Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-28
At SPOKANE;
National Irrigation Con-
gressto Meet inAugust.
II Is Expected That )Presi.
dent Taft Will Attend.
Elaborate Programs for Each Day
Have Been Arranged.

Spokane, Wash, May 27.--(speciaD.
Reclamation of arid and swamp
lands, forestry, deep Waterways, con-
servation of natural resources, good
roads and home building will be dis
cussed by experts in these lines at the
seventeenth sessions of the National
Irrigation Congress in Spokane, Au
gust 8 to IA. 1t is expected that Presi-
dent Taft and several members of his
cabinet, government officials, members
of Congress, governors, foreign rep
resentatives, railroad presidents, bank
ers and delegates from various states
and territories and provinces in Cana
da and representatives from Europe,
the South American republics and Jap
an and China will participate in the
deliberations.
The purpose of this congress is to
demonstrate to the west the possibili-
ties of the land by the solution of these
problems and to show to the east the
economic Importance and benefit to the
whole country of this development.
Advices at hand Indicate there will be
approximately 1850 accredited dele
gates, besides thousands of visitors.
Plans approved by the national Of
ficers limit the speakers to 20 minutes,
thus affording ample time for the dis
cussion of a larger number of subjects
than at former congresses. ~
Various stages of the development
of the Pacific Northwest, from the en-
trance of Captains Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark into what was then
the Oregon country in 1905 to the pres
ent day, will be eXempkfied by two
parades of progress and march in re-
view by the industrial and irrigation
army in connection with the sessions.
These open. air features have been ar
ranged:
August 10 Afternoon-Parade of
progress, showing the transformation
of the Northwest from semi-savagery
to civilization, by a series of district
floats and mounted men and marchers.
August H. Evening-H Illuminated
parade of progress, representing var
lous periods in the Northwest, from
1905 to 1909. Indians from four reser-
vations and districts in the Pacific and
western states will join in this demon
stratiOn.
August II. Afternoon-Parade and
countermarch of the industrial and ir-
risation army, with 10000 uniformed
men in line. The official emblem of
the Congress. showing science bidding
the desert drink. will be featured in
an elaborate float. Z
Chief George Moses and 300 tribes
men Of the Neg Perces, decked in the
ancient tribal finery with trophies of
historic battles when the tribe was at
war with the government, will particle
pate in the paradesi of progress. They
will make camp near the city.
Several of the late Chief Joseph's
licutenants reside on the reservation,
south of Spokane, and possess many
battle trophies and tribal costumes,
which have been kept by the old red
men. These include silver-trimmed
saddles and gaudy blankets. while the
women will don their elk-tooth dresses
ard beaded finery, to show what the
custom was in the days when the tribe
was in the height of it's power.
Arrangements are being made to in
stall massed exhibits of the resources
Of the various districts in the country
at street intersections in prominent
parts of the city, also in the state arm
DRY, where the congress will meet, so
that eastern visitors can see what is
being accomplished in the Northwest,
while the street Examinations and dec
orations will be the. most pretentious
undertakings yet attempted in the