208 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



advantages of the two will be combined in one happy 

 medium condition and the melody of " Home Sweet 

 Home" will form one unbroken strain from the 

 mouth of the Rio Grande River to the northern limit 

 of our country. WM. REECK, of Nebraska. 



EACH Irrigation Congress has served as an edu- 

 cator a means of keeping the matter of the 

 reclamation of the arid lands before the public 

 and of extending knowledge and interest in this be- 

 half. The Albuquerque meeting answered these 

 purposes, though to a less extent than previous con- 

 gresses have done. This was not because the public 

 has less interest in the great problem of irrigation, 

 for the country at large was never so ready as now to 

 hear whatever may be said on the subject; but simply 

 because there was not the same painstaking efforts to 

 make the proceedings widely public which have char- 

 acterized previous meetings. Steps were taken look- 

 ing toward securing imporant national legislation and 

 if the work is properly followed up and supported, 

 good will be accomplished. 



JUDGE J. W. GREGORY, of Kansas. 



OUTSIDE of the immediate irrigated districts, the 

 general public knew practically nothing about 

 irrigation, until after the organization of the 

 National Irrigation Congress. Now the subject com- 

 mands, to a greater or less degree, the earnest atten- 

 tion of the people of the whole country. Increased 

 interest has succeeded each meeting of the Congress 

 heretofore, and I know of no reason why the one just 

 held at Albuquerque should be an exception to the 

 rule. The subject of irrigation deserves the serious 

 and favorable consideration of statesmanship; the re- 

 clamation of the naturally rich lands of the arid and 

 semi-arid regions is entitled to as great consideration 

 as has heretofore been given to the perfection of the 

 farm lands of other portions of the Union. But, after 

 all, it is a matter of political power and influence, and 

 it is one of the important missions of the Irrigation 



Congress to impress the Congress of the United States 

 by the only argument to which that body is naturally 

 disposed to give patient and respectful attention. 

 Congress loves to listen to an argument which is 

 emphasized by an army of earnest, determined, aggres- 

 sive voters. 



I am satisfied that E. R. Moses, our new Chairman, 

 will do everything in his power to advance the cause, 

 and, as is well known, his resources will enable him 

 to do effective and satisfactory work. 



J. V. ADMIRE, of Oklahoma. 



THE Irrigation problem has passed beyond its initial 

 stage, and must now, if it is to keep pace with 

 the sentiment it has created, go on to its legiti- 

 mate issue, i. e.\ I. The adoption of the principle by 

 the so-called "humid" States, in order that intensive 

 agriculture and horticulture in those States be aided 

 by the means thus presented. 



II. The certainty that Federal control must dominate 

 the waters of the United States, and incidentally that 

 no portion of the public domain must pass beyond the 

 immediate regulation of the same authority. 



III. That any comparison between the crop returns 

 of the " arid " regions, with water artificially applied, 

 and those of the "humid " section, where reliance is 

 placed solely upon rainfall, is entirely in favor of the 

 former. The " arid " States have made a step in civi- 

 lization which the "humid " States have as yet failed 

 even to recognize. 



IV. That no time must be lost in formulating legis- 

 lation respecting the water supply in any and all of 

 the States. Irrigation and power now going hand in 

 hand, irrespective of "aridity" or "humidity " of any 

 section of the country. 



V. The necessity for an immediate and permanent 

 commission, board, or whatever you please, which 

 shall obtain, compile and publish all information rel- 

 ative to our condition as regards ability to improve any 

 portion of our country by means of irrigation. 



THOS. KNIGHT, of Missouri. 



A CANAL IN NEBRASKA. 



