The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-09
IRRIGATION CONGRESS COMING.

Salt Lake City. the birthplace Of the
Irrigation Congress, is to have the sss'
sion of that Congress next year. The
first Irrigation Congress met IN salt
Lake City September -. rs. IL, in 1891.
II was projected by then Governor
Thomas and rho writer of tins.
great deal Of correspondence resulted IN
call hv Governor Thomas for the
Congress 10 meet. and ITS session was
had in the Agricultural Exposition
building which was then on the Tenth
Ward square of this city. large num-
Der of distinguished men attended, and
the proceedings were of the most IN
teresting character. Eloquent speaking
was had at the various sessions. and
the Congress was put firmly upon lts
feet II has met in various parts o1
the country since. aud once in Ogden
seven years ago, but not in salt Lake
since the first meeting
And now the Congress has resolved
to return next year 10 its birthplace,
and to hold its session of 1912 IN salt
Lake. The news of this determina-
ton was ioyfully received here, and
the city will undoubtedly make large
and ample preparations TO welcome that
body. 1t should he made memorable
occasion, this tweutyhrst ann1ver"
sary Of the foundation of the 1rriga-
tion Congress.
Salt Lake City is the center of the
Of tho arid
belt The first settlers of Utah took to
irrigation as naturally as ducks to wa
ter. having word OF the success of IT.
rigation in the Spanish missions III Call
fornia. Almost Immediately upon the
coming OF the pioneer company to Salt
Lake City, furrows were ploughed for
the planting of potatoes, and water was
turned on TO moistcn the parchcd soil.
The result was of the happiest char
acter, and irrigation was then well es-
| tabished in Utah,
The work of the Irrigation Congress
has been most important 10 all the ard
regions of America. II was the infiu-
ence Of that Congress which procured
the passage of the National irrigation
law, and has led to the large Govern"
ment reclamation enterprises that have
been undertaken since. This advanced
work in irrigation, carrying the recla'
nation Of the arid soils To 2 point far
beyond where individual enterprise
could 90, has been the direct result
of the formation Of the Irrigation Con
Dr tbo cr1p m Iu w hIt IN
resulted thcrcfrom. The United States
is by so much the richer land hydraul-
lie engineering is given by these vast
enterprises under the authority and
construction of the United States, an
opportunity TO put in great works, The
| Roosevelt dam in Arizona is one OF the
mighty irrigation enterprises of the
world; the Carson Truckee in Nevada
| is another the Shoshonc in Wyoming
| is another and other enterprises
| throughout the country OF the same
| character testify to the large and bene-
fetal work of the Irrigation Congress,
| In Utah We have but the ono govern
mcnt enterprise in this line, the Straw
berry tunnel, which will he of vast benc'
fit 10 the farmers IN and about Spanish
| Fork If the well-mcant efforts of the
| Government had been properly seconded
| by the canal companies of Salt Lake
county. VIC should also have had here
large benefit from the National rec
amatiou programme.
The triumph Of irrigation work is
ono of the spectacular things of the
country. and Salt Lake as the original
or Of the Irrigation Congress, can Justly
claim the credit for the inception of
the movement which has had such fine
| and expansive results.