The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-26
Opening Session of the National
Congress at Missouia, Mont.
MANY DELEGATES THERE
CAME FROM EVERY SECTION OF
THE UNION.
Great Interest Taken In the Work,
and a Profitable Conference Is
Expected - Several Addresses
Made Yesterday and Objects OF
the Meeting Outlined.

Misscula, Mont, Sept. 25.-The eighth
session of the National Irrigation con-
gress convened here today. About 200
accredited delegates have already pre-
scented their credentials. Delayed trains
caused some of them to be late These
delegates come from every section OF
the Union in whicn an interest is taken
in irrigating heretofore arid lands, and
also include a number of officials OF the
department of agriculture from WASH
ington City.
The work the congress is to accom-
plish was stated today by Guy r.
Mitchell of Washington, ID. c., to De-
bsef1y: 1.-THE proper presentation of the
problem of satisfactorily disposinS or
the grazing lands by the leasing sys-
tenn, and the securing of a Just and
equitable share by appropriations Tor
the development and improvement OF
interior states, along with the seaDodfd
states
This is the ultimate purpose of the
National Irrigation congress and Its
kindred organization, the National Irri-
cation association, representatives OF
which are now here at this meeting.
The west asks for nothing more than
is just and fair It wishes for no
more than is due and equitable distri-
button of the appropriations that are
made for improvement of the water
courses and a system that will properly
recompense the western states for the
expense that they are put to N polclnS
| the vast areas of public lands, combined
with this a system of education upon
matters that pertain to the problems
of irrigation-this is the plan of the
| congress.
Members of the Congress.
1t is composed of men who are ear
nest and devoted workers in this field,
and who are numbered among the best
informed men in the work upon matters
that are associated with these problems
of reclamation of arid lands and the i'm
provement of those that are semi-artd.
The morning session was devoted en-
! tirely to business matters. In the ao-
sence of the presiding officer, Dr. Sey-
mour B. Young of Utah, who was de-
tanned by a. late train, Chairman O'Don-
nell of the executive committee an
nounced that the committee had Sc
lected as chairman pro tenn. of the con-
gress, DIR. Stubs of the Nevada state
university.
Dr. Stubbs at once proceeded with
routine business of the meeting, and,
upon motion, appointed the following
credentials committee: j. L. smith,
Montana; ]. c. Bray, Idaho; Walter
Graves, Washington. d. c.; A L. stone,
secretary; f. j. Kiesel Utah. The con-
gress then took a recess.
At the afternoon session the congress
was called to order at 2:30 by Dr..
Stubs. who opened the session by
few brief remarks. This was followed
by the report of the committee on Gre
dentials which was submitted as a par
| tial report only, owing to the fact. that
many delegates had not arrived.
| The report was adopted, and the COM
mittee recommended, on motion of d.
rector Emory of the experiment station,
| to accredit as delegates all members. of
! corporations having the interests Of the
congress at heart, and all citizens OF
villages, cities or districts not otherwise
represented, who are present
Several Addresses Made.
The Hon. Edward Norris. president
| of the state senate, was then introduced
and on behalf of the state of Montana
| delivered an address of welcome.
| c. B. Booth and George H. Maxwell.
both of California responded. On behalf
of the board of trade and citizens of
Nissoula, the Hon. Frank II. Woody
| welcomed the delegates in an address
j typical of the Montana pioneer. He
| said in the course of his remarks:
Il am not here to discuss the question
OIL eADdHSlOll, Jul may soy
J. that had the United States given one
! half of the sum that has been directly
| or indirectly expended upon the Philip
pines upon the retaining of waste
| lands. millions of acres OF land would
have been transformed from deserts
into rich fields of golden grain and or
| ehards bending beneath their loads OF
I fruit, furnishing homes wherein then
| of Drawn and brain might abdomen
/ 11oor1 IvhOrn fine country could rolE in q
! cases
To this address response was made
by the Hon. ]. o. Bray Of Idaho, and
| seconded by Director Emory OF Boze-
man.
The afternoon session adjourned in
| time to enable the delegates TO meet
! the delayed trains on the Northern Pa
cific which brought in a big crowd Of
delegates from southern and eastern
states.
The attendance at the congress to-
| night is said to be the most representa-
tive that has been present at any pre-
vious session of the congress and the
officers are elated over. the prospects OF
| a splendid session.
DR.. Young On Hand.
At the evening session DR.. Stubs in
PRODUCED to the congress its permanent
presiding officer, DR.. Seymour B. Young
J of Utah. An orchestral selection was
rendered as the opening number of the
session.
president of the association of Agri-
cultural college, spoke regarding the
relations of the agricultural college and
the experiment station to the irrigation
problem.
sWithout doubt the work of this
congress is of national and state i'm
portance," said he. This country (the
arid belt) shall be redeemed, and these
sage-covered plains and dusty foothills
shall support a rich population and
shall become. the home of cultured Deo-
pie. This is the mission of the Irriga-
ton congress and in this work the ag-
riculturaI college and experiment sta
ton is with congress-
Following DR.. Stubs the NoTdion
ouartette of Missoula rendered one OF
its delightful selections and the ladies
were recalled.
"The Annexation of Arid America
How to Put as Many People in Arid
America as in Humid America vas
the theme of the lecturer, George II.
Maxwell of California. Mr.. Maxwell
referred pleasantly to the success Of the
present session of congress and then