The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-15
WORK FOR IRRIGATION.
National Association viii Meet in
Chicago Nov. 81.

Chicago, Nov. 15.-Great preparations
are being made here for the meeting Of
the National Irrigation congress on No
vernber p to "a Some Of the most
prominent men of the country have
agreed TO address the congress On the
subject Of forest preservation and ma
tiOnal irrigation
These two questions have attracted a
good deal Of attention during the past
year Everybody agrees that the future
Weifare Or great part of the country
depends upon preserving our magnificent
forests and watersheds. which in most
cases are sources of water supply. and
the national irrigation movement has
pushed forward into such prominence
tional platforms of both the great po-
Ir1cal parties It will be a surprise to
some people to know how many public
men are taking a deem interest In t1a
problem Of the reclamation Of the arid
west. which. Il the waters which now
run TO waste were stored by the govern
ment and used for irrigation. would be
transformed INTO tens of tfl6uS2 ndS of
small but highly productive farms
The irrigation congress has secured for
Its public addresses such men as General
Miles who through his plains cam
pa1gulng became a strong advocate of
national iTriga ton. Secretary Wilson. Of
the department Of agriculture who is
heartily in accord with the proposition
to save the forests and store the
floods Senator Foster, Of Washington;
Sena tor Carter, of Montana; Senator
Beveridge. OF Indiana: Senator Perkins,
Of California, and others. The more
technical side Of the question viii be dis
euSSed by the government experts ON
forestry and irrigation, ACCOMPANIED by
illustrated lectures IN the Auditorium
theater.
be taken up by some of Chicag07s most
prominent business men, such as Charles
A Mallory, a C Bartlett Of Hubbard
Spencer & Bartlett Co, James Deerfng
Stone, secretary of the Chicago board OF
trade, John E. Springer, president OF
the National Live Stock association. and
others President James J. Hill, Of the
Great Northern railroad. viii discuss the
question from his stand point
The meetings will be held at the Cen
trail Music hall, which accommodates
two thousand and the Auditorium the
alter. which seats four thousand, under
the auspices Of the National Irrigation
association. whose headquarters are in
Chicago Reports which ara coming In
to the association indicate that there
will be q large attendance Of delegates
and visitors, not only from the west
but from the Mississippi basin and the
east, where the movement has taken
great hold among the manufacturing
classes. who are anxious to see an ex-
tensfve western development which will
enlarge the hcme market for their
goods.
Tt Is estimated by the government Off
Gals that there are about 75,00e. geo acres
OF arid land subject to reclamation
through irrigation, and that II would re-
t4l7ire an expenditure OF about one hun
7rad and fifty million dollars TO acconp-
Hsh It The proposition is that the gen
era1 government should appropriate ten
or twelve million dollars a year to carry
on this work. as a species OF internal
Improvement the same as in the i'm
r1roveuent Of rivers and harborss and
the various manufacturing associations
have taken up the question with 4 view
to securing congressional action In this
direction The subject viii be discussed
from every standpoint at the Chicago
congress