The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-19

GDEN, Utah, Sept 1s.-The elev-
n enth National Irrigation Congress
Y Jeanne to an end late this after
~ noon. 1t reelected Senator w. \.
Clark Of Montana president and
decided to hold the congress Of 1904 in Ell
Paso, and adopted a platform which re-
quested Congress to make needed mOditi-
cations Of the existing land laws in order
that the speculation and monopoly of
public domain be prevented The great
fight of the congress came up this after
noon when the report of the committee
on resolutions was made.
over the adoption or rejection of the
clauses Of the majority report requesting
that Congress repeal the desert land act.
the timber and stone act and the com
mutatiO hclause Of the homestead act
occurred a debate Of four hours dura-
ton, exceedingly bitter at times and par
ticipated in by some of the most prOmi
nent men in the work of irrigation. The
opposition to the National Irrigation Con
gress committing itself in any such man
ner was led by former Senator Carey OF
Wyoming, Congressman MondeIl OF Wy
oming and former Congressman ShafrOth
Of Colorado, and when a substitute for
these provisions of the ma jority report
California, simply requesting Congress to
modify the land laws, the whole strength
Of the opposition was thrown in its favor
The result is regarded by them a de-
cided victory, in that the national body
Of irrigationists did not come out in di-
rect opposition TO the laws they so
strongly defended. The debate was pro-
lOnged until evening, and although a
number of interesting papers were to
have been presented by bureau chiefs OF
the Department Of Agriculture, the con-
gress, tired out by the long and at times
acrimonious discussion, adjourned with
out listening to them.
Ell PAso WINS FIGHT.
Ell Paso won out in its picturesque fight
for next years congress on the first
ballot There was a desperate effort
made by the Northwestern States to
bring the honor to Boise, but it was I'M
successful, and but one ballot was neces-
sary. 1t was apparent that the desire TO
go TO Portland, Or, in 1905 had much to
do with this action in giving the honor
for 1904 TO the Southwest
Many delegates left for their homes to-
night, although several hundred will go
on excursions tomorrow through Cache
Valley, viewing the State Agricultural
School at Logan and the great irrigation
works Of the Bear River Valley
On the suggestion of Chief Engineer
Newell and the Government engineers
only three of the addresses on the pro-
gramme for to-day were delivered in or
der TO give more time for discussion on
the land laws questions. All the other
addresses and papers of the Government
experts will be printed in the official pro-
ceedings Of the congress. The following
addresses were delivered: Forest and
Water supply" by f. II. Newell, chief
engineer United States Government
Forestry by Clifford Pinchot, chief
forester United States Government
Forest Reservations in Utah. by A F.
Potter, Government forestry expert
Pinchots address was in part as follows
President Roosevelt has said that the urinci-
pal object Of the forest policy OF the United
states Is and must be. TO make prosperous
homes and 10 keep them prosperous. The OBJ
Ject OF the Government in dealing with the
forest reserves is therefore. TO give them their
greatest permanent usefulness to the settler
and the home maker. Accordingly the officers in
charge OF the administration of forest reserves
must acquaint themselves fully and completely
with the needs OF the people in each locality
management OF each reserve. Wise forest ad-
ministration is impossible without a knowledge
OF local conditions and local needs and with
out the careful adaptation Of the forest reserve
rules 10 meet those needs.