Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-18
W. {. Smythe Tells Of the Birth
And Growth Of Great History
Making Body.
EXPLOITS IDAHO GATHERING.
That State Has More 10 SHOW Than
Any Other at This Particular
Time ON Irrigation Projects.

william r Smythe. the gifted writer
and talker who Is perhaps more nearly
responsible than any other one man
for the organization OF the National
Irrigation congress at salt Lake In
1891, while acting as editor Of the lrri-
cation Age Of Denver. is again bring
ing his pen to bear upon the need Of
such an organization, emphasizing the
good that 81 has done in the past. and
the immensely greater good that 1t Is
possible for ii TO accomplish On the
future
THE father OF the Irrigation con-
gress." as he is frequently called. is at
present making his home In San Diego.
Cal. but he had an editorial article in
the Nevada State Journal Of Reno. un-
DIRE the caption, The Irrigation Con-
gress,' in which he said.
The National Irrigation congress be-
gan its history career al salt
Lake city in September 1891. It's lith
annual session zone year having
been skipped IN the early period VIII
be held at Boise Idaho September 3
to 5, inclusive, and promises 10 be the
biggest event In a remarkable series ot
conventions The reasons for the UNI
usual success Of the Boise meeting are
obvious enough after "a little thought
yet il is worth while To mention them
IDAHo's CENTRAL LOCATION.
Idaho enjoys a central location in the
arid region. and this factor always
counts heavily In favor OF large at
tendance. The meetings al salt Lake
In 1891, and al ogden In 1908, drew
larger and more representative crowds
of delegates than any simildr occa-
slons in the history OF the irrigation
movement. This influence will produce
a similar result this year.
None OF the irrigation states attracts
the popular interest more than Idaho,
The public is dimly conscious Of won
derful attractions in that part Of the
west, but the locality Is not so well
known by contact as most other states,
especially Colorado, Utah and Califor-
MIA, three states en- which the conyen-
ton has assembled five times. People
want TO see Idaho; they viii avail
themselves ~ a most unusual opportu-
nifty to see Il 10 the best advantage
in September, when It's hospitality VIII
be as deep as IT, canyons, as LOFTY as
It's mountains. and as wide as It's
plains.
HAS MORE TO SHOW.
All things considered, Idaho has
more TO show the visitors in the way
OF irrigation achievement than any
other state. IL Is a fine example OF
what can be done by average men, with
average capital, under average condi-
/ tions OF soil and climate. Those who
! think little irrigated farms cannot be
made 10 pay away out in the sagebrush
wilderness will change their minds after
they have inspected the valleys Of the
I Boise. the Payette and the Welser.
/ Thos who imagine that the clty-bred
man cannot score a success as an r.
rigator and farmer Will be enlightened
! BY studying the story Of Idaho's New
Plymouth on the ground. And those
who are iaboring under the delusion
| that profitable fruitgrowing Is limited
10 the semi-tropical climate OF Califor-
MIA will be amazed when they go among
I the orchards and study the balance
sheets I'm many localities,
Apart from these local attractions
/ this years irrigation congress will b.
( a magnet for all who are interested ~
the land and water problems OF tn
/ west because ~ certain big questions
I which are sure 10 come up for discus
! sion. The foremost OF these Is th'
manner iu which the reclamation ser
vice is administering the Newlands law
RECLAMATION OFFICIALS.
The officials Of the reclamation ser
vice-"NeWol and his men, as thei
critics are calling them-were com
PEELED 20 walk In an untrodden path
Tho greatest piece Of social legislation
ever enacted in this country was com
mltted 20 their hands, with no prece
dents TO guide them. Extraordinary
power was vested IN the secretary o
the interior. not only In the matter o
making appropriations for various pro
jccts but In purchasing property need
ed for government purposes and I'm ad
iusting "a multitude OF details In regart
TO land and water problems. Will
rower rests with the secretary. IN
Young men OF the reclamation scryiC
are his ewes al the front" as Lincoll
said Of some ~ his assistants. Thes
Young men come On contact with IN
western people. and are generally he'll
responsible when there is occasion 70
criticism.
PRIVATE INTERESTS.
I'm carrying out the law. II has ire
oueutly been necessary Co have deal
ings with private irrigation Interests
Sometimes the government has Eel
disposed 90 enter upon projects who
private enterprise wanted to handl
itself. iu such cases opposition ha
arisen. Sometimes the government Ia
refused 10 buy property when privat
I parties wanted 10 sell and frequenu
private parties who were quite willin
| 10 sell demanded price which N
government was not willing to pay.
During the four years that The la'
has been on the statute book a good
sized grisi ~ private grievances ha
] accumulated not all % which are q
the class Just mentioned. There hav
ieen "A number Of instances whe.
owners Of private lands under govern
ueut projects have stfenuously Oh
iected 10 the subdivision OF the
property into quarter sections, as u
law requires Criticisms and griey
ances have been heard In the distanc
al the last two sessions Of the irriga
tlon congress Apparently, all Oh
chickens will come home TO roOst q
me- Thus IL the friends OF the n