The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-28
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch TO the Standard
Missoula, Sept. FIT has been the
best meeting of the National Irrigation
congress that has been held in four
years." was the emphatic statement
made tonight by National Lecturer
George II. Maxwell of the congress. st
has had a larger attendance than have
the last two meetings Of the congress,
and the hall has been filled with good
and appreciative audiences. This meet
ing of the congress has done much more
good to the cause of irrigation than any
other thing that has ever happened 1t
has been a thoroughly satisfac tory
meeting, and the results mean that the
West is united on a policy that will GER
tainly accomplish wonders for the ad-
vaneement of the cause. for which we
are all working"
This statement was indorsed by Sci
pio Craig, the veteran California hor-
ticulturist, and by many other dele
gates, who have taken part in the de-
liberations of the congress for many
years.
The results of the session to-day in
dicate what work was done during the
past years by such men as George H.
II.
Young, S. M. Emery and others 1t is
complete triumph for these men, and
it is not to be wondered at that these
men feel elated tonight when they look
back over the work that has been done
during the last three days.
West Is United.
1t has been argued by the opponents
of arid land reclamation that the West
is not united on the question, and that
it is useless to ask the East to assist
until the West knows what 1t wants
The sessions of the congress to-day are
an answer to this argument The West
is united on this matter. There was
but one dissenting voice in the congress
this afternoon when the vote was taken
on the adoption of the resolutions pre-
pared by the committee selected yes
terday for that purpose. The congress
adjourned tonight sine die, to meet in
Chicago next year.
All of the delegates express them
selves as well pleased with their visit
to Montana, and they will be better
pleased tomorrow when they return
from their tour of the Bitter Root. 1t
has been a revelation to many of the
visitors-this visit to the Northwest.
They have seen what can be done here
with irrigation, and they will have a
better idea of the Northwest than they
ever had before. Missoula has done
the best that she could for the success
OF the congress meeting, aud tonight
she has the assurance that her efforts
are appreciated. It is honor enough
to be the city in which prominent irri-
gationists have finally agreed as to a
definite policy to be pursued in the ad-
vancement of the cause of the recla-
nation of arid lands
The meetings to-day were full of in
terest from the early meeting, when
irrigation laws received attention,
through the afternoon, when the reso-
lutions were adopted, to the evening
when Mr.. Mead presented the scheme
of the leasing of arid lands and Sena-
tor Carter spoke encouraging words
to those who are laboring in this great
field.
Morning Session.
The days work began with a paper
by Professor Fortier of the Montana
State College of Agriculture. who pre-
sented in an able manner the subject Of
Settlement of Water Right Difficult
ties" Professor Fortier urged state ac-
tion and the adoption of fixed system
like that of Wyoming in order to pre-
vent any further ENGAGEMENT than now
exists.
Director Emery spoke briefly in in
dorsement of this view Of the subject,
and urged that this paper be referred
der that its argument may be brought
before the entire legislature and all who
are interested. George H. Maxwell sup
ported this view.
Colonel T. #. Burton of Montana op-
posed this proposition and said he did
not believe that there exists in Mon
tana the utter confusion that some peo-
pie think. He said he thought Montana
was in pretty good shape. Judge Smith
of Montana supported Colonel Burton
in his proposition and recited numerous
Montana decisions and precedents in
support of his contention.
Senator Norris spoke briefly in argu-
ment for the Improvement of existing
conditions He said that there is room
for much improvement in Montana.
Judge Stilwell of Arizona said that
he believed that the time had come
when the til!ing Of the soil in these arid
land states should be taken out of the
hands of lawyers and that new irriga-
ton regulations are necessary. This
matter was discussed by several other