The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-28
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.

The National Irrigation Congress
meets in Sacramento on the second day
of September, for five days session.
Utah originated the Irrigation Congress,
and has taken lively interest in it
ever since. The first session was held in
this city, and a recent session was held
in Ogden. The late Legislature made
an appropriation OF $4,000 for an exhibit
Of Utah products at the coming session
OF this congress in Sacramento. And
already we see that President Judd, of
the State Horticultural Society, is NOV
ing to collect a suitable exhibit TO be
sent there. 1t would, indeed, seem
somewhat like carrying Goals to New
castle - to take Utah fruit to California,
but still we believe that Utah fruit
would make an impression even In that
State. In somo particulars it might not
be so snowy as some Of the California
fruit, but undoubtedly those who would
compare the taste of Utah fruit with
that of California would give the award
of flavor to peaches and apples from
Utah.
Of course, this coming session of the
Irrigation Congress will be the ''most
important and successful IN the history
Of the organization. They all are. 1t
is allowable for the promoters of every
succeeding session of the congress to
say this, and no harm is done. 1t keeps
up the enthusiasm, and anyway, these
sessions should grow in value and in
terest and should be ever more powerful
in taking hold Of the public mind
Undoubtedly the National Irrigation
law was the outgrowth of the successive
meetings and proceedings of this Irriga-
tion Congress. Undoubtedly there will
be moves made to take away from the
arid land some of the benefits which the
National Irrigation law confers; such
as the move which is afoot TO divert
some of the funds to the draining of
swamp and overfowed lands in the
States of the old West and the South
But by keeping up vital interest in
the Irrigation Congress these two ques-
tIons-irrigation and drainage-being
at the opposite ends of the pole, should
AS a rule the drainage of swamps
will we'll repay those who do the drain
ing, There is never as good land any
where as in the bottom Of the swamps
of the States of the old West; it is
phenomenally rich. 1t always pays to
drain those swamps. One or two crops
from the rich bottom of those lakes,
when drained, suffices to pay the cost of
the land and Of the work of draining IL.
80 ii the drainage people wish help, let
them apply for it as separate PROPOSE
ton. Besides, in the States of the
old West, the swamp and oyerfowed
lands were, as rule, given to the State
by the general government. The States
have sold much Of these at great
profit; and in handling those remaining
unsold, the States could undoubtedly
make big money.
1t is little carly yet to begin boom
ing the Irrigation Congress. but not too
carly TO begin the preparation of the
exhibits for that congress. We trust
that this preparation may be pushed
with vigor and earnestness, and that
Utah may prepare and show there an
exhibit that will be worthy of its devel.
opment, productivepess, and advantages,
AS for the delegation, the ratio of ad
mittance will be as usual, and will be
liberal to allow anyone who
wishes to attend TO be enrolled as a
delegate