Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-09-17
IRRIGATION DOOMED.
Twenty-Six States and Territories
at the Congress at Ogden.
SENATOR BURTON MAKES An ADDRESS
= Resolution Introduced BY the Kansas
statesman-The Subject Of "CoioniEa-
tion" to Be Taken Up To-Day-what
~ Senator Clark Said.

states and territories Of the unior
" are represented at the eleventh ma.
tional irrigation congress, which be.
San four days session In the Ogden
tabernacle yesterday, this being the
largest number ever represented since
the beginning Of the movement for
4 the reclamation Of the arid west. As
\ showing how the movement has taken
on q national instead Of q sectional
scope. delegates were present even
from New York, Pennsylvania, Vir-
ginia and Vermont, while from the
states Of the western plains and noun
tains representatives Of state and mu-
nicipal governments and commercial
organizations Of all kinds came by
hundreds. The convention In fact has
run away with the officers Of the con-
gress, for so great are the number Of
delegates already on the ground, with
more coming in on every train, that
the seating capacity Of the tabernacle
IL totally inadequate. An information
NJ aspect was lent to the proceedings
by the presence Of two representatives
Of foreign governments, Mexico and
France, while the government at
Washington was represented by Secre-
tar Of Agriculture Wilson.
President Clark, in his response to
Gov. Wells speech of welcome. said:
1--WE have passed the first mile post |
and scored victory. Nothing sue
ceeds like success is O trite but true
aphorism. For ten years the friends
Of irrigation worked earnestly and
hopefully, but their efforts were re-
tarded by opposition and discourage
ments. But at last, having secured an
impregnable position. they will sum-
mon all their energies and wisdom and
lay out. expand and perfect the plans
which have been outlined, which will
result In the up-building Of great
agricultural and industrial empire in
The western zone Of the republic. No
act Of the national congress since that
providing for the construction Of the
great Pacific railways has meant so
much for the great west as the one
for the reclamation Of the
public lands. It opens up a new era
Of prosperity for 10 states and terri
tories. It provides the means to over
come aridlty, the great obstacle that
has retarded the settlement Of more
Than one-third of the area of the re-
public. II Ia estimated that there re-
mains In the arid and semi-arid zones
about 600,000.000 acres Of vacant pub
10 land and that there Is SUFFICIENT
Rater available under the storage sys-
EN- to irrigate about one-sixth Of It
rhe area already occupied and irri-
,ated Is 6,50O,00O acres. II in the next
% years the government should pro-
'ide reservoirs sufficient to reclaim TO-
100 900 acres at an expenditure OF &c. !
10000 annually, which n q very con-
ervative estimate, as that amount
I'LL be easily realized from the sale
( land, the land reclaimed will pro- :
ide homes for at least 100000 to
s 100000 Of people. which, with the !
immense property value necessarily
reated, will constitute a magnificent '
contribution to the wealth and glory j
{ the nation" o
United States Senator Burton. Of q
Iansas, delivered the first formal ad-
ress Of the congress. His subject :
ms Irrigation and the Conservation NJ
{ Water for the Prevention Of !,
'ioods" He made strong plea for n
he control Of the food water at the :,
cad Of the Mississippi and other trib-
tary rivers. this work to be done in
injunction with the jetty and levee 8,
ystems Of the lower Mississippi. m
1T would seem at glance" he said, a,
that II were more intelligent to har-
ssB the food waters instead of try
g to control the foods. Let us mot b
,rget that water In motion II almost ro
But still water can be
Arnessed and controlled % we con-
81 tractable steed."
Senator Burton introduced the fol-
wing resolution:
Resolved. That II q the sense Of this 4.
,ngress that the storage Of water In n.
% extensive catchment Of the streams II,
r the prevention OF foods, as well as y.
z power and irrigation. Ia both pos -.
bic and practicable and that the gov al
nment can accomplish as much or an
pre- toward the preservation Of life en-
d property in the lower reaches Of -
e streams than II can by It's present nl
sthod In trying to control them by oo'
Q levee system, and the waters thus an
nserved would be Of inestimable ~ ~
lue and blessing to the people in the
ID and semi-arid districts. We be-
We that irrigation and food pre- X
ntlon are twin ideas to be developed No
gether. No
other resolutions, outlining a dis &c
Ict plan Of forest preservation. are ~
pected to be adopted. al
To-day the subject Of colonial 80
a" will be taken up and discussed per
men prominent In railway and so =.
logical work. cry
lfter yesterdays session Senator Itol