The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-19
RECORD OF THE PAST YEAR 4
BRIGHT ONE.
Favorable Legislation by Several States
Effective Legislation by Texas,
Kansas and Nebraska-Ill
Effects of Judge Ross
Decision.


Kansas, Texas, Nabraska, Oklahoma,
Colorado, Utah, California and Arizona
being represented. Delegates are also
present from Mexico and Canada
William e. Smythe, chairman of the
National executive committee, addressed
the congress as follows:
I'm spite of its origin, the time has al
ready come when we may speak of the
irrigation cause as great in the arduous
greatness of things done | congratu-
late you, gentlemen, upon the record of
the most mOmentous year in the history
of irrigation as a moral and intellectual
movement.
1T is record frightened by the favor
able legislation of several States, where
Indifference had formerly defeated every
progressive aspiration; marked by the
significant action of the executive de-
Dartments at Washington, and crowned
by the dawning recognition of Eastern
public sentiment. AS q means of in
spection for future effort, it is worth
while to rapidly review what has already
been achieved.
First and foremost in the record of
the year stands the events which mark
the revolution of public sentiment and of
methods of industry on the great plains.
Since we last assembled, the irrigation
movement of Kansas, of Nebraska and
of Texas has triumphed in effective leg
islatiOn. BY legal enactment the men
of the plains have recognized that irri-
CATION west of the one hundredth meri-
dian is fundamental to great prosperity.
No man can overestimate the significance
of that recognition. 1t means a new
Kansas, new Nebraska, new Texas.
1t means sure crops and industrial inde-
pendence, small farms and social oppor-
tunities.
"Of the remaining States of the plains,
South Dakota has preceded her sisters in
passing irrigation laws, while North Da-
kota has well organized committees.
"One year ago the promise was made
that it would be the policy of the Ma
tional committee to begin the conquest
of public sentiment in behalf of America
in the populous East. So far as oppor.
tunity and resources permitted, that
promise has been kept. Since the ad-
iournment OF the Denver convention the
cause OF irrigation has been systemati,
cally presented to influential men and
newspapers and to the public at large
in great Eastern centers, Everywhere
we have found four elements of the most
potential in Eastern life ready to CO.
operate with us upon any broad lines of
action which have for their object the
relief of the great pressure for the eX-
'pansion of greatnes. These four ele-
ments are: First, the press; second, the
clergy; third, the college. and fourth,
organized labor. The time is ripe for a
vast amount of population from crowded
centers throughout the world Colonial
ton is the watchword of the hour. Colo
nizatiOn from all old countries to new
IS the price of domestic tranquility and
National expansion.
In the United States this movement
will flow from the East to the arid re-
glons of the West. We cannot disguise
the fact that the South is today our
aggressive competitor in the matter of
attracting new population. With sur
prising enterprise and opportunities it is
pushing for people, but the Anglo-Saxon
still tends naturally to the West, and the
claims for irrigation are supreme.
Gentlemen of the convention, one year
ago at Denver, the National executive
committee accepted from your hands the
standard of the irrigation cause. We
have upheld and advanced it in our sew
eral States. We have carried it from
ocean to ocean, prOcaiming it as the
symbol of industrial independence and
equality for millions of our countrymen.
Today we return that standard to your
hands, happy if our service has availed
in the smallest degree to enhance the
prosperity or the fame of arid America.
''The passage by congress in August,
1894. of the law granting 100000 acres
of arid public land to each of the desert
States called for the enactment of sup
Elementary legis lation and furnished the
occasion for a vigorous campaign before
the legislatures of eight States.
wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana.
Washington and Nevada accepted the
grant of 100000 acres each, and all
except Nevada provided appropriations
ana an administrative machinery to rem
DER the grant Immediately operative.
I'm Oregon a vigorous effort was made
to the same end, but was defeated mar
rowly in the closing hours of the legisla-
tive session. The laws enacted accept
ing the Cary grant mark a new era in
our Western craftsmanship. Without
exception they recognize the right and
duty of the, State to supervise and con-
troll the reclamation of public lands and
the use of public waters. Without ex-
ceptiOn they fix the maximum prices at
which such lands and attaching water
rights shall be sold, and without excep-
non they provide for the ultimate owner
ship by the people of irrigation works.
The cOnsummation Of these vital princi-
Dles in the law of five different States is
another event W hich renders the past
year remarkable in the history of the ir-
'lgatiOn movement.
"But in spite of alI that has beer ac-
difficulties have arisen in the
practical application of the Carey Law.
irave differences of opinion as to its
meaning have developed between State
,fficials and the officers of the interior
department. at Washington. While it
vas evidently the desire of congress to
ave these lands reclaimed and settled
Inder State auspices, the law has appar-
ntly failed to confer the necessary power
pon the States. One of the most en-
ouraging developments of the past year
vas the action Of Secretary Smith of the
Interior department and Secretary Nor
on of the agricultural department in
ountenancing the formation on the part
f number of specialists in their re-
pective bureaus of the body known as
he Board of Irrigation, Executive De
artment.' The most gratifying feature
t the matter is the evidence it affords |
I growing recognition in official eircIaa