The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-30
CONTINUOUS.
Irrigation Congress to be Made
Permanent Body.
Great Interest Manifested and
Much Work Done.
LETTER FROM YOUNG.
Bryan and Mrs. BOOth-Tucker
Address the Congress.
Omaha Enters the Field For
the Next Meeting.

Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 30.-Beginning at 9
o'clock, with short recess at noon and
continuing until last night, the delegates
10 the National Irrigation Congress were
surfeited with papers on irrigation topics
and discussions which followed their pre-
sentation. The congress took action
looking to it's definite continuance and
providing for the Incorporation of the
national association and adoption of con-
stitution and bylaws. This action, which
was preached at the meeting at Phoenix
Ariz-, year ago, has been delayed
through failure heretofore to recognize
the congress as continuing body.
Ex-senator Carey of Wyoming, who was
honored by unanimous election to the
presidency, emphasized the necessity of
making the association a distinct per-
manent organization. Interest in the
subject was growing each year and the
enterprise itself was broadening and so
developing as to compel recognition from
the whole nation.
The sessions were marked with an in
creased attendance and papers, as a rule,
were pointed and interest ting. An extreme
ly long discussion on rain-makers by local
theorists. had the effect of crowding out
of the programme, a number of the pa
pers, among them that of ex-Secretary
Heintz, which was, however, formally an
nounced and will form a part of the
printed reports.
kilograms and letters from a number of
delegates unable to be present were
read.
Brigham Young sent the following:
Public business prevents my presence
at Lincoln. Success attend your labors
in the present congress. 1 congratulate
you .on your efforts, and heartily wish
that the people of the nation may realize
the Importance of your mission and how
| closely allied it is to their future pros
perity. May the day be fastened when
the labors of the men and women who
have so frequently and unselfshly devot-
ed their time and means to develop the
national interests of the great west as
you are doing be fully appreciated by
the whole people of our great country.
During the session w. J. Bryan adj
dressed the convention.
Mr.. Bryan admitted his unfamiliarity
with the subject, but promised to i'm
prove by study, and declared his faith
in the system as resurrection of farm
life. Memorializing congress to take ac-
ton ceSSion of timber lands to states
in which they are located bid fair to be-
come a subject of animated discussion,
but was distracted by reference to the
committee on resolutions and the reading
of papers was continued.
Agricultural Problems of Arid Re-
gions'' was the subject treated by DR..
Clark Gapin of Chicago, whose former
residense in Nebraska and other western
states furnished him the theme for an
interesting discourse.
r. H. Breat of Minneapolis spoke on
Irrigation in Minnesota and the Two
Dakotas."
F. H. Newall of Washington. D. c..
read his second paper for the day, it be-
ing on the subject "a Public Land COM
missioner His contention was that the
present land laws were not adapted to
present conditions. When they were
framed public lands of the United States
consisted for the most part of broad,
level, well watered prairies of the Mis-
souri, valley. The rectangular division
of subdivisions in such places, highly ad-
vantageous for one section, is in
a general way good as the
next, but methods so successfully
practiced in the humid east become mis-
chievous when applied to remaining pub
lie lands of the west. The great object
to be attained by commissioner is that
of transferring control of public lands
to persons who will make best use of
them as homes. The principle of local
control should be recognized from the
outset and every reasonable attempt made
to procure legislations such that citizens
within a certain drainage basin may be
guarded from outside interference with
necessary water supply and from incur
sions of herds of cattle or f1ocks of sheep.
stCession of Arid Lands to States" was
treated by Judge Emery F. Best of the
general land office.
A departure from the general pro-
gramme came at the night session, when
Mrs. Booth-Tucker of the Salvation Army
supplied the place of her husband, who
was unable to reach Lincoln. She spoke
on 1.-The Farm Colony of the Salvation
Army
Others on the programme for the even
ing session were National Lecturer Emery
of Kansas and Prof E. H. Barbour OF
the University of Nebraska
Omaha entered the lists of candidates
for the next meeting place. The three
cities asking for the congress are Atlanta,
Ca. Guthrie, o. T., and Omaha, Neb.
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