The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-02
A Foley OF IRRIGATION.
The Convention Adopts Revolutions
and Forms Permanently.

LINCOLN. Ne6-- Oct. The national sr-
rigation congress closed rs labors yesterday
by adopting the constitution and bylaws u
3 permanent organization. eiect1ng officers
and passing 4 series Of resolutions s-21ooy-
Ing = policy on the subjact OF irrigation
II was decided 70 acid the convention at
Cheyenne. Wye. next year.
Tie committee On resolutions reported
the following. which were adopted ~ sec
lions:
The value Of a. irrigation farm and the
security cS the homes thsreby created are
alike dependent upon efficient public con-
troll Of the water supply ard prevention q
water becoming speculative commodity.
We believe The water o. az streams
should forever remain pubic property, ard
the right 70 its use should tuheFe Let n
the Individual o. the ditch. bat Ii The land
reclaimed.
Whereas, The perpetuatIon OF the for
ssts u the arid region IS essential TO the
maintenance CT the water supply for trr1-
gstion as sell as the supply ot timber for
industrial needs:
Resolved. That the president OF the
United States be msnorIalzed 10 withdraw
from entry or gale under the act OF con
gTess OF March. 1881. al public lands which
are OF more value FOR their timber than
for agriculture. or for thar minerals.
Whereas. Tie present public land laws
having developed under conditions where
irrigation Is rot a necessity aud having IN
their operation proved utterly unsulted to
the conditions and nse5z OF arid lands and
Whereas. The present policy OF divided
control between the state ard nation os the
public lands and waters OF TIE arid re-
gtons setar5s development. misleads set
tiers. hampers enterprise and Il respons5-
bic for the rapid destruction q Western
forests and p2sturags:
Resolved. That wA favor the creation By
congress Of committee q skilled and ex-
perisncec persons. 70 investigate ths con-
6!tiors TOW existing, ard submit 20 con-
gress such changes In our Land laws as
their Investigations shall saoS % be de-
sEra6Is.
Resolved. That the executive committee
be authorized TO appoint 4 committee 70
proceed 70 Washington and urge the early
completion OF such committees
We favor the construction at the EARL
est practicable date by the general gov
eminent. CT tEs TWO reservoirs recently 10
Gated under the direction Of the United
States corps. one saeA IN Colorado and
Wyoming"
This section brought minority report as
follows.
believing that TIA construction OF thu
storage reservoirs for irrigation purposes
"a rot q proper function CT the Federal
government the minority of ne commit
tee On resolutions recommends that the res
cgutaon eavorinv The construction By ne
FEDERAL govsrnnent of reservoirs &c lot
adopted"
The minority report vas ably champion
81 By J. Il Brigham. assistant secretary
q agriculture ard Delegate NnIs os
IDAHO. but the ma 5orsry report was adopted
Is . practically unanimous vote.
The following resolutions war- also
passed;
Resolved. That ws commend al ssTorts
looking % TIE colonization q tEe arid
Wess and the creation CT homes therein FOR
re worthy poor.
'*Reso1ved. Thar We have heard With TIE
greatest interest ard great pleasure Nr.
ard Mrs Booth-Tucksr's presentation ard
explanation Of Ire plans ard purposes II
ire SAWS ton Arrsy 81 Organizing colonies
- The worthy peer q g-eat cites % settle
ard blzId homes upon Ire rsch irrigated
lands = ire West Theirs 3 a grand no
BE aud patrtosfe work ard deserves tha
earnest concentration and support a ev-
cry citizen az or country. The West sx-
tsnis IS hearty weicorns @ these worthy
people 10 make happy homes Gpoz CUR rleh
ard productive lsr6s"
Delex@fs $ NJ Emery. % Montana
warmly protested against a project With
&c claimed. vas destined 20 bring 70 tae