Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-17
G. n. MAXWELL DELIVERS IMPoR.
TANT ADDRESS BEFORE lRRI-
CATION CONGRESS.
INTEREST Is UNDATED
Second Days Session of National Con.
vention Opens in Western City With
Continued Enthusiasm-Mr. Max
wells Address.

Ogden, Utah, Sept. 16.-With I'M
abated interest the second days ses-
sions of the National Irrigation con-
gress opened in this city this morn
ing. Throughout the day several adj
dresses Of Importance were made be-
fore the congress, one of which was
the subject of ''The Victories of
Peace" Mr.. Maxwell pointed to the
fact that some of the most beneficial
revolutions in affairs of national i'm
portance have been accomplished
without the aid of revolution or rebel
lion. Mr.. Maxwell said in part:
"The Victories of Peace"
'Ye may boast o. yer dimocracy. or any
ither 'cracy, or any kind o poleetical rub
Dish: but the reason why your laboring
folk are so happy is that We have vast
deal o. land for VERA few people,
These quaint words of Thomas Carlyle
were quoted to emphasize the address of
George II. Maxwell, executive chairman of
the National Irrigation association, on
1.-THE Victories of Peace Mr.. Maxwell
planted his argument on the ground that
only war fought for great right princi-
pie could strengthen nation, and that
the greatest national problem in this coun-
try today is to stop the congestion of our
population in cities and turn the tide back
to the land. This he said would result
from carrying to its full fruition the great
new national policy embodied in the ma
tional irrigation act In places which
must otherwise remain waste and desOlate
national irrigation will create homes on
the land for countless millions who would
otherwise be homeless.
He stirred the congress with a strong
nd alo rfrot-a 1 nfy hot how
been accomplished by the British in South
Africa of the thousand million dollars
which the Boer war cost had been used to
build irrigation WORKS in that arid country
and reclaim its deserts.
| Preserve Forests and Store Floods
"If the whole people of the United
States" he exclaimed, could realize the
stupendous national benefits which would
flow from carrying to Its full fruition a
| comprehensive national policy for the pre-
seryation of our great forests and the util-
ization of the waters of all our rivers and
streams, the soul of the nation would be
fred with patriotic enthusiasm which
would sweep away all obstacles and
achieve the grand result.
L He pointed out the dangers in the path
| way of this new national policy. but show
ed how they could be obvlated by infexibly
| adhering to the principle that not another
acre of the public lands should ever be
| parted with to any one but an actual set
| tier who had built his home on the land
and lived on it and got his livelihood from
it for the full term of five years required
| by the original homestead act and by unit,
| ing the ownership of land and water.
Opening of Convention.
The congress opened in the Mormon tab
| ernacle yesterday and after the address OF
welcome by Mayor Glassman, of Ogden
and the response by President w. A.Clark
| several speeches We're heard on the sub
| iect of irrigation. Communications from
| President Roosevelt and Secretary of tn,
| Interior Hitchcock We're read before the
convention. Last night big public recep
ton was given to the delegates.