The Grit-advocate., 1905-08-25
IRRIGATION CONGRESS
ANNUAL MEETING AT PORTLAND
More Than One Thousand Delegates
Represent More Than Four-Fifths
Of tho States of the Union.


Of tho States Of the Union.
Portland. Ore. Aug. 23.-The thir-
teenth annual meeting of the National
Irrigation Congress, with more than
thousa I'd delegates present, repre-
senting more than four-fifths of the
states of the Union, assembled Monday
at the Lewis and Clark auditorium.
Governor Pardee of California, pres
ident Of the congress. called the con.
vention to order.
Governor Chamberlain welcomed the
delegates to Oregon. He prefaced his
welcome by emphasizing the import
ance of irrigation. He criticised Sc
verely the existing laws, which he,
believed to be lacking especially in
comforting sufficient power to condemn
private property.
Mayor Lane of Portland extended
a cordial welcome in behalf of the
city.
Governor Mead of Washington was
the first of the visitors to respond. He
made brief address in favor OF irriga-
ton
Congressman ]. b. Stevens of Texas,
in his response, agreed with Governor
Chamberlain's assertion that the recla-
nation law is faulty and advocated
such reconstruction of the arid land
law as would both extend it and make
it effectual. He thought especially
that the provision which allowed New
Mexico in whose confines the three
big rivers which traverse Texas had
their source, to obtain a portion of the
reclamation fund to the exclusion of
Texas, because OF that fact, was un-
just.
Governor Pardee summarized tho
work before the congress in his annual
address. He said in part:
"A new branch of government ac-
tivity, the reclamation service, has
been established, and is organized in
manner which gives the promise of
the highest efficiency. In it has been
assembled force of 400 engineers,
assistants and experts. all chosen alb
solutely without regard to politics, and
appointed after competitive civil SER
| vice examinations. 1t is, | am salts
fled, the strongest single corps of the
kind ever put into the field for SINH
| lar purpose.
| ''lf we have not yet secured the
money in quite such abundant meas
IRE as we have secured the men, we
have at least made start, for we
have $50 1000, 900, the proceeds of land
( sales in the arid states. and with this
, fund nearly a score of large undertake
ings have been begun in dozen
states and some of them already are
well under way.
so, | am now able to congratulate
this thirteenth National Irrigation
Congress that, for the first time, wei
IN I,
test, and not. as it SO long remained,
merely an ideal.
4 There is nothing which holds out so
| much hope of an increase of country
population as an energetic prosecution
of the work of irrigation development.
It means the multiplication Of small
| farms and comfortable homes. Irriga-
| ton leads to intensive cultivation, and
that implies many proprietors. The
class Of rural industries which they
have in irrigated districts is not invit-
ing to millionaire landlords. working
vast areas with semi-servile labor. In
| telligent and personal supervision are
necessary. Thrift gets the better of
speculation. Industry is at a premium
and monopoly is discouraged In Utah,
where irrigation is strictly a necessity
of agriculture, the average farm is
/ only twenty-Seven acres in extent. In
California, as soon as an irrigation fur
row is drawn, the ownership of the
great ranches begins to disintegrate
and many more homes are made"
A message from President Roosevelt
TO the congress was read by Clifford
PnchOt. chief forester Of the United
States. The President reviewed the
importance Of reclamation work in the
development of the country and cOun-
seled patience until the operation OF
the reclamation act should become
more extensive. The importance ana
wide scope of the act was dwet upon,
the President pointing out that the
act unites East and West and that it
"enforces the principle of the greatest
good to the greatest number, but gives
each man land enough to support his
family in comfort"
THE reclamation act is the most
powerful of all foes of land monopoly
he said. The President also warned
the people against letting public
lands pass into private hands for ficti-
tious reasons
The necessity for forest protection
was indicated. the President asking for
the hearty support of the congress to
the forestry service. as an aid to future
irrigation work.
President Roosevelt's message was
received with rounds of applause.
Kermit Roosevelts Trip.
Omaha, Aug 23.-Kermit Roosevelt,