28 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



opposed to it as well as those who at first 

 are disinclined to declare themselves. 

 Such has been the history of irrigation 

 sentiment and feeling, but it is far from 

 being true of the organized irrigation 

 movement or propaganda. The national 

 organization (which could hardly be consid- 

 ered national in any respect, since it rep- 

 resented neither real irrigation sentiment 

 and thought, or the states where irrigation 

 is most largely practiced) had drifted from 

 its moorings and was tossed on a sea of 

 political aspirations, and it failed to in- 

 spire confidence in the public. A strong 

 under-current of petty jealousy and self- 

 isness had been engendered. The growth 

 and welfare of the movement was sacri- 

 ficed to the arts of the politician, and the 

 chasm between the real friends of irriga- 

 tion and the self-constituted representatives 

 grew rapidly wider. Sectionalism played 

 an important part. The West, as a whole, 

 no longer worked in harmony; unity of 

 purpose and effort was abandoned. The 

 Northwest and the Southwest were pitted 

 against each other. The calling of rival 

 conventions and the organization of rival 

 national bodies was discussed, but wiser 

 counsel prevailed. In the meantime the 

 influence of the congress was waning, no 

 longer was it considered representative of 

 the irrigation industry. Those who were 

 directly interested in irrigation cared but 

 little what the congress might or might 

 not do, and the general public cared 

 nothing. The recent congress was the 

 culmination of the spirit of sectionalism 

 and personal aggrandisement and the 

 recent congress Avas a failure. 

 Political The truth is sometimes bitter 

 to Blame. and often distasteful, but the 

 surgeon's knife may save the patient's 

 life. No cause can hope to be successful 

 or to exert any enduring influence or 

 attain any prominence which does not in- 

 spire the confidence of the people. With- 

 out public confidence and popular approval, 

 defeat is sure. A common purpose is 

 what binds the followers of any movement 

 together, and while this common purpt'>r 



endured the work of the Irrigation Con- 

 gress progressed rapidly not always har- 

 moniously there were differences as to- 

 the means, but not the end, to be accom- 

 plished. But when in a most amazing 

 flight of Kansas oratory the real end and 

 aim and purpose of irrigation was left far 

 in the background, that political aspira- 

 tions might usurp its place, the decline 

 in popular interest and approval was 

 marked and rapid. The Lincoln congress 

 accomplished one great work in spite of 

 the lack of attendance and interest. With a 

 dismal creaking of its rusty joints the Car 

 of Irrigation Progress was once more 

 placed upon the track, and then as a local 

 newspaper says. ; 'the convention adjourned 

 rather suddenly and informally." 

 j he The resolutions parsed by the 



Resolutions. con g ress W ere of rather a non- 

 committal character, but they showed a 

 tendency to move in the right direction. 

 Their principal features were: in favor of 

 forest preservation by memorializing the 

 president to withdraw from entry or sale 

 all public lands more valuable for timber 

 than agriculture or minerals after a proper 

 and adequate form of administration shall 

 be provided. Nothing whatever was said 

 as to what would be a proper and adequate 

 form of administration nor how the forests 

 were to be protected from timber thieves 

 after their withdrawal any more than they 

 are protected now, and every one with a 

 knowledge of western conditions knows 

 that at the present time they are not pro- 

 tected.' Another resolution favors the 

 creation by Congress of a I'nblie Land 

 Commission "of skilled and experienced 

 persons to investigate the conditions now 

 existing and to submit to Congress such 

 changes in our laud laws as their investi- 

 gations shall show to be desirable." The 

 only probable effect of the creation of this- 

 commission. should the United States Con- 

 gress so decide, would be to place in a new 

 department portions of the work now bei nu 

 done by the General Land Office, the Geo- 

 logical Survey and the Irrigation Bureau. 

 A spirited discussion was amused over the 



