The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-09-16
IRRIGATION
CONGRESS
IN SESSION
Had An AuspiCious Opening in
the Tabernacle at Ogden
Yesterday
SENATOR CLARK PRESIDED
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson
Given an Ovation-Enthusi-
astic Gathering

OGDEN. Sept. 15.-With delegates
present from eleven states west of the
Mississippi, representing practically
every important commercial organiza-
ton in the great territory included in
the semi-arid region of the country.
the state and municipal governments.
the 18th session of the National Irri-
CATION Congress opened here today.
The sessions will continue until Fri
day, and during that time much i'm
portant action is expected to be taken
looking toward the reclamation of the
vast unsettled territories of the west
that but await the touch of water to
blossom and bear fruit.
Not since the beginning of the
movement looking toward government
aid in a vast scheme of irrigating the
arid west has so much interest been
taken in the meetings of the irrigation
and it's kindred subjects, forestry and
colonization, will not only be discuss
ed, but practical illustrations of what
irrigation is doing to the west will be
given.
Among the speakers will be United
States senators and governors of half
a dozen states of the west. govern
'ment experts in forestry and irriga-
ton and representatives of many
western commercial organizations and
colinization movements.
Delegates continue to pour into the
city, every train bringing in hundreds
interested in the work of the irriga-
ton congress.
Although the first meeting was
scheduled for $3.50 a. M. it was con-
sidered beyond that time when Presi-
dent W. A Clark, ascended the plat
form of the Tabernacle in which the
meeting is to be held, and raped for
order.
The venerable president, John r.
Winder, one of the counseilors of
President Joseph Smith, delivered a
brief invocation.
At teh close of the invocation, Gov
ernor Wells of Utah warmly welcomed
the delegates in behalf of the pioneer
irrigation state. A welcome to Ogden
was then extended by Mayor William
Glasmann.
President Clark then responded in
behalf of the National Irrigation con-
gress.
A letter to the National Irrigation
, congress from President Roosevelt was
then read.
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock's s
letter was also read.
The speech of President Clark be-
fore the congress was as follows:
I'VE have passed the first mile post
and scored victory. Nothing sue
ceeds like success is a trite but true
aphorism. For ten years the friends
OF irrigation worked earnestly and
hopefully but the efforts were retarded
by opposition and discouragements.
: But at last having secured an impreg-
nable position they will summon all
J their energies and wisdom and lay
, cut, expand and perfect the plans
which have been ouel 1ei-wh'1h will
result in the buil1i,is up OF n great
agricultural and indus 'riil emDire in
the western zone of the republic.
} mo act of the National congress
since that providing for the construc-
ton of the great Pacific railways has
meant so much for the great west as
the one providing for the reclamation
OF the public lands.
"It opens up new era of prosperity
for sixteen states and territories. II
provides the means for overcoming
aridity, the great obstacle that has re-
; tarded the settlement of more than
one-third of the area OF the republic.
1T has been estimated that there
remains in the arid and semi-arid
zones about six hundred million acres
OF vacant public land and that there
is sufficient water available under the
storage system to irrigate about one
sixth of it. The area already occupied
and irrigated is six and one-half mil
lion acres. If in the next thirty years
tba government should provide res
ervoirs sufficient to reclaim 20,000,00t
acres at an expenditure of ten million
CONTINUED on page ~