East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-09-07

Governor George E. Chamberlain,
of Oregon. the newly elected president
of the National Irrigation association,
and one of the most popular officials
in the west, passed down the o. r. &
n. this morning from Boise to his
home at Salem, after attending the
irrigation congress during the entire
session.
"In point of interest and attendance
the Boise congress is said to have
been the best irrigation congress ever
held" said Governor Chamberlain this
morning. "The delegates attended the
sessions closely and tock very much
Interest in the proceedings. Some
very able papers were rea1 ard some
of the best discussions ever heard in
the west took place in the Boise con-
gress. Subjects which will enter into
national politics and which concern
the nation vitally were ably handled
there and the discussions vii! un-
doubtedly have 4 bearing on the work
Of congress in future.
at is certainly a revelation to travel
through eastern oregon and southern
Idaho where irrigation has worked
such wonders. 1t is scarcely beliey-
able that the country which a few
years ago was barren desert should
now present flourishing settlements,
thousands of contented people and
such variety of wealth as. is now
found in this section of the west. And
the best feature of the irrigation
movement is, that although it has
worked wonders in the past. its best
period lies yet in the future. The
next decade will revolutionize farming
and agriculture in eastern Oregon.
Il feel that the west has received
Il wonderful stimulus from the adver-
using which it has received from the
meetings Of the irrigationists. These
meetings have brought to the west
leading public officials, leading writ
ers, leading thinkers and workers and
has brought the east in direct touch
with west. This contact of the two
vast sections of our country must re-
suit in increasing god to both sections.
oregon Will receive great benefit
from national irrigation and the state
should encourage and assist the gov
ernment in every way to further the
work as rapidly as possible in order to
make homes for the homeless and to
stimulate commerce and industry to
the fullest extent"
Governor Chamberlain said that as
president of the National Irrigation as
sociation he would do everything in
his power to further the work of rec
lamation in the west. Irrigation is
not a local matter. 1t is national
movement and concerns people in
every part of the country. And while
the west will be directly benefited by
the increase in property values and
increased industrial activity through
irrigation, yet the entire nation will
benefit from it," said the governor.
Delegates Return Home.
Other delegates from the Boise con-
gress were upon the morning train
returning to their homes in various
parts of the state. Among them We're
Justice HALEY and family, of Salem;
Malcolm \. Moody of The Dalles;
Henry Blackman, of Heppner; y. King
Wilson. of Portland; F. 5. Stanley, of
Portland: Governor Meade. of WASH
inston, and other delegates from diff
ferent parts of the state and the
northwest.
All united in praise of Boise people
as entertainers and all declare that
1t was highly successful meeting in
every way. Practically every dele
gate interviewed expressed the inten-
tion of attending the 1907 congress at