are secured. We have the
same questions to decide, and ought
TO contribute to the discussions and
cooperate with the people of the sur
states in arriving quickly at
some general basis of work. Great
tracts Of land now worthless can be
opened up to settlement if the water
now running to waste is properly
stored and distributed, and whether
his work is to be done by the states
Or by the general government, some
plan of work must be reached. and the
United action of the mountain states
secured. The question of the further
Unrestricted use Of the public range
must be met. The basis for the local
equation Of water rights and protec-
ion to irriga tionists as we'll as irriga-
ion companies, must be improved.
Many important questions in connec-
ion with the general subject will he
PRESENTED and ably handled at the
Denver meeting, and the voice of Utah
hould be heard
The great depression all over the
United States is forcing attention to
he unused lands, and some method of
ettlement must be adopted quickly.
he country has millions of unem-
loyed men, the arid west has mil
ons of unemployed acres. To
ransfer unemployed men to surplus {
ma, is the great problem which must
e met and which the third Irrigation
ongress will consider. Utah ought to
e able to secure her share of the adj
which will come to the arid {
est when finally the method is adopt
d which will secure the construction s
nd proper regulation of the irrigation :