The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-29
THEIR MISSION TO MAKE
DESERT PLACES BLOOM
THESE THE WATCHWORDS OF
THE SIXTEENTH IRRIGATION
CONGRESS AT AlBUQUER-
QUE, N. NJ, TODAY.
BY c. II. TAVENER.

BY =. n. IAV6N6h.
Special Correspondence to The Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, Sept. 20.
The sixteenth national irrigation
congress and international exposi.
ton opened in Albuquerque today,
The congress will last until Oct. 3,
but the exposition will continue a
week longer in connection with the
twenty-eighth territorial fair, at
which. products of desert lands re.
claimed by irrigation will be ex.
hibited.
The four great objects of the con.
gress are: Save the Forests, y
'Store the Floods" Reclaim the
Deserts" and Make Homes on the
Land"
Spokane is one of the leading
contestants for the congress next
year, with an excellent prospect
of securing it. Salt Lake City is
also a strong contestant. Pueblo,
Colorado, is also after the honor.
George H. Barron, vice presi-
dent, will undoubtedly be elected
president Friday.
The congress Is attended by
many national and state officials,
by irrigation and forestry experts,
engineers, farmers, manufacturers,
professional men and members of
the press, for at this congress the
work of the United States reclama-
tion service throughout the west
will be demonstrated in manner
never before attempted at any
previous congress. Object lessons
of the results accomplished by the
congress Since list inception will be
shown by stereopticon views OF
projects completed or in course Of
construction, irrigated farm scenes
and cities that have been built by
irrigation in the desert, reflected on
canvas by officials of the reclama-
ton service.
In addition to the lectures telling
of the work finished and in prog
ress, products of irrigated lands
will be exhibited--fruit, vegetables
and grain of wonderful quality and
quantity-for the Rio Grande valley
farmer who cleared $500 from one
acre of ground In one year as a
result of intensive cultivation dem
onstrated what one man can do
with a small tract of land. That is
primarily the work of the irrigation
congress--to demonstrate to farm
ers the fact that a 40 acre farm in.
tensively cultivated will yield more
than 100 acres, part of which is per-
mitted to lie idle while the re-
mainder gets little more than per
functory attention.
nThe United States government
has taken a greater interest in the
sixteenth congress than in any
other. Congress appropriated
| 100000 to aid the international in
dustrial exposition in connection
with 1t, decided recognition of the
work the people of the west have
undertaken. 1t Is sending reclama-
ton service men to address the con-
gress and to explain the work,
while several of the government
departments will be represented
by exhibits.
Many states, particularly through
out the west, are sending delegates
and foreign countries that are inter
ested in irrigation are sending their
Representatives to attend sessions
of the congress and report on the
projects the United States govern
ment and individuals have under
taken in the way of irrigation.
Mexico sends delegates, and prac-
tically all Central and South Amer,
lean countries will be represented
by their consuls; Cape Coloney,
South Africa, sends two scientific
farmers and members of it's parla-
ment to study of results of irriga-
ton; Chile sends an official of its
agricultural department to study ir-
rigation methods; Brazil sends a
special delegate; France Is repre-
sented by famous civil engineer;
an official of the Canadian agricul-
tural department will attend; from
Hawaii comes an expert sugar
grower and irrigation farmer! a
special delegate comes from Portu-
gal, and civil engineer from Porto
Rico; Germany and Great Britain
will be represented by their nearest
consuls.
Some of the principal speakers
and their subjects include: William
u. Smythe, "The Hope of the Little
Lands; w. w. Follett, director of
the American division of the inter
national boundary commission "Jr-