The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-05-05

III. II. Perrin of lower Valley Appeals
TO Citizens to Have Representa-
tive Display.

The present is an era of great under
takings. Witness the construction of
the Panama canal, the draining of the
Florida Everglades and the reclama-
ton of wide areas of hitherto worth
less lands through the agency of irri-
cation.
All over the productive regions of
the south cotton is king. In the rich
areas of the North Central states corn
is king. But throughout the vast
stretches of the seemingly worthless
west, in a very real and positive sense,
water is king. AS the years go by and
the wonderful fruitfulness of the So
called arid regions comes to be more
generally known, as the teeming
millions turn westward and the advan-
tages of irrigation, both here and in
the older states, are more widely rec
ognized, even more significant, more
universal and more deeply true will
be the watchword. Water Is King"
Reclamation i'm Its Infancy.
The reclamation of lands as
national policy has scarcely begun. To
ulation irrigation is little more than
name. The wonderful productiveness
of these western lands under the mag
ic touch of water is almost beyond
their belief. All that is necessary to
bring large numbers of these people
to the west is to get them in touch
with the facts as they really are.
70 nth mo nc Of If
eral intelligence concerning irrigation
and the products of irrigation and
western lands and western farming is
more effective, more reliable or more
truly representative than the annual
assembling of the National Irrigation
Congress. This is in the highest sense
a truly national, democratic, represen-
tative body, since no association, club,
organization or corporation is debar-
red from sending delegates to it's an
nual sessions.
Big Questions Are Discussed.
The larger questions, such as the
conservation of our national resources,
the storage of water, the best methods
of carrying and applying it, together
with such other questions as reforesta-
ton, good roads, ETC., are discussed at
this congress by men of wide observa-
ton and national reputation. 1t is a
splendid thing for the worker in de-
tails to get an occasional glimpse from
the national viewpoint
No better opportunity is offered the
people of Yakima valley for an effec-
tive display of the products of irriga-
ton in general than that afforded by
the coming session OF the Irrigation
Congress in Spokane. No comment is
so suggestive, no influence SO lasting,
no speech so potent as the unspoken
speech of the simple. impressive pres
ence of the products of irrigation
| themselves.
The fruit, the hay, the grains the
vegetables, the dairy and stock pro-
| ducts added to the enthusiastic crowds
are perse, an unanswerable argu-
ment in behalf of the irrigated regions.
Last in This State for Years.
The congress will not assemble
again in this state for years. Spokane
! is making great preparations for en-
| tertainment; general Iblicity and
cordial reception to all who come.
| Shall the greatest irrigated section of
central Washington, with her wonder
full productiveness and her still more
remarkable 1ndeveloped resources sit
idly by and allow the representative
intelligence of the nation to come ane
go with no adequate knowledge of the
benefits which the magic hand of irri-
Cation is here just beginning to confer.
Added to the other attractions, there
will be three splendid parades and the
men and the products of Yakima val
ley should be the biggest thing in the
biggest of these parades. Representa-
tives of other irrigated sections, both
east and south, will be there. Their
plans already in progress hespeak
full realization of the opportunities
and the benefits offered.
Need FOR Big Gathering.
Special committees of all the com
mercial clubs from Ellensburg to the
Columbia are working together, call
ing attention of the people to the i'm
portance of the congress, seeking to
unity the efforts. augment the display
and increase the attendance from the
entire valley.
President Roosevelt Is quoted as
saving that the National Irrigation
Congress is the most important volun-
tary representative body that has ever
assembled in this country. This being
true, every town and community
should be present with large and en-
TO
tive citizens.
special train will be run from
North Yakima. AS usual, there Will
be reduced rates August 9-14 is the
date. which. broadly translated, should
mean no less than 914 wideawake, en-
thusiastic delegates from Yakima val
ley. Fl. E. PERRIN
Chairman Sunnyside Committee.