Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-30
CONVENTION OF
IRRIGATORS HAS
GRAND OPENING
NEARLY 1000 DELEGATES AT
ALBUQUERQUE
CROWDS cLAMoR FOR ADMISSION
TO HEAR SPEECHES
Sixteenth Annual Congress Meets
with Brilliant Prospects--Able
Addresses Made by Many,
Including Aliens
fBy Associated Press.l

A LBUQ UERCQU UE, N. hi 0SP.' 80
u The sixteenth annual sessioii VI
A the national irrigation congress
was called to order at 10:So this morn
ing bv President Frank w. Goudy OF
Denver. with every one of the 1000 seats
in tho convention hall occupied and
crowds clamoring for admission to the
gallery.
Nearly 1900 delegates were present
and today's arrivals swelled that num-
: her to more than 1900.
The days session was devoted to well
coming speeches by Mayor Lester OF
Albuquerque and Governor Curry of
New, Mexico, and the opending address
and response by President Goudy of
Denver.
A feature of the opening session was
the long list of responses to the ad-
dress of welcome by representatives
from foreign countries.
Addresses were made by delegates
from France, England, Spain, Portu-
gal, Italy, Cape Colony, Canada, Cuba,
Porto Rico, Brazil and several of the
Mexican states.
Foreigners Conspicuous
important part in the program and
their presence is lending much interest
to the work of the congress.
demonstration lasting several min
utes was made when military band
sent here by the government of Mexico
played the Star Spangled Banner" at
the opening of the session.
The singing of the Irrigation Ode"
by a chorus of 100 voices was another
feature which aroused enthusiasm.
President Goudy's address, a brief
address by Gen. j. Franklin Bell, U. 5.
A., and the responses by the foreign
delegates occupied the greater portion
of the morning session, which closed
with the appointment of committees.
There has been keen competition for
places ON the resolutions committee, to
which all resolutions must be referred.
and 1t is predicted that some effort
will be made ta-inject into the resolu-
tolls criticism Of certain phases of the
administrator forestry policy and
some reference to government, regula-
tion of the public domain.
Politics Not Favored
Nothing of political nature. howev-
er, is likely to find favor with the con-
gress.
A notable feature of the congress is
the absence of men prominent or active
in political affairs, and the presence of
an unusual number of men who are
active workers in the practical fields of
reclamation and who make up list of
speakers of exceptional strength.
The usual exposition for which the
congress appropriated $50 900, and
which has brought together the finest
display of irrigated products ever as
sembled in the United States, was for
mally opened this morning Governor
Curry of New Mexico, following a pa
rade of the troops of the department of
IL 10 hnF
sition. Gen. Bell. chief of staff. and
Brig. Gen. Thomas, commanding the
Colorado department, took part in the
parade.
A vigorous fight Is under way be-
tween Pueblo, Spokane and Salt Lake
for the next session of the congress.
Just at the close of the morning ses-
sion a telegram from President Roose-
Welt was read expressing regret that
he could not attend the congress and
wishing the meeting great success.
Some enthusiasm was created by the
final paragraph of the telegram, in
which the president said he hoped to
have the pleasure of signing a state
hood bill admitting New Mexico and
Arizona to the Union during the next
session of congress-.
Will Speak Today
d. c. Beaman of Denver, Colo, will
address the convention tomorrow on
Forestry Service" and 1t is estimated
that such criticism of the service as
may be indulged in WIN come at that
time.
The live stock interests are we'll rep
resented, and their desires as to the
resolutions regarding government reg
ulation of the public domain and for
est reserves may precipitate sharp dis
cussion.
A movement has appeared. backed
by a number of well known men. to
make the irrigation congress a perma-
nent working organization, with head
quarters and aSsecretary whose duties
would be the collection of data and in
formation for the use of the congress
in furthering needed legislation and
arousing public interest in reclamation
and conservation work to be under
taken.
The movement is finding favor among
the delevates.
Addresses of welcome were made by
Mayor G. Fl. Lester, Albuquerque, and
Governor Curry of New Mexico and
President Frank c. Goudy of Denver.
In response made the opening address
of the congress. Following Mr.. Goudy's
address an adjournment was taken
until afternoon to allow the delegates
to attend the formal opening of the ex-
position of irrigated products.
Addresses by Aliens
nc dllcIllOOIl SGSolOll was oSSoRiNN ~
brief responses to the address of well
come. among the speakers being M.
Rene Tavernier chief engineer of the
French bureau of public works; Senior
LourenciO Beata Neyes, chief engineer
of the Brazilian government; Tulio
Larranga, representative of Porto RI
co. Ignacio Dacosta, consul general for
Portugal; Carlos Cpmmanchio of the
Chilean government; Herr N Kau-
lnanns, representative of Germany, and
representatives, of Canada, England
and Cape Colony.
Some time was devoted to the report
of the officers of the congress and to
reading communications, among them
being a letter from Chief Forester Gift
ford Pinchot and telegram from Will
liam E. Smythe OF California. founder
of the congress, who was to have delv-
cred an address at the afternoon ses-
sion and who Is unable to attend. For
mer Governor l.. B. Prince of New
Mexico delivered the closing address
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