The morning call., 1894-09-06
Defended Warmly by Its
Author.
ARID LAND FOR STATES.
Although They Do Not Have to
Accept 1t.
IRRIGATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
There Is a Protest Against Corporate
Ownership of Large Tracts
in the West.

morrow. w. w. F0llett, civil enquirer
| of Denver, read paper on the = huet-
| flow Waters of the Great Plains. lie
graphically described the underfiOW oil
| Colorado and Kansas. and gave the opln-
ion that it was not supplied by meltihg
snow in the mountains so much as from
streams and rainfalls.
Robert Hay, State GeOlOgist Of Kansas,
read a paper on 1.-The Waters of the
Plains" He described the irrigation sys-
tenn of his State, and prophesied that
before the end of the next decade every
acre in Western Kansas would be under
cultivation and the State have Dopu-
lation of 100000.
Mrs. NJ. A. Hamm. Fales, wife OF the
American Consul TO Annoy, China. read
paper on "Ancient and Modern Irrigation
in China and Japan" The system in these
countries. she said. was over 5000 years
old, but was very crude.
The congress elected the following
national executive committee: William
E. Smythe. California. chairman; Fred l..
Allies. California, secretary; Professor
Edwin NJ. Boggs, Ariz ma; Alvin NJ. West,
California; Nj. S. Coof. Idaho; j. w. Greg
DRY, Kansas; J. E Belt, Minnesota; Sam
uel d. Rob bins. Montana; A. Ford. Ne
braska; Elwood Mead. Wyoming; Charles
Z. Ford, Rhode Island Colmax Frost. New
Mexico; W. II. Taylor, Nevada; /. p.
Baker. North Dakota; John II. Filter,
Oklahoma; A. ii. Brigham, Oregon; S. NJ.
Clark. Texas Judge L. W. Shurtleff,
Utah; j. p. Graves, Washington; j. +.
Godding. Wisconsin; William A. Pearce.
Canada; Don Ramon j. de Ybarrola,
Mexico; Thomas knight, Missouri; d. A.
Misner. South Dakota; a. L. Kellogg.
Colorado.
Judge En- cry OF California was continued
as national lecturer.
The president of the Trans Mississippi
Congress at the morning session had in
vited The congress 10 appoint delegates TO
attend their meeting 10 be held in ST.
Louis the last of November. Complying
with this request, William +. Smythe
and Judge Emery of California and
Colonel Mead of Wyoming were APP
pointed Immediately on the congress as
seInbling for the afternoon session. The
first paper read after this was by Captain
w. A. Glassford, U. S. A., on "Meteoro-
logical Factors and Climatic Constants of
Arid America" This was followed by
Morris Byen. United States Land De-
partment, on Right of Way for Canals
and Reservoirs for Irrigation Purposes. -
II at some length gave an account of wha
his department was doing toward the rec
lamation of arid lands. 6 lie assured the
delegates that the Government was
heartily in sympathy with the object of
this congress and was disposed 10 give
any assistance possible TO aid in redeem
ing the desert lands, which he believed,
under a system of irrigation, would be-
come the finest agricultural lands in
America.
+. FL. Newell of Arizona. connected with
the United States Geological Survey, was
introduced, and delivered a most interest
ing address on "The Present Condition of
Public Lands" which was illustrated with
tOpogra phical charts. Congressman II. n.
COffeen of Wyoming addressed the congress
on National Methods of Reclamation of
Arid Lands VS.. Cession." lie objected TO
the introduction of foreign capital into a
State tor the purpose of securing large
landed estates. He favored the ownership
of small farms instead of land syndjcates
securing possession of large tracts and
leasing to the farmers. He denounced the
Carey act as it would be the means of
throwing into the hands of syndicates the
1 GOO. COO acres granted each arid State and
Territory. The States not having the
money to develop these lands will be COM
PEELED to turn them over to corporations
under certain agreements to deveIop them.
This would place the farmers in a cond:.
ton similar to the serfs of Europe. He
favored Government recama tion, and. If
m ch
bonds or treasury notes should be issued
which could be redeemed by the sale of
the lands.
Senator J. NJ. Carey of Wyoming, the
author of the Carey bill, replied to Con-
gresham Coffeen in defense of his meas
ure. He believed the nearer you got to
an individual the better you could do bust
ness, and that the States could construct
and conduct these irrigation canals cheaper
and better than could t1e managers of the
Government who live in Washington.
Under the provisions of the bill 20 State or
Territory was compelled to accept. this
grant of 100000 acres Of arid land. I,
WAS for these commOnwealths to settle
this matter by their Legislatures accepting
or rejecting the conditions of the Govern
ment Ii accepted. the States could dis.
pose of the lands to individual settlers.
companies or corporations on such terms.
quantities and conditions as the people
wished, and syDdicates need not be given
| control unless it was thought best to do
so. Something must be done with these
lands, and, while the measure was not all
to be desired, it was all the West could
get at this time, and the good so over.
balanced the evil that il was grear
advancement toward the end desired. Ii
WAS simply an experiment, and if the
States made good use of this donation
there was no doubt that Congress would
make additional grants of these arid lands.
II trust this Congress will indorse the
MEASURE" said Senator Carey. "and that
the States will make a great effort to sue
cessfully reclaim these lands"
AT the evening session of the congress:
the following cities were put in nomina.
ton as the place for holding the next ses-
sion: FL Reno o. T.. San Antonio. Tex.
ALBUQUERQUE. n. M. +; Spokane, Wash, and
Atlanta, Ga. Albuquerque was made the
unanimous choice of the congress. which
then adjourned until Friday morning.
At IL O'Clock tonight the delegates left
here in a special train of Pullman cars for
Rocky Ford, Las Animas and La Junta,
where they will visit the irrigation works
along the Arkansas River. They will also
attend the celebration Of watermelon day