Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-07
ROOSEVELT SENDS CORDIAL GREErlS,
Says Nothing Has Interested Him Mere
Than This
PROJECT NOW HAS SUBSTANTIAL FORM
Great Significance f. Lent to the
Meeting on Account of Recent
Legislation by the Ma
tional Congress.


Great significance is lent to the congress
this year through the fact that the irriga-
tion 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 bill authoriz-
ing the proceeds from the sale Of state
lands to be used for irrigation purposes
In the several states.
President Thomas r. 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 are that
the congress will be the most largely at.
tended ever held
President Roosevelt sent a message of
congratulation and cordial sympathy to be
read before the convention.
Message from Roosevelt.
The message read:
WAsHINGTON, oct, e-Accept my
done In which / have taken a greater in
terest during my administration than the
Inauguration of nationally aided irrigation.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The morning was taken up with the re-
oeption Of delegates from all parts of the
west morning trains having brought large
delegations from Minnesota, Nebraska.
Utah. Oregon, California and Arizona.
The New Mexico delegation reached the
city yesterday Ex-Governor L. b. Prince,
vice, president Of the congress- is among
those here.
The personnel Of this congress is re-
safded 40 decidedly higher In character
than that Of any previous irrigation gath
ering and Thomas F. Walsh, president Of
the congress. said today: II look for the
most successful gathering in the history
of the irrigation movement"
The congress opened with an invocation
by DR.. Edward Braislet OF Colorado
Springs.
Addresses Of welcome by Governor Or
man Of Colorado President ID. B. Fairlee
oE the Colorado Springs Chamber Of Com
merce: Mayor John r. Robinson. for the
city Of Colorado Springs. and l. N. Stevens.
editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette,
for the press, were responded TO by Presi
dent Walsh, formerly Of Colorado. now Of
Washington. on behalf of the irrigation
congress and the American Forestry con-
vention, which joins in this convention.
Humanitarian Aspect.
1.-THE Humanitarian Aspect OF National
Irrigation" was the subject Of Mr.. Walsh's
address. In opening he said:
Gentlemen of the Convention: We are
here not merely to discuss measures, TO
formulate resolutions and TO map out a
plan or campaign as we nave SO otten
here, first of all, to celebrate a great vic
tory, TO rejoice at the birth Of a new
gress has given to the nation. II Is a
west
After paying tribute to the patriotic.
far-sighted and enthusiastic men who in
augurated this movement a dozen years
ago" and referring to the work of the
National Irrigation association as an
auxiliary and co-worker of this congress, -
President Walsh said:
There could have been no substantial
success at this early day had we not been
public men at Washington. First and fore
most, our grateful ACCOMPLISHMENTS are
the Tinted states His message TO con,
gress In December. 1901, marked the be-
SHINING OF a new epoch in the history Of
national Irrigation In a position where 1t
could no longer be denied hearing.
Powerful Aid of Roosevelt.
without the powerful aid of the admin
cSsded in tnausupati4s h the new policy al
90 early a day With all due regard tc
his other achievements and the Importance
eign, ! do not hesitate to say that. In my
opinion, when the history OF President
written the passage OF the national irriga-
tion act VIII be found TO be the peculiar
kloI4 hA MS nAdNcEAndhHAAps
Referring to the importance to the ooun-
try as a whole Of national irrigation, Mr.
Walsh said
1t is not the dream of empire that may
come 10 q great ma don with the conquest
Of territory wherein hundred millions
Imagination. but IL is the dream of home
and Independence which viii come to many
ment tbai one s@ more % fair Valley Of aTit
America has been thrown open TO settle
What does u mean 10 the nation 10 nav,
millions OF people gradually pass from ths
servitude Of the town to the sovereignty
Il means, my friends. the enlistment of
new army for the defense OF the republic
upon the son and you have made him tn,
patriot who will defend your institutions a.
the ballot box and on the bettieneld
Field for BenevOIenee.
want to avail myself OF this opportunity
lenee could accomplish so much as IN as
stating the reclamation and settlement o
Which this Congress has carried oR' on for a'' 5;
many years might well be endowed will
a fund which would enable us 70 increas,
hundred fold. We must doI btless devise
means by which the poorest families MAJ
ment land at actual cost does not who'll!
solve the problem. There are railroad fare
TO be met. homes to be ouiit lands to b
improved and mouths TO be fed before tn
lands come into bearing.
Thus the problem Of colonization Is b.
no means wholly solved by putting IN
water on the land. l do not see how a maj
could have nobler monument than
colony Of happy families or even one famil
enjoying the security OF life on the irri
gated farm as the result OF his assistance
II you ask me for an example OF wha
might be accomplished In this line, / poin
you 10 the irrigated valleys OF Utah. Thes
were settled by comparatively poor mel
many of whom were assisted by a powerfu
organization. They live ON small farms
They enjoy independence by the simpl
method OF producing the variety OF thing
which they consume. They live chiefly I
villages and 50 have social Advantages nc
usually within the reach OF farming com
munities. IL Is an amazing ta.ement Ia
the United States c0nsus vOuches for II