Arizona republican., 1904-11-16

Two ard CEe-half years have elapsed since the passage of the national irIi- gatiOn act, setting aside the proceeds from the sale of the public lands for the construction of irrigation works in thirteen states and three territories. During that time work has been eaer- geticalIy pushed forward in all parts of the arid west, in the survey. exami- nation and construction or large works. An engineering corps has been created, consisting of well trained and experienced engineers. and the great problems of organization and of meth cd have been largely determined upon.
 The available funds. upwards of $27.- O00OOO, have been allotted to the vari- Ous projects. and while many details are yet to be worked out, the larger features Of the undertaking are all set tied. Actual construction has been be- gun and is well advanced in Arizona and Nevada. and work is being taken ups under contracts in Colorado Idaho and New Mexico. In the other states. plans and specifications have been made or are about completed; delays being caused largely by legal difficult ties or by the necessity of securing certain needed concessions, Or. cooper ation on the part of local land owners.
 Although this gigantic undertaking has been pushed forward with energy and zeal, yet care has been exercised to guard against excesses CT extFavag- ance. The tEorouEhness Cf the investi- | gatiOns have commended themselves to persons familiar with such work; in l particular. one large fnancier, who has constructed an irrigation system. has 1 stated that if he had employed the ! ! those of the reclamation service h 1 would have saved at least a million i dollars tc himself and his associates. When the works are completed which are now planned or under construction | upwards of q million acres of land vii l be legally sub-divided and put into the i possession of actual settlers and land 1 owners. The works are built withCu1 profit or interest tC the government and are to be paid for by the land own i CTS in ten annual installments. The ! limit of farm area is rigidly prescribed and no man can have more than 16t acres irrigated by the government
 works; and he must live upon the land ] cultivate it. and make his payment. promptly
 i The benefit to the arid west and [, the country in general in building ul ! CenlerS CT. dgrIculIural pOpuldllOn E 1 believed to be sufficient tc justify th, ! continuance and extension of this grea undertaking.
 l Resolutions, credentials and perma nent organization committees were ap pointed and the meeting adjourned til D. m.. when Prof. Alexander c. Me Adee of the San Francisco weathe ! bureau. NJ. B. Phillips of the Univer sity of Texas. Prof William L. Bray o
 the University of Texas. and ether delivered addresses, the delegates be ing serenaded by the Mexican band
 complimentary from President Diaz.
 The California delegation will sus pend is contest for the 1905 mestin land will wcrk for Los Angeles fo
 1866" and help Portland this veal Denver also withdrew from the ign
 for the next meeting.
 Oklahoma secured the approval to
 day of the geological survey for tn great Mountain Park project, to re
 claim two and a quarter million acres.
 The Mexican delegates resloved to
 day to ask the congress to give ther
 official recognition. and effort will like ly be made to make it an interuatioEs
 irrigation congress instead Cf nationa
 Governor Ahumada Of the state Of la lisco. Mexico. arrived tonight. an Governor Crcel of the state Of Chfhus
 hua is coming tomorrow.