The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-04-09
MlSSOULA AND BITTER ROOT
MAY SEND DELEGATION TO
IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
SECRETARY HOOKER TALKS
in Rooms Of Missoua Club to Hear
Prominent Member Of Executive
Committee Explains Ends and Aims
Of Important Gathering.

There was an interested and earnest
crowd at the rooms Of the Missoula
club last night even if it was small in
numbers. to meet Secretary Hooker
of the executive committee of the Ma
tional Irrigation congress. When the
discussion was ended, which followed
the explanation by Mr.. Hooker, it was
decided by those present to endeavor
to organize an excursion of 150 people
from the Bitter Root and Missoula to
the session of the congress in Spokane
next fall.
Those who responded to the invi-
tation to meet Mr.. Hooker were prin-
cipally the members of the executive
committee of the chamber of COM
merce, but Mr.. Hooker is familiar
enough with the work of commercial
organizations to know better than to
expect very large gathering. He said
he was satisfied, especially as he had
heard Of the excellent work that the
Missoula Chamber of Commerce is do
ing. II have heard about your organ
ization," said Mr.. Hooker, "and have
seen instances of it's work. I am sure
you have the right idea and I hope
your city will give you the support
that you deserve"
Explaining the plans for the meet
ing Of the irrigation congress this
year, Mr.. Hooker said that the main
point was to secure as much publicity
as possible; that the west understands
and appreciates the irrigation and
reclamation work but the desire is to
educate the east and to interest her
people in the work. On that account
the meeting is being widely advertised
There are many phases of the situa-
tion to be considered and each one will
be given all the attention possible.
Important Question.
In illustrating, Mr.. Hooker said that
the question of financing irrigation
projects has become an important
matter. The bonds on irrigated lands
are desirable if they are in the right
form and two of the leading financiers
Of the east, President vanderlip of
, the New York National bank; and N.
w. harris of Chicago, will address the
Spokane meeting on this phase of the
question. In connection with the re-
portation is important, both as to the
handling of the produce of the lands
and as to bringing people out to farm
them The transportation question
will be discussed at Spokane by James
J. Hill of the Great Northern, Presi-
dent Elliott of the Northern Pacific
and President Earling of the Milwau-
kee. These instances are cited to show
y1~nA Sy I1ir s,, nvI Is k14o
details of the program.
Asked what was wanted of Missoula
and the Bitter Root, Mr.. Hooker said
that the Spokane people want a
marching club of as many hundred as
possible to participate, with a band. in
the march of the irrigation army"
which will be one of the features of
the convention. He added that the
Spokane people will pay the trans
portation of the band if there is club
to march with it in the parade. He
hoped that Missoula and the Bitter
Root would cooperate with Spokane in
this endeavor to make a demonstra-
ton, as effective as possible, of the
strength and the enthusiasm Of the
west in the matter of irrigation.
Others to Benefit.
"The great benefit of the meeting
will not be Spokane's directly" said |
Mr. Hooker. Spokane has learned
that if she devotes her energies to
the development of the country around |
her, the city's growth will take care
of itself. 1t is the whole northwest |
that will receive the benefit. In this |
affair, as in the apple show, Spokane |
wants to give as much publicity to
Oregon and Idaho and Montana, as to |
Washington and it is up to the peo-
pie of these states to do their part"
Mr. Hooker spoke at length on this |
matter. He was lisened to with at |
tentive interest and when he had con-
cluded, it was decided to try to or |
ganize an excursion of $50 from the |
Bitter Root and Missoula to go to |
Spokane with a band on the occasion |
of the meeting Of the congress. If |
more can be induced to go, there will |
be a bigger crowd, but the effort will |
be to get that many at least.
There are several Montana men |
connected with the work of the con-
gress. 7. d. O'Donnell Of Billings is |
the third vice president Of the con- |
gress. Senator Carter. as chairman of |
the senate committee on irrigation, will |
attend and probably all of the mem
bers of the. committee will be with |
him. Senator Dixon, chairman of the |
conservation committee, will attend |
and there will be other members Of |
this committee on hand There will |
be many governors and some Of the |
pioneers in the irrigation movement |
will participate.
MUCH ALARM FELT