Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-09-23
CONSERVATION
PROBLEMS
CONTINUED from Page 81

land. Especially desirable Is the |
endorsement of popular associations, |
for often the real wishes of the peo- |
pie are best expressed in this way. |
This is particularly true Of the Ma
tional Irrigation Congress. whose /
recommendation carry great weight F!
in all matters pertaining TO irriga- !
tion. The National Irrigation Con-
gress, ow in its eighteenth year, is
made up of representatives of all the ,
leading irrigation institutions
throughout the coutry - states.
cities. national and local associa-
tions, water companies and inter-
ested individuals. It is powerful
ad thoroughly representative Or
ganzation. Recognizing this, the
Territory of Hawaii was this year
represented at the meeting Of the
Congress held at Spokane by dele
cation of six members. The aim of
the delegation was to press the
claims of Hawaii and to secure the
endorsement by the Congress of the
project to extend the Reclamation
Act to this Territory. In this quest
we were successful. The resolutions
adopted by the Seventeenth National
Irrigation Congress contain among
other recommendation this clause
I'VE urge the Congress of the Unit
ed States to extend the Reclamation
Act to the Territory of Hawaii"
Similar favorable action was also
secured at the First National Com
servation Congress, held at Seattle,
Aug. 20 to rs. where one of the res
olutions adopted was in favor of this
project
One other point gained may also
| be noted In this connection. Largely
| through the active itcrest and in
nuence of +. II. Newell, representa-
| tives of Hawaii were given an OPP
the Senate Committee on Arid
Lands, then en- route on tour of
the West to investigate various re-
clamation projects. II is before this
Committee that the bill to extend
the Reclamation Act to Hawaii, in
troduced at the last session of Con-
gress by Prince Kuhio, is now
awaiting consideration. The Com
mittee listened with apparent inter-
est to presentation of statements in
favor of Hawaiis contention. follow
ing which briefs were filed giving
the arguments at greater length.
Knew What Was Wanted.
These are all steps In the right
direction and properly followed up
should be of no small help In bring
ing about the desired result. But
il is only the beginning. To be
successful the campaign must be un-
ceasingly waged until the object
Hawaii desires is secured. One of
the reasons why we were successful
lat Spokane and Seattle was that we
knew precisely what we wanted and
went after that one thing. What Is
needed now is that the points gained
so far be followed up. We have a
law enabling the Territory to CO.
operate with the Federal Govern
ment by beginning study of the
local problems. Water experts are
already on the ground. Other eX-
perts are on their way here to as
certain the exact situation and need
in the way of maps. What is want
ed now is a better understanding by
the general public of the reason for
these Investigations and the end to-
ward which they lead II cannot
too often be said that the final goal
THE essential purpose of all con-
servation work. here or on the main
land, Is the making possible of more
American homes. An enlightened
public sentiment helps tremendous
ly In backing up such work and
keeping II going. Much local in
terest already exists. This interest
will increase when the people know
more about what Is intended and
what Is being done. The diffusion
of such information Is peculiarly the
duty of such an organization as this.
The members of the Hawaii branch
of the Womcn's National Rivers and
Harbors Congress can do no more
useful wor kthan by posting them
selves accurately on this subject and
then passing the word along.
All Work Together.
Over In the Pacific Northwest one
of the best of the many local catch
phrases is, | think. that of Walla
Walla: what Walla Walla wants
is YOU" What Hawaii needs Is
that we all get together and work to
bring about such condition OF