The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-21
Spokane Letter

Spokane, Wash, Jan. 22-Advan
lages OF community life i'm localities
where the soil Is cultivated in IN.
mort intelligent manner possible and
where orchards and fields are wat
cred by scientific means will he
brought prominently to the fore nj
the sessions of the 17th National
irrigation Congress in Spokane
August to Ia, under the presidency
OF George H. Barstow of Barstow
Texas. 1t is expected there will be
between 1000 and 5000 accredited
delegates.
Arthur Hooker, secretary of the
local board of control. OF which r
lnsinger is chairman, has advices
that large delegations will come
from Texas, Colorado, California,
Idaho, Montana, Washington, Utah,
Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona, oklaho-
ma, New Mexico, also that Kansas
Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas, Mime
sofa, Wisconsin,, Michigan, Illinois.
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsyl-
vania and states in the south and
New England will have representa-
tives. Massachusetts,, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Rhnde Island, Maine and
Maryland will have special dele
IIyates
Possibilities under intensive cul-
tivation will be demonstrated and
among the other prominent subjects
for discussion will be the reclamation
of swamp and arid lands, conserva.
tion Of water, preservation and re-
Mobilization of timber areas, deep
waterways, good roads, drainage
AMI home-building These matters
will be discussed by federal officers,
scientists, railway officials and for
eign representatives.
\ The delegates to the National 7r-
Irrigation Congress Will have the priv
ilege of participating at the formal
opening of the Spokane Coliseum,
to be erected by the National Apple
Show. Inc, of which Louis W. Hill
of st. Paul, president of the Great
Northern Railway company, is the
head. The hall will be the largest
west of the Rocky Mountains and
will accommodate from $1,000 to
10000 persons. The structure will be
of steel and reinforced concrete, anu
is to be ready in time for the con-
gress
Preliminary plans already made
provide for a reception by the peo-
pie of Spokane and the Inland EN-
pire in honor of the delegates and
visitors. This will be during the
opening day. Another feature will
be an industrial parade, with floats
representing the business houses, af-
fording also opportunities for the
various districts in the irrigated
areas of the west TO display their
products and other means of show.
ing the progress made in the COM
munities.
1t Is also Planned TO have a mill
tary parade, in which companies OF
United States soldiers and state
militia will participate, and another
pageant will be a march in review
by civic and fraternal organizations
In this 1t is purposed to have sew
eral hundred representatives of In
dian tribes, mounted and garbed in
festal day raiment, also squaws and
pappOoses.
The crowning feature of the street
demonstrations, however, wiz be the
parade of the Irrigation Army, TO be
marshalled from the irrigated belts
of the PaEiiic and western and
southwestern states The marchers
Will wear distinctive uniforms, with
caps and banners bearing the names
of the districts represented There
wHl be a trophy cup for the com
pany making the best showing. II is
expected to organize marching clubs
in at least $50 communities in these
states, so that from 10000 TO 10000
men will be in line. Most of the
clubs will be accompanied by bands
which will be massed at the close Of
the parade.
A chorus of 1000 voices viii be
organized early next spring to sing
the Irrigation Ode at the opening of
the Congress. The singers will be
drilled once a week in the state
armory Other features are also be-
inr considered by the executiys
committee The board of governors,
pf nybfcb w paard 90 caorapoanko
Cal, is chairman, will have charge OF
the final arrangements OF the pro.
gram. These have not yet been