Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-04
OVER FIVE HUNDRED stl1GA1Es PRESENT
More Than One Half of States in UniOr
Are Represented.
DELEGATES WELCOMED BY GOVERNOR
Speeches Are Alss Made by United
statOs senator Duhois aud
James A. Pinney, Mayor
of Boise.

the National Irrigation co. I. assemplou
for its fourteenth annual ~
Vice President Fairbanks, s. arrived
at Boise before daylight this nr " was
escorted to the theater IN RiveA ark
and received a hearty welcome. {. e
ence standing and applausf'g for {.
minute Immediately afte ,e srrvi =.
the vice president the congk sswas cai../
TO order by l.. w. Shurtlef of Nen, UtaK
first vice president Governor G, . Pardee
of California, president of the Sress.
was detained in California and will q be
present. y
James a. Pinney. mayor of Boise. :.
Governor F. II, Gooding welcomed the deI
gates to the capital OF the Gem state.
Governor GoodinE Talks.
Governor Goodins spoke at some length
of the several great irrigation projects now
in course of completion in Idaho.
The convention was reused to applause
when Governor Gooding referred TO Presi-
dent Roosevelt that II was at St Anthony.
in the state Of Idaho. where President
Roosevelt six years ago made his hrst
promise to the west to give his support to
the movement for the enactment of ma
tlonal reclamation law. The great irrtga-
ton works in Idaho now nearing compile
tion. he said. were the fruition of the
promise made by President Roosevelt.
United States Senator Fred T. Dubois of
Idaho voiced Idaho's welcome to Vice Pres
ident Fairbanks. and when he touched on
national politics, referring to the vice pres
ident as n possible presidential candidate,
the convention responded with the heartiest
applause Senator Dubois declared that IL
Il should transpire that the vice president
should lead the great party OF which he is
"A faf ah0tt1d
decree that he be the next president-the
people OF Idaho would feel assured that
they had a most ardent supporter in the
presidential office. for the vice president
said Senator Dubois, has been one of the
most consistent advocates of legislation
for the reclamation Of the arid regions.
on, behalf of the congress brief speeches
were niade by Ifsnited states Senator Carter
of Montana and Governor e. c. Chamber
lain OF Oregon. Clifford II. Pinchot of
washington, chief of the forestry division
of the Department OF Agriculture. who was
announced as the bearer of letter of
greeting 70 the congress from President
Roosevelt was introduced. Mr.. Pinchot
stated that he appeared merely as the pres
tA.nss messenger boy.
Veee Presidents Address.
When the applause which followed the
reading OF the presidents letter had sub
sided, Vice President Fairbanks was intro
duced, The delegates arose. and It was
several minutes before the vice president
could be heard. He said:
Mr.. President and Members of the Ma
uonal Irrigation Congress: 1t Is impossible
TO exaggerate the importance Of the work
in which you are engaged. 1t Is fraugnt
with far-reeching interest, not only to the
present. but TO the future, II is a subject
10 which have given considerable atten-
tion during my public service, for I have
been firm believer in the feasibility of
national irrigation now contemplated. in
the arid and semi-arid regions. II will
bring under cultivation large areas of the
public domain which would otherwise re-
main sterile and practically habitable
The rapid increase of population and the
pre-emption and settlement OF the BILE
portions of the public lands has rendered
1t important that we should reclaim the
waste places % and ,,s make them prSd1etiys % ,I
beyond the capacity OF Individual effort
This policy is in the highest degree bene.
wholesome. Individual opportunity. but il
iS in very especial degree of national
slgnincance Il increases the opportunity
regions of the republic, for multiplying ths
number of American farms and American
homes, thereby auginenting the great con
seryative forces which are the surest re.
lance and safeguard Of our political insti
tutions. ! nrmly believe that the mos
conservative elements will always be founC
upoa the farm. You will generally finC
among the millions throughout the greal
elsewhere to inconsldsrate and hysterica
judgment.
Irrigated Lands Fruitful.
Irrigated lands are made to yield man,
fold more than the best ,unirrigated lands
he assured. There is a guaranty. agaiDs
the blighting effects OF drouth and the in
telligent hushandman is certain OF a boun
The desert is fast disappearing before III,
magic touch Of American genius. thrift AM
P.ufn, ioDossihls Mhas = lew years Ears ago seemed I,
1t has been demonstrated that there is M
Investment which has yielded better O.
struction OF feasible irrigation works /
Is estimated that some 100000 acres ar
now irrigated through individual and cor
agricultural products has been thereby in
creased in the sum of more than $50, O,O0O. 90
annual increaae Is in excess OF the tota
cost Of Irrigation works through which
When We consider. in addition To I'm
large money value OF the increased annls
yield ihroush irrigation. the many Incl
magnitude and importance OF the suhjec
Of national Irrigation can be more full
appreciated.
The government has not entered upo
the subject Of irrigation hastily and with
out the utmost consideration. The ma tie
has been thoroughly debated and consld
cred IN its physical and economic aspect,
When Il was hrst suggested ii was rs
gaTded by those who had siven Il onl
superficial consideration, as impracticabi
and as involving a tremendous and IN
necessary drain upon the national treas
ury The fact was that individual and COZ
poTate enterprise had carried the work for
ward 30 far as II could reasonably do 81
The larger and more difficult proposition
awaited the action OF the national govern
meut.
The existing irrigation law was put upo
the statute hook in 1902. The law is founde
upon an entirely rational and defensibl
theory. II Is entirely just and equitable
None better has BEEN enacted by the cor
gress OF the United Sta.es in recent year
: IL provides substantially that the none
arising frOui the sale OF public lands sha
he set apart in a special fund, to be use
exclusively for irrigation purposes. Th
money so derived Is TO be expended IN N
establishment and construction OF irrigu
Gcsnunssd oa second Pase.)