Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-09-18
IRRIGATION CONGRESS OPENS
-veNTY-sIx STATES AND TERRI.
TORIES REPRESENTED.
The irrigation Movement Has Taken
National Aspeot-ogden Taberna,
Tn Small for the Crowd-Gov.
Walls Makes Speech of Welcome
e.,ator W. A. Clark Replied.

onrosanted at the Eleventh National
,.a,,-,tion congress, which began four
davs' session in the Ogden tabernacle
T,,asdav, this being the largest num-
-. aver represented since the begin
ting Of the movement for the reclama-
Ia, ~ the arid west. AS showing how
40 movement has taken on national,
.,,tead of sectional scope delegates
wore present even from New York,
ponnsylyania, Virginia and Vermont,
nile from the states of the western
,,,oins and mountains representatives
- state and municipal governments
and commercial organizations OF all
1.irds came by the hundreds. The
seating capacity of the tabernacle is
totally inadequate for the crowd in at
tendance.
national aspect was lent to the pro-
,eedings by the presence OF two rep
rosentatives of foreign governments
Moyico and France, while the govern
mont at Washington was represented
NV Secretary of Agriculture Wilson.
At both the morning and afternoon
sessions the building was packed with
Interested delegates and the keynote
NJ the present congress was expressed
Moth nv Governor Wells OF Utah, In
his sneech of welcome and President
w A. Clark in his response, that "the
time has come to do things" was
heartily cheered.
Tf only congress had passed the ir-
r;qation act instead of the desert land
many wears ago It would have been a
Godsend to the western country. and
II would at least have prevented the
wholesale acquisition of immense areas
controlling largely the streams and
sources of water supply, in some In
stances by questionable methods, to
the exclusion of actual settlers. In
many cases the actual requirements Of
the law were not complied with and
the prevailing sentiu.c-t '~ nat con-
gress should make haste to wipe that
law from the statute books"
Important results beneficial to the
cause Of irrigation are confidently an
ticipated by both delegates and ON
Gals from the present congress, and
the first resolution, introduced by Sen
ator Burton of Kansas, favoring the
conserving of the flood 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 favored.
Other resolutions, outlining dis
tinct plan of forest preservation, are
expected to be adopted before the ses-
sions of the congress close.
Wednesday the subject of "Coloni-
2ation" was taken up and discussed
by men prominent in railway and So
Geological work.
Next Convention City.
A brisk fight for the honor Of en-
tertaining the delegates to next years
convention is already under way. Up
to this afternoon, Ell Paso, Tex, ap-
parently had almost walkover, but
late in the day 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 the
sentiment seems unanimous for the re-
election of President w. A. Clark and
other officers.
President Clark caused considerable
Joy by declaring his intention Of linn
lung the speeches to 10 minutes, II
possible, the great number scheduled
and the amount of work to be accom-.
pushed rendering some action Of this
Kind absolutely necessary.
National Irrigation Ode.
Previous to the adjournment of the
hrst session a trained chorus Of 200
'oices sang the National Irrigation
Que written by Mrs. Gilbert M. Nc
1iurg OF Colorado Springs. Fifteen
hundred delegates and spectators
Joined in the chorus to the tune of
america" and the effect was tremen-
uous' Mrs. McClurg was given an ova.
tion at its conclusion.
committees on credentials, perma-
nent organization and resolutions were
."eh provided for, to consist Of one
"e'hoer from each state and territory
,epresented and adjournments until
low D. m. was taken. Just previous
w aulournment Secretary of Agricul-
.ure wilson was introduced amid much
cheering.
Message From Mr.. Roosevelt.
a message from President Roosevelt
was received during the afternoon.