The San Francisco call., 1903-09-17
o 3 =. !. !. !. = !,
IRRIGATION CONGRESS,
Continued from Page /, Column 4.

u this address 10 my friend William Thomas
Of san Francisco. one OF the citizens OF CALI
tofnla, who mas studied the subject more
leeply than have had time or occasion 10 do
II what / have TO say snail possess merit YOU
will understand the credit belongs to him
rather than TO me.
II was d proverb among the Romans that
men eo most resemble the gods when they
3f founding q new commonwealth and as II
were laying the cornerstone Of future en-
pire.
The earth is the source Of all wealth Life s
sustained by its fruits, raiment is its gencr-
3us bounty, while its dwellings its TEMPLES
-rra--re 5--N1 -. 4tS
ire source Of all wealth all values in their
.stest analysis relate 10 1t; all stocks. bonds
ana mortgages ana the entire range Of incor-
toreaI property finds its basis Of security in
me earth The 2roductiveness OF the ear1n
ana the increase and conservation OF this fer
llty is the only guarantee O. the perpetuation
u national existence.
IE the infancy of the race the natural pro-
lucls OF the earth were depended upon for the
support OF the human family; the unprotecte ed
game OF The forests, the fishes Of the streams
and the uncultivated fruits of the earth were
felleo upon TO supply the wants of man. BY
80" ana painful steps the art Of agriculture
--Ieclea nature ana aided her in the produc-
bon of greater abundance in that age: the
tribes and the nations OF men, having defer
allied the country which they had inhabited
arose with common impulse and sought
slher countries wherein use had not DESTROYED.
Ane heglras or population, Of which historical
Instances are 50 abundant were rnereI.s armies
p ignorance, commanded by necessity maxi
ng warfare upon the fertility Of the earth
y nen necessity commanded the movements OF
eloes ana nations, sell preservation justified
ne inevitable conflict and war was the resuit
when there was not sufficient for an force
gave that 10 which 10 the strong. bfIf
oy the aid Of human intelligence the art of
lgrlculture conferred the blessing Of pIentv
Ihe appeal from the sword to the plowshare
tfcm the spear 10 the pruning hook was ike
wise the appeal from famine 10 sbiindsrca se
Nell as from destructive war to creative r,aace
Now constantly increasing popuistfor1s oc-
supy the same territory for successive genera
mons ana md the fertility resulting from sci
the groRth Of empires
OFFICE OF IRRIGATION.
In this great office of acting in concert with
the purpose Of the All Father in promotfrs,
me nfe-bearing stage Of the world irrfgatio1
has performed a most conspicuous offce sod
Is oestlneo 10 become a still more potent factor
n laying the foundation in our own connt-,
p an empire OF wealth and population beyond
me creams OF our most far-seeing statesmen
Inc productive capacity Of the earth has In
creased as man has been able 10 seize upon
and direct and control the forces Of natl,re
Al the basis Of individual life lies the solution
oi the problem OF maintaining existence This
primitive problem solved. the breadth scone
and eNaltation OF any civilization will he 49,
termined by the width OF the margin ce
wealth. the demands OF a more physical exist
ence.
In the production Of human food and bur,er
raiment. the supply or deficiency OF moisture
only the key 10 productiveness but TO the con-
terVauon OF fertility IL is among the print
tive notions Of the value of irrigation that fbn
practive OF the art had but one use-that Of
supplying the deficiency Of moisture: but IN
It's broader significance the art of Irrigation