Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-09-17
OGDEN CONVENTION.
FIRST SESSION OF NATIONAL IR.
RIGATloN CONGRESS.
Message from Roosevelt is Read at
Ogden Observation-Disclosures from 26
States Are in Attendance-Much
More Interest Than Formerly.


Ogden, Utah, Sept. 16.-Twenty-six
states and territories of the union
are represented at the eleventh Ma
tional Irrigation congress, which Is
holding a four days session in the
Ogden Tabernacle, this being the
largest number ever represented since
the beginning Of the movement for the
reclamation of the arid west. AS
showing how the movement has taken
on a national instead of sectional
scope, delegates are present even
from New York, Virginia, Pennsylva-
MIA and Vermont, and from the states
of the western plains and mountains
representatives of state and munich
pal governments and commercial or
CARNATIONS of all kinds came by hun
dreds. The convention in fact has
run away with the officers Of the con-
gress, for so great is the number of
delegates that the seating capacity
of the Tabernacle is totally made
quate An international aspect was
lent to the proceedings by the pres
governments. Mexico and France.
At every session the building is
packed with interested delegates and
the keynote of the present congress,
as expressed by Governor Wells Of
Utah, in his speech of welcome, and
President w. A. Clark, in his re-
spouse, that 1.-THE time has come to
40 III ~, I'm
portant results, beneficial to the
cause of irrigation, are confidently
anticipated by both delegates and Off
Gals from the present congress, and
the first resolution, introduced by
Senator Burton of Kansas, favoring
the conserving Of the food waters of
the great rivers as 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 ia
vored.
A brisk fight for the honor Of enter
tanning the delegates to next years
convention is already under way. Ell
Paso, Tex, apparently had almost
walkover, until the Idaho delegation.
one of the largest Of the congress,
unanimously resolved to support and
fight for Boise for the honor. Reno,
New, is also making a brisk fight.
while Portland has many friends. No
opposition to the present officers Of
the congress has developed and senu-
ment seems unanimous for the re-elec-
ton Of President W. A. Clark and
other officers.
President Clark caused considerable
unholy Joy by declaring his intention
of limiting the speeches to ten min
utes, if possible, the great number
scheduled and the amount of work to
ton of this kind absolutely necessary.
Message From President Roosevelt.
The following message from Presi-
dent Roosevelt was read:
"Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept. 15.-The
passage of the national irrigation law
was one Of the greatest steps, not only
in the forward progress of the states,
but to all of mankind. 1t was the
beginning of an achievement so great
that we hesitate to predict the out
come but it was only the beginning.
Now that the law is an accomplished
fact that law must be given effect.
To that end the reclamation service
organized under the national irriga-
ton law of June II, 1902, has been
pushing its surveys and examination
Of possible irrigation projects ener-
getically in each of the thirteen states
and three territories named in the act.
Some of the projects which promised
we'll at first are found on careful study
to be impracticable, either because of
scanty water supply or of great cost,
others must await higher values in
land, while still others stand the test
and are ready for immediate con-
struction. The feasible projects are
always large and costly because pri-
vate enterprise has already seized
upon the smaller and less expensive
ones, leaving to the government the
great works which are to be an essen
tial part in bringing the nation to its
full development. Great care and the
highest engineering skill are required
to plan and build such works, which
are among the most difficult undertak-
ings Of mankind. They must be built
for permanence and safety, for they
are to last and spread prosperity for
centuries To design and build such
works body of engineers of the high
est character have been brought to-
gether in the reclamation service.
The irrigation development of the arid
west can not stand alone. Forestry is
the companion and support of irriga-
ton. Without forestry irrigation
must fall. Permanent irrigation de-
velopment and forest destruction can
not exist together. Never forget that
the forest reserve policy of the ma
tional government means the use of
all the resources of the forest re-
serves. There is little profit in de-