The state herald., 1898-09-09
DISCUSS IRRIGATION.
ANNUAL CONGRESS MEETS.
Leading Men Interested In tho scienc
Gather at Cheyenne Next session to
be Held in Montana.

| 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. DR.. 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
mlttees on credentials and permanent
organization.
Judge j. NJ. Carey was continued as
permanent chairman. o. L. McCut-
cheon, Michigan. secretary; ]. $. En-
cry, Kansas, national lecturer; vice
presidents, DIR. S. B. Young, Utah; S.
A. Cochran, South Dakota; S. NJ. Knox.
Illinois.
The position OF national lecturer for
the extreme western portion of the
country was created to be filled by G.
III. Maxwell. California.
Communications from DR.. 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-
tion Mt great length.
An interesting communication was
read from William T.. Smythe, former
president Of the congress. which pro-
voked a storm of discussion and ad-
verse criticism. Mr. Smythe's letter
was n pessimistic view of the irriga-
ton question. He advanced the opin-
ion that almost unsurmouniable OBJ
stacles stand in the way of develop
ment in the West. The causes he clas-
siiied are:
First-Naturai repugnance of the
public 10 purchase OF water rights
which are merely the right to rent wat
er.
SecOnd-Popular ignorance concern
ing the arid regions.
Thrd-Prohibltive price nt which
lands are held in irrigated districts.
Fonrth-Poverty of the classes from
which II is attempted to draw settlers.
Fifth-ENccssive cost of passenger
and freight transportation.
SiNth-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.
A general discussion on Mr..
Smythc'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. Il. NIaxson Of Ne
vada. chairman Of the Irrigation Con-
grcsslonal committee. was heard. He
submitted bill 10 Congress intending
10 cover the shortcomings OF the Carey
act. The bill WAS reported favorably
by the House committee. but nfterward
was crowded ou; 10y war matters. The
bill will he taken up by the next Con-
gress and VIII most likely become a
law. The report was received and de
clared open for discussion.
In tile discussion Colonel Doughcrty
said the main proposition is water first
and then homes for the common peo-
pie. The state should build the stor-
age reservoirs His idea was that the
aid OF the general government should
be given the states. lie favored the
ccssion OF the arid lands to the states.
Judge Emery. ON the bill. which l.
better known as the Shafroth bill, said
the House committee said the condi.
tions Of the general land laws are not
applicable TO the arid regions. The
amount to be appropriated would be 50
large In building government rcscr-
voirs and representatives from those re-
gIons are so few In number that the
general government could not be ox.
pecied to enter into the work. but. said
Judge Emery, we have never asked
the general government To undertake
anything but storage reservoirs.
Colonel Dougherty called attention to
the fact that the Shnfroth bill only pro.
vldcs legislation looking TO the ccSslun
OF the arid lands. There should Ice leg
islatl0n through the river and harbor
bill for storage reservoirs
Al the close Of the discussion the re-.
port Of the congressional committee
was accepted.
A discussion ON the successes and
failures In canal building and the
causes followed. This discussion was
led by Colonel T. $. Ncttlcton OF Den.
yer.
The following members OF the cN-
ccutlyc committee OF the congress for
the ensuing year were chosen: II. l..
Kellogg. Colorado: :. NJ. Knox. Illinois;
j. II. Churchill, Kansas: It. W. sylvcs.
ter. Maryland. Thomas Knight. Mis-
sour: ]. u. o'ponncll. Montana; VI. NJ.
McCutchcon. Michigan: r. q. Frost.
Minnesota: VI. Doughorty. Nebraska /:
II. II. MaSson. Nevada; $. y. Smith,
South Dakota; !. II. McCllntock. Arlzo-
mn. Judge Shurilln. Utah.
Judge Carey announced that the dele.
gates would he taken 10 Whcntlnnh.
Sunday. for the purpose " visiting the
Whcn,lnnd colony.
For the next meeting place Of the
congress invitation were received
from Los Angeles. Eddy. New Mexico.
md the state OF Montana. The invita-
ion Of Montana wns accepted. the TX.
ccutyc committee being authorized 90
name the city, The delegates were on.
tcr'nlncd tonight nt smoker" by the
Cheyenne club.
The Joint Commission.