The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-28


various bureaus of the national gov
eminent in the examna ton of the
physical and legal conditions relating
to irrigation and their work in promot-
ing the adoption of more effective GUS
toms and methods of irrigation and
urge upon congress the necessity of pro-
viding liberal appropriations for this
important work.
Committee on State Laws.
I'VE suggest the appointment of a
committee on legislation to aid in car
rying out the recommendations of this
congress as to the adoption of a har-
monIous system of state irrigation laws,
such committee to consist of Elwood
Mead, as chairman, and one member
from each state, to be appointed by the
president of the congress.
Secretary of Agriculture.
I'VE express our appreciation of the
visit of Hon. James Wilson, secretary
of agriculture, to the arid region dur
ing the past and interest which is
manifested in the success of this form
Of agriculture and the efforts being
made under his direction to bring both
its necessities and benefits to the at
tention of the whole country, east as
well as west.
Further resolved, That the thanks
Of this congress are hereby extended
to the associated press in general for
their excellent reports of the proceed
ngs of this congress. Also to DR..
Seymour b. Young for the able and
efficient manner in which he has pre-
sided over the sessions of this con-
gress. Also to l. d. O'Donnell, chair
man of the executive committee, and
to A. l.. Stone, secretary, for their eff
forts in making the meeting of this
congress a success. Also to the Nor
dica quartette for their delightful and
entertaining music. Also to the citi-
zens of Missoula for their courtesies to
the congress"
Resolutions Adopted.
The report of the resolutions commit
tee was adopted as whole with but one
dissenting vote. This action was greet
ed with tumults of applause. as the
resolutions are along the line of the
arguments and speeches that have
been made during the session. The
unanimous adoption of the report evil
denced the unity Of purpose of the con-
gress and demonstrated that the West
is getting together on the matter of
adopting a definite policy in the work
that has beer undertaken. The unani-
nous vote Of to-day is a splendid tri-
butte to the efforts of those veterans
who have been working on this matter
for so many years. 1t is a complete
triumph and it aneans that when the
West goes to the East this time it is
with a solid and unbroken front.
After informal remarks by Walter
Graves upon the work that the govern
ment is doing in matters Of irrigation
the congress adjourned till the even
ing session. Senator Carter arrived
from the coast on No. . tonight and
was met by the delegates with cordi-
atty. At the Florence hotel he was
e,,;s. d.
this and other states, and held pleas
ant reception.
The Evening Session.
At the evening session President-elect
Mead was in the chair After opening
the session. Mr.. Mead called to the chair
President Reid of the State Agricultu-
raj college, who introduced Judge
Emery F. Best of Washington, D. c.,
who spoke briefly upon What the Fed
eral Government Has Done in Irriga-
ton" Judge Best reviewed the prog
ress of the legislation that applies to
irrigation.
From the early '7Os congress passed
acts which affected the reclamation of
public lands. In 1888 congress passed
an act which authorized the investiga-
ton of reclamation of arid lands and
the segregation of lands that are
classed as arid; as well as for the sur
vey and location of reservoirs for stor-
age of water for irrigation. An appro-
priation was made for the initiation of
this work. A commission was appoint
ed and the work was begun. At this
time Senator Carter was commissioner
of the general land office. Obstacles
were encountered in the diversity of
opinion that existed as to how the
work should be carried on. In 1891
some further laws were enacted which
0f Do oil
investigation act
This is substantially all that has
been done up to this time. However,
the opinion is gaining strength that
these lands can be. readily reclaimed.
More than that. additional force is
given to the opinion mentioned by the
fact that the deplorable results of the
spring floods on the great rivers can be
greatly ameliorated by the construction
of reservoirs. Hence I think it is the
first duty of this congress, in my opin-
ion. to urge the construction of these
reservoirs
Senator Carter.
President Reid introduced Senator
Carter as one of the men who have al
ways recognized the justice of the
claims of the West. Senator Carter eX-
pressed his regrets that he had not been
here all during the session of the con-
gress, but explained it by stating he
had been to California to welcome a
regiment that in IS months had engaged
in II battles and had never retreated an
inch. 1t is a fact that the real fighting
force of the volunteer army has come
from the cities west of the Mississippi.
Senator Carter presented the regrets Of
Governor Smith at his inability to be
present.
The question of irrigation, Senator
Carter said, is not a local one. 1t af-
fects Massachusetts as much as it does
Montana. All of the land that will
produce crops without irrigation are
taken up. There is mo land left va
cant but timber land and arid land.
1t is no longer possible for the poor
emigrant to come West and make a
home for himself. 1t follows that cap
ital must precede future settlement of
the West. 1t means that the limit has
been reached of the railway business
and of development. 1t was thought
a while ago that the solution of this
problem lay in ceding the public lands
to the several states. However, it
soon became apparent that interstate
difficulties would arise and that lack of