The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-09-17
HOW BEST
TOCOLONIZE
THE DESERT
Discussed at Length by Dele
mates to the National Irri-
cation Congress
LAND LAWS CONSIDERED
Roosevelt's Recomme nd ations
Met the He arty Approval
of the Delegates

Methods of colonization of the vast
irrigable districts of the west and the
legal aspect of the whole question OF
irrigation and the existing land laws
were the subjects scheduled to come
before the National Irrigation Congress
at yesterdays session.
The first named subject was expect
ed to take up the entire time OF the
morning session as besides Comman-
der Booth-Tucker of the Salvation
Army who was to deliver the princi-
pal address on the subject, dozen
other speakers including western rail
road officials and governors, senators
and congressman from a number OF
states were expected to make informal
talks on how to best bring people to
the newly irrigated lands and make
them profitable.
At the afternoon session the desert
land act. which was attacked by Presi-
dent Clark in his address yesterday
was to be defended by Congressman
Frank Mondell of Wyoming, and here
if anywhere, division on one of the
greatest problems to come before the
congress was expected.
Discussion of this question was quite
free among the delegates before the
congress met in the morning with the
sentiment apparently evenly divided
as to whether or not the congress
should recommend the repeal of the
desert land act, and apparently the
fight will be a sharp one.
Belated delegates still continue to
arrive, mostly from the nearby west
erh states and the number of dele
gates present has now exceeded all
precedent or expectation.
A delegation of nearly a hundred
from Idaho arrived Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning making nearly two
hundred present from that pioneer ir-
rigation state.
The seating capacity of the Taber-
nac.e is totally inadequate and 1t Is
probable arrangements for some other
hall will have to be made.
The fight for the 1904 congress is
growing exceedingly lively with the
newly launched Boise boom develop
ing rapidly.
Yesterday morning the fight seemed
to lave narrowed down to Boise and
FL Paso.
Imediately after the congress was
called to order. Senator Carey of wy
oming, chairman OF the committee ap-
pointed last year to consider the ad'
visibility of consolidation with the
trans Mississippi congress, reported
against such action and recommended
that the National Irrigation Congress
be maintained and its sessions an
nually be held.
The recommendation was adopted
unanimously, thus disposing effectual
ly Of the affiliation idea.
Ten minutes were then set aside fol
the reading and introduction of res
lutions and a flood of them came IN
They included statehood for New Mex
leo, Arizona and Oklahoma, for thu
protection of water sheds supplying
municipalities with water, to permi
the entry and location of coal lands OF
forest reserves and petitioning con
gress to repeal the Lieu land provision
of the forest reservation law and tha
the private lands in forest reserva
tions should be purchased or acquired
by condemnation.
A long resolution was introduced b.
George H. Maxwell. chairman of tn
National Irrigation Association, favor
ing the recommendations contained il
President Roosevelt's telegram of lues
day for the preservation of the for
ests, favoring the immediate repeal o
the destert land act. the timber an,
stone act and the Communication claus
of tie homestead act.
The resolutions were very explicit
and were heartily applauded.
SENATOR DUBOIS ADDRESS
United states senator Dubois OF Id
aho, addressed the congress, saying
IN part:
1T has been fully demonstrated tha
the safest and most successful farmin
can be done through the irrigation G
arid lands. This fact has not bee