New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-17
CHEER ROOSEVELT LETTER
Presidents Note to Irrigation Con-
eress WmmIy Implanted.

III Pa-o Tex Nov .e-The second days session
Of the National Irrigation Congress was spent IN
listening TO the reading of papers on various SUD-
ieets connected with the work of the congress-
The delegates Were divided into five groups, which
met in different halls for the morning and AFTER
noon sessions At the evening session the whole
congress net in hall and hear addresses from
well known members of the congress. President
Rooserelt's letter the congress expressing sym
pashy with its aims, was warmly applauded- The
letter follows:
washington, November 10.
TO the National Irrigation Congress: 1t is
PRESIDENT Of the United States and as a man nan
its prosperity. Whatever any body OF men
may believe as TO any question in political con.
irrigation iinproyeienT: the duty Of making
every foot Of soil every stream: and every other
resource OF natural OF human origin, contribute 70
the very utmost to the permanent prosperity of
longer striving for what once seemed a distant
hope: You are no longer engaged in a campaign of
on the ocntrsry your first great object is achieved
You have yet 10 consider what has been done and
what is being done under that act by the reclama-
ton service. consider means to give II its
lareest and widest results and to discuss the broad
problems OF irrigation methods and practices
1t Is through your efforts, and those Of men like
you. that The people of the United States as a ma
with il. not only far as there is water now for
that purpose bat 10 the fullest eEtet dor WIZ
knoWledge- When the reclamation ACT was paSSeu
TIE essential facts rs - sttean now hia Dee. been
4t1llieA III many ydi - "a the
which otherwise would have taken years 10
cumUlatc, already II a large part at hand
me, tii' 80 G Seryice is striking ex
ample OF the advantage Of scientific investigation
5y the general government
It may be true that 20 man whose interest is
limited by immediate results. the admirable work
the reclamation At times seems slow, but
more important that the works built should be per
and successful than that they should be
completed IN haste. There VIII be no unwise hurry
neither VIII mere De any unnecessary delay MOST
Of the great problems of organization and methods
2ave been solved, and progress in construction
and settlement is being made with increasing ra-
great step toward realizing the best methods to
produce water for irrigation. But always, and in
every place. the beSt use Of public lands IS their
use by the man who has come to stay
There are unfortunately in every part of our
country a few men whose interests are purely
temporary. VINO eager TO skim the cream and
20. Instead nf using Inc forests COnServa lively,
they woulG. for example. abuse and destroy the
natural reservoirs unon which national irrigation
depends Tie permanent loss OF every agency
which makes Tor the true development and lasting
greatness OF The irrigable States. Such interests
cannot 90 allowed "a control.
Now that your rrst great object has been ac-
eonnplished. in the passage Of the Reclamation law
you should make yourselves the guardians of the
future. Ia forestry, grazing and mineral wealth,
The foundation stones of the and greater
West. FOR irrigation and every other interest which
sou represent the period Of eXclusiveness Is past
the mining interests. either of them independent
Of the irIisator. a closer Intervening than ever
the whole country. One cannot prosper without
the Other. 60 the future growth and greatness Of
the other western interests VIII depend in the first
degree upon the development az irrigation. and the
development irrigation VIII depend upon the
protection and wise of the existing forests,
ana the creation Of Few ones. and the proper
mo- OF the grazing Your york for the good OF one
THEODORE ROOSEVELT