The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
VICTORY FOR
RECLAMATION
Pardee Of California Appointed Chairman Of
Committee on Resolutions.

rally reduced, the competition that
will follow will hasten the depletion
of our own and forests of neighbor-
ing countries. The price will be-
come prohibitive to the home build
err. Congestion in tenement districts
will take place and the deplorable
conditions existing in portions of
three-fourths of the choicest stand
ing timber Of the country is owned
by individuals or corporations and
the difference in the price of labor
in the United States and Canada
would smother the industry in this
country. There are 100000 peo-
pie employed in the lumber indus
try alone in this country.
Mayor Pratt welcomed the con-
gress to Spokane, saying: Gov
eminent reclamation is opposed by
men in money centers who consider
the masses OF people their lawful
prey. But the men who are re.
claiming lands will be remembered
when those who built the Panama
canal are forgotten"
Praising the work Of the reclama'
ton service and the bureau of
forestry. demanding government
bonds for the improvement of the
national waterways and for the en-
largement of the reclamation serv-
ice and demanding the regulation
of the water power monopoly
George E. Barstow of Texas, presi-
dent of the congress, sounded the
keynote of its issues In the open
ing address of todays session.
1.-The preservation of our forests
Is the foundation principle of all
the valuable object that we seek to
attain" he said, "and than which
nothing Is more important today to
o"r ec""trv's commercial and in.
dustrial life"
Barslow declared that the work
Of the government in putting set.
tiers on land will solve the social
problems of the nation for years to
come, and praised President
Roosevelt's administration.
L IF power and pomp and pelf be.
come our ruling passion" he said
I'VE may expect as nation to
reap a harvest of corruption and
decay. During the last year Of
President Roosevelt's administra.
ton he appointed the country life
commission. the purpose of which
was to benefit the farming class.
es. May we not hope that the ex.
presidents example may be emu.
lated by his worthy successor,
President Taft?'
The object of the congress, Bar.
stow declared, is to marshal the
forces that seek the betterment of
the country for the overthrow of
the elements that seek to destroy
through greed. "As an illustive of
this principle" he declared. II de-
sire to direct the attention of this
congress to the question OF a wise
and just federal or legislative con-
troll of the water power companies
inhabiting our nation, especially by
limiting the time for which their
rights are granted"
THE voice of the people of our
entire nation demands" he said,
that the reclamation fund shall be
forthwith supplemented by the
creation and sale from time to time
of gold bonds In the total sum of
| $500. 100000 in order that much
more rapid work may proceed in
reclaiming the nations arid lands.
The same principle finds its appli.
cation as to retaining swamp
lands and the improvement of riv.
ers. This is no time to halt and
disband."
Barstow advocated the creation
OF a commission to take charge OF
waterway Improvement and re.
lieve the war department of this
duty. He urged the adoption of a
plan for permanent headquarters
and officers.