Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-15
Auspicious Opening Of the Eleventh Annual Con-
vention at Ogden. Splendid Attendance
ADDRESS. OF WELCOME BY GLASSMAN
Matters Of The Greatest Importance be Taken Up aye the
Forests and Store the Floods?' The WatchWerds

OGDEN, UTAH, Sept. 15.-With
delegates present from eleven states
west Of the Mississippi, representing
practically every commercial organi-
zation in the great territory included
in the semi-arid and arid region of
country, state and municipal govern
ments the eleventh session of the ma,
tional irrigation congress opened to-
day. The sessions will continue till
Friday and during that time import
ant action is expected to be taken
looking towards the reclamation of the
vast unsettled territory that but waits
the touch of water to blossom and
bear fruit.
Although the first session was
scheduled for $50 it was considerably
beyond that time when President w.
A. Clark raped for order. After a
brief invocation by John H. Winder,
one of the counsellors Of President Jo-
seph Smith, Mayor William Glassman,
of Ogden was introduced and deliver
ed an address Of welcome.
Mayor William Glassman, in his
speech of welcome, said:
Il congratulate you and the people
of the arid section of the United States
in being able to convene in session
during this congress and contemplate
the enjoyment of the fruits of the un-
ceasing toll and labor of eleven years
in behalf Of irrigation in the United
States.
For eleven years the iTrigators OF
this country have met year after year
with one great object in yiew-to Sc
cure national aid. Everlastingly
keeping at it caused this government,
under the leadership Of President
Roosevelt, to grant us several million
dollars annually. The most ardent ir-
rigator could not ask for more lib
eral appropriation.
"A prominent eastern newspaper
has asked the question, what is the
need of any more irrigation congress
es now that the government has set
aside the receipts Of the public lands
for the reclamation of the arid west?
/ want to say there is more need for
an irrigation congress today and in
the future than there ever was. True,
you have the money appropriated by
the government, but 1t will be the
privilege and the duty of this congress
to Sc that this money is properly used
and not mis-applied or wasted. You
have greater work before you at this
session than at any time during the
eleven years history of the Irrigation
congress. You must be able to pro-
vide plan for the expenditure of the
millions Of dollars set aside for our
cause which will meet the approval
of the secretary Of the interior and
the national congress. II will be your
privilege to adopt system for the
sale of the reclaimed lands that will
meet the approval Of the American
people-a system that will be 9
blessing to the genuine settlers i
must be as meritorious, II not excel
the famous homestead law signed BY
that greatest Of modern Americans
Abraham Lincoln.
'As your host for the next foul
days. / extend TO you every hospitality
the city affords. | welcome you or
behalf of the good men and women oi
ogden and extend to yol every cour
tesy and our hospitality. Accept It
partake Of It, and 30 ono Of ~ whill
you are here.
The following letter Of President
Roosevelt to the National Irrigation
congress was read
.Mr. Fred ]. Kiesel, Chairman Exc
cutiye Committee. the National Irri
cation Congress. ogden Utah,
My Dear Sir. Permit me to ex
press through you 10 the irrigation
congress my hearty congratulationi
upon what has been accomplished L
the year that has just passed. es
pecially because regard this as open
ing an era in The treatment OF irriga
ton from the national standpoint
None Of our Internal policies win b
more consequent 10 the future Of II,
country during the next few decades