Omaha daily bee., 1898-09-02
CCLTVATORS OF ARID AREAS
President Carey Of Ir-igation Congress
Reviews What IS Accomplished.
FUTURE or TRANSSDsslss9PI COUNTRY
city Of Cheyenne Gives Cordial well
come to the Delegates which
Are Arriving from All Sec
tions-OfHcerS of Congress.

't1Et E.NNE r, " FO sept. AFTER inter-
1l.t;ent showers all night last night. which
We're greatly needed. this morning The sun
rose clear and he atmosphere is beamlng
and cool such as Cheyenne usually offers
Cor The pleasure Of visitors Delegates %
the National irrigation congress continue 20
come .n but he bulk Of them Will arrive
this afternoon and ton lght Indications all
point 20 a very successful meeting. Chey-
snnes pretty little opera house is tastetuIly
decorated with the products OF irrigation N
Wyoming. Bundles Of cut corn. sheaves Of
grain Of all kinds and vegetable products
Of irrigation being profusely used IN me
decorations Of the auditorium and the stage.
It vas learned that bad wash
out on the Southern Pacific would delay
the arrival Of the California, New Mexico
and other delegations from the southwest
az least one. and perhaps two days Never
rheless. the congress was called 20 order by
President J. VI. Carey at the hour scheduled
An entertaining address Of welcome was
given By Governor Richards. who briefly
reviewed the agricultural history Of the state
lnd outlined The work which the congress
might take up Of special interest to Wyo-
ming He spoke Of our natural resources.
reviewed the mining situation. the rise and
decline Of the open range industry and The
substitution Of the granger for the large
stock man. one hundred OF the former now
took the place Of one Of The latter and the
change was beneficial Irrigation on small
scale had always been successful, but large
investments OF capital. backed up by scien-
-tac skill and strong hope had not
yet succeeded in paying a divi-
dond The reason for this must be deter
mined by these gatherings Of irrigatOrs, for
all the waters Of the smaller streams we're
already appropriated. Land was exceedingly
plenty and the water in the larger streams
had as yet hardly been touched. The prob
lem vas one involving not only the settle
nent Of the arid west but vas one Of great
interest TO the more densaly populated east
which must have an outlet for its surplus
population Governor Richards address ex-
hibitad a thorough knowledge Of the agri-
cultural problem OF the vest and was heart
ily applauded.
Pe-conses.
( Responses to the governors address were
made by Messrs. Logan Of Arizona, Prof.
Churchill and JUICE Emory Of Kansas. Allen
/ and DOugherty Of Nebraska Young Of Utah
| and Mr.. Field OF Colorado. These responses
were all witty and entertaining and further
/ more showed the earnestness Of purpose
I which animates the delegates.
Following the responses committees on
| permanent organization and credentials
! we're appointed one from each state repre-
| sented.
/ The afternoon session began with the re-
/ ports Of the committees on credentials and
permanent organization, which we're
adopted
! The following permanent officers we're
! elected. President, Joseph VI. Carey, Wyo-
ming first vice president, DR.. 5. 3. Young,
| Utah; second vice president, :. \. Cochran,
! South Dakota; third vice president. s NJ
/ Kaox Illinois; o. E. McCutchcou. Michigan
/ national lecturer; G. II. Maxwell. Califor-
MIA, assistant national lecturer, Frank
| Bond, Cheyenne, Wyo. press clerk Prof
Beeman Of California was elected assistant
minute and recording clerk.
President Curey's Addrcas.
After thanking the convention for the
honor conferred upon him, President Carey
delivered very interesting address He
/ said.
The sessions Of the national irrigation
! congress have left behind them lasting i'm
! presstOns and far-reaching benefits The
! questions discussed and the resolutions
/ adopted from time 70 time hav. g.9,. n.
| prominently before the people OF the JL..eI
/ states the ARIA and suo-arld portions OF the
| country, tLelT present conditions and what
| Is required TO transform sections now wholly
! or partly sterile ana uusightIy into those Of
! prouuctiveness and beauty.
II va examine the statutes Of the United
States, and OF the several states Interested
! we viii ind that much useful legislation has
been secured. The dles Of the TWO houses
OF congress best tell OF the interest now
| manifested in the question which directly
concerns the arid states and territories.
Various bills have been introduced and con
sidered, which directly apply 10 the trans
I missouri country, many Of which po sess
great merit. These sessions bring together
scientists, skilled engineers. law makers.
/ practical business men, capitalists and the
every day farmer and irrlgat0r The dele
| gates exchange views, each taking a sign!l-
cant part in the deliberations ana each is su
necessary 70 the others IN the discussion OF
[ The various questions that IL Is difficult "a
! determine who of the different professions
. and trades becomes the most important fac
tor.
| Unfortunately, only a comparatively small
| number OF the people Of the United States
I comprehend the extent OF that part OF the
7 United States which requires, for successful
( agricultural pursuits, artificial irrigation I!
( the arid portions we're separated from the
other part Of the United States il would in
itself be an empire and would on the maps
of the world appear and De the much greater
territory. The country which would be bene-
ited by artificial iTri cation in The growing OF
crops is not less than l,SOO miles from east
20 west ana I,0OO miles from north 10 south
This great area could be divided into nearly
forty political divisions, each OF which would
be OF the size OF the Empire state
Subject of Wide Interest.
Approximately three ifths OF the terri
tory OF the United States exclusive ci
Alaska. is directly interested in the subjects
which this congress will consider To the
people living vest OF the Missouri river these
questions, ot all questions, are the most i'm
portalt Seventeen states and territories are
now asking. How can we best reclaim OUT
arid lands aad make them capable Of sup
porting the increasing population
The general government is Interested in
material way for the reason that il owns
most Of the land IN the arid country. and
under the existing settlement laws IL vii
be many, many years before ir cca pa-re
out these lands 70 actual settlers. The pr,cy
OF the nation has been and wise has been
that policy, 70 part with the public DOMAIN
20 those who wish 20 make home o. IrnI.r-v.
the lands, as a gift, or for 50 small ~
amount as 70 scarcely nay rhr cost Of sur,
vsys and expenses Of the administrations 1
the land Offices.
The question daily arises with the natioTa
legislator. Is IL better s5r The nation 90 dI
rectly undertake the construction Of Prca
iTTi cation canals, dams, reese. vClgs. ETC.. On,
. then parcel out the lauis so reclaimed 10
. small tracts among those seeking hCmtH 0