Arizona republican., 1896-11-14
OFFICIAL CALL.
The Fifth National Irrigation
 Congress.

Los Angeles, Cal, Sept. 5, 1896. To the People of the United States of
 America:
 Pursuant to the order of the Fourth Irrigation congress and to designation by the National executive committee, the fifth annual session of the National Irrigation congress will be held in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, upon the dates of December 15, 16 and IF, 1896.
 The membership of the body will be made up as follows, in accordance with the resolutions of the Third and Fourth congresses:
 1. All members of the National ex ecutive committee.
 2. All members of state and terri torial irrigation commissions.
 3. Five delegates at large, to be ap- pointed by their respective governors, for each of the following states and territories: Arizona, California, Colo rado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Ne braska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Da- kota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
 4. Three delegates at large for each state and territory not heretofore enumerated, to be appointed by the governors of said states and terri tories; or, in the case of the District of Columbia, by the president.
 5. One delegate each from regularly organized irrigation, agricultural and horticultural societies, and societies of engineers, irrigation companies, agri- o111t io1 ho1 ies, such as boards of trade, chambers of commerce, etc.
 6. Duly accredited representatives of amy foreign nation or colony, each member of the United States senate and house of representatives, and each governor of a state or territory will be admitted as honorary members.
 The work of the National Irrigation congress has now continued for more than five years. The first session was held in the city of Salt Lake, Utah; the second in Los Angeles, California; the third in Denver, Colorado; and the fourth in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Each session was marked by keen in- terest and by intelligent and effective work in the cause of irrigation and the reclamation of the arid lands of the west. To the sessions have come the brightest minds of the Union, seek ing to solve in concord the vexed ques- tiOns upon the solution of which de- bends the further development of the western and west central plains. The work has not been without its fruit. Interest has been awakened in points remote from the irrigated regions and the reclamation of the waste areas is now regarded in all justice as one of the most important problems awaiting legislation.
 The coming session at Phoenix will, it is not doubted, be the most effective of all. Particularly prominent will be made the discussion of points of legis- latiOn in order that well-digeSted meas ures be prepared for the consideration of the federal congress and of the state legislatures. Though able au- thorities will be in attendance and have been placed upon the programme for the presentation of subjects of techni- cal and economic interest, it is de- signed that the fifth congress shall be a body with work far more general than has been the case in any of its predecessors. Addresses presenting subjects shall be limited to fifteen minutes and the subsequent discussion to half an hour, this ruling of the ex- ecutive committee not applying, how ever, to the discussion of legislation or resolutions.
 The city of Phoenix, chosen for the location of the fifth congress, is in every way we'll adapted. It is a thrifty tants, the capital of the territory of Arizona, and is excellently well pre- pared for the reception of even the thousands who will come to attend congress. Its local committee of ar arrangements and reception is already at work and the promise is extended that every visitor will be furnished with the best of accommodation at prices even lower than usually charged locally. The city is situated in the midst of the richest irrigated valley in America, that of the Salt river, whose irriga- tion works of the grandest magnitude are to be studied-works that have transformed the parched plains into wondrous orchards and vast fields of alfalfa. Ample opportunity will be af- forded delegates to inspect all points of interest without cost.
 Railroad rates will not exceed a single fare for the round trip from all points between Chicago and the Pa cific ocean; details of transportation and ticket limitation to be later an- nOlIncAd Inv the interested railroads Passengers may be routed into Phoe-