Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-09-15
IRRIGATION
CONGRESS
Eleventh Annual Session Opened
at Ogden With Delegates Pre-
sent from Eleven States.
LETTER
Communication Was Also Read from
Secretary Of the Interor---Senator
W. A. Clark Presiding.

Ogden, Utah. Sept, 15-With dele
gates present from eleven states west
of the Mississippi, representing prac-
tically every commercial organization
in the great territory included in the
semi-arid and arid region of country,
state and municipal governments, the
eleventh session of the National lrrl-
CATION congress opened today.
The sessions will continue until FRI
day and during that time important
action is expected to be taken, look
ing toward 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 $3.50 o'clock it was con-
siderably beyond that time when
President w. A. Clark raped for Or
der After brief invocation by John
H. Winder one of the counsellors OF
President Joseph Smith, Mayor Will
lam Glassman of Ogden, was intro
duced and delivered an address OF
welcome. Mayor William Glassman
said:
81 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
;,, he Tptf
States.
For eleven years the irrigators OF
this country have met year after year
with one great object in view-to Sc
cure national aid. Everlastingly keep
ing at it has caused this government,
under the leadership of President
Roosevelt, to grant us several million
dollars annually. The most ardent
irrigator 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 westE
| 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 it will be the
privilege and the duty of this con-
gress to see that this money is prop
erly used and not misapplied or vast
ed. 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 provide plan for the expenditure
of the millions of dollars set aside for
our cause which will meet the approx
al of the secretary of the interior and
the national congress. 1t 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 bless
ing to the genuine settlers. 1t must
be as meritorious, if not excel, tae
famous homestead law signed by that
greatest of modern Americans Abra-
ham Lincoln.
"As your host for the next four
days, l extend to you every hospitality
the city affords. welcome you on be-
half of the good men and women OF
Ogden and extend to you every cour-
tesy and our hospitality. Accept it.
partake of it, and be one of us while
you are here"
President Clark then responded on
behalf of the National Irrigation con-
gress. The following letter from
President Roosevelt was then read:
Mr.. Fred J. Kiesel Chairman Execu-
tive Committee, the National Irriga-
tion Congress, Ogden, Utah.
My Dear Sir-Permit me to express
through you to the Irrigation congress,
my hearty congratulations upon what
mas been accomplished in the year
that has just passed, especially be-
cause regard this as opening new
era in the treatment of irrigation from
the national standpoint None of our
internal policies will be more conse-
quent to the future of the country dur
| ing the next few decades than this
sequence to the intermountain states
and to the entire semi-arid region.
and what is of vital consequence to
one portion of our country is of vital
consequence to the whole country.
Signed:
"THEODORL ROOSEVELT"
Secretary of Interior Hitchcock's
letter was also read. 1t was as fol-
lows:
"Gilbert McClurg, Esq. General Rep
resentative Executive Committee.
the National Irrigation Congress.
| Ogden, Utah.
Dear Sir-I beg to acknowledge re-
ciept of your favor of July 20, whic,l
Continued on Fourth Page.