Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-21
MEANS WEALTH TO NEBRASKA
Interesting Discussion at the State Irriga-
cation Convention.
COST OF WATER A VERY SMALL ITEM
Presidents Report Covers Many
Matters of Great Importance to
Those Interested in Agri-
culture I'm the West.


Among this mornings arrivals TO attend the
irrigation convention were o. J. Smith.
Kesrney; W. X. Burnham. Chicago; w. o.
Brooks, Lincoln n II. Denton and w. d.
Johnson, o; the United States geological sur
vey and ]. II. Powers. Lincoln. Governor
Holcomb arrived today and will address the
convention tomorrow. The convention as
sembled at a. m. today and proceeded at
once with the work in hand.
President Wolfenbarger presided. The
convention was opened by singing Of the
national hymn and invocation. ]. ober-
fielder and Mrs Nellie NJ. Richardson were
elected secretaries and p. c. Riekson. exhibit
clerk. The call for the convention was
read and r. W. Barton delivered the ad-
dress of welcome. Hon. W. r. Akers
made an eloquent reply in the course Of
which he stated that Nebraska could be made
the richest state of the entire union; that
the means we're here in the flowing streams
and all that was needed was TO use them.
Committees on credentials, rules and res
olutions were selected aad President Wolf
enbarger made his report.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
IL the course OF the report the president
says:
The recent irrigation fair. held at North
sons ever witnessed in Illustration of the
feasibility, practicabiii,y. and demonstrated
success OF artificial application Of water for
plant food. 1t is beyond the limits of this
report to enter into details touching the
specific successes OF this fair. IL Will be
treated in separate paper or address, by
one of the officers Of the fair association.
our last convention expressed great anx-
iety over the legal contention pending be-
fore the supreme court Of the United states,
involving the validity or consututonality
of the irrigation law OF California popu-
larly known as the Wright act. The far
reaching effect OF the question involved was
such that every state in the. union, where
irrigation was either practical or necessary,
was directly concerned. This great case,
involving the validity of millions OF dollars
in irrigation bonds, has just been decided
by the supreme court in favor OF the hold
ers of the bonds sustain 'ng the coz stitution-
ality OF the law. This will be received by
every irrigation district in the west as Il
most fortunate. well as righteous deci-
sion. The case was argued on both sides
before the supreme court OF the United
States by the most eminent lawyers OF our
country, and the decision has been awaited
with the most intense apprehension by not
the people generally. This decision clears
the atmosphere for great Undertakings, and
splendid enterprises. and there Is but one
caution which should ever be borne in mind,
namely: Every district or territory OF this
country erected into an irrigation corpora
tion, with authority to issue bonds, should
always beware Of oyer-bondlng and make
sure that the territory embraced In the dis
trict is of such irrigable nature as to war
rant the safety and soundness of the bonds
voted, or about 10 be voted. one or two
small disasters resulting from oyer,bond-
on many meritorious and perfectly safe
! enterprise.
PROBABLE LEGISLATION.
Our last convention appointed standing
committee on legislation. to serve during
the year, whose duty IL is to report TO this
convention amendments to the present irri-
any way interfere with or usurp the powers
and duties Of this committee; but there is
one needed amendment, which trust will
be Incorporated in the recommendations OF
said committee, and receive the endorse
ment of this convention. | refer to the
qualifications OF electors rs fixed by the
law, relating to the organization OF irriga-
tion districts. As the law now stands, real
property owners resident within the dis
trlct are in many instances disqualified
from exercising any voice I'm the organiza-
ton of districts and are placed upon the
same footing nonresident owners. by
reason OF the fact that the statute limits
the voting power in the formation of dis
tricts, and choice OF officers, to male cleo
tors. In districts where there is large alien
ownership OF land and few thousand
acres owned by women, the latter being
residents OF the district the present provi-
sions Of the statute are such a. 10 defeat in
some instances the will OF the actual resi-
dent freeholders of the proposed district.
There Is neither reason nor Justice I'm such
a provision and had the attention of the
author OF the act been called TO this matter
before IL was presented 10 the legislature
there is little doubt that the embarrassing
feature would have been excluded from the
law. Other amendments will. no doubt. be
suggested through the regular channels OF
reports and resolutions to be brought before
this convention.
ASSOCIATION WELL KNOWN.
We have just reached that period in the
| development of this association where the
potency Of such an organization IS begin
ming TO be made manifest. We are now
known as an association from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific. and from Canada TO Mexico,
and II need not be said that our organiza-
tion enjoys most favorable position in the
nap dor ion fvf.tt, oil fnlr
and corresponding organizations. The mis-
sion OF this society. as made known by the
motto which II has carried from its earliest
history. should never be lost sight of, to-
wit: The development of the arid and
semi-arid areas of Nebraska" our litera-
ture is eagerly sought for by colleges and
universities of the highest grade, and gov
ernors. congressman and United States sem
ators are more and more turning 10 the
study OF every new thing that appears IL
should be the constant aim OF every mem
Der Of the State Irrigation association TO
broaden the purpose without forgetting the
central idea Of our association. Let Us not
forget that our organization Is educa-
tlonal institution, that me praS tical man
good work. and has cultivated his mind
that he can tell the world, and especially
bis neighbors, about II, for their cdification
and Improvement Is the most valuable
member OF our society
IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE REPORT.
The immigration committee report showed
that the association had published a 200
OF Nebraska and tine benefits OF irrigation.
The committee recommended that the asso-
citation be represented at the national con-
yention at Phoenix, ATlz. and that the asso-
citation incorporate: Treasurer Oberfelder OF
Sidney reported that not one cent had
reached his hands and praised the work
done by Mr.. Wolfenbarger In Issuing the
book unaidei and concluded by stating that
with the aid OF irrigation western Nebraska
would become the stamping ground Of untold
millions without the aid or consent OF any
other nation on earth.
STATE Lecturer I. A. Fort reported that
he had delivered thirty lectures on irrigation
and the interest was constantly growing and
even eastern states were awakening TO the
advantages to be derived.
The first business OF the afternoon was
the reading and adoption OF articles of in
corporation Of the Nebraska Irrigation as
sociatlon. W. l. Parks OF North Platte
read a paper showing the advantages Of
irrigation. based largely upcn the splendid
exhibits OF the North Platte fair Several
suggestions OF a practical nature were made
In showing how the bitches could be used TO
turn machinery. He asserted that the cap
itallsts were ahead Of the farmers In ap-
preciating the advantages Of irrigation: that
the farmers must be educated by seeing
the products and meeting the practical irrl-