The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-10-18

Mr.. Getz Makes a Report.

To THE EAST KITTITAS IRRIGATION
ASSOCIATION: Pursuant to your re-
quest and the governors appointment,
| attended the national irrigation con-
gress at Colorado Springs, Colo, oct.
9th to 9th inclusive. Other sections OF
the state had also sent delegates, there
being nine delegates from the state OF
Washington. The attendance at this,
the tenth annual congress, was unprcc-
edented in the number and prominence
of the men who came as delegates from
many of the states and territories.
Some states had large and influential
delegations. However, all the mem
bers reflected the intense interest which
which the country is taking in the re-
clamation of the arid lands. The pass
age of the national irrigation act at the
last session of congress is regarded us
one of the greatest legislative enact
ments in the our history. 1t is the open
ing wedge which will bring about one
of the most "'stupendous colonization
movements in modern history. The
arid west reclaimed will sustain on the
lands west of the Mississippi river, ii
hundred millions of people. The
crowded conditions of eastern commu-
mites will be automatically relieved
happy and contented home-loving and
homecoming people will occupy the
present arid region of the west. Smaller
farms, more intensive farming, will re-
suit in the upbuilding of rural commu-
mites with most of the convenences of
modern life at their command. 1t was
this hope, this prospect of a realization
of results 50 far reaching in their com
mercial and social signgcance that
constituted the chief inspiration of the
congress and unites in the movement of
national irrigation both the east and
west. The national irrigation associa-
ton with its vast membership of east
ern commercial interests is power OF
wonderful significance and influence,
and it is apparent that that organization
has great deal to do with shaping the
public and private sentiment OF the
country in matter of nationally irriga-
ting the public domain and contagious
aries.
But there are few specific points
upon which the people of this state de-
sire information. We have heard it
claimed from time to time that tedious
postponements and dilatory methods
would characterize the government
policy in this matter of national irriga-
ton. No such belief could possibly
grow out of the enthusiasm and earnest
ceeding of the songress, and the positive
expressions of those who have the work
distinctly in hand. Immediate action
is the slogan from the west to the east,
from the various irrigation associations
to the department at Washington. and
from the private citizen to the presi-
dent, the great champion of the west
in this far reaching movement. In
fact, work will soon be begun on several
available projects. Within one year
three or more actual object lessons in
the move will be completed and these
will be so generally distributed as to
convitce the most incredulous that Wig
orous and prompt action will charac-
teriZe the whole movement. OF course,
the utmost care will have to be eXer-
cised in the selection of sites for the
early experiments, and, on that account,
the ordinary influences in such matters
obtain less than the actual feasibility of
projects.
1t has also been stated that the state
of Washington has no Immediately
available sites for this work. | deter
mined to ascertain the real status in
this respect. had an interview with
Mr.. Newell, chief photographer, and
he told me that the state of Washing
ton has projects which appeal to him
very strongly, and among others he
spoke very favorably of the Kittitas and
Yakima valleys. He was very much
impressed with the possibilities of the
basin of the Yakima river, and assured
me that as soon as adequate engineer
ing force was available he will be pre-
pared to enter upon thorough inves
LEGATION of this locality. In fact, he
would be pleased to be able to begin
such work this fall and at most not
later than tie early spring. 1t rests
with the people of this section to ar
range the preliminary plans necessary
for the undertaking: for as to feasibility
and availability of the section for the
work, DR.. Newell has no doubts.
Taking it all in all, the congress will
prove a great stimulant to the move
ment and the immediate future will
witness most satisfactory results in the
new American policy.
Z. \. GETZ.