Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-09-29

ton and Its place In the national
economy since the beginning of your
work. I attribute much Of this to
the discussions at your meetings.
My attention has been given espe-
cially to the irrigation of government
lands under the terms OF the recla-
nation acts. At the same time
appreciate the great progress which
has been made through private and
corporate efforts in the reclamation
of our arid and semi-arid lands and
in the making of homes. Praise is
due to he men who have been pio-
neers In this great work.
All roads to success IN the
creation of homes upon the
arid lands should be made easy.
Ultimately every possible droy OF
water should be conserved and
every acre of land that can be irri-
gated should be put under the most
productive system of cultivation.
There is no line of effort more help
full to the public welfsre than the
conservation OF the waste waters,
bringing them out upon the waste
lands. and creating small prosperous
farms owned and titled by self-re-
specting, independent citizens.
I am glad to call your attention
to the fact that the reclamation serv-
Ice. under the direction of Secretary
Garfield and Mr.. Newell. has effec-
lively continued its work during the
past year and is now taking water
to $4,000 acres OF land The larger
works nearing completion will soon
bring water to an additional area of
one million acres. Not only has
much land been irrigated, but the
works built or being finished are OF
the most permanent nature.
The land owners who have settled
on the reclaimed areas are already
returning to the treasury in small
amounts, aart of the investment by
the governn ent. The success already
attained shows that with continued
good administration II will be pos
.sible to replace in the treasury the
entire Investment, and to use II again
in the building of other works The
gloomy predictions which were made
at the outset that the most of the
works could not or would not be re-
paid by the people will fail We have
already advanced to a point where T
think It is safe to assert that the
people of the west will repay the
reclamation fund In full and will be
able to do It out of the profits from
the crops on the reclaimed land.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE r PIoOSEvELT.
The reading of the letter was fol-
lowed by applause f-eNt the conven-
tinn.
~ FarI
ing further communication from the
president, which was written to the
local board of control OF the National
Irrigation congress:
White House. Washington.
September 23. 1908.
Gentlemen: l deeply appreciate
not merely the invitation on gold
plate which has been conveyed to
me personally by Governor Curry
and Mr.. Bardshar. but even more the
kind and friendly expressions In
which your letter Is couched. I wish
I could be present with you. As that
Is impossible / have asked the as
slstant secretary OF the department
of the interior. himself a western
man from a Rocky mountain state,
to be present in my stead There Is
no enc policy now before the people
which seems to me Of greater impor-
tance than that OF irrigation, which
includes, of course, as necessarily at
tendant thereon, the policy OF pre-
serving our forests and our other
natural resources. There is nothing
that the government can do OF more
permanent benefit TO the people OF
all the United States than in every
proper way TO aid in developing to
the utmost limit the irrigation sys-
tenn of the west.
Wishing all success TO your con-
gress. I am.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
p. s. earnestly hope that this
winter I shall have a chance to sign
bills comforting statehood on both
New Mexico and Arizona.
Secretary Fowler also read the fol-
lowing telegram from Secretary
Loeb:
The president requests me to In
form you that Assistant Secretary
Wheeler OF the department OF COM
merce and labor will attend the Ir-
rigation congress instead OF Assis-
tant Secretary Pierce OF the depart
/ ment Of the interior
John North OF the California dele
CATION. offered the following notion:
Mr.. President. move you sir
[ that Il is the sense OF this congress
/ that We express 10 the president of
the United States our thanks for his
message Of greeting and for all his
messages and our sem Of apprecia-
/ ton OF the very great things he has
/ done for the west, and his great SYM
pathy in all matters which pertain
I 20 the development Of the west, In
cluding that portion OF his message
| regarding New Mexico and Arizona.
! 7 move you that the officers Of this
| congress respond 70 the message OF
| President Roosevelt by a suitable
communication expressing these sem
/ timents I'm a telegram.
The motion was seconded by Capt.
/ ]. Ruiac delegate from New Mexico.
The motion was put and unan-