The indicator., 1897-10-02
IRRlGATIONCO
SIXTH SESSION HELD AT: LIN
COLIN.
Opens with a Rapid Dispatch OF business
How to Water the Ard Region and
Prevent Floods.

Lincoln, Neb.. Sep. 2S.-Dclegates 10
the National Irrigation Congress. which
began lis sixth annual session to-day.
made record in dlspOsing of work on
hand ana setting pace for more clab-
crate proceedings 10 follow.
The initial session WAS marked by an
overflow of enthusiasm ON the part of
-hc participants and visitors. Ad.
dresses hy such men as Judge Emery of
Kansas L. Il Moses OF the same state,
and Assistant Land Commissioner Best
OF Washington, II. e., did not fail TO
awaken interest in the movements they
chnmpioncd. and the sentiments they
expressed We're applnuded and re-
echoed hy local speakers whose interest
in irrigation projecs Is reaching the
point entertained 10y districts where the
enterprise is no longer in It's infancy,
Thus far there has been little said
roucening w officers of the Congress.
Secretary lIciniz Is understood to be n
candidHte for r. lection, and has
strong support Two aspiranis for the
ncNj place Of meeting have appeared
iu the cities Of Atlanta. Georgin, and
Guthrie, oklahoma, Atlanta appears
10 be generally favored,
II was = p. m. when President Booth
called ,hc Congress To order in assem-
bly, hall of the University OF Nebraska.
On HE platform, besides officers of the
Congress, We're Governor llnlcomb.
Mayor Gralmm and Chancellor Mae
Lean of jhc university. Rev. NJ. j.
Mailley offered prayer. Chairman of
lie National Committee Moses an
uouuccd the secretaries and Secretary
lieiutz read the call for the meeting of
th" Congress. President Booth intro
4 Il
coined lhc delegates in nm address OF
some length
Chancellor MacLran of he Univcrsi-
'y Of Nebraska seconded. ON behalf of
the educational interests of the state,
the welcome Of ihc governor ON he
half of the Congress. Judge j. :. Em-
cry of Lawrence. Kansas. with an in
ternn'ional reputation rs an authority
on irrigation subjects. responded To ad-
dresses of welcome by the governor
and chancellor
Judge Emery f. Best Of Washington.
u. G., assistant land commissioner of
the General Land Office. took the place
Of Commissioner unrmann rs a repre-
sentative Of the federal government.
and was followed briefly by Elmer Il.
Mead, state engineer of Wyoming.
President Boo;l. after announcing
various committees, addressed himself
to the convention proper in carefully
prepared paper
Il. Il. Moses of Great Bend, Kansas.
chairman Of the national executive
committee. gave u resume of the irri-
CATION work for the year. saying in
part:
The time has come to the minds of
all who fully know the condition of
the East and West. that this country
can 10 longer remain half settled and
half unsettled any more than it cou'd
have remained half free ard half slave.
Individual and cooperative efforts
have gone as far as they can go.
Uncle sam owns tlis unsettled land.
and II has Iow come TO the parting of
the ways; either the government must
open these lands for settlement. or
turn them over in fee simple to the
states and territories in which they
lie, that they may open them for set
tlcmcnt. The settlement Of the West
means only that the products of the
soil go East for the products of the
loom and factory; that the settling of
the surplus population in the West re-
licvcs the East of great financial bur
deus which give only temporary re
lief The opening of the West will not
only give homes to the present home
less. hut to future thousands, instead
Of forcing them abroad like England.
France and Germany do their home
less people for want of territory.
III any bill is passed for the recla
nation Of arid and semi.ard America
it must he first drafted by this body
or the people of the West. The last
Irrigation Congress passed upon Il bill.
very good one. for starter. known
as the Public land commission bill.
II was introduced In the House of Rep
rcscntativCS near the clCSe of the ses-
sion and awaits resurrection. 1t has
firm supporters in both houses. and
with proper efforts on Tie part of this
congress would become law.
More acres are under cultivation by
means OF irrigation than ever before
and perhaps more miles of irrigation
ditchcs have been built in the last few
years than in all previous wears
Through these annual congresses an
imp.tuS las been given another line
of industry that has worked night and
day t1 perfect pumps and machines
To draw water from the bowels of the
earth at such Il minimum cost as to
make il profitable to irrigato in this
way. The ingenious mind has been
sut to work TO conserve the storm
w1ters that run In torrents TO the
sea- The eyes Of the East and South
have been opened to tle fact that they
foo. can ditch. drain and rcapply TIC
water at proper times and receive bet
ter results.
we lrrigatiuuists are satisfied that
Congress will have 10 adopt our pan
Of preventing the overflow of large
streams hy the storage Of the waters
near fhc heads Of such streams in such
% manner as To feed the streams mt
Zines of low water, aud at other times
10 he uSrd in irrigation. navigation
aud manufacturing industries, and in
this way the damage TO life and prop
rrty nlw caused each year by over
flows. will Hn prevented. and large
tracts of arid lands can h. reclaimed
hv these waters and opened fer set
rlouont The people Of the nation
would soon find il paying invest
mput II Congress would apply tine APP
prt orintions annually made 10 prevent
naads temporary makeshifts. 10 the
,torngp Of water. aS well ms for the
use nf agriculture and horticulture.
"Follouipg in the wake of irrigation.
md clcsn,v allied TO It. is colonization.
Tho prop!a of the West do not want
these lands made ,illnblc unless they
crr tcem with life and are settled
with the hest Drained and Drawn Of
ri,a old and tho Young the rich AMI
tho rcnr. who dcslr" homes in this
sunset Land OF America.