The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-06
EXPERTS AT THE CONGRESS.

A very important adjunct of the lr-
rigation Congress now in session at
Boise, is the assemblage there of a
large number of the irrigation engi-
neers and assistants under the charge
of Mr.. Newell, Chief OF the Reclama-
tion Service. About four hundred of
these expert engineers and assistants
are now in charge Of the reclamation
work on projects which are practical"
]y in hand, and few others which
are undergoing examination, These ex-
perts come to the congress as they
have attended other sessions of the
Irrigation Congress, full Of practical
ideas and Of information with respect
to matters already accomplished under
their direction, and in the pnryiew Of
the work upon which they are engaged.
The delegations attending the congress
by appointment, and in virtue of their
official positions, from the different por-
isfaction, pleasure, and instruction in
conversing with these experts and in
the general discussion of irrigation
questions and the application Of the
principles involved in particular cases
that they may have in view. Alto
gether, this is one Of the most pleas
ant functions of the whole congress
This meeting these experts from the
different parts Of the arid region
where reclamation work is in progress,
ascertaining the amount Of work done,
its condition at present with regard
to the final completion, and the guam
tity Of land which will be reclaimed
by each of the projects, is valuable
indeed
Another matter Of considerable i'm
portance, not strictly related to irriga
tion work, but still coming we'll within
the general scope of the betterment Of
the arid region is discussion Of the
forest reserve question. Very sharp
differences Of opinion appear with re.
spect to the Government 3 policy that
is being pursued as to forest reserves.
The silly claim that to discuss this
matter drags politics into the Irrigation
Congress is too childish to be consid-
cred. The very situation in Idaho dem
onstrates that there are no politics to
the question, for Senator Dubois,
Democrat, is a thorough going cham
pion Of the administration IS policy as
to forest reserves, while Senator Hey
burn, a Republican, is bitter in his
denunciation Of that policy. No plain
l. 4LaI -,
in no sense a political question, than
the respective positions Of these two
Senators as to this question.
1t -is to be hoped that the Irrigation
Congress, now that the forest reserve
question is fully before it, may issue
something like an authoritative declar-
alton from the practical men who COM
pose that congress with respect to this
policy. So far as that matter affects
this immediate region, the pinch comes
very largely upon the matter of graz
ing. There are divisions of opinion
as to this on two points; first, as to
the number of sheep (for sheep is the
main issue here) that may and should
properly be allowed to Craze on these
reserves; and second, tho question
whether the whole number Of sheep
that are to be allowed to Craze on the
reserve shall be filed by the large
herds of the heavy hockmasters, or
whether the division Of grazing privi-
leges shall be apportioned pro rata
among sheep owners so that the small
owners will have a proportionate op-
portunity in this grazing with the heavy
sheep owners. There has been SO far
no hard and fast rule laid down by the
department or the forest rangers with
respect to this matter; but usually those
who make sufficient complaint about |
discrimination get more or less of a |
chance TO Craze their sheep. There |
should be, however, a definite rule es- |
tablished SO that sll may know what |
to expect, rule that would allow Of |
new hockmasters getting chance at |