The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-30
NATIONAL IRRIGATlOS CONGRES
WIN BE Attended by Many Men Prumi
nent in Public Life.

WIN BE Attended by Many Men "r"mi-
nent in Public Life.
The National Irrigation congress will
hold it's eighth annual session at the
city Of Missoula on the 25th, 26th and
27th Of September next, and great in.
terest appears to be manifested in the
meeting, number Of men prominent
in public life having signified their in
tention to join with the scientists, en-.
gineers, business men aud irrigators,
who have generally composed former
meetings The fact is that irrigation
is becoming question which public
men recognize as something they must
keep Informed on, and the irrigation
congress is beginning to have strong
influence with the other one at Wash
ignton, which will be more and more
felt as our statesmen become better
posted on the subject.
The membership Of the irrigation
congress is made up as follows: Five
delegates appointed by the governor Of
each state and territory; one delegate
from each CITY Of the United States
having a population Of less than 25,.
900, and two from each city having a
population Of over 20, 1000; one delegate
from any regularly organized irriga.
tion, agricultural and horticultural so.
ciety, society of engineers. irrigation
company, agricultural college and COM
mercial body, duly accredited represent
ative Of any foreign nation or colony !;
any member OF the United States senate
and house OF representatives, and gov.
ernor Of state or territory; any mem.
her of state or territorial irrigation
commission; the chairman Of each Sec
tion and the permanent officers Of the
congress.
It Ia hoped that the outside delegates
may have an opportunity Of seeing
something Of Montana as fruit pro.
ducer, and that they may be treated to
trip up the Bitter Root valley, and
visit the famous DAILY ranch. Here
they will see the second largest apple
orchard in the United States. contain
ing 1000 trees, from which Mr.. DAILY
makes the pie" which he annually
distributes amCng the democrats.
AVAI' AINN"kOSt SGSASV0Ay Va WIZ sNoVO
board of horticulture, estimates that
10, 800 acres OF Montana is devoted to
fruit culture, which is a statement that
will surprise good many Montanians,
who have not visited the western part
of the state, but there is no reason to
believe that the amount is overesti-
mated. The largest apple exhibited at
the Omaha exposition was Montana
apple, and the state won second prem
ium. Idaho taking first.
But it is not alone the Bitter Root
valley that will attract the attention of
the foreign delegates. Those who come
from the east over the Northern Pacific
will pass for few hundred miles
through the valley Of the Yellowstone,
and while they will see many miles Of
irrigation bitches, they will also see
joining the Missouri and Mississippi in
their assault on the levees Of the cotton
planters, than would water thousands
and thousands Of acres of arid land.
And further OH the fruitful Gallatin
valley. with it's barley fields whose
golden grain is coveted by Bohemian
brewers for it's excellence. and where
farmers grow rich and are able to re-
tire before they are too old to enjoy a
rest.
The visitors will be able to realize
that Montana is not only the "Treas.
ure" state on account of it's immensely
rich mines, but that it's valley and
bench lands, when once brought under
the benign influence of irrigation, are
the banner fruit aud grain producers