The Monte Vista journal., 1897-10-02
IRRIGATION CONGRESS
SIXTH SESSION HELD AT: LIN
COLIN.
Opsss With Rapid Dispatch OF Essiasss
How y water the Arid Rsgioa sad
Prsvsas vSssds.

Opsss with Rapid Dispatch Of Esslssss
How = Water the Arid Region asd
Prsvs.s HSssis.
Lincoln. Neb. Sept. 2S.-Delegates TO
the National Irrigation Congress, which
began its sixth annual session to-day,
made record In dislosing Of work on
hand and setting pace for more elab-
crate proceedings to follow.
The Initial session was marked by an
overflow OF enthusiasm on the part Of
the participants and visitors. Ad-
dresses by such men as Judge Emery Of
Kansas. Il. II. Moses of the same state,
and Assistant Land Commissioner Best
OF Washington, -. c., did not fail to
awaken interest In the movements they
champloned, and the sentiments they
expressed We're applauded and re-
echoed by local speakers whose interest
In irrigation projects liz reaching the
point entertained by districts where the
enterprise is no longer In i,s infancy.
Thus far there has been little said
concerning new officers Of the Congress-.
Secretary Heln;z is understood to be u
candidate for reelection. and has
strong support. Two nspirantx for the
next place Of meeting have appeared
In the cities Of Atlanta. Georgia, md
Guthrie. Oklahoma. Atlanta appears
to Ike generally favored.
II was 2 y. M. when President Booth
called the Congress to order in assem-
bly, hall Of the University OF Nebraska.
On the platform, besides officers Of the
Congress-. were Governor Holcomb.
Mayor Graham and Chancellor Mac
Lean OF the university. Rev. NJ. J.
NM OF
the National Committee Moses an
nounced the secretaries and Secretary
Helntx read the call for the meeting OF
the Congress. President Booth intro
duced Governor Holcomb. who well
coined the delegates in an address OF
some length.
Chancellor AlacI.cnn of the rnivcrsi-
~ OF Nebraska seconded. on behalf Of
the educational Interests OF the state.
the welcome OF the governor. On bc
hnlf OF the Congress. Judge J. =. En-
cry of Lawrence. Kansas. with nm In
ternaiional reputation as IN authority
on irrigation subjects responded to I'D
dresses OF welcome by the governor
and chancellor.
Judge Emery +. Best OF Washington.
ID. C.. assistant land commissioner OF
the General Land Office. took the place
OF Commissioner Hartmann M n repre-
sentative Of the federal government,
and was followed briefly by Elmer X.
Mead. state engineer OF Wyoming.
President Booth. after announcing
various committees. addressed himself
to the convention proper in u carefully
prepared paper.
Il. X. Moses Of Great BEND. Kansas.
chairman OF the national executive
committee. gave resume OF the irri-
CATION work for the year. saying In
part:
The time has come to the minds Of
all who fully know the condition of
the East and West. that this country
can no hunger remain half settled nnd
half un~cttled any more than It cou.d
have remained half free and half Save.
Individual and cooperative efforts
have gone An far as they can go.
Uncle Sam owns this unsettled land.
and II has now come to the parting of
the ways: either the government m,ls,
open these mnds. for settlement. or
turn them over In fee simple tn the
states and territories In which they
lie. that they may open them for set
tIcment. Tie settlement Of the West
means only that the products Of the
loom and factory: that the settling OF
the surplus population In the West ~
lieves the East OF great financial bur
dens which give On.y temporary re-
lief The opening Of the West will not
only give homes to the present home
less. but Ia future Thousands. instead
Of forcing them abroad like England.
France aud Germany do their home
less people for want OF territory.
III any bill In parsed for the rccla.
nation of arid and seuni-arid America.
II must be first drafted by this body
or the people OF the West. The last
Irrigation Congress passed upon n hill.
very good one. for starter. known
as the Public land commission bi.l.
II was Introduced In the House of Rep
rcscntatiyes near the close OF the SEES
sion. and awaits resurrection. II has
firm supporters In both houses. AMI
with proper efforts OH the part OF this
congress would become u law.
''Morc acre. ar. under cultivation 10y
means III Irrigation than ever before
nnd perhaps more. miles Of irrigation
ditchrs have been built In the last few
years than In all previous years.
Through these annual congresses an
Impetus has been given another line
of industry that has worked night and
day 10 prrfcc, pumpa and inachincs
To draw water from the bowels Of the
earth n, such a minimum cost ns to
make II profitable to irrigntc In this
way. The Ingenious mind has fsrn
rct 10 work to conserve the storm
waters that run In torrents to the
seR. The eyes of tlsss Enat nnd &Ou,li
have been opened to the fact TINT they.
Too. can ditch. drain and rsapply iise
water ni proper times nni receive bct-
ter results.
I'VE lrtiIationists an satisfied that
Congress will have Ia adopt our plan
of prrv"ntln. the overflow Of large
streams by III" ssoraKr ~ the waters
near the heads Of such streams In such
n manpcr Ms To fed the strrnn,a az
times OF low wn,.r. nnd nj other times
| Ia bc used In irrigation. navigation
and manufacturing industries. AMI in
this way the danssEr 10 life md prop
rrty now caused zach year by over.
flows. viii bc prevented. nnd large
| tracts of arid lands can h. reclaimed
iy these waicrs and oinpsd for set.
ticW.nt. TIL" people of the nation
| mcnt n Congress would IMPLY the np-
rronriaii"ns annually mrsi" 10 prevent
feeds. temporary tnak"shIftr. 20 the
sfnrnvr ~ wsfcr. ~ well NJ for the
uu" ~ nrrl'n.iu,. aIAi horticulture.
"fcilowirg '. the ~'rs" ~ IRRIGATION.
~n,i clo-el, niiict I" II. In colonization.
The pson'" ~ the West do not wnnt
thc.c land. wnj" tlllatA~ unlc+s thcv