6o 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



and important debates occurred in the Committee on 

 Resolutions. The congress itself was occupied for 

 five days with the presentation of papers and ad- 

 dresses covering a wide range of topics. The dele- 

 gations from foreign countries contributed largely to 

 this feauture of the programme. There was scarcely 

 a dull moment from Tuesday forenoon, when the 

 congress was called to order, until late Saturday 

 night, when it reached final adjournment. Many ap- 

 plications have been received for places on the Den- 

 ver programme, and while the plans have not yet 

 been completed in all details, it is quite certain that 

 the programme of the coming congress will be fully 

 as entertaining and instructive as that at Los Angeles. 

 But in many respects the Denver congress will differ 

 radically from any which has ever been held. 



II. THE IRRIGATION COMMISSIONS 

 AND THEIR WORK. 



As has already been said, the congress at Denver 

 will mark the culmination of years of discussion and 

 agitation. The feature of transcendant interest at 

 Denver was foreshadowed in the following paragraph 

 of the Address to the People of the United States, 

 adopted by the Congress at Los Angeles: 



The result of the investigations of^these several commissions 

 shall be submitted to the next Irrigation Congress, at a time to 

 be designated by the Executive Committee, not exceeding one 

 year hence, and upon these reports the final and definite decla- 

 ration of the people of the western States and Territories may 

 be based. By this means we hope, within a reasonable time, to 

 suggest a satisfactory irrigation policy to the nation and to the 

 States and Territories, and we hereby declare our purpose to 

 erect it upon broad foundations of justice and equality, and with 

 due regard for the rights of both labor and capital. 



This portion of the address was telegraphed to the 

 country and reproduced in hundreds of newspapers 

 It was deeply impressed on ^hj? 

 mind of every Delegate, and by 

 every means in the power of the 

 convention the public was notified 

 last October that the next Irriga- 

 tion Congress would aim to express 

 "the final and definite declaration 

 of the people of the western States 

 and Territories." This was the 

 means adopted to harmonize con- 

 flicting views and unite the west- 

 ern public upon a national irriga- 

 tion policy. It is thus quite certain 

 that the reports of the several 

 Irrigation Commissions, the de- 

 bates to whichjhey will give rise, 

 and the final conclusions based 

 upon them, must constitute the 

 overshadowing features of the 

 coming congress. 



CHARACTER OF THE COMMISSIONS. 



The commissions appointed in accordance with the 

 Los Angeles platform are generally composed of the 

 best material. Most of them have been faithful to 

 the responsibilities imposed upon them. It is yet too 

 early to furnish any forecast of their conclusions and 

 recommendations, but they have collected a vast 

 amount of valuable material and the Denver Con- 

 gress will certainly be able to deal more intelligently 

 with its problems than any other convention has 

 done. 



NEVADA FIRST TO ORGANIZE. 



Nevada named the first commission. Gen. John E. 

 Jones, of Carson City, the energetic member of the 

 National Committee, stands at its head, and his asso- 

 ciates are L. H. Taylor, of Reno, W. C. Pitt, of 

 Lovelock, James Newlands, Jr., and R. M. Clark, of 

 Carson City. This commission held its first meeting 

 November 13th, and appointed auxiliary committees 

 reaching out into all portions of the State. It has 

 flooded Nevada with circulars and letters and there 

 is reason to expect that its report will be one of 

 the most exhaustive, as well as one of the most 

 inspiring and suggestive submitted to the Congress. 



THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION. 



California named a very notable commission, 

 headed by Hon. Eli H. Murray, the former governor 

 of Utah, and including such well- known names as 

 Hon. C. C. Wright, author of the District law; W. S. 

 Green, now surveyor general of the State; L. M. 

 Holt, one of the foremost irrigation thinkers in the 

 country, and J. A. Pirtle, of Los Angeles. This com- 

 mission had its first meeting in December and di- 

 vided the State into districts in order to provide 



HKOADWAY ENTRANCE TO BROWN PALACE HOTEL. 



