New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-30
rur IRRIGATION CONGRESS.

rbo National Irrigation Congress- po'H ~
which thirteen States and Territories lying
,,i.hfn rho Western arid belt sent drl'S"'S'
ol,.ed ifs work the other day AZ MisSoula' Mont
win nm urgent appeal for Federal all ID ol'"
,n, ,hot vast rainless area 10 profitable cul'''a-
ZION Heretofore this congress. which mas met
.,,,ouy since 1soo. has shown some hesitan'l
IN invoking the direct agency Of the "'n'r"'
c,.,.rn,,.nt to reclaim thc desert lands OF 'Hr
pocrv Mountain Basin. The congress OF lN'"
1,,,oi, cat ot Lincoln. Sob. was disposed 10 rely
to .ho main ON local efforts to restore thT"ue"
rrlgafjon the fertility OF these unW"''''u p'"''''
,,.,a s,ngle fovor II asked Of the AUTHORITIES ~
washington was the crenion o. " comm
.,,,I, e,onld consider the possible cXFedlcn'y
az est,hli ,hlng series or reservoir -" NV
IT., lorls since 1891. however, ih" '"h'i'"'"
has evidently strengthened ii inc az
that lttlr or nothing can bee accoihpl'"'" III ,.''
ovid districts without the iu'rrV'Hi"" ~
\otioual Government. and n syst'I"""' "N'''
,ion has been started IN aud ON o' congress '
tho construction Of irrigation storage "''''' ~ -
n.,v feature IN the Nations g'n"r"' ~ "'''''
,,llic works IN the last congress %" "''''
,rioti,,, auiAorizug the building ai '"N''"''.'
,.v,,.ne. Of certain irrigation Tr'rT'"''' "'''
b.advoi.rs 81 The Missouri was S'f''"'" " '"
5,,ncr,t, or, of the River and llarp"F Dill u"'
i,, tho closing hours 81 he short s'S'""
..'no,. nod agreed 10 vote the money asked '''
49,. ,,,..ri,n,ut 1uf tho House ~ Nrp''7'''"
lives stood out olS'irately against ''niH''''
~. Goy.rumentt to his new venture .N '"''' '''
improvements. .,.,. wool,
rl,e resolutions adopted at Missoula ihis week
,,.s,,.o vigorous renewal IN the LNl'h con
'..o., . thn Ncht for National irrigation sf9
toD The willingness OF the popular Ora"
e., ,rb,ch the States OF the arid brlt nave ""'' 90
,reing representation 10 sanction ANY '''
coctlv scheme of Federal reclamation H'"'' "''
o.or he frankly questioned. or the '''-''o'.'''
ocr.s Of desert land lying WITHIN ne '"'".''
! oi..r,.t Il * estimated That hot H"lc ''
! - ono 600 can bee made irrignble "iih'h any ~"
eonoll. limit Of expenditure Ana VIII" NV
o,,s,dor,l,l. areas ~ land still open 7" S'"'
mon, and cultivation in the Western STATES ""'
Territories the usually cautious ana e'""""''' ."
leaders IN the House ar" apt 7" h'S''''' "'''''
hnrdcuiur the Treasury with Ia" ""'l'HS "'''
CORY IN make marketable the '"N''l''''"'
ol,or, az these rainlcss stretches 81 desert ','
,,,..s Inns already shown its disposition 10 IVY
,bo ,,orl, Of reclamation indirectly 10y p"NN'"S Oh
,,,. under which the so-callcd Desert Lane
c,otas ore permitted 10 take titl" rr"" the WV
,,,o,, gnr 600 900 acrcS or luhll' l"""
o,i.c, Lv simply restoring that Hu'" ""S'' ~
.,,,,ivo,ion through local agencies. yer """'
,,. oc, =, * figured that not more than '""o
r.. ho,a norn reclaimed 10y AL or the are
.,o,.s ,oo.thor with the fuller growth ana d'
,,,,,,,,..,, ~ the Far West the establishment
ON oy.ctiv. system Of irrigation may become al
object Of pressing national concern
the Federal authority can he eNp'''" ~ ''N
late and control scheme "i pu"''' ~ ="
which thirteen different States an" i''
will depend for Il considerable s'"'e ID '"''
,roductlve wealth and power hu' '""' ~
time IS actually ripe for ied'ral syS''" "
,rricatlon. Oh the scale suggested 10y '"' '''
soulo Congress. the more rohs'rVa'N' '"'''' q
Washington will probably continue 10 u"""''