The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-17
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
Irrigation Congress to Meet in
Missoula Next Fall.
ADVICE OF PROF. SMITH
Sooner or Later Montana Will Need the
Assistance of the Scientists Who
Will Visit This City-Sug-
Restions.

Missoula, May 16.-Professor Smith of
the State university, who is also the
resident photographer for the United
States geological survey, in an inter-
view with Standard reporter lately
called attention to the necessity Of
Missoulians in particular and Mon
tanans in general realizing at once the
great Importance of the irrigation con-
gress of next fall. He said:
II do not believe that we Of the Mis-
soula and Bitter Root valleys realize
the full significance of the meeting of
this irrigation congress. have just re-
ceived letter of inquiry from Mr..
Newell, the photographer of the United
States geological survey, asking for in
formation regarding local arrange
ments, ETC., in order that he might lay
plans at once for the attendance of a
number of members of the geological
survey. This means that the greatest
authorities on irrigation and the most
prominent hydraulic engineers of the
United States will be present to take
part in the meeting. A congress of ma
tional Importance calling men from all
states Of the union will take possession
Of Montana and view us critically.
ut is because of the plentiful supply
Of water for irrigation and industrial
purposes that the population does not
appreciate what such a congress can
do for them The irrigation through
out this section Is a comparatively
simple problem, and as long as there is
water for all and nothing more than
simple bitches of a few miles length
| required to utilize it, the ranchers and
| others hold irrigation engineering and
| science as something unnecessary and
useless.
For this reason few appreciate what
| the government is doing for them in
| the work in which l am engaged when
| accurately measuring the three rivers
| and keeping close watch of their
heights daily. The immediate applica-
ton of these results may not be made.
but accurate knowledge covering a
| term Of years cannot be had on min
ute's notice except by work of this kind
and the government is sufficiently far
seeing and patient to undertake work
| of this kind for the good of the future
years, knowing full well that every
cent thus spent will be productive of
many times its present value.
I'm states like Wyoming, where
water is priced more highly than here,
we find the fullest appreciation of the
benefits that irrigation engineering and
science can bestow and it is in this
state we find the first steps taken to-
ward a new policy of government sup
port for the farmers, by which some
of the immense sums Of money an
nually used by the shipping interest
will be applied to the farmers use II
building reservoirs in the arid states.
when such a policy is adopted, Of
couse, we will expect Montana to de
mand her share of the money if for ne
other purpose than of having some
share of Uncle Sans money spen
within her borders. but it will be sucl
states as Wyoming. Arizona and Colo
RADIO where the greater interest ant
support is given to irrigation scienc
that will be first to reap the benefits
Perhaps as the time approaches whel
the demands for the water will b.
greater the people will more fully ap
preciate work of this nature. | Wlsl
all could read the report of the division
of photography of the geological sur
vey for 1897 in order to understand tn
full significance of the work the gov
eminent is doing in these lines, and t
see something of the nature of the en-
gineering problems confronting user
of water in other states. The success
full solution of these problems has bee
due to the work of the men who WI
gather in Missoula in September i
congress. If we expect to have an
difficult problems or conditions con
fronting us in the future along tines
lines we will gain the greatest aid an
assistance from those men by shown
that we are now alive to demands c
the subject and active in interest. Fol
really, great though Montana men ma
be in everything, they will surely nee
sooner or later the assistance of tn
men who will visit Missoula in Septen
ber."