Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-10-10
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
Brief Synopsis of its Doings as Re-
ported by q Lincoln County
Delegate.

Der of the board of directors of the
Twin Falls North Side Canal Users
Association, just returned from
Salt Lake City where he has been
in attendance upon the National
(now internationally Irrigation
Congress, as one of the delegates at
large from Idaho, appointed by
Governor Hawley. He gives the
following brief account of the Con-
gress:
''This was probably the most largely
attended session in the history OF the
Congress, and most excellent and in
structive programme was rendered. You
have read much in the daily press and !
can touch upon only few OF the salient
features OF the program.
San address by Director Newell of the
U. S. Government Reclamation Service
accompanied by stereoptican views OF
the great dams, reservoirs, tunnels and
canal systems constructed under the
reclamation act, was one OF the particu-
larly interesting features. Not only by
the able address, but by actual views,
we were shown something OF the Won
derful work of this department in the
reclamation OF the arid west, accom-
plished in the ten or dozen years OF its
existence. 1t is marvellous.
ut developed, however, during the
Congress that considerable amount OF
friction existed on nearly, ii not all, OF
the government projects between the set
tiers and the officers of the reclamation
service. This seemd to be particularly
over methods OF operation, not on ac-
count of construction or lack OF water.
believe it is claimed that in no case
has there ever been a shortage OF water
on government project. The difficult
ties over operation are going to be over
come. The water users on government
projects have effected national organi
cation, and were strongly represented at
the Congress, and their matters were
taken up and much was done by the
Congress, believe, to assist in adjust
ing the differences between them and
the reclamation service.
''To those who have read "The Win
ming OF Barbara WORTH" an illustrated
address by W. S. Halabird upon the In
perial Valley OF California was very in
teresting. 1t showed the wonderful de-
velopment of that valley under irrigation
in spite OF the awful catastrophe which
threatened its certain doom, and ought
to give us wonderful courage to meet our
little pioneering difficulties.
"a paper on irrigation finance, by
George A. Snow OF Utah, was OF keen
interest to me, for it recommended the
strictest regulation OF irrigation projects
by state boards composed OF specialists,
an engineer OF ability, an irrigation far
mer OF practical experience, and a good
tinancier and business man, to the end
that the project might be made success
lul and the irrigation securities, which
are now in such bad repute, good. This,
l say, was very important in my mind,
because such action would not only pro-
tect the securities but would protect the
millions invested by the settlers and
me-builders.
AN address by Governor Odell of Ne
vada, giving the Carey act laws OF his state
and other proposed laws for regulation
OF private water rights, was splendid. 1t
showed, as he said, that his state had
benefited by failures in other states, es-
pecially in regard to Carey Act legisla-
ton. For instance, no company is
to sell its lands till the water is
actually OH them, and no advertising
literature allowed to be sent out till APP
proved by proper state authority
Addresses were made on all phases
OF irrigation, all OF them very good and
Zone other / must mention was
suggestion by the state engineer of Ore
gon, that the state and federal govern
ments should cooperate in building irri-
CATION projects, and sell the lands and
water at actual cost to bona fide resi-
dents. This l thought a splendid
suggestion.
1.-The readers OF this paper should read
all OF those papers, which will be printed |
in full in official proceedings OF the Con-
gress, and can be secured from the Sec
rotary for one dollar. Or perhaps better,
the editor might buy one copy and dur
ing the winter months when news is
scarce print the best addresses issue by
ISSUE.
"In conclusion, want say we Carey
Act farmers might profit by the example
Of the settlers on government projects
and perfect national organization. | |
was about the only delegate in the whole
Congress who was particularly interested |