The Arizona sentinel., 1903-09-23
IRRIGATION CONGRESS
Continues as a Distinctive DeIioer= ativc Body--GOOd Work oi the
 Past to be Kept Up.

GuOil lTIlSdltOu NOhS C''' 'N h'' " be noted that there developed a strong antagonism between the real representatives of the peo- ple-the delegates who them selves look to irrigation for their salvation and support, and are thu, able to best represent the landless and the represents tives of speculative capital. strong and powerful because themselves speculatOrS.
 Ii was forecast in these col umns that there would be a strong lobby present at this, the most important meeting of the series, to prevent the commit ment of the body as against the desert land act. the timber and stone acts and the communication clause of the homestead act, as being opposed to the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number, and the fore cast was justified; the champions of the existing laws succeeding in shifting cOndemnatOry action to the passage of a comparative ly harmless resolution that con gress shall make such mOditica- tions in such laws as will save the remaining public lands for actual settlers, who will found homes and live upon said lands.
 The fact that the majority re port favored resolution of fiat and outspoken condemnation Of the existing laws as opposed to the interests of the true home seeker, the power that developed the strength to replace it with a resolution of but little virility did much to lead all irrigation ists of fact to decide that there was still much for the congress to do as a distinctive body, and decided the vote against merg- ing with the trans Mississippi commercial congress.
 Much serious work still lies ahead of this body in the line of intelligent direction of the trend of public thought concerning the vast irrigation projects that are necessary for the reclamation Of the arid west. The public at large will need much enlighten- ment on many questions of pub lie interest and utility when the millions now held in reserve be- gin to be paid out for water con servatiOn and distribution. Tax ing the remark of Booth Tucker of Salvation Army fame: "To irrigate is to populate and tc populate is to colonize, will show further use for the con eress as a deliberative body. Colonists must be found for tbe large areas that will be brought into productiveness, and state and national advertising mus aid the otherwise puny efforts ot communities. Colonlzation is populating of hitherto vacant public land, and only systematic and scientific work will answer
 Colonization must now gC hand in hand with the irrigation work of this body, for the land less must be shown their 0ppor tunity. Through delfbefativ' body of such strength the fed erai and state governments cal be infiuewe9d on sniS question a they wesy 0ea Jise irrigation Ide; itself.
 fn all this future movement co operation must Le the keyston to ultimate success. The town with theconnty: the county wit the state, and again in turn, tn state with the national govern ment. Let town, county, stat and federal governments mee on common grounds under tn guidance of d deliberative bod committed to the best interest of the greatest number and sut cess is assured. Our towns wi
 grow and our deserts becOnl
 populated and the dream of tH
 pioneer will be realized.
 The thanks of all are due
 those who served m this and pa:
 sessions of the irrigation col