Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-16
TIE IRRlGAr1oN CONGRESS-.

THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
The National Irrigation congress
which convencs In Albuquerque this
week will be attended by representa-
tive men from nearly every state and
territory west of the Missouri. The first
irrigation congress, held in Salt Lake
City four years ago, emphasized the
fact that irrigation is the true solution
of the problem of populatlng the arid
plains and valleys on both sides of the
Rockies. The success that has attended
the limited but costly irrigation sys-
TENS of California, Utah, idaho, Colo
RADIO, Wyoming and New Mexico has
demonstrated beyond doubt the feast
blity Of converting the millions of
acres of public and private lands that
still remain sterile into fertile and pro-
ductve farms and orchards that will
provide food for additional millions.
According to the last census, the irri-
gated land of the United States COM
prises 3,651 ,3S1 acres, estimated in value
at over S3O0,000,00O. Nowhere in
America has irrigation produced more
striking results than in Utah, which
before the advent of the Mormons was
a veritable desert, unfit as habitation
for man or beast. Within less than Il
quarter of Il century great part of
that desert was converted into II land
of milk and honey, yielding an abund-
ance of nearly every variety of grain,
fruit and vegetables for more than
100000 people.
Among the important questions to be
discussed by the irrigation congress
are "rhe Wright Irrigation Law of
California, which was used in part
by our last legislature as Il model for
the Nebraska irrigation law. Like all
other laws, this law has its defects as
well as its advantages. One of its
dangerous features is the promiscuous
and limitlcss issuance of bonded sub
sidies to spectators who undertake to
construct irrigation canals. A test case
is now pending in the federal courts
to test the validity of this law, under
which over SS,0O0.OO0 in bonds has
already been issued and disposed of.
Another question of moment that
will be topic of discussion in the con
gress is the division of Interstate
waters. This question affects the peo-
pie of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming
and Colorado in common. The head
waters of the Platte and it's branches
ramify through the two Rocky noun
tain states before the main body of the
stream traverses Nebraska. 1t becomes
II very serious question what proper
ton of the water can be rightfully ap-
proprlated for irrigation purposes by
the people of Colorado and Wyoming
The division of interstate waterways is
not merely an internal American issue,
but is bound sooner or later to become
an international question. From an
irrigation standpoint both Canada and
Mexico and Interested in the rivers
which flow into and out of and along
the borders of the United States. Dele
gates to represent Canada and Mexico
will be in attendance at the irrigation
congress and doubtless will present
their views as to the adjustment of the
irrigation rights of their respective
countries.
The great difficulty that has so far
obstructed the progress of irrigation
on n large scale has been the uncertain
policy of the national government re-
garding irrigation and the clashing be-
tween state and national irrigation
projects. Very naturally the national
government has the largest concern in
irrigation by reason of the vast public
domain of arid lands of which it still
holds the title. One proposition is for
congress to cede to the respective states
the arid lands that remain unsod on
condition that the states shall use them
in promotion of plans for their irriga
ton. Much can be said both in favor
of and in opposition to this proposition.
1t is doubtful, too, whether the con-
gress of the United States can be in
duced to view the subject from the
same standpoint rs the irrigation con
Sress. At all events, the recommenda-
tions of the latter viii be entitled at
least to respectful consideration.
SUFFRAGE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.