Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-03
CONGRESS OPENED WITH GREAT
ENTHUSIASM
SACRAMENTO WELCOMES MANY
DELEGATES
Vice President Fairbanks Delivers
Address--Says Reclamation OF
Land Increases coun-
try's Prosperity
By Associated Press.

the fifteenth national lrr1Sation SohSiess
opened here this afternoon under most
auspicious circumstances.
Beautiful weather prevailed and the city
presented gay appearance with lts
elaborate decorations and .--rongs OF noh-
day sightseers. The opening session was
announced for 1870 o'clock, but delegates
began to arrive at the specially con-
structed irrigation palace during the noon
hour and gathered in groups, DISCUSSING
the congress and the important WORK
that will be done during the week.
The irrigation palace has seating accom-
modations for about $500 people, ana IN
addition to delegates large NUMBER Oh
spectators are provided for.
On the outside flags and bunting are
used with artistic effect in decorating.
There are also panels bearing the names
of the fourteen states and three terri
tories within the reclamation act
The interior of the building presents
festive appearance, with streamers OF va
rivd hues. Over the speakers PLATFORM
are the words: Science Bids the Desert
Drink" On the walls in conspicuous
manner the Washington delegation calieo
attention to the desire of Walla Waila 10
have the next congress held there.
Chamberlain Welcomed
Governor Chamberlain, president of the
national irrigation congress, accompanied
by the other members of the oregon oeie-
cation, arrived early in the morning ana
was greeted by a salute of seventeen
guns. He was entertained at luncheon at
the home Of William Shaw.
The congress opened with the irriga.
tion Ode" which was rendered by the zoo
m Members of the Ogden tabernacle choir.
an organization comprised of 12O men ana
Mavor M. r. Beard of Sacramento then
delivered the address of welcome on De-
half of the city, and was followed py
Governor James N Gillett, who welcomed
the delegates to the state. Both ofhcials
expressed the pleasure of the people In
having the visitors with them and spoke
of the Importance of the work OF the con-
gress.
half of the congress.
vice President Fairbanks was given an
enthusiastic reception when he arose to
deliver his address. He spoke as follows:
Supports Irrigation
.prhe suggestion that the government
should participate in the work OF irr1ga-
ton awakened some opposition among
those who had given little thought 10 II
and who failed to realize its tremendous
L
NV public service with more satisfaction
than the support which 1 gave to the
reclamation act upon the statute DOCKS.
The measure now speaks for itself. It's
critics have become it's supporters ana
the marvel of it all Is that It's virtues
were not earlier forseen and sucn
measure sooner enacted. The work OF
development under it may sometimes
seem to be slow. The results, however,
It'll ot~n 70
what has been done by the government
will agree that much progress has been
made and that the faithful execution of
the law will result in bringing under
high state of cultivation many millions
of acres of land which are now unpro-
ductive.
.Thc effect of irrigation in this west
ern country can be appreciated only by
those who are familiar with 1t from per-
sonal observation The change made in
the conversion of an arid waste into
fruitful fields seems almost incredible.
There Is no more radical transformation
to be found anywhere than in the parched
valleys and plains which have been ir-
rigated and which prior thereto pro-
duced nothing but sage brush. The most
land has become the most
fertile. From the worst, 1t takes rank
as the best 1t is hard to find anywhere
that which Is occupied by sage brush,
and no more bountiful harvests are gath.
cred than those which this same for
bidding land produces when touched by
the yitalizing' influence of irrigation.
There are promising fields today where
there was no sign of habitation before
we entered upon the present reclama-
ton policy and what is being done Is
but prophetic of what we shall accom-
n - w-~lf
upon which we have entered and carry
it out to the limits of it's possibilities.
Passed Experir- entail Stage
eve have long since passed the ex-
perimental stage and it only remains to
push the work wherever feasible with
the utmost vigor. The reclamation of
every ten or twenty acres of land means
the creation of a homestead which will
support family of indus
trious intelligent and patriotic American
"The development of irrigation by the
national government must have a pro-
found and far-reaching influence upon the
general subject of irrigation throughout
the country. 1t will tend powerfully
to the extension of irrigation into por-
tions of the country which have hith-
erto relied largely upon rainfall in the
Is no more important subject for the
of farmers in many of the
humid and seini-humid regions than that
of so-called supplemental irrigation. We
must prepare more and more for the
increased demand upon our food supply
which comes with the multiplying mill
lions of our population. Therefore, the
development of the subject of irrigation
is of interest not only to the farmers
of this great western region but to the
farmers and consumers everywhere.
1--WE do a substantial and permanent
service to our country by enlarging the
area under which men and women may
come from the congested centers and
find occupation for their energies
and homes for their heads. Let a.
man own a piece Of ground he may culti-
vate; put him into partnership with ma
ture and 1t will intensity his love of coun-
try and make him a more stable. conser-
vative and patriotic citizen. Increase the
home builders and the home owners of the
republic and you augment Its real abiding
strength.
'The development of the reciamationl
service in this western country means the
increase of migration hither of many de-
sirable citizens. 1t means that In good
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