The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-12-07
IRRIGATION CONGRESS
TO HOLD CONVENTION

What is expected to be the most
important conference ever held by
the Oregon Irrigation Congress will
be the convention to be held in Port
land, January 4, 5, and 6.
At that time it is hoped to as
semble all members of the Oregon
Legislature and to invite them to at
tend the meetings and to take part in
the proceedings. The program will
present matters of gravest impor-
tance in the development Of Oregon
as q state, and will cover other sub
jects than those of irrigation. This
will be done because of the conven-
tion Immediately preceding the meet
ing Of the Oregon Legislature at
Salem.
approximately 500 delegates are
expected to be in attendance, clear
thinking men who are giving earnest
consideration to development prob
lens.
Among the big propositions will be
session devoted to consideration Of
the construction of Oregon, Califor-
MIA & Eastern Railway through
Central Oregon. The Strahorn pro-
,ject will be presented by the presi-
dent of the company, Robert E. Stra-
horn, and it is expected that the Con-
gress will develop means whereby the
communities Of the state may get be-
hind this great enterprise.
Another proposition Of tremen-
dous Importance will be proposal to
revise the irrigation laws of the
state. 1t Is deemed necessary that
Oregon should have Federal aid, and
to get 1t, the laws must be changed
to conform to Federal requirements.
Another change is said to be needed
In order to make irrigation district
bonds acceptable to Eastern buyers.
AT least one session of the Con-
gress will be devoted to a discussion
of new Federal legislation that may
be recommended for the aid of irri-
cation. Another will be given to
papers on Irrigation practices" by
practical farmers and engineers.
/ With most of the members Of the
Legislature in Portland it is easily
imagined that the Congress will fur
nish the first big debate in advance of
the opening of the Legislature.
C. C. Chapman has accepted the
appointment from President j. w.
Brewer to arrange the program for
the convention. He expects tn an-
nouce the list of speakers very soon.
The Oregon Irrigation Congress
has some mighty creditable work to
credit.
1t was responsible for the con-
struction Of the Tumalo project, and
the surveys made by the state on the
Deschutes, Silver Lake and Malheur
projects, as we'll as for much of the
present code of laws. The coming
Sixth annual convention Is expected
to rate with any previous Congress.
In the minds Of many irrigationists
a way must be found for extending
the benefits of the rural credits laws
Of the state and Nation to irrigation
projects. The matter is going to be
forced before the en- odisrita etoonhfe
forced before the consideration of the
Congress.
The Congress will conclude with a
banquet at the Portland Chamber of
Commerce, all delegates and men,
bers of the Legislature being guests
of that body.
The officers of the Congress are:
j. w. Brewer, President, The Dalles;
Harvey H. DeArmond, Bend, A. D.
Anderson, Madras, C. c. Clark, Ar
lington, vice-presidents, and Fred N.
Wallace, Tumalo, Secretary.
The following committees will have
important reports to submit to the
Congress-:
! Executive Committee.
| j. N. Burgess, Chairman, Pendle-
ton, A. W. Trow, Ontario, d. G. Bur-
dick, Redmond, W. L.Powers, Cor
wallis, ]. P. Holland. McEwan Porter
]. Neff, Medford, C. c. Clarke, Airing
ton.
National Reclamation Conference
| Committee.
o. Laurgaard, Chairman, Portland,
o. c. Letter, Portland, H. w. Gard,
Madras, Asa B. Thomson, Echo, J. T..
Henkle, Hermiston.
Legislative Committee.
w. Lair Thompson, Chairman,
Lakeview, Jay H. Upton, Prineville,
James M. Kyle, Stanfeld, O. c. Letter
Portland. G. B. Mcconnell, Burns.