The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-20
IN |RR|GAT|0N'S INTEREST,
Resolutions Adopted by the
Convention at Albu-
QuerQue.
Congress Asked to Continue the
Work of Surveying In the
Arid Sections.

ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, Sept 19.-The
irrigation congress met at 9 o'clock this
morning. After number of congratula-
tory speeches and few closing remarks
by the president the fourth session of the
National irrigation congress adjourned
sine die, to meet next year in Phoenix
Ariz., the day of the meeting to be fixed by
the National executive committee in con-
junction with local board of arrange
ments to be chosen by the people of
Phoenix. The following resolutions were
adopted:
Irrigation is the basis OF form of agricul-
ture, and the diversified production it insures
means the industrial independence of the
family unit. The proof of this claim was seen
in the fact that there was little hunger or hard
ship in irrigated districts during the severe de-
preston of 1893. Irrigation means a large
percentage of land ownership. In Massa-
chLsetts between 20 and 80 per cent of the
people are landless tenants In irrigated Utah
80 per cent OF the people are landed pro-
prietors. Irrigation means small farms ana
neighboring associations. We point to the
colonies of Southern California, where the
owners and tillers of the soil live close TO the
school, the church and the public, and in some
instances enjoy the conyeniences OF free postal
delivery.
We challenge the world TO furnish another
example, upon any considera Die scale of con-
ditions, which distributes industrial and social
advantages so evenly among all the people as
is done by the economic life of Western Amer
ica so far as it has yet developed. In order
that the Nation may utilize this region to the
highest advantage, its natural outlet for the
surplus energies and increasing population, it
is indispensable that the citizens of the West
should have the earnest cooperation of the
American people. Legislation suited to the
peculiar needs OF this imperial domain is of
urgent necessity.
We declare that IL should be the policy of
Congress to frame laws which will enable the
people to obtain possession OF tie arid public
lands upon terms which bear fair relation to
the cost OF reclamation. and that this cost
shall be regulated by public authority, and
not left to the determination of unres tricted
private enterprise.
We declare that works OF irrigation, whether
built by private enterprise, by community
effort or by the States, should be supervised by
some public authority, State or National, to
character shall be constructed, and that life
and property shall be conserved.
We demand the extension OF the policy of
forest reservations begun under the admins
tration OF President Harrison and continued
under that of President Cleveland.
We are not prepared to suggest q definite
outline in full detail of such National legisla-
ton as will ultimately be required to settle the
vast and complex problems involved in the
complete utilization OF the arid public do
main.
We also ask for the appointment of a COM
mission to act in con junction with the author
tiles of Mexico and Canada in adjudicating the
conflicting rights that. have arisen, or may
hereafter arise, on streams of an international
character.
most earnestly required to appropriate $780,
600 for the continuation OF irrigation surveys,
as heretofore carried on under the direction of
the Department of the Interior.