The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-09-17
IMPORTANT RESULTS ARE Elk.
PECTED FROM THE PRES
ENT MEETING.
MANY DELEGATES PRESENT
MOVEMENT HAS TAKEN ON A MA.
TlONAL INSTEAD OF A SEC
TIONAL SCOPE.

states and territories of the Union are
represented at the eleventh national
irrigation congress, which began a
four-days' session in the Ogden taber-
nacle Tuesday, this being the largest
number ever represented since the be-
ginning of the movement for the re-
clamation of the arid West, showing
how the movement has taken on ma
tional instead of a sectional scope.
Delegates were present even from New
York, Pennsylvania and Vermont,
while from the states of the Western
plains and mountains representative
of state and municipal governments
and commercial organizations of all
kinds came by hundreds. The con-
vention, in fact, has run away with the
officers of the congress, for so great
is the number of delegates already on
the ground, and SO many more coming
in on every train, that the seating ca
paclty of the tabernacle is totally in
adequate. An international aspect was
lent to the proceedings by the pres
ence of two representatives of foreign
governments, Mexico and France,
while the government at Washington
was represented by Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson.
Packed With Delegates.
At both the morning and afternoon
sessions the building was packed with
delegates, and the keynote of the pres
ent congress, as expressed both by
Governor Wells of Utah in his speech
Of welcome, and President w. A..
Clark in his response, that "the time
has come to do things" was heartily
cheered.
Important results, beneficent to the
cause Of irrigation, are confidently ex-
pected by both delegates and officials
from the present congress, and the
first resolution, introduced by Senator
Burton of Kansas, favoring the con-
serving Of the food waters of the
great rivers as a part of the scheme of
irrigation Of the West, was received
with so much favor that there seems
to be no doubt that such action will
be overwhelmingly favored.
Other resolutions, outlining a dis
tlnct plan of forest preservation, are
expected to be adopted before the ses-
slons of the congress close.
Today the subject of colonization
will be taken up and discussed by men
prominent in railway and social work.
A brisk fight for the honor of enter
tanning the delegates to next years
convention is already under way be-
tween Ell Paso, Tex, Boise, Ida, Reno,
New. and Portland, Ore. No opposi-
rlon to the present officers of the con-
gress has developed and sentiment
seems unanimous for the reelection of
President W. A. Clark and other Of
fcers.
Time Limit on Speeches.
President Clark has declared his in
tention of limiting the speeches to ten
minutes If possible, the great number
scheduled and the amount of work to
ne accomplished rendering some &C.
ZION OF this kind absolutely necessary.
IN his speech, Senator Clark advo-
Gated the repeal of the desert land act
or congress, which he claimed has re-
suited in the practical seizure of i'm
mense tracts of fertile land to the ex-
clusion of settlers. Over the resolu.
lions favoring this repeal a sharp
fight is looked for.
Two messages were received from
President Roosevelt. The first con-
graduated the congress on what had
been accomplished, and the other char
acterlzed the passage of the national
irrigation law as one of the greatest
steps, not only in the forward progress
OF the states, but to that of all man
kind.
Senator Burton of Kansas delivered
the first formal address of the con-
gress.
After musical exercises, the con-
gross adjourned for the dav