Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-06-08
SPOKANE Man DISCUSSES
IRRIGATION IN CHICAGO
Makes Strong Talk Before the Hamilton
Club on Conservation

/ CHICAGO, ILL.,, June S.-Dlscuss-
ing the purposes of the National Irri-
cation congress in an address follow
ing luncheon in his honor at the
Hamilton club here today. R. Insin-
ger OF Spokane. chairman OF the
board of governors. said that in ad-
dition to saving the forests, storing
the floods, retaining the deserts and
swamps and making homes on. the
land. the organization also aims
bringing better and more intelli-
gent class Of settlers to the country,
with a view to the utilization of ev-
cry opportunity offered by intensive
farming to increase production and
decrease the cost of living. He adj
ded among other things;
The National Reclamation Act,
adopted by the United States congress
In 1902, is the outgrowth of years OF
work by this organization to obtain
the enactment of such law This
has given the country % projects,
representing the reclamation of B.
10000 acres Of land at a cost OF
more than $4,000, 900. while 10
projects held in allegiance until the
completion of the foregoing, will add
100000 acres more to the crop
producing area Of the United States
This total of 6,468.0 900 acres will
furnish homes for 100000 persons
and add several hundred millions of
dollars to the taxable property of
the various states.
The congress, which gained such
widespread recognition at the Spo-
kane convention, last summer, will
have its 18th sessions at Pueblo, Col,
September 26 to 80, under the presi-
dency OF B, A. Fowler Of Phoenix,
Ariz.. who has been actively identified
with the organization for years. II
is promised there will be several
thousand delegates, including practi-
cal agriculturists and irrigationists.
from all parts of the United States,
Canada and Mexico, also from 30 to
40 foreign representatives and dip
lomatists, heads of national and state
departments. capitalists and engin-
GERS.
There will also be an exposition
of apparatus for raising and putting
water on the land and representative
exhibits of products of irrigated
tracts, thus bringing together In the
heart of the Arkansas valley the
most comprehensive demonstration of
the value OF irrigation in the history
of the movement Colorado has
larger acreage under bitches than
any of the western states and. as
practically every approved method
OF distributing water is in use In
that state, there will be opportunities
to study the various plans of supply
ing moisture by artificial means to
the land.
I'm the states from the Missouri
river to the Pacific oceon there are
fully 100000 acres under irriga-
ton or to be watered in the near fu-
ture. Allowing an average OF 20
acres to a family and FIVE persons to
family, this acreage will support
$50, GOO persons. To this number
might be added 10000 more, rep
resenting the number OF persons
needed to supply the wants OF these
filters Of the soil and to transport
their products. Irrigationists claim
that an average Of 10 acres to the
family is high enough; but, to be
conservative, an average OF 20 is
used. On that basis these s,o00.-
goo acres would furnish a living.
directly or Indirectly. to at least l.,
SOC. 600 people
PLANTED to wheat. producing an
average of 80 bushels an acre. this
irrigated area would yield 10000
600 bushels; or 24.000,000 tons OF
hay. II planted to alfalfa, while II In
apples. as grown IN the northwestern
states. the yield would be 10000. 900
tons. This enormous tonnage would
call for more railroads from the great
lakes to the Pacific coast. millions OF
dollars worth OF new equipment aud
the employment OF hundreds Of
thousands OF skilled mechanics and
laborers in mills and factories ali
over the country. II would also mean