Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-09-23
SECOND DAY or CONVERSION.
irrigafionisfS Elect Officers and
Decide on Next neefinq.

Decide on Next neefing.
Ontario, Or. Sept. 2l-rhe' second
day of the irrigation convention opened
at the opera house yesterday morning
with a large attendance of delegates.
The night trains brought in ia ge
contingent from the West, also large
visiting delegation from Bnise and .in-
termediate towns in Idaho. President
Devers presided.
The first speaker of the day was Hon.
Thomas G. HALEY, OF Pendleton, MEM
Der of the state commission to draft a
state irrigation law to be submitted to
the legislature this winter. Mr.. Hail
ey explained that the commission had
secured the services of government ir-
rigation attorney, who was an expert
in the matter of irrigation law, and he
had prepared the draft of bill which
would be taken up by the state COM
mission soon. He explained that the
United States government would have
to be party to all government aided
irrigation schemes in this state, hence
the necessity of having bill passed
which would meet the requirements of
the government officials.
The chief address of the morning
was delivered by Judge ]. H. Richards,
of Boise, Idaho, on "The Home and Ir-
rigation." Mr.. Richards said that the
noblest type OF manhood and woman
hood came from the home beautiful.
Following this line of thought, Mr..
Richards contended that the pursuit of
agriculture and horticulture as a means
OF gaining a livlihood under proper
conditions would produce the best class
of citizens, both for the state and na-
tion.
DR.. Withycombe, of the state agricul-
tu1al college, delivered an interesting
address on the educated farmer.
Speaking of the government irrigation
project for Malheur county, Mr.. Witty
combe said that it had come to his
knowledge that some of the prominent
citizens of this valley were sacrificing
their personal interests in order to
further the government irrigation
plans. Following out this suggestion,
the doctor spoke at some length on CO.
operation as factor in irrigation.
At the afternoon session the commit
tee on organization reported the follow
ing officers for the ensuing year:
President, E. M. Braunick, Portland
first vice president, S. A. Lowell, Pen
dleton; second vice president, F. W.
Metcalf, Arcadia; secretary. A. King
Wilson, Portland; treasurer, A. h.
Devers, Portland.
Hon. }. N. Williamson was the chief
speaker of the afternoon. MIR. Will
hanson had to deal with a delicate
subject, and the opera house was
crowded to it's capacity when he deliv-
cred his address ON "Disposition to Be
Made OF the Range Lands of the Arid
and Semi-Arid Region" Mr.. Will
hanson spoke with delibeIation and
positiveness. After dealing with the
matter in all its phases, he said that in
his opinion individual ownership was
the best means of solving the problem,
provided the present limit of owner
ship was removed. taking into consid-
Grafton location, condition and value of
land outside of the irrigated area, each
individual to take what is necessary to
support family. 1t is a question of
climatic conditions, altitude and water
support; an arbitrary rule will not ap-
ply.
Ira Smith read an address prepared
by Senator Mitchell, who was unable to
be present. Addresses were delivered
during the afternoon by Attorney Gen
eral Crawford, President Brannick, A.
King Wilson, E. II. Percy, government
law clerk, and D. W. Ross, engineer in
charge of the government reclamation
service in Idaho.
Mr.. Ross said that the irrigation pro-
ects now under considera tion in Idaho
and Oregon if carried out to completion
would support a population of 900
people.
The convention voted to meet next
year in Portland.