Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-08-21

Not the least of the many national
gatherings of the present year, both
as to numbers in attendance and the
Importance of the matters to be dis
cussed, will be the National Irrigation
congress, which will convene in fif-
teenth annual session at Sacramento,
CAL, on the second day of September,
and continue it's business through five
days. Irrigation has long since passed
the experimental stage in the United
States, and each year since the first
congress was held has seen the in
terest and attendance grow until now
there is no section of the country
scarcely but that is represented in
the body. And not only will irriga-
ton matters be discussed and the
latest movements in the work be fully
reported upon and encouragementg CIV
en- to government and private irriga-
ton enterprises, but there is to be
practical ocular demonstration of the
value of irrigation in the splendid ex-
hibition of fruits and vegetables and
grains grown upon lands which were
formerly desert, and which have been
transformed under the magic touch of
the irrigation ditch.
In fact, this last will prove one of
the most fascinating features of the
congress. It is expected that every
state in which there is irrigated land
will send exhibitions of their products,
: and there will be sharp competition
for the magnificent list of handsome
and valuable trophies which have
been offered. The management, under
the leadership of Mr.. w. A. Beard, of
the executive committee, has an
nounced that no less than 16 hand
some gold and silver loving cups es-
pecially designed and manufactured
for the occasion will be offered for in
terstate competition by prominent
men and business houses of Califor-
MIA and other states. The enthusi-
asm for this event is increasing as
the time for the opening o. the con-
gress draws near Especially is this
. true throughout the irrigated area, and
the irrigation districts are preparing
to send their best in order to cap
ture some Of the handsome prizes. In
fact farmers on irrigated land are al
ready preparing to forward their prize
fruits, grains, and vegetables
All things point to the certainty
that this will be the finest exhibition of
the products of irrigated lands ever
before made in the United States, and
8 the Californians who will entertain
the congress at Sacramento are pre-
pairing as feature of the occasion
magnificent allegorical parade, which,
if carried out along the lines now con-
templated, will be the finest pageant
ever witnessed in all the great west.
Among the numerous trophies and
prizes which will be offered is a mag.
nificent punch bowl of solid silver and
massive proportions and exquisite
workmanship, the gift of Baker &
Hamilton, and presented as a prize
for the best display of irrigated cereal
products. 1t stands 15A inches in
height and measures 1874 inches In
diameter across the top Of the bowl.
The decorative scheme is worked
out in repousse hand work, illustrat-
ing cereals grown on irrigated land.
The minutest details of this feature
of the design are wildly developed,
the corn tassels and barley boards
standing out in the most natural man.
ner. The artistic management of this
effect reflects great credit upon the
skill and taste of both the designer
and the manipulation of the precious
metal. Inscriptions will be placed on
medalions left, plain on the exterior of
the bowl for that purpose. Upon one
of these will be wrought the official
medal of the fifteenth National Irri-
cation congress.
Former Governor George c.. Pardee,
of California, who was twice presi-
dent of the congress, has offered a sill
yer loving-cup for interstate competi-
ton in the exposition. The Pardee
cup will be given for the best state ex-
hibit of fruits grown by irrigation.
The Pabst Brewing company has
offered to the management of the con-
gress $500 loving-cup to be hung
up for interstate competition at the
exposition. The Pabst cup will no
doubt stimulate widespread interest
and keen cOmDetitiOn Most of the