The Washington times., 1903-08-27
Methods Employed in Bring
ing About This Change
VIII Be illustrated at the
Next Irrigation Congress.
COSTLY LOVING CUPS
OFFERED AS PRIZES
Senator Clark of Montana,
the Pabst and Anheuser-
Busch Brewing Compa-
nies, and Havemeyer the
Donors.

The coming National Irrigation Con-
gress. it is said, Will be the largest and
most important ever held. It will be the
eleventh convention of that body and
will meet in Ogden, Utah, September l5
TO Is inclusive.
Not less than $4,000 has already been
subscribed to cover the expenses of the
congress, $4,000 Of which was appro-
priated by the Legislature for the pur-
pose, and the other 50 coo was raised
by private subscription
y new and interesting feature of the
congress viii be an exhibition o. the
products Of irrigation. Four $500 sill
yer loving cups have been offered as
prizes. Senator Clark of Montana. pres
ident Of the congress, will give one of
these cups for the best fruit raised IN
der irrigation; the Pabst Brewing Com
pany another. for the best barley; the
Anheuser- Busch Company another.
for the best hops. and Havemeyer, cf
the sugar trust, another, for the BEST
sugar beet raised under irrigation
District Delegates.
The District Commissioners have ap-
pointed Guy T. Mitchell, J. d. whelpIey.
Arthur W. Dunn. and Major John NJ.
Carson delegates to the congress from
Washington. d. c. Both the United States
Geological Survey and the Forestry
Bureau viii be well represented at the
congress
The proportion 10 which irrigation has
grown in the West is illustrated by re-
port OF the history of the National Ir-
gigatiOn Congress.
The first National Irrigation Congress
was held al Salt Lake City in 1891. the
home of the first example OF American
irrigation by the Anglo Saxon race
Mormon irrigation forty-four years be
fore. In 1885, about $500 900 acres were
under irrigation in the arid regions, all
through private enterprise and co-opera-
tive effort. Today there are nearly
100000 acres irrigated, and the West
stands at the threshold of a mighty
development through Government irriga-
tion. There are now $4,000 .O00 in the
United States Treasury awaiting ex-
penditure for the construction of grest
dams and canals in the Western States.
and Territories.
Many Foreign Visitors
The intermediate congresses have been
held at various points throughout the
arid region. The second congress was
held at Los Angeles. and was ATTENDED
by Representatives from Great Britain.
Canada. Australia, india. Russia France.
Mexico, and Peru.
The third irrigation congress met at
Denver. the fourth at Albuquerque. y.
NJ. and the nth at Phoenix. Ariz. II
is something OF a coincidence that the
Phoenix congress should have been the
first to declare for the policy of ma
tional irrigation, and that that city is
likely TO be the first scene of the great
Government dam-the outcome OF he
policy and resolutions. rigidly adhered
10 by every succeeding irrigation con
gress. in spite of bitter fights for cession
d the arid public lands 10 the several
States
The sixth congress was held at Lin
coin, Neb-. the seventh at Cheyenne,
Wyo- the eighth at Missoum. Mon.
he ninth. the first big congress, at Chi
eago. Ill. and the tenth at Colorado
Springs, Colo.
Invasion of the East.
The Chicago congress had the effect Of
bringing the irrigation discussion into
The East and showing its national as
pect-that any great Improvement in any
western section would have a reflex
eenetit in the eastern part of the coun-
try and that the agricultural develop
nent in the West would mean an in
creased market for the products of
Eastern manufacturers.
Then came surprisingly strong fight 4
ey the irrigation forces IN the short ses- |
sion OF the Fifty-sixth Congress. fol- /
lowed by President Roosevelt's active /
championship Of the cause and the /
passage OF the irrigation law in the fol- /
lowing long session. June L. 1902. The 1
early part Of August 1903. saw the con- 1
tract let FOR the first Government irriga- |
lion works under this law.