The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-09-30
OFFICERS WERE ELECTED
Senator Carey Chosen President
of the Irrigation Congress.
BRYAN MAKES A SPEECH
Opposed to Turning Over Large Bodies
of Land to Parties Controlling Water
Rights Unless Holders Were
Given Safeguards.

Lincoln. Neb.. Sept. 2s.-Beginning at
y o'clock this morning. with a short re-
cess at noon and continuing until late
tonight. the delegates to the national
irrigation congress were surfeited with
papers on irrigation topics and discus
sions' which followed their presenta-
tion. The congress to-day took action
looking % its indefinite continuance
and providing FOR the incorporation Of
the national association and adoption
Of a constitution and bylaws. This
action. which was broached at the
meeting at Phoenix. Arizona. "A year
ago. has been delayed through a fail
ure heretofore To recognize the congress
as continuing body or TO keep intact
a record OF former proceedings. Ex-
senator Carey OF Wyoming. who was
honorcd by q unanimous election to the
presidency. emphasized the necessity of
making the association a distinct. per-
manent organization. Interest In the
subject. he said. was growing each
year and the enterprise itself was
broadening and So developing as to
compel recognition of the whole nation.
The sessions to-day were marked
with an increased attendance and pa
Dlis, DIS ~ Euft, Ntft lttuttu hno ihttt
esting. An extremely long dissertation
on rain making by local theorist, had
the effect of crowding out OF the pro-
gramme a number of papers. among
them that of ex-Secretary Heintz,
which. however, was formally an
nounced. and will form n part of the
printed report. kilograms and letters
Of regret from a number of delegates
unable to be present, were read.
The committee on credentials made a
report. after which the following OFF,
GERS were elected: President. Joseph
NJ. Carey of Wyoming: first vice presi-
dent. :. A. Cochrane Of South Dakota:
second vice president. l.. w. Shurtliffe
of Utah: third vice president. :. NJ.
Know Of Illinois: secretary. Thomas T..
Frost Of Minnesota. The election Of the
treasurer will be left To the executive
committee.
senator Carey was introduced. He
accepted the gavel in short speech
expressing his thanks. He said his pur-
pose was not 10 dictate what the cons
vention should do but 10 help H. lie
then spoke Of the purposes and aims of
the irrigation interest. Senator Carey
then spoke In brief Of the resources of
the West. So far as this country Il
conct rned the people are always ahead
of the prophets of the future. The peo-
pie are To be agriculturists. There Is
need Of scientific and practical men 10
aid in the development of this country.
The people want that kind of Iegisla-
tion that viii insure protection TO capt.
tai invested in irrigation.
In the irrigation congress, +. Ill.
Newell of the United States geological
survey read a paper entitled. Progress
NJ raj Inn - Il. aa.tA isl
the study of the development of irri-
cation and the utilization OF the vast
area Of vacant public land one Of the
striking facts 10 be noticed Is the diff
ference in results between those at
tanned by small and large irrigation
works. Nearly all individual ditcnes
have been successful. while the reverse
is generally the case Of corporate
enterprises. The ideal method of opera :
tion Of these large works would be 10
carry nut on n larger scale the princi-
pie through which smaller bitches have
been successful, that each irrigator
should be personally concerned In the
management. The vast public lands of
the United States are among the most
fertile In the world and are needed for
homes for the people A water supply
must first be provided. This requires
construction If great canals by the
highest engineering skin. II must he
done by the. state or nation"
Professor Blount Of Las Cruces. y.
NJ. read thorough paper ON The His
tory of Irrigation"
A. l.. Kellogg nf Colorado called up
the matter uf cffecting permanent or
ganlzation and the adoption "a "A con-
s,itution and bylaws and on motion
the chairman appointed committee
composed of Mr.. Kellogg. &. II. Booth
of California and Elwood Mead of
Wyoming Ia prepare plans for efieciing
such an association.
The feature of the afternoon session
was an address by Hon. w. }. Bryan.
He expressed regrets nat he WAS un-
able 10 attend the earlier sessions. the
proceedings of which. however. could
not bc very dry. He said he was In
terested in the subject ~ irrigation as
incidental to his intcrvs In the great
and growing West. He Was opposed
To turning over large bodies Of land To
parties controlling water rights unless
safeguards we're thrown around the
transaction 10 the protcc.io ion Of hold
ers of ifrgable lands. Mr.. Bryan ad-
mtted his unfamlliarty With the sub
ject. hut promised to improve by study
and declared his faith in the system
as reserve force Ia farm life.
A resolution mcmoriaiizing congress
to take action ON the question of giving
timber lands to ihe state which they
were located hid fair L. nccoine a sub
joci of animated discussion but IL was
sidetrack, by reference Ia the commit