Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-03
bEAMAN ATTACKS
ROOSEVELT AID
FORMER OTTUMWAN AT IRRIGA-
TON CONGRESS RoAsTs
CLIFFORD PlNCHoT.

Albuquerque N. NJ, October Id. c.
Beaman, general attorney of the Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron company, started a
volcano at the irrigation congress yes
terday in sarcastic personal attacks re-
garding the ability and integrity of
Clifford Pinchot, chisf forester of the
United States. A yelled attack was
made on the building of the Engle
dam at Elephant Butte, whereby flood
waters of the Rio Grand can be stored
to reclaim 100000 acres in New Mexico
and Texas and irrigate many thousands
of acres now watered through enter
prise. This dam will also furnish Mex
leo much water yearly because Of
Mexico's prior right on waters of the
Rio Grande now diverted
Pinchot arranged to be present and
make a reply, but could not, as he was
assigned to other duties by President
Roosevelt in connection with the con-
servation movement. He had able de-
tenders in w. w. Follett, consulting
engineer of the international boundary
commission at Ell Paso and George FL.
Maxwell of Chicago. who were APP
plauded.
Slap at the Administration.
Beaman eIimated Secretary Wilson
of responsibility in existing conditions
in forestry service He made no speci-
fic, charges, but condemned the whole
Pinchot system and methods. His at
tack is regarded as slap at the admin
istration against those newspapers
which he claimed have surprised the
forestry.
1t Is regarded by some that the at
tack was instigated by lumber inter-
ests, as the forestry commission stands
for the repeal Of the stone and timber
act If the repeal is made there will
be reclaimed for use OF the government
stone and timber lands valued at $780,
100000, but now being appropriated by
private interests at $3.50 per acre. Il
small fraction of their value.
w. w. Follett was given a remark
able demonstration when he asserted
the great dam at Elephant Butte will
be built, because the general govern
ment has said so, and its fiat Is law.
The pledges to Mexico will be kept he
said. This concluded the most remark
able defense of the government ever
delivered in the west.
Maxwell Defends the Government.
George H. Maxwell Chicago. in a
defense of the policies of the govern
ment referred to the great forest fires
of northwest Michigan. The way to
save forests without government aid
is question, he said too large for
private enterprise. He asserted the
conservation Of forests is of greater
Importance than ba:tleshlp construc .
ton He claimed that loss by fire In
forests controlled by the government
during the last year is less than $780,,
600. while in forests owned individually
and by corporations the loss aggregated
s5O,00o,000.
Maxwell ridiculed proposed irriga-
ton districts, which. he said. would
fail for want of capital. He said
everything In the west in the way
of public development will be done by
the government. He favored uphold
ing irrigation and foresty laws.
Barrett Inspired by Roosevelt
John Barrett, director of the bureau
of American republics, talked on the
great irrigation projects of Latin
America. He asserted that Argentine
spent $25,000,000 i'll irrigation projects
before the United States spent a dol
lar. His speech is regarded as having
been inspired by President Roosevelt
He repeated the demands Of statehood
for New Mexico and Arizona and was
applauded for ten minutes. He fol-
lowed with a suggestion for an inter-
national pam American irrigation
congress in 1910 to be held in Mexico
City.
S. B. Schmidt of the Illinois delega-
ton offered a reception against further
irrigation laws. but to enforce those all
ready passed.