The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-30
The IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
Officers for the Ensuing Year Mere
Elected.
AN ADDRESS BY WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
Opposed to Turning Land Holdtnxs
Over to Corporations--Paper by
Secretary Heints.


delegates to the National irrigation con-
gress were surfeited with papers on irri-
cation topics which were presented. The
congress today took action looking to its
indefinite continuation and providing for
the incorporation OF the National assoc
citation and the adoption OF a constitu-
ton and bylaws. A resolution urging
cession OF timbcrlands to States in which
they are located. bid fair TO become a sub
ject Of animated discussion, but II waa
sidetracked by reference 10 the commit
tee on resolutions.
Lincoln, Neb,. September ?s.--Today's
session of the National irrigation congress
was held In the State university chapel
The following officers were elected by
reclamation: President, Joseph II. Carey.
Wyoming; first vice president, s. a. Coch-
ran. South Dakota: second vice president,
Thomas Il. Frost, Minnesota; minute clerk,
o. s. McCutcheon. Michigan.
The selection OF treasurer Will be left
TO the executive committee. Senator Ca
rey accepted the gavel in an appropriate
address.
Professor A. Blunt of Santa Cruz. N. NJ,
read a paper on 1.-The History of Irriga-
ton"
telegram of congratulation was re-
ceived from w. +. Cody (Buffalo BilO.
f. H. Newell. photographer of the
United States geographical survey, read a
paper on the recent progress of irrigation,
A paper by Secretary Hclntz Of Califor
MIA on irrigation was presented.
How to build irrigation works so that
they shall pay profit from the date the
water is ready for delivery has probably
been a great problem in all ages, In cal
culating the revenue from city supply you
can calculate so many people who must
have water every day leaving out per-
haps. a small percentage for we'll But
in supplying water for irrigation YOU can
quite as safely figure the reverse OF the
proposition--that is, In no case win there
be enough consumers the first year or two
pay anything above expense on n plant
Of any considerable size. II the land is
wild, the most rapid rate OF settlement
that experience entities MS TO expect viii
not overtake the interest ON the invest
ment which works nights aud Sundays.
and can not be switched off on some other
section as ~ fine colony can Just about
the time the leader thinks he has II To-
Gated in a certain county or state. More
over, when It comes to delivery OF the
goods the colony is tho most mythical of
all earthly help. Many are talked about,
but few are seen. Most Of the few neople
that have actually been corralled and herd
cd up in this shape are franks aud could
not have been handled except for the
L.. lts.a l,nt
they are liable 10 think Of nothing else
The good colonies of the country are
those in which the settlers came slowly.
On the other hand. II the Mart Is well
settled before the ditch Is built. then IL
must be on considerable rainfall. In such
case there would be large percentage OF
mo irrigation required" cranks who viii
need from three to ten years TO learn that
they are fooled. and another large per-
centage who will use the possibilities at
forded by the ditch 10 ralse-not alfalfa or
oranges, but tenderfoot. They want a high
price for dry land because IL can be ir-
rigated and do not propose to be botheren
with any annual payments In the mean
time. 1t is the business OF the coming
tenderfoot to do that The consequence
is that nowhere in this country or else
where has fins,ncisl success been reached
by building a ditch and waiting for con-
sumers to buy the water afterward
There are water projects that have been
a success. but they are those In which
the principle was recognized from the
start, that no annual rentals VIII pay In
terest on the cost OF the work plus the cost
OF operation and maintenance. II those an
nual payments are placed high enough to
do this. they will be bar upon the trans
fer of the land. The projectors OF Riverside,
Santa Ana Pasadena and nearly all the
other successful irrigated settlements OF
Southern California south OF Tehachepi,
and which are now probably the most
successful settlements OF the world. early
discovered that the cost OF building the
work and tho profit to the projectors must
come out OF the enhanced value OF the
land-the value as increased by water
leaving the annual rental but little. IL any,
more than sufficient to maintain the works
in good shape and pay the cost OF opcrat-
ing them in good manner.
Where the projectors could not buy
large tract OF land so as TO have the cut
ting OF clean piece OF cloth, but the iand
had fallen into too many hands, the next
plan was to sell contract for water at
certain low rate per year, The price OF
the contrct was supposed to be somewhere
near half the difference in the price OF the
land wet and the same dry. Another trap
for the tenderfoot, for the land owner
would add as much more In selling II to
him. IRIS CONTRACT was cdiitu "dtti
right. and though possibly not legal In
eer,cin senses, was as right in rurals and
public policy as It is possible for the pur-
est virtue to be- No honest man was in
jured by H. Without II the works were
sure failure TO the injury OF the commun-
ity as well as the promoters and the cause
OF irrigation In general.
Other States should take warning by
the experience OF California. The consc-
uuences Of mistake are too serious. II Ia
probable also that California has now SO
"hoodooed" the whole subject that capital
could not now be found to invest to any
extent In any district system, no matter
how much improved. And those who have
not been through the mill should be very
careful how they think they have I'M
proved II. II requires not only good
knowledge OF law. but also OF water and
its working application. but. more than all.
those peculiar phases OF human nature
that opportunity to make money with NJ
tie work are liable to develop in people
who have been both upright and judicious
until tried with temptation.
II is all right to discuss methods to have
the State or the Nation build waterworks,
but both are apt to be slow. the latter
o,tfte certain In he And there are many