The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-17

the congress has joined in the effort
being made by the various commercial
bodies of the country to secure de-
partment of commerce, with represent
tation in the cabinet, and similar ac-
ton has been taken in reference to
mining.
From it's very incipiency, this con-
gress has been an active ally of the
irrigation congress in it's work for the
reclamation of arid lands. At each
meeting, at least one session has been
set apart for this subject, which has
been explained by the government ex-
perts with illustrations and facts, fol-
lowing by general discussion creating
unanimous sentiment in its favor and
resulting in the adoption of strong
resolutions. The representatives of
the congress have co-operated with the
Irrigation association so far as prac-
ticable, in securing recent legislation
on this important subject.
Preservation of Forests.
Thisf is another one the sub
jects closely allied with irriga-
ton, which has for many years re-
ceived the attention of the congress,
and through the courtesy of the agri-
cultural department, government ex-
perts have been sent to its meetings to
enlighten its delegates upon this sub
ject. AS result the congress has
committed itself in favor of the sys-
tematic preservation and replenish-
ment of our national forests.
All these have been, or still are, live
issues before the national congress, and
it is but reasonable to suppose that
such body as this, through the va
rious channels and methods already
mentioned, has had and may continue
to have some influence upon it's action.
Richardson's Views.
Thomas Richardson, also member
of the advisory board, has this to say
of the Importance Of the congress:
I believe that tthe Trans Mississippi
Commercial congress, which will hold
it's thirteenth annual session in st.
Paul, Mimi, has accomplished a great
er work for the region that it repre-
sents than any other similar organiza-
ton in the history of the United States.
The two principal matters of univer-
sal interest have been improved har-
bors on the Pacific and gulf coasts and
a recognition of the demands of the
arid West for governmental assistance
in bringing about general system of
irrigation. These two important meas
ures have been pushed to the front by
the Trans Mississippi Commercial
congress, and I presume it can be
truthfully said that they are the great
causes that have held the congress to-
gether for so many years.
The statement that the Trans Mis-
sissippi Commercial congress stands
next in Importance to the national con-
gress, cannot be denied, and fortu-
nately the organization has made very
few mistakes. AS result of the an
nual meeting Of this organization,
which represents all of the territory
west of the Mississippi river and those
portions of Louisiana and Minnesota
east of the river, the many active spir-
it's from each and every section of a
region which embraces a population
exceeding three ffths Of the entire
United States, and working entirely
outside of partisan politics, they have
been able to understand each other
better and remove many of the sec
tional feelings which would, under or
binary circumstances exist in a coun-
try so large in extent and so varied in
its industries and resources.
Has Benefited Omaha.
The city of Omaha is especially in
debted to the Trans Mississippi COM
mercial congress, for it was through a
resolution first adopted by this body
that the Trans Mississippi and Inter
national Exposition was held at
Omaha, and it is matter of a great
deal of pride on the part of the or
ganiZation to state that this was the
most successful exposition, from a
financial standpoint, ever held in the
United States.
Many of the very brightest men in
the entire region embraced in the jur-
isdiction of this congress have adj
dressed it upon great public questions
and its annual reports are highly priz-