, 1897-10-01
THE CONGRESS CLOSED.
MUCH BUSINESS OF AN INTEREST
Eng NATURE TAKEN UP
AND DISCUSSED.
Resolutions Recommending That the
Reservoirs In Wyoming and Colo,
RADIO Be Pushed to Completion
Passed Almost Unanimously-El-
wood Mead ID Honored.

"NoA &ASoN ~
Lincoln, Neb., Sept 30.-The cAkd
and last day OF the National Irrigation
congress opened with a business yes
sion. The form OF organization Of the
congress was discussed at some length
to the end that the body might become
more stable and OF a more permanent
character. The report OF the committees
on plan o. organization was adopted.
Il embodied a constitution and bylaws.
The matter OF the location of the con-
vention next year was brought up. Chey-
enne was favored very generally, being
seconded as a place OF meeting by dele
gates from Colorado, Montana, Nebras>
xa and Kansas. The selection OF Chey.
enne was made unanimous withoO, op.
position. The national executive com.
mittee was named and included A. l..
kellogg OF Colorado and Elwood Meade o.
Wyoming. j.,
The committee on resolutions reports
ed through its chairman. The resolu>
tons were adopted section by section.
The preamble says: THE value Of
the irrigated farm and the security OF
the homes thereby created are alike de.
pendent upon the efficient public control
of the water supply and the prevention
OF water becoming a speculative com.
modify. We believe THAI the waters Of
all streams should forever remain pub,
lie property and that rhe right to its
use should inhere not in the individual
or the ditch, but in the land reclaimed.
Whereas, The perpetuatfon OF the
forests OF the arid region is ESSENTIAL to
the maintenance Of the water supply
for irrigation. as we'll as the supply o:
timber for industrial needs.
Resolved. That the president Of the
United States be memoralized. 80 0 o
as a proper and adequate form Of admin
istration shall be provided, to Withdraw
from entry or sale under the act Of con,
gress Of March 3. 1891, all public lands
which are of more value for their tim
Der than for agriculture or for their
minerals.
Whereas, The present public land
laws. having developed under conditions
where irrigation is not necessary, and
having in their operation proved utteri,
unsuited to the conditions and needs Of
the arid region: and,
Whereas. The present policy Of d.
vided control between state and nation
Of the public lands and weters Of the
arid region retards development. mis-
leads settlers. hampers enterprise. and
is responsible for rapid obstruction Of
western forests and pasturage.
Resolved. That we favor the crea.
ton by congress Of a committee of skul-
ed and experienced persons to investi-
gate the conditions now existing and to
submit to congress such changes in our
land laws as their Investigations shall
show to be desirable.
Resolved. That the executive COM
m!ttee be authorised to appoint u COM
miatee to proceed to Washington and
urge the early creation OF such commit-
tee.
We favor the construction at the ear
Hest practicable date by the general gov
eminent OF two reservoirs recently 10.
caied under the direction Of the United
States engineer corps, one each in Colo
RADIO and Wyoming."
This section brought out a minority
report a. follows:
Believing that the construction Of
storage reservoirs for irrigation pur-
poses ID not a proper function OF the fed
er1l government, but Its work should
be coudned to surveys and the collection
Of information in regard to water sap-
ply. extent Of irrt0abe lands, location
Of reservoir sites. etc.. the minority OF
the commattse on resolutions recommend
that resolutions tavoring construction
by the fedsrNl government Of reservoirs
be not adopted."
The minority report was ably cham.
pioned by J. r. Brigham. assistant SEC
resary Of agriculture. and DELEGATE Mills
Of Idaho. but the majority report was
adopted by a practically unanimous
vote.
The resolutions continue:
Resolved. That we commend all e.