Arizona republican., 1896-07-21
The Coming Congress at
 Phoenix.
Ideas of National Secretary c.
 M. Hemly.
Importance of the Congress as Af- fec.inG Future Irrigation
 Legislation.

To the July issue of Wind and Water" new publication of merit, issued at Chicago, Secretary c. M. HeintZ of the executive committee of the National Irrigation congress con tributes an article descriptive of the work of the body that is to meet in Phoenix in December. Concerning the December session, he says:
 The Fifth National Irrigation con- gross will be held at Phoenix some time during the coming month of De- cember Should the supreme court of the United States decide the Wright district irrigation law unconstitution- al the matter of legislation, both state and National, will come up strongly in it's deliberations. Ways and means for the reclamation of the arid west will as usual, be the object and aim of this congress.
 The selection of Phoenix as the place of meeting was indeed happy one, and merits word in conclusion. Possibly in no other section of arid America are better object lessons to be seen and studied in the way of irri- gation farming and the development and utilization of water to moisten the parched plains and convert a barren and inhospitable desert into garden yielding bounteous crops of fruits and field crops. There is nothing of the easy-going Mexican life about Phoe- nix; it is a hustling metropolis domi- hated by American enterprise and Yankee thrift. The city proper lies on gently sloping plain, and about two miles from Salt river. The mountains lie equi-distant about ten miles to the north and to the south. On either hand stretches -S.s far famed Salt River valley with its celebrated or chards and vineyards The situation is charming, and reflects the sound judgment of the founders of the town. Not only it is the largest city in Ari- zona, but also the most substantial and the wealthiest
 Phoenix was laid out as a townsite in 1872. Population was slow in com ing till '79, when the completion of railway connections opened a way thither for the home-seeker, and the increase was more rapid. March, 1895, witnessed the completion of the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix rail- road running from Ash Fork on the main line to Phoenix-a distance of 134 miles, which insured railroad com petition. From that date Phoenix threw off her swaddling village clothes and assumed the air of a modern me tropolis, with miles of electric rail- ways, fine churches and schools, large nd fo oatI 1rir prises, and all the appurtenances of prosperous and thriving community. This is all the result of irrigation farm ing.
 And now a word as to the people and their interest in irrigation. It was my good fortune to be in Phoenix at mass-meeting of her public spirited citizens few months ago, and let me say right here, I never met more enthusiastic lot of business men in my life working in the interest of irrigation and the reclamation of the arid west Rest assured that the Fifth National Irrigation congress will prove historical in the work it will accomplish. The friends of irrigation from every quarter of the country will be invited to participate. Reduced railroad fares and excursions to points of interest are assured; prominent speakers on all phases of the subject, many of National reputation, will be present to participate in the delibera- tions of this congress and to read pa pers on live subjects. The applica- tion of water to dry soil is as essen tial in Illinois as Arizona; it is as sure to insure crops in New Jersey and Georgia as in California and Utah. These facts are being impressed upon the people with convincing force every day, and the results can only lead to a wider appreciation of practical irri- gation. The coming congress has much before it, not the least of which is it's great educational influence When people of the Nation once learn of the economic value of irrigation, the reclamation of arid America will be an established fact.
 The National executive committee is alive to the work it has in hand, and no effort is being spared to bring about l the largest gathering of people inter- ested in practical irrigation ever seen in the history of the movement In conclusion let me say that any of the | National committee will cheerfully an- swer all letters of inquiry, and par ticularly the Hon. B. R. Moses, chair man, of Great Bend, Kan, and James
 McClintock, member for Arizona, at
 Phoenix. AS for myself, it is need
 less to add that my services as secre- tary are subject to command from any one interested in any way in irrigation
 development.
 National Lecturer J. s. Emery of the