The state herald., 1904-11-25
IRRIGAToRs ACT
PASS UNANIMOUS RESOLUTIONS
National Irrigation Congress at EI Paso
Finishes Its Work and Adjourns.

Finishes Its Work and Adjourns.
Ell Paso. Texas, Nov. 19.-Durlng the
last day of the twelfth national irriga-
ton 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.
II. II. Brandenburg was made vice
president for Colorado and A. +. 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:
ut 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 4O,00O,000 acres
of arid lands and S0000,000 acres OF
forest lands from entry, urges the re.
peal of the desert land law, the timber
and stone act, the communication clause
OF the homestead act, and as a substi'
tute offering the sale of stumping.
As a substitute to the desert land
law 1t Is desired to permit individuals
as actual settlers to enter on only 160
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 a 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 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 bond between
the two countries, and Sin appreciation
Of the cordial treatment accorded this
congress while on Mexican soil we cor.
daily invite the republic of Mexico to
send a 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 weather
services, and thanking them.
Commencing the woI', OF the wea
ther bureau in compiling cllmatolog
ical almanac.
Urging that the remaining public do.
main should be reserved TO home
steaders.
Urging appropriation OF funds for
forest planting on dennded watersheds
with view of increasing the value OF
streams still flowing and renewing
those which have disappeared.
Urging consolidation OF all govern
ment forestry work In the Department
OF Agriculture.
Approving the Lewis and Clarke Ex.
position at Portland.
c. u. 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 was
elected secretary.