The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-07
SENT GOOD WISHES
President TelegraphS to Irri-
cation Congress.
HE HAS INTEREST IN IT
President Walsh Delivers An
nuaI Address.

tenth national irrigation congress opened
at o'clock this afternoon under circum-
stances especially suspicious. Great sig
nihcance is lent to what is done this year
! through the fact that the irrigation
movement has been taken out of the
sphere of merely a propaganda and given
a national Importance through the action
| of the last congress in passing a bill au-
! thOTizing the proceeds from the sale OF
| state lands TO be used for irrigation pur-
poses in the several states.
President Thomas F. Walsh Of the con-
gress arrived in the city yesterday and
found everything in readiness for the
three days convention. Delegates poured
in by every train and the indications
early in the morning were that this years
/ congress would be the most largely at
/ tended ever held President Roosevelt
sent message of congratulation and cor
dial sympathy yesterday to be read be-
fore the convention. The message read:
Washington, D. c., Oct s. 1902
Accept my hearty good wishes. Nothing
/ has been don in which I have taken a
has been done in which 1 have taken
than the inauguration Of nationally aided
! irrigation.
/ CSigned) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The morning session was taken up with
I the reception of delegates from all parts
of the west, morning trains having
brought large delegations from Mime
sofa, Nebraska, Utah, Oregon. California,
and Arizona The New Mexican delega-
ton reached the city today and Governor
L. B. Price, vice-president of the con-
gress being among those here The per-
sonnet Of this congress is regarded by all
those in attendance as decidedly higher in
character than that of any previous irri-
cation gathering. Thomas F. Walsh,
president of the congress, said this morn
ing: i look for the most successful gath
ering in the history of the irrigation
movement"
The congress opened with an invoca-
ton by Dr. Edward Braislin, pastor of
the First Baptist church of Colorado
Springs.Addresse Of welcome by Governor
Orman of Colorado, President D. B. Fair
ley of the Colorado Springs chamber of
commerce, Mayor John R. Robinson for
The city of Colorado Springs, and / n,
Stevenson. editor of the Colorado Springs
Gazette for the press, were responded 10
by President Walsh. formerly of Colorado
now Of Washington, on behalf of the ir-
Tigation congress and the American For
restry association which joins in this
congress The humanitarian aspect of the
national irrigation was the subject of Mr.
Walsh's address In the opening, he said
Gentlemen OF the Convention: We are
here not merely to discuss measures. to
formulate resolutions and to map out a
plan of campaign, as we have so often
done on former occasions. but we are
here, first Of all. to celebrate a great VIC |
tory-tO rejoice at the birth of a new poll
icy which the national irrigation congress |
has given to the nation. 1t is a happy |
hour in the history of the west" After |
paving a tribute to patriotic, far-sighted |
and enthusiastic men who inaugurated |
this movement a dozen years ago and re-
ferring to the work of educational Irriga- |
ton. association as an auxiliary and CO. /
worker Of this congress, President Walsh |
said: There could have been no SUBJ |
stantial success at this early day had we |
not been extremely fortunate in the char |
acter OF our administration at Washing /
ton. First and foremost our grateful
acknowledgements are due to Theodore /
Roosevelt presfUent of the United States.
His message TO congress in December
1901, marked the beginning of new epoch
IN the history of western America 1t
placed the cause of national irrigation
IT position where il could no longer be
denied hearing. Without the powerful
aid of the administration. we could not
possibly have succeeded in inaugurating
the new policy al so early a day. With
ali due regad TO his other achievements
beth domestic and foreign l do not hesi-
tate to say in my opinion, when the his
tory of President Roosevelt's first ad-
ministratiOn shall be written the passage
Of the national irrigation act will be
found TO be the peculiar glory OF his
craftsmanship"
Referring to the Importance TO the
country as a whole OF national irriga ton !
Mr. Walsh said:
is 1,.,-r-,r-o- 7
ments Of population that l especially de-
sire 10 direct your attention in the brief /
time at my disposal 1t is not the dream !
Of empire that may come TO great ma
ton with the conquest OF a territory
wherein a hundred millions viii some
lines dwell which appeals TO my immagi-
nation But It IS the dream Of home and ! q
ndpendence which wiz come to many
struggling family with the announcement {.
hat one more fair valley Of arid Amer
ca has been thrown open 70 settlement :
A. the actual cost OF reclamation.
What does IL mean TO the nation to
lave millions ~ people gradually pass
rom the servitude of the town TO the =
iovereignty II the country IL means.
ny friends. the enlistment of new army
or the defense Of the republic in every '
lour OF need Give IA man a home upon I
he soil and You have made him the pat c
cot who viii defend your institutions at
he ballot box and on the battlefield
Il want u avail myself Of this oppor-
unity % say that there is no field where
lenevolence could accomplish so much as
n assisting the reclamation and settle a
rent Of our great arid region The pro O
Uganda which this congress has crrried O
N for 50 many years might well be en- !
lowed with "a fund which would enable J
IS TO increase the scope and efficiency I
Il our work a hundred fold We must r
cubtless devtsa a means by which the "
ooreSt families may be helped 70 get
.omes on the soil. Government land at c
ctusl cost does not wholly solve the Z
.robien- There are railroad fares 20 be b
'.et. homes 20 be built lands 70 be i'm c
roved and mouths 10 be fsd before the Z
ands come into bearing. Thus the prob q
TN OF colonial ton Is by 10 means wholly u
oived by putting the water on the land. =
do not see how 3 man could have Z
.ooler monument than q colony 81 happy 4
antilles or even one family enjoying the y
ecurity % life On the irrigated farm - 2
be result of his assistance.
II YOU ask me for an example q what :
light ~ accomplished in this line point :
on 10 the irrigated Valleys q Utah :
hese ware settled by comparatively poor :
Ken many % whom were assisted BY .
powerful organization. They live On :
mall farms. They enjoy economic f. =
ependence by the simple method % pro :
rcing toe variety cf things which thev :
caSUrne- They live chie1y 81 villages :
nd - have social advantages not Usually =
.lthi1 Tie -each Cf farming communities :,
is an amazing statement bnt the TEit- !.
q States census touches for IFS verify !.
hat q th>ir =. "a farms q 60 are wholly :.
re- from incum hrance, working ,or them :