Weekly journal-miner., 1911-12-06
NATIONAL
 IRRIGATION MEETING


 iamin A. Fowler of Phoenix, prcsi. dent of the Nineteenth National Irri. gation congress, is unalterably oppos cd to merging that organization with the swamp land reclamation move. ment, supported by railroads and oth. CT powerful interests in the South, and is lining up the forces in the western country to present strong front at the annual meeting in Chi. cago, December to o. MT. Fowler says in an authorized statement: "The National Irrigation congress is n western institution, peculiarly interested in the Pacific slope and inter mountain states, yet broad enough in its scope and purpose to cover the continent in the policy of bringing the landless man in touch with the manless land. To devote itself entirely fo the reclamation of swamp lands, as has been suggested, would he suicidal and to make that its chief work would not be in keep ing with it's name.
 "Far better would it be, if the South is in earnest abort making it's swamp lands habitable, Co organize a separate association for the reclama. tion of lands by drainage. The west. ern states would welcome such n movement and would gladly join hands with the South and give fin ancial assistance as well as moral support and cooperation.
 "T do not hold brief for the West. so do not speak officially for the numerous interests; but from what l know of the people and from conversations I have had with leaders in irrigation and actual irrigation farmers. I should say that the merg. CT movement will arouse strong op- position at the Chicago meeting.
 "frrigation has been, now is and always will be the greatest factor in the upbuilding of the western eoun- try; in fact. I may say without fear of successful contradiction that there is no other agency associated with the development of agriculture in the West, using the geographical term in its broad sense, which compares or ever will compare with the practice of intelligent irrigation.
 "The chief function of the Nation al Irrigation congress is the reclama ton of waste lands by irrigation. I, cannot be converted into a drainage association by a mere sweep of th' pen ar rising vote. Moreover, thu two movements can never be sati- factorily merged.
 "Nature fixed the boundaries agei before man dreamed of working ou the problems of relieving the land o its surplus water or of delivering water by artificial means to th' thirsty soils, and, the difficultie presented in attempting Co amalgam ate geographical differences appea to be insurmountable. It is who'll, impraeiieable, to say nothing of be ing impolitic and unwise.
 "The swamp land drainage crusad covering s0,000, ,o00 acres of vet land in thirty.five states. is propositto so big and involves 90 many million of dollars and such vast interests, ir dividual, state and national, that must inspire the biggest brsined me that eould be interested in its deve opment. Again and again has th National Irrigation congress by rest lutions called the attention of th government to the need for earl action.
 Personally, do not know wes eYn man who is not willing an anxious to contribute in every way [ arouse the entire nation, but espce ally the president and the Unite States congress to a full realixatio Vi "het thV ""ih"k' Ut tuors VI lands would mean to thousands ( home-makers; the increase of taxab
 wealth of the nation by making Ian now dormant and of little or ' value, worth from $50 to sl00 a :, acre; the necessity for removinI from many sections, conditions whis serve to spread foei for disease an radiate a pail of ineffieieney on tho, who live on nearby lands, this al nually costing thousands of valuab lives or making them unprofitab
 both to themselves and the nation. f "This is superb question of nl tionai conservation, and feel it i. one which win readily appeal to pa n riotie and public spirited citizen !. north, each and west, as well ,