352 7 HE IRRIGA T ON A GE. 



localities as to the proper points at which to expend the money now 

 available for reservoir constructions. 



Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Washington, and other states and terri- 

 tories, represented by delegations urged their claims to early at- 

 tention on the congress, with a view to influence government action in 

 their direction, 



It is the general opinion, however, that the railway companies, who 

 were well represented in the congress, will bring their influence to 

 bear to the end that early appropriations may be expended where the 

 greatest good may come to the greatest number. The sentiment 

 seemed to be that special caution should be used in the handling of 

 the earlier expeditures. 



The United States government was represented by a goodly num- 

 ber of experts in irrigation, notable among them being Dr. F. H. Ne- 

 well, chief hydrographer of the United States geological survey, and 

 Prof. Elwood Mead, chief in charge of irrigation investigations. Illin- 

 ois had only two representatives, out of twenty appointed by Gov. 

 Yates. If the manufacturers of agricultural implements throughout 

 the central states understood what this congress means to them they 

 would all have been represented. 



During the second day's session agitation bearing toward the 

 uniting of the Trans-Mississippi, the irrigation and the mining con- 

 gresses was started, it being started, by those in favor of this move, 

 that there were so many meetings called, of a similar character, that 

 it was not only inconvenient but expensive to attend them all. This 

 movement was suggested by one of the prominent delegates, who 

 very advoutly shifted it to the shoulders of Geo. H. Maxwell, think- 

 ing that the latter's influence would be highly beneficial. This, how- 

 ever, proved to be wrong, as when the votes on the final out-come 

 were counted, it was shown that the matter would better have been 

 left alone. 



The attendance on Tuesday was larger than on Monday. Many 

 delegates arrived from Colorado and other western states, and the spa- 

 cious auditorium was found none too large to accommodate the meeting. 



One of the things particularly noticable, in this congress, was the 

 great representation of business men; managers of large corporations, 

 and men of affairs generally Among these were E. F. Blaine, of 

 Seattle, Wash., who is manager of the largest irrigating system in his 

 state; Senator Carey, president of the largest irrigating system in 

 Wyoming; and J. D. O'Donnell, head of the largest system in Mon- 

 tana. There were in attendance also, all of the state engineers of ir- 

 rigation, among them being, Frederick Bond, of Wyoming; Adna 

 Dobson, of Nebraska; J. A. McCune, of Colorado; A. F. Doremus, of 

 Utah, and D. W. Ross, of Idaho. 



