Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-09-16
FOR ARID REGIONS.
Fourth National Irritation Congress
In Session
Ar ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MtXIcO.
Utah and Western States Represented
Address by The Chairman Of
the Lxrculivc Committee

gtess opened here to-day wi \ large
attendance, Kansas, Nebraska, TsSae,
oklshoma, Colorado, TAB, California
aud ArElna being represented. Dele.
gates are also present from Mexico
and Canada. Vim. T.. Smythe, chair.
mhu o. tho national executive com.
mltiee, addressed the convention rs
follows
l congratulate you, gentlemen, upon
the record u most momentJus yoat
Ia the history OF irrigation, rs n moral
and intellectual movement. 70 10 q
record Frightened by faviraDir iegisla-
ton Of sevctal stAtca, where inliief-
unoe had formerly defeated every PRE-
gfessivo aspiration, markell by eignih-
cant action Of the executive depart-
meals at Washington anu orof ned by
tho dnwuinR recognition vi thr essIoIn
public sCni,meui.
Since We last assembled, TIN irrigr-
ton movement In KanlAa, Nebraska
sud Texas has tiiumphUd IA UicGiise
legislation. II means NOW K4nsaf, a
new NebTatka, now IeNas.
OF Tho remaining aia,osoi the plnlns
South DAKOTA had pfscuini her slstsrs
Ia pT0vlsion 9f irrigation lave, white
North DAKOTA ami Oklahoma have
each ~ we'll organized public sentiment
looking 20 simiar RESULT. The
passage by Congress Ia Augusi,
1894, Of law granting mil.
iion acres Oi tue nfid public
lauds 10 each Of the desert slalet called
Tor the enactment Of supplementary
legislation ami furnished the occasion
for q vigorous chmpa gn before tho
Legislatures Of eight states. Wyoming,
Colorado. tdaho, Montana, Washing
ton ana Nevada, accepted the grant "
a million aotes each, aud all, except
Nevada, provided appropriations ami
administrative maphiucfy 10 renuer
the erant Immediately OF ofatiyo. In
Oruson a vigorous effort was made TO
tue same ond, but was defeated mar
rpwiy Ia the closing hourB VI The legls.
lative tcssiOn.
Laws enacted accepting the Carey
grant mark new era In our western
statesmanship. Without exception
they recognize the right ami duty Of
the slate TO supervise aud control the
reclamation Of public lands and use
public waters. Without exception they
Ink tho maximum OF prices Al
which such lAuds aud attachiag water
rights shall be- sold, aud without excop.
ton lhoy provide for the ultimate
ownefthip by this people OF Irrigation
works built IN connection with these
lands. Tho unuciation OF these vital
principles In the laws Of ave dideTe n1
| states 10 another evout which renders
the past year remarkable 10 the history
OF the irrigation movement. But In
spite OF all that has been accomplished,
difficulties have arisen In tho practical
application Of the Carey law. Grave
differences OF opinion 81 ~ It's meaning
have developed between state official,
aud officers OF the interior department.
at Washington. While twas evidently
| the dosire OF Congress 10 have thOE,
lands reclaimed aad settled under
state auspices, tho Law has a..
pafently failed 10 confer the mecca.
sAry power upon the states. Que Of
tho most encouraging developments OF
the pEst year was thr AcIiJn Of Secfe-
taTy Saiith OF tue interior aud Score.
gary Morton OF tho agricultural de.
pRTlmsnt Ia countenauclns tnu lorna.
zion on the part Of number a
specialists In their respective bureau.
OF the body known As the "board Of
Irrigation, executive departments ~
The mo.t gfAliiylag feature OF the
matter " the evidence II affords OF q
growing recognition In Official oiIcl.i
Of irrigation Ms y national question.
The most conspicuous Irrigation
statute In the United 5iaies IL the dis.
trist law of California. In connection
with this law there has recsntly oc
cured an event Of faT-feachiDg import
auce 10 both the economics anu pfso
ti-o Of irrigation. 1 refer 10 the decision
OF Judge RJts In the United Slater
district court Of Los Angelo,
to the effect that the Wight
law IL unconstitutional aud that mil
lions upon million VI securities Issued
ia compliance with It's provisions ART
invalid. IL thls decision Ds accepted IL
It's full meaning, Il Is calamity o
tho largest proportions. IL would deb
troy In n breath tao usefulness OF tue
great system VI canals wholly or par
TALLY constructed, and would plung,
into chaos the industrial machinery o
large anu thickly settled districts, ant
would Civ. to irrigation ia general /
bad repute in finsnciAl circles, scarcelJ
20 be outliyed In n generation. IL ne
maiue 10 be seen whether the Unite,
States supreme oouT. viii c3nntn thl
astounding IecisiOn OF Judge R0ss
Fhe beet legal oplnion, appafontl y
believes II will.
believe | express the sentiment
not only Of this congress-, but OF meI
OF arid America throughout LIS length
aud breadth, when l sAy the holder
OF the Aforesaid security need not fea
any loss on their Investment, whaievs
will be their legal status.
Since the adjournment OF the Den
yer convention, the esuso OF Irrigation
has been systematically presented q
Influential men and newspapers, AM
tue public al large, In tho great east
eEn centers. Everywhere We hav
fourd four OF the most potential Ell,
ments Of eastern lie ready TO ca
operate with Us upon any broad line o
action, which has ior IT. object the 10
lief OF the pressure upon IN
great cities In the East, an
Tie expansion OF the natlons
greatness In the West. These lou
clemens are first, the Press, second, tn
Clergy; thiid, thv. College anu iourlh
Org snized IL lbOr. The time Il ripe tor
vast movement Of tie population from
tho crowded csntcrs throughout Ia
world. Colonization 10 tue watchw0r
OF the hour, not only here, hut every
where. Colonization from all oil
oountrles to new is the price {
domestic tranquility aud national e,