The record-union., 1897-09-29

sas and Assistant Land Com
missioner Best of Washington,
D. c.
LINCOLN, Sept. 2S.-Delegates to the
National Irrigation Congress, which be-
gan its sixth annual session to-day,
made a record for industry in disposing
OF work on hand and setting a pace for
more elaborate proceedings to follow.
The initial session was marked by an
overthrow of enthusiasm on the part of
the participants and visitors. Addresses
by such men as Judge Emery Of Kan
sas, L. r. Moses of the same State and
Assistant Land Commissioner Best OF
Washington, D. c.. did not fail to
awaken interest in the movements they
championed, and the sentiments they
expressed were apDlauded and re-
echoed by local speakers, whose interest
in irrigation projects is reaching the
point entertained by districts where the
enterprise is no longer in its infancy.
Thus far there has been little said
concerning new officers of the Congress
Secretary Heintz is understood to be a
candidate for reelection, and has
strong support. Two aspirants for the
next place of meeting have appeared in
the cities of Atlanta, Ca. and Guthrie
ok. Atlanta appears to be generally
favored.
Aside from the disappointment over
the slightly smaller attendance from
outside States than was expected, con-
ditiOns for the opening Of the congress
were most auspicious. Delegates from
thirteen States were present this morn
ing, and while the delegates of some Of
them We're not numerous, the person
nel, in the opinion of the officers, could
be depended upon.
Brigham Young of Salt Lake, fnan-
cia1 head of the Mormon Church and
son of the founder, who was on the pro-
gramme for an address, was obliged at
the last moment to abandon his visit on
account Of illness. His State, however,
in point Of attendance, is second only to
Nebraska Most of the delegates ar
rived on this mornings train. The
presence of a number of Western rail-
read officials was a source of gratifica-
1ion to the officers of the congress.
a meeting of the Executive Board of
the National Congress was held at II
O'Clock, largely for the purpose of out
lining the work for the congress, but 1t
was. decided to leave the matter of ar
rangement of programme and papers to
a committee composed Of President and
Secretary of the congress.
1t was decided that the President of
the congress elected at Phoenix, Ariz.,
last year, c. B. Booth of California, act
as President of the congress until his
successor be elected, and appoint the
necessary Secretaries and assistants
There was no particular contest, but the
action was considered a victory for the
West, and delegates from that section
We're accordingly pleased.
It was p. m when President Booth
called the congress to order in Assembly
Hall of the University of Nebraska On
the platform, besides the officers of the
congress, were Governor Holcomb,
Mayor Graham and Chairman McLain
Of the University
Rev. A. J. Mailley offered prayer.
Chairman of the National Committee
Moses announced the Secretaries, and
Secretary Heintz read the call for the
meeting of the congress.
President Booth introduced Governor
HOlcomb, who welcomed the delegates
AL ttAA aQQItSS Dl some length.
Chancellor Mclean Of the University
of Nebraska seconded on behalf of the
educational interests Of the State the
welcome of the Governor
on behalf of the congress, Judge J.
S. Emery of Lawrence, Kans., with an
international reputation as an author
ity on iTTigational subjects, responded
to the address of welcome by the Gov
ernor and the Chancellor. His speech
was a happy mixture of humor and an
exposition of the question which called
the congress together So deep and
abiding was his faith in irrigation for
soil culture, said Judge Emery, that
he, with other Kansans, had come to
regard that system of farm moisture
as the natural one and rainfall as the
secondary element.
He congratulated the University of
Nebraska as being one of the first ed
ucational institutions in the country to
take up the study of the irrigation prob
lem The virgin soil was the source of
all wealth. and when people learned to
regard it and by scientific means aid
nature in supplying the deficient mois-
ture it would mean regeneration not
only OF the West, but Of the sisterhood
of States.
Judge Emery F. Best of Washington,
d. C, Assistant Commissioner of the
General Land Office, took the place of
Commissioner Harmon as representa-
tive of the Federal Government, and
was followed briefly by Elmer R. Read,
State Engineer Of Wyoming.
President Booth after anu0unciner
various committees, addressed himself
TO the convention proper in a carefully
prepared paper.
T. R Moses of Great Bend, Kans.,
Chairman of the National Executive
Committee. gave a resume of the irri-
cation work for the year. He spoke
as follows:
Z. r. Moses, Chairman of the Ma
tional Executive Committee, said in
part:
The people of the United States
must know of their country in order to
judge intelrgently of the wants and
needs of any part of it, and then they
must have that love of country so
strong in their hearts that they forget
self. section, birthplace and State in
their great desire to build up America
as the land of the free and the home
Of the brave When this is done there
will no longer be a Haunting of the
bloody shirt at every husting or in
every spread-eagle speech, the constant
Yepatition Of "A Solid South a grasp