The silver star., 1898-09-08
DISCUSS IRRIGATION.
ANNUAL CONGRESS MEETS.
Loading Men Interested In the seisno
Gather at Chey yenns Next session to
he Held In Montana.

Denver, sept. "A Specl0l from
Cheyenne to the Republican gives the
following account of the opening Of the
Irrigation Congress there yesterday.
Many of. the delegates were accom-
panied by ladies and large number
of residents Of this city were In at
tendance, so that the congress- al-
though all of the delegates had not ar-
rived, made very creditable showing
The congress was called to order at
10 O'clock by the president, Hon. Joseph
NJ. Carey Of this city. An invocation
was pronounced by Rev. DIR. Rafter of
st. Marks Episcopal Church. Judge
Carey then introduced Governor VIII
liam a. Richards. who welcomed the
congress to Wyoming.
Several responses were made by men
from different states
The afternoon session of the congress
opened with the reports Of the com.
mittees on credentials and permanent
organization
Judge J. NJ. Carey was continued as
permanent chairman. o. L. McCut-
cheon. Michigan, secretary: J. s. En-
cry, Kansas, national lecturer; vice
presidents. DIR. :. Il. Young, Utah; $.
A. Cochran. South Dakota; 8. NJ. Knox,
Illinois.
The position of national lecturer for
the extreme western portion OF the
country was created to be filled by G..
II. Maxwell. California.
Communications from DIR. A. C.
True and Colonel ii. NJ Chittenden
We're read.
Colonel Chittenden's paper was n
carefully prepared one on the national
reservoir question urging action by
Congress in the matter of water supply
for irrigation.
Judge Joseph NJ. Carey, president of
the congress, then delivered formal
address to the congress.
He treated of the subject OF irriga-
ton at great length.
An interesting communication was
read from William +. Smythe. former
president of the congress. which pro-
voked a storm of discussion and ad-
verse criticism. Mr.. Smythe's letter
was pessimistic view of the irriga-
ton question. He advanced the opln-
ion that almost unsurnountable OBJ
stacles stand in the way of develop
ment in the West. The causes he clas-
sified are:
First-Natural repugnance Of the
public TO purchase of water rights
which are merely the right to rent wat
er.
Second-Popular ignorance concern
ing the arid regions.
Third-Prohibitive price at which
lands are held in Irrigated districts.
Fourth-Poverty of the classes from
which il is attempted to draw settlers
Fifth-Excessive cost of passenger
and freight transportation.
Sixth-Failure of western people to
comprehend the economic difference
between the settlement of lands in an
arid and humid region.
Success, Mr.. Smythe argued, could
only come through cooperative asso-
Citations.
\ general discussion OH Mr..
Smythe's points followed.
Delegate Law of Greeley then gave
clear and comprehensive description
of the irrigation systems Of the Cache
La Poudre valley.
At the morning session to-day, the
report of Colonel II. B. Maxson Of Ne
vada, chairman of the Irrigation Con-
gressional committee, was heard. He
submitted bill to Congress intending
to cover the shortcomings Of the Carey
act. The bill was reported favorably
by the House committee, but afterward
was crowded out by war matters. The
bill will be taken up by the next Con-
gress and will most likely become n
law. The report was received and de-
clared open for discussion.
In the discussion Colonel Dougherty
said the main proposition is water first
and then homes for the common pco-
pie. The state should build the stor-
age reservoirs. His idea was that the
aid Of the general government should
be given the states. He favored the
ccsslon Of the arid lands to the states.
Judge Emery. on the bill. which il
better known as the ShafrOth BILL said
the House committee said the condi-
tlons Of the general land laws are not
applicable to the arid regions. The
amount TO be appropriated would be SO
lnrge in building government reser-
voirs and representatives from those re-
gions are SO few In number that the
general government could not he ex-
pccted to enter into the work. but, said
Judge Emery. we have never asked
the general government 10 undertake
anything but storage reservoirs.
Colonel Dougherty called attention to
the fact that the Shnfroih bill only pro.
vldcs legislation looking TO the cession
OF the nrld lands. There should bc leg.
lslntlon through the river and harbor
bill for storage reservoirs
At the close Of the discussion the re.
port Of the congressional committee
was accepted.
a discussion on the successes and
failures In cannl building and the
causes followed. This discussion was
led by Colonel T.. =. Nettleton Of Den
YER
The following members Of the cx
ecutlvc committee OF the congress for
the ensuing ycnr were chosen: II. J.
Kellogg. Colorndo: y. NJ. Knox. Illinois
J. II. Churchill. Kansas; Il. W. Sylves
ter. Maryland; Thomas Knight. Mis-
souri; J. u. O'Donnell, Montana: NJ. NJ
McCutclcon. Michigan; 7. q. Frost
Minnesota; NJ. Dougherty. Nebraska
II. u. Mnxson. Nevada: =. n. Smith
South Dakota: j. II. McCllntock. Arixo
mn: Judge Shurtiiff, Utnh.
Judge Carey announced that the dele
gates would bc taken to Whentlnnsi
| Sunday, for the ptirnnsc Of visiting thu