Gilpin observer., 1904-11-24
IRRIGATOKS ACT
PASS UNANIMOUS RESOLUTIONS
National irrigation Congress at EIPaso
Finishes Its Work and Adjourns.

Finishes Its Work and Adjourns.
Ell Paso. Texas. Nov. 19.-During the
last day of the twelfth national irriga.
tion congress the delegates were very
busy. A resolution was adopted yes
terday morning thanking President
Roosevelt for his letters and for his
interest in irrigation and approving his
policy on the subject.
F. H. Brandenburg was made vice
president for Colorado and A. F. Fran.
els was appointed member of the exec
utive committee.
The resolutions passed during the
closing hours were important in many
respects, especially those favoring re-
peal of the stone and timber act. The
preamble says:
1T Is the sense Of this congress that
the remaining public domain should be
, sacredly preserved to all the people Of
the United States and rigidly reserved
for actual homeseekers."
The resolution commencing Con-
gress for withdrawing 100000 acres
of arid lands and $4,000 900 acres of
forest lands from entry, urges the re-
peal of the desert land law, the timber
| of the homestead act, and as a substi-
tute offering the sale of stumping.
AS a substitute to the desert land
law it is desired to permit individuals
as actual settlers to enter on only $50
acres. Other resolutions were as fol-
lows:
Opposing all issues of land scrip.
Urging the government to purchase
all lands in the limit of forest reserves.
Favoring misunderstanding loan
by the government to the irrigation
fund to be used by the secretary of the
interior and repaid under the provis-
ions of the irrigation law.
Urging a law permitting the states
to organize districts to sell irrigated
lands and upon approval by the secre-
tary Of the interior to be allowed to
employ the engineers OF the reclama-
tion service.
Favoring legislation to aid beet
sugar culture.
Declaring that the presence of dele
gates from the sister republic of Mex
leo has strengthened the bead between
the two countries, and "in appreciation
of the cordial treatment accorded this
congress while on Mexican soil we cor
daily invite the republic Of Mexico to
send delegation to the Portland con-
gress."
Indorses the policy OF the govern
ment to construct ship canal along
Sabine Lake in Texas to complete the
opening to navigation of the Sabine
and Naches rivers.
Favoring extension of the national
irrigation law to include Texas in its
provisions in so far as to permit the
secretary of the interior to direct the
reclamation engineers to examine and
report upon feasible irrigation projects
in Texas and when approved to super.
intend their construction, to the end
that Texas may have the same service
that is now extended to the other arid
| sections.
Expressing confidence in the reclaim
alton engineers, forestry and weRthe
services. and thanking them.
Commencing the work of the wea
ther bureau in compiling climatolos
/ ical almanac.
Urging that the remaining public dc
main should be reserved to home
steaders.
Urging appropriation of funds 70
forest planting on denuded watershed
with view of increasing the value O
streams still flowing and renewini
those which have disappeared.
Urging consolidation of all govern
ment forestry work In the Department
of Agriculture.
Approving the Lewis and Clarke Ell
position at Portland.
C. B. Booth of Los Angeles was re-
elected chairman of the executive com
mittee over his protest and was au
thorized to name vice chairman.
]. Tom Richardson of Portland wa