The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-19
no ENTERTAIN THE TRANSMITS
SISSIPPI COMMERCIAL
CONGRESS
MEETING AT CRIPPLE CREEK
Adopts Numerous Resolutions Re-
garding the Needs of the
Western Country as
n Whole
THE WORK OF THE SESSION

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo, July 1S-The
Trans Mississippi commercial congress
today completed the most important of
it's work, adopted resolutions covering
a multitude of subjects of interest to
the Great West, and selected st. Paul
as the next place of meeting.
The. important debate of the session
came up over the resolutions proposing
the establishment of government depart
ments of mining and of commerce and
industry. The debate was led by H. r.
WhitmOre, of St. Louis, Mo-; E. l..
Thurber, of New York, on the side of the
department of commerce and industry,
end F. D. Montgomery of Colorado, and
Former Governor Adams, of Pueblo,
Colo, for the mining department. Fin
ally, the industrial feature was stricken
from the resolution. Both departments
were unanimously endorsed.
There was a large attendance of dele
gates at the morning session. John II.
Smith, Of Utah, the newly chosen presi-
dent made an address.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Gov. Fisnback, of Arkansas, chairman
of the committee on resolutions, read the
report of the committee, which was adopt
ed after considerable debate. 1t favors
the construction by the general govern
ment of reservoirs and canals for the
reclamation of arid lands, and the en-
actment Of laws by the state and nation
to encourage the construction of storage
dams to increase the rainfall; Iuggests
the issuance of bonds by the government
with which reclamation of arid lands may
be accomplished, the money to be refund
ed by the settlers in the purchase price
of lands; asks for the establishment of
department of mining and a department
of commerce, each TO be represented in
the presidents cabinet; favors statehood
for Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma,
and suitable government for the Indian
territory; faVors the immediate cOnstruc-
tion of a Pacific cable and the Nicaragu-
an canal; asks that the interstate COM
merce law be amended; demands the
abolition of the fee system in the con-
sular service; favors laws to encourage
the beet sugar industry; endorses an in
tercontinental railway; advocates the res
toration of the merchant marine; asks
more liberal appropriations for river and
harbor Improvements, and provides for
the appointment of a committee of five
to lay the above matters before the next
congress.
NEED FOR IRRIGATION.
The resolutions, after citing the great
demand for rural homes as shown by the
rushes to recently opened public lands
and referring to the fact that there are
still about 100OO0,000 acres CT arid land
which can be reclaimed by irrigation de-
clared in favor of the policy advocated
by the international irrigation congress
of government action in the matter and
storage of waste waters from the noun
tains and distribution to the farmers of
the arid plains.
The state and nation is urged to provide
for the damming of draws and the collec-
tion Of water in ponds to facilitate evap-
Grafton and thus increase the rainfall
An arid land fund of $1OO GOO, 600 was ad-
vocated to be raised by the sale of gov
ernment bonds the money to be ex-
pended in reclaiming arid lands and to-
be returned to the government from sale
of lands reclaimed.
A department Of mining to be represent
ed IN the presidents cabinet was urged,
whose duties shall be to aid the produc-
tion and treatment of arid lands through
experiments at government expense.
A department of commerce was recon-
mended to aid in widening the markets
of the country.
The government was urged to deepen
the harbor and waterways at Sabine Pass
In the interest of the Beaumont oil dis
trict and to make the Brazos river navig-
able as far as possible.
The following members of the new exc
cutive committee were announced:
Texas J. w Riggin; California w. N.
Bnnker; Colorado Mitchell Benedict;
Kansas, DR.. F. T. Brazos; Nebraska, J.
4 Blower; New Mexico, R. w. Tandin;
Louisiana, Sidney Lewis; Indian Terri
tory, William Noble Montana. w. M
woodbridge; Nevada, j. A. Miller; Min
nesotaS $. @. Brooks; Utah, George Rom.
n4ey; OkIahoma, j. Beadler; Wyoming,
Fred Bond; South Dakota, E. w Larlen
Arizona, B. II: Fowler; Iowa, William
II. Calhoun; Arkansas, George II. Sengle:
Missouri, H. R. Whitmore