The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-07-24
TALK ON IRRIGATION.
Before the TranS-Mississippi
Congress at Salt Lake
City.

l1dI MAS OH lne program oil TINS COH-
gress for a talk Oh Irrigation. Since
that time have been so extremely busy
that have not even had time TO decide
whether 10 respond or not, much less to
think Of What | should say upon the
subject assigned TO me.
Right here wish 10 say. if | may be
permitted 10 digress to that extent, that
the fact OF one Of my profession, civil
engineer, being busy, is prima facie evi-
demce of some form of industrial activi-
ty, OF material development, and that
in the State of Nevada, a State which
most OF you, presume, have been told
is in the last stages OF decay.
But to return to my subject. As YOU
all know, the question of Irrigation is a
vital one to this western country; upon
artificial irrigation, agriculture, which
constitutes the real foundation OF our
nations wealth, is almost entirely de-
pendent in some seventeen of our West
ern States and territories, while in sev.
eral others it has become an important
factor.
So great is the area in which this form
OF agriculture alone is possible, that the
question becomes of national importance
and in the solution Of its problems our
National Legislature must lend its aid
and it is upon this point that particu-
larly wish to speak.
1t is upon the laws governing the ap-
preparation and use of water for irriga-
tion purposes that its conservation and
economical distribution, and the conse-
quent greatest development-the para
mount considerations-largely depend.
Upon our respective State Legislatures
must devolve the responsibility of for
mulating such wise laws as will produce
this result. But they cannot do all.
The National Congress must come to
their assistance before they can even be-
gin their work on a proper foundation.
1t is not my purpose to suggest what
laws Congress should enact. We have a
National Irrigation Congress, composed
of thoughtful and practical men, stu
dents OF this question, from every irriga-
ton State and territory as we'll rs of
many from the humid states, who are
attempting the solution OF the problems
which confront the, people OF this
irrigation empire, and desire to urge
up the members of this convention that
they lend their support to that body of
men.
Already some very good results have
been accomplished and it is hoped that
ere another year is past, Congress may
be induced to make beginning toward
dealing with this question on rational
lines.
Hitherto one OF the chief difficulties
en- countered in our effort at Washington
has been the indiscrininate and ill-ad-
vised introduction OF bills upon some
branch of the subject by Western Con-
gressmen who, while perhaps reasonably
we'll informed as to the requirements OF
their own districts, and the wishes OF
their immediate constituency, are but
too often wcfully deficient in knowledge
Of the common needs Of all the States
interested.
hold here in my hasd eleven bills,
and there are others, each bearing upon
some place of the irrigation question
some, general in their application, and
others local-which were introduced in
the House Of Representatives last winter.
1t is enough 10 say that not one Of
them became law. Now, l submit that