I HE IRR1 GA1ION AGE. 81 



value and the incalculable benefits to result, appreciated, The nat- 

 ional irrigation question is an assured fact. 



The following resolutions were adopted by the National Irrigation 

 Congress, November 24, 1900: 



"We hail with satisfaction the fact that both of the great politi- 

 cal parties of the nation in the last campaign declared in favor of the 

 reclamation of arid America, in order that settlers might build homes 

 on the public domain, and to that end we urge upon Congress that na- 

 tional appropriations commensurate with the magnitude of the prob- 

 lem should be made for the preservation of the forests and the refor- 

 estation of denuded areas as natural storage reservoirs and for the 

 construction by the National Government as part of its policy of inter- 

 nal improvement of storage reservoirs and other works for flood pro- 

 tection and to save for use in aid of navigation and irrigation the 

 waters which now run to waste and for the development of artesian 

 and subterranean sources of water supply. 



' "The waters of all streams should forever remain subject to pub- 

 lic control and the right of the use of water for irrigation should in- 

 here in the land irrigated, and beneficial use be the basis of measure 

 and the limit of the right. 



"The work of building the reservoirs necessary to store the floods 

 should be done directly by the government under existing statutes re- 

 lating to the employment of labor and hours of work and under laws 

 that will give to all American citizens a free and equal opportunity to 

 get first employment, and then a home on the land. 



"We commend the efficient work of the various bureaus of the na- 

 tional government in the investigation of the physical and legal prob- 

 lems and other conditions relating to irrigation and in promoting the 

 adoption of more eff ectine laws, customs and methods ot irrigated ag 

 riculture, and urge upon Congress the necessity of providing liberal 

 -appropriations for this important work. 



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