The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-01

CONVENTION
Forestry, Irrigation and Drainage In,
terssss to Be consldered-NatIonal
Legislation Of Far.Reaehlps import.
anee and Involving Expenditure Of
Millions Has Followed Previous
Sessions Of This Body.

sessions Of This Body.
The Fifteenth National Irrigation
Congress. which will be held in sacra.
mento. California, September 81 next
promises to be a very important Ma,
tional event. 1t is,a Forestry Con:
Sress also and the discussions. which
will include questions OF National For.
est Reserve extension and adminlsira,
tion, as well as National Irrigation, will
be Of interest and importance to ev
cry portion of the country.
The Irrigation Congress is chiefly
notable as having been the fountain
head and center Of an agitation that
has resulted In the National Govern
ment undertaking TO build irrigation
systems In the Western States With
moneys received from the sale Of pun,
lie lands In those States, under proyi.
sions that require ultimate repayment
TO the National Treasury by the lands
so benefited. The funds. available for
this work under the provisions OF the
Act are rapidly approaching the Forty
Million mark and some OF the greqt.
est irrigation enterprises in the world
are now in progress OF development.
The operation of this law has Mt.
iracied Widespread attention In this
and Other countries. During The last
two years much interest in this ne !
policy OF retaining the arid lands
with Government money has been
eyinced In States having large areas
Of swamplands, and bill Is now pend.
ing in Congress, introduced by SEM.
tor Flint of California, providing for
National drainage under similar pro.
VISIONS for the ultimate. return OF the
money so spent.
From . It's inception the Irrigation
Congress has urged the wise conscr.
walton of the forests of the country
and especially the protection Of the
torested watersheds. The present For.
est policy Of the National Government
has been brought about by a public
sentiment created in large part by the
Forestry discussions which irg q
been part Of the annual sessions.
The Irrigation Congress was first a
Western organization but has grown
to be National in scope. At Inc las,
session held in Boise. thir;y-two States
were represented including several
on the Atlantic seaboard.
The commanding feature Of the Con.
gress is the high character Of the at.
tendance. Leading men of the Nation
of the States attend. Among these the
United States Senators. Congressman
Governors and other high officials.
Vice President Fairbanks attended the
last session. President Roosevelt al.
ways sends n message by a personal
representative. Because Of the fact
that the Congress discusses National
inrrests and policies, provision Is
made in the Official Call for the m.
pointmcnt Of delegates by organized
bodies Of many kinds. Including com.
mercinl and agricultural organizations,
as well as by Governors OF States and
Mayors Of cities, and county commits.
siOHers.
The people Of California are making
great preparations for the fifteenth
session and provision Is being ma lc
for the comfort and entertainment OF
several thousand delegates. Special
rates OF fare will prevail over all rail.
way lines AMI il is also announced that
special arrangements have been made
whereby accredited delegates mas
have the benefit Of very nominal ex.
curslon rates for side trips, which will
enable them 10 see much OF California
at low cost.