Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-18
irrigation CONGRESS
Discussion of Best Methods of
Supplying Moisture to the
Arid West
THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ACT
Certain of Arid States Unwilling to
Give Federal Auto Any Right
to Interfere With the State Control
of Their Systems of Irrigation -
RooseveIt's Wise Action.

Ogden, Utah. Sept 1s.-Practical IL
lustrations of what irrigation will do
TOR western land and the best methods
1 OF supplying the needed moisture to the
arid stretches of the west, as Well rs
the theoretical science of irrigation,
We're discussed by the delegates to the
l1ftigatlon congress al yesterdays SEES
Esions. Yesterday mornings session
| was almost entirely devoted to the
reading of papers BY government eN-
tperts on irrigation and forestry, headed
by their chief. Secretary of Agriculture
flames Wilson No session of the con-
gress was scheduled for yesterday af-
/ ternoon, almost the eIttire body of dele
gates instead taking carriages for
the model farm of forty acres, con-
Quoted by the state at the deaf, dumb
and blind institute. This entire tract
has been devoted to the experiments
in various methods of irrigation, and
the delegates tramped over the grounds
all afternoon. examining with much in
terest the work done ty the state.
There is growing interest in the fight
for entertaining next years irrigation
congress. Yesterday morning FL Paso
seemed TO have strong lead, with
Reno second choice.
Senator Francis G. Newlands. Of Ne
vada, was the first speaker on the pro-
gram for yesterday. He spoke on
state Cooperation With National
Legislation
MIR. Newlands remarked that one OF
the difficulties in framing the national
irrigation act was the unwillingness of
certain of the arid states, which had
already placed their systems of irri-
CATION under the direction of state
boards of control and state engineers,
to yield to any plan which gave the
federal authorities any right to inter-
fere with state control. He then de-
scribed the working of the Nevada laws
which secured the amIlest CO. operation
of the irrigation system of the state,
and which placed the streams In en-
tire control of the government while
the work of construction was going on.
The state administration moves along
the grooves and in harmony with the
government turns control over to the |
state, as provided in the irriga ton act. |
the state bureau will be thoroughly |
organized, possessed Of all the data, I
and plans necessary to !
go on with the work oil administration. |
and even of construction, if any shall
be necessary. Mr.. Newlands urged I
that similar methods on the part of |
other states would bring about the I
spirit of cooperation. so necessary to
successfully inaugurate great projects
within their boundaries.
Secretary Wilson was then introduce
ed with a great outburst of applause,
to speak on the work of the department
of agriculture regardins irrigation. He
spoke in part as follows:
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson took
as his subject Irrigation Investigations
made by the United States Department
of Agriculture" He said in part.
"The outstanding OF our waters that
go to waste when the snow melts in
the mountains. thru government fgen-
cies, is a new departure. for which we
may thank President Roosevelt. All
other influences combined would have
failed to secure the legi Station. IT. YVES
a wise movement. 1t will result in
homes for millions more people
Ii will make markets for manufactures
and business for commerce. 1t will
help to balance off the growth OF our
titles. 1t will result III producing thu
hundred million dollars worth of sug-
ar we now buy abroad. 1t will do al.
his and much more. and still leave
arge areas that can he irrigated. Il
The rights and privileges OF farm, :
,rs with regard to the use of water
ire very largely controlled by the laws {
# the several states, hence we are
studying those laws. not from the Il
standpoint OF the lawyer or the courts, {
whose duty Is to determine exactly
What the law is, largely regardless of t
is consequences. but from the stand
,oint of the farmers to see whether {
he privileges accorded them and the {,
placed upon them, tend to
their prosperity; and from the S
tandpoint of the nation, to determine c
whether the laws as thy are promote Y
he largest and best use of our water
upply. If they fail in either of these {
biects II is our work t., find the cause
nd recommend the changes which are
eeded. I