The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-19
RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE ACTFDONBYC CONGRESS

Ogden, Sept. 1S.-The report OF the
committee on resolutions OF the Irri-
cation congress. as adopted is as fol-
lows:
The National irrigation congress. as.
sembicd In its eleventh annual session
~ the city OF ogden. in the state Of Utah
sept l5-li. 1893. aeain extends IT'S greet
lngs TO the people Of this nation and
congratulates them upon the inaugura-
tion Of and the progress madc during the
last year On carrying into action opera
tons by the reclamation service Of the
nited states geological SURVEY the new
national irrigation policy. under which
the government of the United States will
reclaim from the desert the territory
within the borders of orr own country.
which. as President Roosevelt stated I'm
ms tirSt message 20 congress, would sus-
tain n population greater than that 81
we NHoie country tpla4 Ut tne waters
which now run 60 waste were saved and
used for irrigation.
Message Of the President.
We commend and again call the atten-
ton Of this nation and Of every section OF
our country TO the wise and statesman
like words of that message, wherein
President Roosevelt said.
THE reclamation and settlement Of the
arid lands will enrich every portion OF
our country. just rs the settlement or
the Ohio and Mississippi valley brought
prosperity TO The Atlantic states. The in
creased demand for manufactured arti-
cleS viii stimulate production while wider
home markets and the trade of Asia will
consume the larger food SUI plies and eff
tectually prevent western competition
with eastern agriculture. Indeed, the
product Of irrigation will be consumed
cmetly In the upbuilding Of local centers
OF mining and other industries, which
would otherwise not come into existence
az all Our people as whole win profit,
Tor successful hOme-making is but an
other name for the upbuiiding Of the ma
ton
Safe Guards Against Social Dangers.
In an the history Of the world. no ma
ton has ever entered upon an undertake
ing Of more stupendous magnitude. or
one potent with greater assurances OF
benefit to the people of the country. The
be created and the chance that viii be
given to fery man who wants il to get
a nome on the land through the cOnStTUc-
tion OF the great works of reclamation
that viii be built by the national govern
ment. and the reclamation of I00. 600 90
acres Of arid public land. viii relieve the
congestion of the population I'm our great
cities. and expert profound influence
20 check the trend Of population to the
cities and turn il back TO the land. and
thus safeguard against one of the great
est dangers that now confront us I'm the
maintenance of the permanence and sta
tions,
A Warning From the President.
We also call the attention of the people
Of the. country and Of the congress OF the
IN the last message of President Roose-
welt TO congress, where ne said
50 far as they are available for aEri-
culture. and to whatever extent thew may
De reclaimed under the national irrigation
Jaw the remaining public lands should
2e held rigidly for the home builder the
settler who lives on his land. and for no
INC else. IN their actual use the desert
and law. the timber and stone law and
-he communication laws clause of the
homestead laws have been so perverted
rom the intention with which they were
enacted as to permit the acquisition of
large areas Of public domain for other
NAN actual settlers and the consequent
prevention of settlement"
Repeal of Objectionable Land Laws.
We urge the immediate and absolute re-
zeal or the desert land act. and the com
clause Of the homestead act as
commended in the report of the senate
committee on public lands in the last
'eSslon OF congress. and call the atten-
- -L,i, OF inc country to the facts stated i'm
-ldl report which so strongly set forth
these laws.
appointment Of Commission.
We recommend the appointment of
commission by the president OF the Unit
su states TO investigate and report such
uTIher amendments or notifications OF
he land laws OF the United States az
may be desirable to promote the actual
settlement and lOpment OF a prOsper-
'us reputation on the public domain the
tttttf uttfizatton of the grazing land and
ne preservation Of the forests by right
We. urge appropriation for forest pres
IFdQon. the overshadOWing Importance
lt the presefVa ton of our forests fnoD
iuI SepaF9rS and representa- tfVes i'm con-
,fess and upon the people of the coun-
Ty. aud recommend that auDrourfarfoD
'il0All ne made This end rr-lf
uliN commensurate with the vital inn
loFJance OF forest reservation to the
49,, II'$ OF our people The fact must
ever De los, sight of that the forests are
% large extent the sources Of the yyafe,
supply throughout the entire arid region
III !neF destruction viii mean the de
'''" '' agriculture IN these regions.
Arid Land Reclamation.
The, great floods Of our western rivers
would, " the waters which now run Ia
! , dsle We're saved and used. become 4
y eal source OF national wealth and
trength. The national government alone
las the financial resources .uecessa,,- 30
az lIIiess Jnese floods for beneficial use.
ne conditions upon which IL should be-
zone are embodied In the national irrizft-
ION act and the reclamation of-thn arid
alua must proceed with q firm adher-
nee 10 the principle that the lands re
laimed shall bear the burden ,f H. .,,,-t
n Ihelr reclamation and that the invest
lent "i the government I'm each Irrigation,
= t-ii. riiil ne mace absolutely secure
% l.ai every dollar Of "a will he returned
rom the lands reclaimed. This beipr as
ured beyond question or doubt f7tnds
~ construction should be provided b,-
pusreSs as rapidly as settlers will taLf
~ renamed land and repay the invest
nent of the government.
03ecuiaion md monopoly I'm these lande
= Ll llf water must he rigidlv guarded
6alust. and the irrigated lands 6,Ue, ~
uNo lNlded into small farms
Aid the Home-unalrar
The policy of the national po,ernr,,.,,+
carrying INTO operation the Dationai
stlI I'D act and in the construction Of
p, IlsdJlOn works 10 be built llnder II
y, 70 tlu ana encourage the hOmc-maIyer
ne IIfst concern Of the government nm
et mat act should be for settlers now
-IuEBinr with an Insufficient - .
.I'Pi5. helr needs being first supplied. !
ne SURPLUS only should b. taken fo, -, /
cutters ON new land. but an v-bo sl,,r, /
tne benefit OF government exDeDdffffro
pln Ola settlers and new settlers sbo1,I5 /
'ut4lnute proporuOnately 10 the rpr,a,-- [
tent OF the investment to tbe govern !
Avoidance Of Complication.
Tn framing state legislation care sbo,id /
7 taHeh not 70 complicate the operation (
tne national government. which must /
roceed IN conformity with state laws I
iu not IN opposition 20 them iu CARRYING &
4e hauonai irrigation act into effect.
Administration of the Forests.
Whereas, The extension and practical 4
administrations Of the forest reserves is ]
dlspensable to the growth and Drosner-
y Of the west. and
D.