The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-16
TO MAKE ARID
LANDS BLOSSOM
National Irrigation Congress
Opens and Proves an I'm
wieldIy Body.

OGDEN, Utah. Sept. 15.-Twenty- six
states and territories of the Union are
represented at the eleventh national ir-
rigation congress, which began four
day session in the Ogden tabernacle
today, this being the largest number
ever represented since the beginning of
the movement for the reclamation of
the arid West,-showing how the move
ment has taken on national instead
of a sectional scope. Delegates were
present even from New York, Penn
sylvania and Vermont, while from the
states of the Western plains and
mountains representatives of state and
municipal governments and CONNER
cial organizations of all kinds came
by hundreds. The convention 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 capacity of the
tabernacle is totally inadequate.
An international aspect was lent to
the proceedings by the presence of two
representatives of foreign governments,
Mexico and France, while the govern
ment at Washington was represented
by Secretary of Agriculture Wilson At
both the morning and afternoon ses-
sions the building was packed with
delegates, and the keynote of the pres
ent congress, as expressed both by
Gov. 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 Promised.
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 Bur-
ton, of Kansas, favoring the conserv-
ing of the flood waters of the great
rivers as a part of the scheme of irri-
cation 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 dis
tinct plan Of forest preservation, are
expected to be adopted before the ses-
sions Of the congress close. Tomor-
row the subject of colonization will be
taken up and discussed by men promi-
nent in railway and social work.
brisk fight for the honor of enter
tanning the delegates to next years
convention is already under way. Up
to this afternoon, Ell Paso, Tex. had
almost a Walkaway, but late in the
day the Idaho delegation, one Of the
SCS( VI Tie COIlSI0SS,
resolved to support and fight for Boise
for the honor. Reno, New, is also max
ing brisk fight, while Portland has
many friends. No opposition to the
present officers of the congress has
developed and sentiment seems upani-
nous for the reelection of President
w. A. Clark and other officers.
President Clark this afternoon caus-
ed considerable joy by declaring his
intention of limiting the speeches to
ten minutes If possible, the great num-
Der scheduled and the amount of work
to be accomplished rendering some ac-
ton of this kind absolutely necessary.
In his speech Senator Clark advo-
Gated the repeal of the desert land act
of 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 which are
expected, sharp fight is looked for.
Proceedings of the Day.
At 10 o'clock President w. A. Clark
assembled the platform Of the taber-
nacle, in which the meetings are held,
and raped for order.
At the close of the invocation Gov.
Wells, of Utah, welcomed the dele
gates in behalf Of the pioneer irriga-
tlOl1 StclS "A WOlCOulS ORQ6H was
then extended by Mayor William
Glassman.
President Clark responded on behalf
of the National Irrigation congress-
The following letter to the National
Irrigation congress from President
Roosevelt was read:
Permit me to express to the Irri-
cation congress my hearty congratula-
tons upon what has been accomplish
tho no hos j,,c&
| especially because I regard this as
opening new era in the treatment of
irrigation from the national stand
point. None of our internal policies
will be more consequent to the future
of the country during the next few dec
AIDES than this matter of irrigation It
is of vital consequence to the inter-
mountain states and to the semi-arid
region, and what is of vital conse-
quence to one portion of our country
is of vital consequence to the whole
country
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock S
letter was also read. 1t contains this:
1T has been source of great
pleasure to me to have been in any
way identified with this great work,
| and 1 assure you that every effort will
be made on my part to fully meet the
expectations and desires of the mem
| bers of the convention, whose delibera-
lions, 1 am sure, will be most in
| structive, and which 1 shall read with
| interest"
A trained chorus of 200 voices sang
| the National Irrigation Ode" written
| by Mrs. Gilbert McClurg, of Colorado
Springs. Fifteen hundred delegates
| and spectators Joined in the chorus to
| the tune of America and the effect
was tremendous. An ovation was
given Mrs. McClurg at it's conclusion.
Committees on credentials, perma-
nent organization and resolutions were
provided for, to consist of one mem
Der from each state and territory rep
resented. Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson was introduced, amide much
| cheering.
Roosevelt Heard From Again.
At the afternoon session the poll of
| states was called and the various com
mitteemen named. A message from
President Roosevelt received this af-
ternoon was read. 1t contained the
| following:
| "The passage of the national irri-
cation law was one of the greatest
steps not only in the forward progress
l. of the states hI1t t0 thot of oJI