The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-29
was Fastening, was also Il gricvous
thing, dreadful TO see.
1T OPENS TOMORROW.

The Irrigation Congress comes tt the
place of its birth for the twenty-first
year Of it's existence. In 1881 this con
gress was organized in this city. follow
ing local suggestions which considered
the coming scarcity of land aud the
necessity for better irrigation code
than we had for the handling of the
water, and also the need for applying
the water which was running 10 waste
to the land which needed that water.
and which would afford homes for tens
Of thousands of American families. Tho
dream was INDUCED in that by National
aid the arid region of the United States
would become settled and the Amer
lean people would have a new birth OF
development by reason of this form OF
reclamation, such as they had never
known before.
The events of the tweuty.one years
have fully justified the dream indrl cd
in. Congress did not pass an irrigation
code as we hoped il might do: but i
has met the other requirements by the
passage of a National irrigation Iaw
through which vast reclamation pro
.lects have been set on foot and some
of them brought to practical utility,
The benefits OF the work of the Ma
tional Irrigation Congress arc now evil
dent to all, in the great things that
have been done through the influence Of
its arguments and through the indomi
table efforts it has made 10 secure the
ends in view through the idea in which
the congress originated. There have
been engrafted from time 70 time upon
the platforms or resolutions OF the con
gress some extraneous subjects which
have not been brought into practical
effect and which ought not to be. But
the great object of the congress, in pro-
curing the utilization OF the waters Of
the arid region so as TO make them
valuable in reclamation and the tillage
of land that was heretofore barren and
useless, has given the congress a shin
ing triumph such as has been allowed
to but few organizations TO see. very
large areas of the public land have been
reclaimed by the utilization OF noun
tain streams, as the Uncompahgre in
Colorado, Salt river in Arizona, the
Truckee and Carson rivers in Nevada,
the Snake river and itst tributaries in
Idaho, the Shoshoni in Wyoming, and
the Milk river in Montana, Here is an
area Of beneficial accomplishment sufti-
cient to warrant the organization of
dozen congresses, And yet these may
all fairly be said 10 bo the children OF
the Irrigation Congress. And so that
congress, on its assembling here tomor-
row, will have a record of fruitful work
that should make every heart beat with
pride that has now or has ever had any
thing to do with it,
The Irrigation Congress has just at.
tanned its majority. But il such magnI-
ficent work can be justly laid to its
credit in the green tree, what will come
in the dry! There is yet great deal
of unused water that may be pnt to
service through proper means of lrriga-
tion. There is much surplus water yet
in the Snake river. Green river has
hardly been touched; Grand river the
same. The Colorado river offers espe'
cial opportunities for extensive recla-
nation projects In Arizona and southern
California by reason Of its tremendous
gorges where water may be stored IN
limitless quantities. The Columbia also
and its tributaries are hardly yet en-
croached upon and the Platte river
with its branches affords vast oppoT-
tunities for reclamation projects. AND
then, we must not forget the upper
Missouri with it's scores OF strong tribu-
taries, all of which can be put to ser
vice. and doubtless Will be put to SER
vice In due time. And then there IS
the Sacramento, hardly yet even malt
cred to say nothing Of harncssed.
A great work has been done, undoubt
edIy, by the Irrigation Congress- But
even greater things are yet TO do under
the good influences and the energetic
aid of that congress. We look to see
such steps taken at the session of tho
congress. which begins here tomorrow
and lasts four days, as Will yet further
advance the interests Of the nome
builders of the United States and VII
add enormously to the benehelal pres
tige Of the Irrigation Congress.
FORTY THoUSANDTH NUMBER.
~ tho courtesy Of the manager Of