The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-16
Attendance at Irrigation Con-
gress Beyond Expectations.
Merger With Transmississippi
Congress Defeated.
BOISE AND Ell PASO
Are Rivals for Entertaining the
Next Session.
Booth Tucker, of Salvation
Army, Makes an Address.

Ogden, Utah. Sept. 16.-Methods Of
colonization of the vast irrigable dis
tricts of the west and the legal aspect
of the whole question of irrigation and
the existing land laws were the sub
jects scheduled to come before the ma
tional irrigation congress at today.
sessions. The first named subject wa
expected to take up the entire morning
session as besides Commander Booth
Tucker, of the Salvation Army who
was to deliver the principal address on
the subject, a dozen speakers including
western railroad officials. governors,
senator's and congressman from num-
Der of states were expected to make in
formal talks on how to best bring peo-
pie to the newly irrigated lands and
make them profitable.
At the afternoon session the desert
land act which was attacked by Con-
gresham Frank Mondell of Wyoming
and here If anywhere division on one
of the great problems to come before
the congress was expected. Discussion
of this question was quite free among
the delegates before the congress met
this morning, with the sentiment APP
parently evenly divided as to whether
or not the congress should recommend
the repeal of the desert land act and
apparently the fight will be a sharp
one.
Belated delegates still continue to ar
rive, mostly from the nearby western
states, and the number of delegates has
now exceeded all precedent or expecta-
ton. A delegation of nearly hundred
from Idaho arrived last night and this
morning making nearly 200 present from
that pioneer irrigating state.
The seating capacity of the tabernacle
is totally inadequate and it is probable
that arrangements for some other hall
will be made. The fight for the 1904
congress is growing exceedingly lively
with the newly launched Boise boom
developing rapidly.
This morning the fight seemed to have
narrowed down to Boise and FL PasO.
Immediately after the congress was
called to order Senator Carey of Wyo-
ming, chairman Of the committee ap-
pointed last year to eonsider the ad-
visibility of consolidation with the
TransmissisSippi congress reported
against such action. recommending that
the National Irrigation congress be
maintained and its sessions annually be
held. The recommendation was adopted
unanimously.
Ten minutes were then set aside for
the reading and Introduction of resolu-
tions and "A flood of them came In. They
Included resolutions for statehood for
New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma.
for the protection of water sheds sup
plying municipalities with water, to
lands on forest reserves and petitioning
congress to repeal the lien land provi-
sion of the forest reservation law and
that private lands in forest reserves
should be purchased or acquired by con-
demnation.
A long resolution was introduced by
George II. Maxwell. chairman of the
National Irrigation association, FAVOR
ing the recommendation contained in
President Roosevelt's telegram of yes
terday for the preservation of the for
ests, favOring the immediate repeal of
the desert land act, the timber and
stone act and Communication clause of
the homestead act The resolutions
were very explicit. and were heartily
epplauded by the delegates.
E. NJ Brannack, of Portland Ore,
was scheduled to speak on THE Pela-
ton of Irriga ton to the Internal Trade
and Commerce of the Country" but he
presented by T. G.. Harley.
c. E. Wantland of the Uninn Pacific
railroad, Denver, delivered an address
on COLONIZATION" He claimed the ma
tional irrigati ton law will fail unless i'm
proved methods of colonial ton are
adopted and urged greater cO-opera ton
between states. land owners and rail-
roas.s-
Apostle John Henry Smith spoke on
THE Colonization of the West" and
during his talk he devoted some time to
a discussion of the character of Brig
ham Young. Major Carson, Washington
correspondent of the New York Times
also spoke briefly.
Governor George c. Pardee, of Cali