The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-14
BENEFIT TO THE NORTHWEST.
Complete Success Of the Mining and
Irrigation Congress ut Baker City.

Complete Success Of the Mining and
Irrigation Congress ut Baker City.
The mining and irrigation congress-
which met in Baker City last week,
will prove of much benefit to the
Northwest. Much enthusiasm was
manifested throughout its sessions, and
when final adjournment was taken, it
was with feeling that the convention
had been q success. It was Baker
City's first experience In entertaining
a crowd of that character. and its citi-
zens had cause to be gratified at the re-
suit. The town surprised itself by it's
achievement. As the citizens and Wis
itors became better acquainted, more
informality came into the proceedings,
and miners and capitalists got closer
together, and the vastness of the min
eral resources of the region was better
appreciated. All felt personal in
terest in mining and irrigation, and no
one was 80 wise that he did not get
new and broader ideas, and perhaps
more special knowledge of those mat
tiers SO essential to the industrial de-
velopment of the great Northwest.
The last day constitution and by
laws for a permanent organization was
reported, and, after some discussion,
adopted. The name chosen was the
Mining and Irrigation Congress-; OBJ
ject, to promote and foster mining and
irrigation enterprises and other kindred
industries; the officers to be presi-
dent. a vice-president from each state,
who shall choose the secretary and
treasurer; the meetings to be held an
nually, at time and place to be Sc
lected by the congress-; the congress to
be composed of delegates from Oregon.
Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho,
Washington, Montana, California and
Nevada, to be appointed as follows:
Seven by the governor of each state;
one by the mayor of each city; three
by each chamber of commerce, COM
mercial club, board of trade or other
similar organization in each city;
three from each county, to be appoint
ed by the county judge or chairman of
the county board; three from each reg
ularly organized mining district within
the states The committee ON legisla-
ton will consist of two members from
each state, who will present written
report at each annual congress.
When it came to selecting a place
for the next meeting, ]. F. Batchelder
named Portland as the commercial and
financial metropolis of the Northwest,
where facilities for accommodating a
great gathering and for a display OF
mining machinery and methods of re-
ducing ores could be found. r. w.
Paris proposed Boise as able to handle
big convention, it being more central
ly located with respect to the mining
states, being itself in the center of a
vast region, whose chief industries the
congress would relate to. G. A. Johns
named Baker City. A dozen speeches
were made by partisans of the different
places. A ballot resulted as follows:
Portland, Al; Boise, ID; Baker
City, 6.
Portland was made the unanimous
choice.
The time for holding the next meet
ing was fixed for the first Tuesday in
December, 1898, after long discussion,
bringing out seasonable demands Of
placer and quartz mining and irrigation
farming and after reference to a COM
mittee of three whose report was adopt
ed. Albert Geiser, of Baker City, was
unanimously elected permanent presi-
dent of the organization. The follow
ing vice presidents were chosen:
Oregon-Ole J. Olsen, Grants Pass;
Idaho-State Engineer F. j. Mills,
Boise; Washington-Dr. j. M. Boyd,
Spokane; Utah-Thomas D. Lee, o.
den. The executive committee is COM
posed Of the following:
Oregon-Fred R. Mellis, Baker City,
and ]. F. Batchelder, Portland Idaho
"A. D. Morrison, Idaho Falls, and j.
F. Hunt, Downey; Washington-G. B.
Dennis and A. P. Curry, Spokane;
Utah-R. S. Campbell, Salt Lake City,
and R. c. Lund, St. George.
Members of the legislative committee:
Oregon-C. A. Johns, Baker City,
anu II. q. L IaoloI, NuScuo, AuduO-
John c. Rice, Caldwell, and Edgar
Wilson, Boise; Washington-J. ].
Browne and Colonel Lindsley, Spokane;
Utah-David Keith, Salt Lake City,
and H. II. Rolapp, Ogden.
The governors Of California, Nevada,
Colorado. Wyoming and Montana will
be asked to make appointments for their
respective states.
A committee presented resolutions to
the effect that only questions pertaining
to mining and irrigation should be dis
cussed before the congress-; urging i'm
mediate action for a mineral exhibit at
the Trans Mississippi exposition from
the several states represented in the
congress; acknowledging appreciation
of and extending hearty thanks to the
citizens of Baker City for the many
courtesies and attentions received.
Captain Robley D. Evans, who goes
into command of the war ship Iowa,
vice Captain Sampson, has no rival for
popularity in Washington, or in the
navy department. The captain is