, 1897-09-29

Lincoln, Neb.. Sept. 2S.-The dele
gates 10 the National Irrigation con-
gress, which began its sixth annual ses>
sion today. made A record for industry
in disposing OF work on hand and set,
ling the pace for the more elaborate pro-
csed,ngs 10 follow.
The initial session was marked by an
overflow OF enthusiasm on the part OF
the participants and visitors. Addresses
by such men as Judge Emery and f. r.
Moses. OF Kansas; and Assistant Land
Commissioner Best CT Washington, d.
c., did not fail TO awaken interest in the
movement they championed and. the
sentiments they expressed were applaud
Ell and reechCed by local speakers,
whose interest in irrigation projects
were reaching a point entertained by
the districts where the enterprise was
no longer in its infancy.
Thus far there has been little said
concerning the new officers Of the o
gress. Secretary Heintz is understood
to he a candidate for reelection. and
has a strong support. Two aspirants for
mex place OF meeting appeared in the
cities Of Atlanta, Ga, and Guthrie. Okla.
Atlanta appears to be generally favored.
Lincoln, Neb.. Sept. 2S.-A.t 2 p. m.
President Booth called The irrigation
congress 10 order n Assembly hall OF
he University of Nebraska. On the
Platform besides officers Of the congress,
we're Governor HGlcOmbe, Mayor Ora
nam and Chancellor MacLean 0, the uni.
versity. The chairman Of the nationa.
committee, Moses. announced the secre-
tar.es and Secretary HeintZ read the
cali. President Booth introduced Gov,
n Hoicombe. who welcomed the del
uSa,es. Chancellor MacLean Of the Uni.
yersi.y o. Nebraska, seconded on behalf
Of the educational interests os the state
The welcome OF the governor. Judge
Emery Of Kansas responded to the ad-
dresses OF welcome on behalf OF con-
gress. f. p. Moses, chairman Of the ma
;ional executive committee. said in part:
The time has come to the minds Of
all VINO fully know the condition OF the
east and the west that his country can
no longer remain half settled and hall
unsettled any more than it could have
remained half free and half slave. In
dividual cooperative efforts have gone
as far as they can go. Uncle Sam owns
this unsettled land and it has now 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 settlement.
IF any bill is passed for the reclama-
don OF arid and semi-arid America it
must first be drafted by this body or the
people Of the west The last Irrigation
congress passed upon a bill, a very good
one. for a starter, known as the public
land commission bill 1t was introduce
ed in the house Of representatives near
the close Of the session and awaits resur.
rection. 1t has firm supporters in both
houses, and with proper efforts on the
part OF this congress could become a
law.
More acres are under cultivation by
means OF irrigation than ever before.
and perhaps more miles Of irrigatine
bitches have been built in the last few
years than during all previous years.
Through these annual congresses an im>
petus that has worked day and night to
perfect pumps and machines to draw
water from the bowels OF the earth at
such a minimum cost as to make 1t
profitable to irrigate in his way. In
genius mind has been set 10 work to
conserve the storm waters that run in
torrents to the sea. The eyes Of the
east and the south have been opened to
the fact that they too can ditch, drain
and reapply water at proper times and
receive better results.
I'VE irrigationists are satisfied that
congress will Gave to adopt our plan OF
preventing the overflow of the large
streams by a storage of waters near the
heads Of such streams in such a manner
as to feed the streams al times OF low
water and at other times may be used in
irrigation, navigation and manufactnr.
ing industries, and in this way damage
to life and property now caused each
year by overfiows, will be prevented and
large tracts Of arid land car be reclaim,
ed by these waters and opened for set,
t!~ment. People Of the nation would
soon find it a paying investment il con.
gress would apply appropriations an.
nually made to prevent floods, tempo
rary m%akeshifts, to the storage of waters
as we'll as for the use of agriculture and
horticulture.
Following in the wake Of irrigation,
and closely allied to 1t. is colonization.
The people Of the west do not want thess
lands made tillabfe unless they can TEEN
with life and are settled with best
brains and Drawn Of old and young,
rich and poor, who desire homes In this
sunset land Of America"
The question OF the possibility OF To-
eating and tracing underground streams