The state herald., 1908-10-09
PLATFORM OF
|RR|GAT|ON|STS
WORK OF FOREST SERVICE, RE.
cLAMATloN AND GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY ENDORSED.
WANT TIMBER CENSUS
PROPOSE AN INTERNATIONAL
CONGRESS ON IRRIGATION TO
BE HELD AT WASHINGTON.

Albuquerque, N. M.-The sixteenth
national Irrigation congress in this city
practically completed its work Thurs.
day with the adoption of the report of
the committee on resolutions and the
election of officers of the seventeenth
congress.
The report OF the committee on per-
manent organization was adopted with
out debate. electing George II. Bar.
stow Of Texas president. re.electing b.
"A. Fowler of Arizona secretary: II. ID.
Loveland OF California. II. L. Twitchel
OF New Mexico and |. d. O'Donald of
Montana vice presidents. and creating
the office of foreign secretary, to
which L. Mcqueen Gray of New Mex
leo was elected
AT the closing session Friday Spo-
kane was selected as the next place of
meeting. Pueblo withdrew her claims
and the vote was made unanimous.
After long contest before the com
mittee. the critics OF the forestry ser
vice were satisfied with the follow
ing;
BE II resolved, That 1t is the sense
OF this congress that such Legislation
should be had, in Justice to the forest
service and claimants to property
rights within the national forests, as
Will provide for a review at the in.
stance of any party affected. by a
competent tribunal. OF controversies re.
lating TO homestead entries. or forest
control or regulation. arising from any
action. regulation. or ruling OF the for.
ester's office.
That whenever large tracts OF land
suitable for agriculture and which are
not naturally forest, and which are not
Intended TO be made forests and which
are not necessary or proper for the
preservation OF the forests or the
watersheds or water supplies for the
purposes to which they have been de-
voted. lie within forest reserve boun-
dairy. such tracts should be restored TO
entry as public lands"
Another resolution Is that bearing
upon the utilization OF streams for the
creating OF electric power and fayoring
the removal OF restrictions upon such
use.
Resolved, That the necessary rights
OF way, and rights for construction of
reservoirs and other uses OF the public
lands for development Of electric pow.
er. should be encouraged and aided In
every possible way and all such rights
and uses should b. granted and al.
lowed upon equal terms with similar
rights granted for the direct purpose
Of irrigation"
THAT a census Of the standing tim.
Der In the United States should be au-
thuriIed by congress and that the
states should he urged TO cooperate
with the nation for the preservation
and enlargement OF Our forest re-.
sources by adoption OF uniform forest
laws and that forestry. irrigation,
drainage. flood protection. water stor,
age and river regulation and control
for navigation and water power
should be regarded as one great inter.
related subject In all legislative and
executive policies.
The resolutions give sweeping in
dorsement TO the work OF the reclama'
tion service. the fores, service and the
geological survey. and urge on con
Hrcss the continued support and In
creased appropriations for all Of these
bureaus: urge the repeal OF the tim
bcr and stone act ITO the end that the
accumulation of the public timber
lands IN the hands of few great cor,
porations may be arrested" urge the
speedy creation Of the southern Appa'
lhchinn aud White Mountain national
forcstA. ask congress for nm adequate
appropriation for the use Of the hydro
graphic division Of the geological sur
Ncy to determine by experiment aud
measurement and observation. the
practical effects of grazing and lum
boring on the supply NJ water for irri
cation and ON the erosion nf the soil
and that "snch Investigation extend
over the entire watersheds, both IN and
out OF the national forest, and that
such Investigation bs prosecuted sim
ulinneouAly throughout nll IN. states
and territories of the arid and semi
arid West"
4 stfonE resolution nrainH, free m
gar II included, NJ are also resolutions
/ for the creation NJ immigration bu
rennH hy tho Western states and terri
/ tories. requesting cooperation Win
| the national conservation commission
q conservation committee of tho irrira
| lion congress being authorized, urslns
| that the Carey pct be made applicable
20 the territories. indorhinT the move
mNni 10 hold session ~ the ronvtosi
| IN Washington IN 1910, 20 be known ~
an international congress On IRRIGATION
and asking appropriations from IN
state and federal governments for thu
congress. aud authorizing the preHnn
congress 10 appoint \ committee Of nv
60 b.. known ~ the congressional roni
miti.e, charged with tho duty ~ us-i1i
tho recommendations of the orsnnira
,ion on congress-,