Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-17
NEXT CONGRESS
The Fl Paso City Delegation
Making a Good Fight for
the Next Convention
FL RENO is SECOND
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
Addresses the Congress on
Work of His Department
DELEGATs VISIT MODEL FARM

OGDEN, Utah, Sept. 17.-Practical
illustrations of what irrigation will do
for western land and the best method
Of supplying the needed moisture to
the arid stretches Of the west, as well
as the theoretical science of irrigation.
We're set before the delegates to the
irrigation congress at today's SEES
sions. This mornings session was all
most entirely devoted to the reading Of
papers by government experts In irri-
cation and forestry, headed by their
chief, secretary of agriculture, James
Wilson, who gave a very comprenen-
sive description of the great work the
department of agriculture is doing In
the matter Of irrigation. No session
Of the congress is scheduled for this
afternoon, almost the entire body of
delegates, instead taking carriages for
the model farm of forty acres conduct
ed by the state deaf and dumb, and
blind institutions.
There Is growing interest in the
fight for the next convention. This
morning Ell Paso seemed to have
strong lead. with Ell Reno as second
choice.
The Texas delegation, 1t is under.
stood, will try to have the matter Of
the selection made the special order
for 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
The Hon. F. w. Mondell spoke
against the repeal Of the desert and
other land laws. He said In part as
follows:
"The agitation for the repeal Of the
Desert Land Law, the Timber and
Stone act and the Communication
Clause Of the Homestead act will re-
ceive scant support in the public land
states.
"Under the Desert Land law more
land has been reclaimed from the des-
ert and made fruitful than under all
other laws and its repeal would great
ly retard future irrigation develop
ment. The repeal of the Timber and
Stone act would deprive the ranch
man and farmer of an opportunity 10
secure timber lot. would establish a
government timber monopoly. trouble
some, pernicious, and contrary to the
spirit of our institutions. The repeal
of the Communication Clause OF the
Homestead Law would discourage and
retard settlement and development,
by reason of the menace to the home
stead settler OF loss Of homestead right
labor and Improvements, should sick.
ness, death, low prices or shortage of
crops render 1t impossible for HIN to
maintain continuous residence.
"The laws in question have furplshed
nearly thirteen million of the sixteen
million dollars now to the credit Of
the irrigation fund; and their repeal
would amount to repeal Of the ma
tional irrigation law.
"The people Of the public land states
are forced to the conclusion that q
large part Of the agitation for repeal
emanates from large corporate land
and land-scrip owners, who see In the
withdrawal Of public land from mar
ket greater demand for their prop
erty."
Senator Paris Gibson, OF Montana,
said in part:
"If the Desert Land Act, the Commn.
tation Clause Of the Homestead ACT
and the Timber and Stone act should
be repealed. we would still have upon
the statute hooks Of the nation true
Homestead law. under which the act
ual settler could acquire 160 aces OF
land by ocluaving and cu,tiyatlng IL
Ave years,and his Is the only land law
required for the settlement Or c.r pub-
lie lands. All other acts by which
land may be required are IN the inter.
est OF spectators and men seeking to
control large tracts Of grazing and tim
Der land, and we're never intended BY
their originaiors 70 promote the settle
ment Of the public domain President
traft IN his fourth annual message
said I renew my recommendation that
the public lands be regarded as the
heritage Of our children, 70 be disposed