The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-16
Delegates to the National
Irrigation Congress
Convene.
Will Appeal to the Government
to Reclaim the Arid
West.
Charles q. Booth of California Elected
President Of the Coz
vention.

PHOENIX, ARR, Dec. 15.-The fifth
National irrigation congress was called to
order at IL o'clock this morning by Ma
tonal Chairman E. r. Moses of Kansas.
John E. Frost of Kansas was elected tenn
porary chairman, James H. McClintock
of Arizona temporary secretary, A. l..
Kellogg of Colorado and l.. S. Hewlett of
Washington assistant secretaries.
National Chairman Moses addressed the
congress. He said the year 1896 had been
one of disaster; that the interests of lrri-
CATION had suffered to considerable ex-
tent and that the converting of this con-
gress at one time seemed lmpracticable,
but the committee had worked assiduous-
", and a great and representative body
was the result. He believed the work of
previous congresses had been imperfect
and that this one must do better. We
might disagree as to politics and religion,
bat the people of arid America must
stand together in the great work of irriga-
ton. This congress must agree upon a
bill or bills to be passed by the United
States Congress, and National aid must
be the feature. He favored the creation
of an irrigation and forestry committee to
have charge of the matter.
The address of welcome on behalf of the
city was delivered by Mayor J. D. Mont
han of Phoenix. Governor B. j. Franklin
of Arizona, on benalf of the Territory,
spoke as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the Fifth National
Irrigation Congress: Arizona extends to you
a cordial and grateful welcome. l esteem it a
great honor TO have the privilege OF greeting
such a distinguished body assem- bled from
many of the great commonwealth of the
Union for the purpose OF discussing one OF the
supreme questions that now interests not only
Arizona, but all the arid West.
1t is certainly appropriate Tor this congress
to meet on this soil, where thousands of years
ago irrigation began. Professor Powell a dis
tingulshed authority, in one OF his reportslto
the secretary OF the Interior SAYS that the first
indications of irrigation are TO be found in the
Territory of AriZona-in this beautiful city
that sits like a jeweled crowned queen eneir-
Cled III a coronet of flowers in the garden of
the most magnificent valley on the continent;
that more than 800 years ago when Coronado
was seeking the seven cities OF Cibola he dis
covered the Casa Grande ruins. They seemed
10 be as much decayed then as now, and scIen-
tifc resear ches show that long before Abra-
ham fed his hocks on the plains of Judea, and
long before our great Master delivered his SER
mon long before Buddhe preached his philos-
ophy, there was hourishing community in
this great valley.
We had at that time an Immense population
in these valleys. History will repeat itself,
the population will again increase, and when
water is applied to our bountiful lands and
capital comes TO our aid, all the valleys of
Arizona will blossom as the rose. What is
true of Arizona is true OF all the arid lands of
the West.
You have met. gentlemen of this congress,
for great purpose. Our convention, which
lasts for only three days, shonld last for ten or
fifteen days, for the questions you are to dis
cuSs are supreme QueS tsonS- We may differ
to politics, we may differ as to religion, we
may differ OF many other things, but all the
people of the States from Nebraska, Kansas
and the Dakotas to the Pacific Coast agree
that we desire the re clamat1on OF arid lands.
[Applause.l That is the supreme question
with US.
aid TO the reclamation OF arid lands. Every
year the Government passes river and har-
Dor bill bestowing hundreds OF thousands Of
dollars Tor the improvement OF insignificant
harbors and streams. Navigation is not i'm
proved by 1t. Commerce is not aided, and the
money might well be thrown into the
ocean. Why should not this money be given
TO the reclamation of arid lands? Twelve
miles above Florence, at a place known as
The Buttes, there is the grandest reservoir site
on the continent, and for So, 200, 600 100000
acres of land could be put under cultivation.
have nothing to do with the questions you
have to discuss, but ask whether the Govern
ment should not take hold of these reservoir
sites and keep them from individual and cor
porate rapaclty. [Applause.l Why not re-
serve these grand reservoir sites in the inter
ests of the people and then let the Govern
ment appropriate money for the purpose OF
storing the water? This reservoir Site of the
ella Valleywhich have already mentioned
voirs of the arid West.
1t seems TO me that the arid West has been
an orphan at Washington for long time.
ILaughter.l 1t is time it asserted itself and
that we should tell them, "If you give us
nothing we will give you nothing"
again gladly greet you and welcome you.
1t gives me great pleasure to talk 10 this dis
Iinguished body. 1 cannot detain you to tell
you of all the wonderful beauties OF this mag
nifcept valley, of our orchards, our orange
groves, our great alfalfa fields, our fat cattle
and our sunshine, for you will see all these
things and will say when you return, owe
have heard great tales OF this country, but the
half has not been told"
Arizona, when water is supplied, will prove
not only great mining but great agricul-
tural State. This valley alone is much larger
than the State of Rhode Island, the Salt River
Valley, the San Pedro and the Gila, with
others, put together, would make State
larger than any in New England
/ do not indulge in the feeling that this is 8
time of great depression. feel it is year o.
prosperity with us in Arizona. We have in.
creased in gold, in copper, in our mining out
put more than million dollars and Arizons
in the future will be not only a sunshine State
but golden State, tor her gold product is in
creasing every year. 1 am proud of her pros
perity, of her possibilities, and 1 am glad tc