The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-14
RECLAMAFIoN or ARID LANDS
Chief HoEic of Discussion by the
National Irrigation Congress.

Chief 1oslic of Discussion by the
National Irrigation Congress
Great preparations are being made at
Chicago for the meeting Of the National
Irrigati3n Congress on November Il to "a
Although most of the spellbiDders of the
country, have been pretty well exhausted
by political .speech-ma king during the past
two months; some of the most prominent
men Of the country have agreed to address
the congress on the subjects of forest
preservation and national irrigation These
two questions have attracted good deal Of
attention during the past year. Everybody
agrees that the future welfare OF great
part Of the country depends upon presery-
ing our magnificent forests and water
sheds, which in most cases are sources OF
water supply, and the national irrigation
movement has pushed forward into such
prominence as to be the subject OF planks
in the national platforms of both the great
political parties.
The Irrigation Congress has secured for
its public addresses such men as General
Miles, who through his plains campaigning
became strong advocate of national irri-
cation: Secretary Wilson, of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture who is heartily IN
accord with the proposition TO save the
Forests and Store the Floods; Senator
Foster OF Washington, Senator Carter of
Montana Senstor Beverage Of Indiana,
Senator Perkins OF California and others
The more technical side Of the question
viii be discussed by the Government ex-
perts on forestry and irrigation. aeeompan-
led by illustrated lectures in the Auditori-
una Theatre.
1t is estimated by the Government Off
Gals that theFs are about 7.060. 500 acres
Il 60 -. fhFnIVUE
irrigation and that il would require an ex-
peuditure Of about $3.50, 0J0. zee 10 accom-
piish it The proposition IS that the Cen
eral Government should appropriate $i0,-
Gee, Gee or S12. eco, eco a year to carry on
this work as 2 species OF internal improve
ment the same as in the improvement OF
rivers and harbors, and the various manu-
featuring associations have taken up the
question with view to securing Congress
ionaI action in this direction. The subject
will be discussed from every standpoint at
the Chicago congress.
The Western people have claimed that
there was no injustice in the appropria
lions of large sums for these reservoirs
and canals inasmueh as the West has paid
in the past its proportion of all harbor
and river improvements and any other
public enterprises which rebound to the
benefit OF Eastern sections of the United
States
The opposition is so strong, however,
that it is doubtful whether Congress win
ever take up in detail the reclamation Of
the arid lands This is realized by the
people Of great many of the arid States,
and as an alternative they have asked that
the Federal Government should deed to
the several States such arid lands as lie
/ within their borders and grant the use of
such reservoir sites. water and forest res
ervations as are necessary for the States
/ to carry out their own plans for the in
crease OF the habitabie area.
The purpose of holding the irrigation
convention in Chicago this year is to make
| it possible for as many Eastern people to
attend as are interested in the subject,
/ and also 10 bring the proceedings OF the
/ convention to the attention OF the more
/ densely populated sections of the country
I The convention procedure viii probably
be Of about the same character as that OF
previous gatherings. but Will possibly at
tract wider interest this year, as the arid
land question Will undoubtedly be brought
+ to Z head within very short tine, and
Congress xiii be forced to take some &C
ton 20 satisfy the millions of people in
the West who are asking only that they be
aIlowed TO develop their own States at
( Their own exEenss.- - -.2--..-H