Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-08

The Sixteenth National Irrigation
congress Will be held in Albuquerque,
n. M, in September or October, of
1908.
The city was chosen as the place for
the next congress at Sacramento, last
night, by an almost unanimous vote of
the greatest meeting in the history of
the congress- bur three states, Oregon,
Washington and Idaho, casting their
votes against Albuquerque.
The vote was taken Immediately fol-
lowing an eloquent address by Colonel
Ralph e. Twitchell of Las Vegas, in
which the brilliant lawyer set forth
the claims of New Mexico to recogni-
tion from the national promoters of
irrigation and urged Albuquerque as
the logical place for the next con-
gress, since greater advances are be-
ing made in irrigation in this terri-
tory right now than in any part of
the west, the development of modern
irrigation in New Mexico being the
more worthy of note since irrigation
had its beginning here.
A year ago in Boise, Colonel
Twitchell came so near to swinging
the congress to New Mexico by his
eloquence, that his address was sent
broadcast throughout the country.
This year he went to Sacramento pre-
pared to get the convention, having
with him not only the backing of New
Mexico, but also the backing of the
Santa Fe railway, which Is just now
engaged in a tremendous campaign
OF development along its lines in this
territory. Colonel Twitchell is assist
ant attorney in New Mexico for the
Santa Fe system. He went to the
Sacramento congress not only as 2
representative of New Mexico, but as q
representative of the railroad and one
of its agents in this great campaign
of advertising and development.
Two months ago Colonel Twitchell
came to Albuquerque and interested
the Commercial club and the business
men of Albuquerque in a plan for an
advertising campaign for New Mexico
and Albuquerque at the congress in
Sacramento. At that time Colonel
Twtchell said that he came as the
representative of the Santa Fe and
that his road was prepared to assist
materially and in every other way in
the advertising campaign proposed.
That the Santa Fe has done its part
no one who has followed the situation
can doubt The September issue of
The Earth, the Santa Fes monthly
magazine is devoted almost eXclu
while the October number will give
the same attention to this territory
The Santa Fe has embarked in a
broad and systematic campaign of
promotion in the interest of the terri
tory along its lines in New Mexico and
its cooperation In the plan to secure
the next National Irrigation cOngre IS
was a part OF this plan. Ample as 4
rance has been given that this co-0Q-
eeration will be continued in tie
months of preparation for the n
gress and that 1t will be co-operat IN
that will be material.
Yet, I'm spite of the strong influences
that were at work for New Mexico at
Sacramento, the almost unanimous
vote accorded to Albuquerque came as
something Of surprise last night and
there Is no question that 1t Is due In
large measure to Colonel Twitehel's
eloquence and to his hard work dur
ing and prior to the congress.
Albuquerque was pretty well repre-
sented at the congress, although the
delegation from this city was small.
An elaborate set of photographs was
sent together with badges and souye-
Mrs, for which funds were raised a
short time ago by the Commercial
club and this city was before the cons
gress from start to nnlSh.
The bringing Of the sixteenth con-
gress to Albuquerque means the big
gest advertisement this city and the
Rio Grande valley has ever had. The
first national irrigation congress was
held here, then a small affair In a
small town. Irrigation was in its infan-
cy then. Since that time fifteen years
ago irrigation has become one of the
shining lights in the foreground of
American development and the irriga-
tion congress has become one Of the
nations great institutions. The COM
ing of the congress means that this
city will be constantly before the
country and especially OF that part Of
Il devoted to agriculture and irrlga-
ton and 1t cannot fail to be of enor-
nous value to the city and to New
Mexico.
That Colonel Twltchell and the men
with him will receive the hearty con-
gratulatlOns Of Albuquerque and New
Mexico on their success. goes without
saying.