THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



413 



est, in order that they may find their way into the Bands 

 of the people. 



We urge the congress of the United States to extend the 

 reclamation act to the Territory of Hawaii. 



We approve of the honest, intelligent and efficient man- 

 ner in which the work of the Forest Service and Reclamation 

 Service has been carried on, and we are convinced that the 

 work of these bureaus has been to the interest of the small 

 land owner and settler. 



We indorse the work of the irrigation investigation 

 branch of the Department of Agriculture, and urge that the 

 states and the Federal government contribute liberally to its 

 support, in order that the water supplies that have been and 

 are being provided for arid lands may be wisely used. 



We favor the enactment of laws by the states to regu- 

 late the cutting of timber on state and private lands, and 

 laws reforming taxation on timber lands, cutover lands and 

 reforested lands, in order that the perpetuity of the forests 

 may be assured and the flow of the streams be preserved. 



We commend, and strongly urge the continuation of the 

 work of the United States Geological Survey, and recommend 

 that more liberal appropriations be made by the Federal. 

 Congress for the prosecution of the work of the hydrographic 

 and topographic branches. 



Resolved, That there should be no political divisional 

 lines with reference to the right to use water for irrigation 

 or other beneficial purpose in the United States. 



We approve the enactment of the water laws by the 

 states along the lines pursued in several western states dur- 

 ing recent years. We adhere to the principle incorporated 

 in these recent statutes that the waters belong to the people, 

 and hold that this right of the people is inherent and in- 

 defensible. Recognizing the necessity for administering this 

 invaluable possession of the people by state and federal 

 agencies, we deny the right of state or Federal governments 

 to alienate or convey water by granting franchises for the 

 use thereof in perpetuity or without just compensation in the 

 interests of the people. 



We recognize the immeasurable importance of the de- 

 velopment of navigation throughout the rivers and lakes 

 of the United States in accordance with the comprehensive 

 plan beginning with the 14-foot waterway through the Illi- 

 nois and Mississippi rivers from the Great Lakes to the Gulf 

 as the main artery of our inland waterway system; and we 

 urgently recommend to the Congress of the United States 

 prompt action toward carrying out this and other great 

 projects for the promotion of commerce. 



We hold that there is no more important subject now 

 before the American people than that of irrigation by pri- 

 vate enterprise in the several states of the Union; that the 

 industries connected therewith have risen to the first im- 

 portance among the classes of industries recognized by 

 statisticians, statesmen and the people generally: that definite 

 information, at once comprehensive and detailed, is not now 

 available in any state or branch of the Federal government; 

 and we urgently request that the census office be directed 

 to take account of the industries connected with private 

 irrigation, in order that the people may fully profit by our 

 growing experience. 



We reiterate the declaration of the Irrigation Congresses 

 of 1907 and 1908 in favor of establishing national forests in 

 the southern Appalachian and White mountains, and urge 

 legislation for that purpose, preferably through the W T eeks 

 bill in the amended form, as it now stands before the Sixty- 

 first congress. 



We recommend to the legislature of the several states 

 and to the congress of the United States appropriate legisla- 

 tion to secure forest planting, and the reforestation of lands 

 denuded of timber. 



We recommend the work of the Audubon Society; and 

 recognizing the value and utility of birds and wild animals 

 we recommend their careful and adequate protection. 



Resolved, That the congress extends its sincere thanks 

 to the State of Washington and the city of Spokane, includ- 

 ing its commercial and other organizations, and its citizens, 

 for the hearty welcome and generous hospitality which have 

 been extended to the members of this congress. 



Also to Governor Hay and other officials of the state 

 and the mayor and other officials of the city for their cour- 

 tesy, attention and care for the welfare and comfort of the 

 delegates. 



We also express our appreciation and thanks to the 

 governments of Dominion of Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, 

 Russia, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentine, Japan and China 

 for their interest shown in this congress in the appointments 

 and attendance of delegates to this session. 



Also to the press of the city of Spokane and the state 

 of Washington for the consideration and ability shown in 

 the reports of the proceedings. 



Also to George E. Barstow for the able and impartial 

 manner in which he has presided over the deliberations of 

 this congress. 



To B. A. Fowler for his efficient work as secretary. 



To R. Insinger and Arthur Hooker, chairman and secre- 

 tary, respectively, of the Board of Control, for their untiring 

 and successful efforts in perfecting the arrangements for this 

 congress. 



To the Spokane Choral Society and others who have 

 furnished the delightful musical program for this congress. 



To the Fourteenth United States Cavalry Band, the Boise 

 High School Band, the North Yaklma Juvenile Band, the 

 Glee Club of Worcester, Mass., and the Kennewick Band 

 for their attendance and entertainment they have furnished 

 the congress. 



Also the various railway companies and their officials 

 having connections with Spokane for their cordial co-opera- 

 tion, contributing to the success of this congress. 



There was no discussion on the report from the com- 



mittee on permanent organization, it being adopted as 

 presented: 



Your committee submits the following nominations 

 for permanent officers of the 18th National Irrigation Con- 

 gress and recommends their election: 



For President B. A. Fowler of Arizona. 



For 1st Vice-PresidentRalph E. Twitchell, New 

 Mexico. 



For 3d Vice-President R. W. Young of Utah. 



For 3d Vice-President L. Newman of Montana. 



For 4th Vice-President W. Jones, Fleming, New Mexico. 



For 5th Vice-President E. J. Watson, South Carolina. 



For Secretary- Arthur E. Hooker, Washington. 



Your committee unanimously recommends Pueblo, 

 Colorado, as the place of meeting of the Eighteenth Na- 

 tional Irrigation Congress. 



THE LAND OF TAGS. 



In some of our recent articles on the Taos Valley in 

 New Mexico, we have mentioned in connection with the agri- 

 cultural development of that territory some of the attractive 

 features to be found in the valley. The most important of 

 these is the Pueblo of Taps. 



Some writer has said that they are simply American 

 Pyramids, and about one ten-hundredth as well known to the 

 Americans as is the sepulcher of Cheops. They are prehis- 

 toric, but still in use; they are not tombs of fabulous kings, 

 nor impenetrable secrets of what a world has forgotten more 

 than it ever knew ; they are just monuments to human love 

 of home and the human ingenuity of making a safe retreat 

 even in the childhood of the race. In a word, they are the 

 two great communal houses in which the Pueblo Indians of 

 the northermost valley in New Mexico have been making 

 their simple history for probably more than five hundred 

 years. 



These Pueblos of Taos stand (as they did sixty-nine 

 years before there was an English speaking resident in the 

 new world) on the two sides of a chuckling trout stream 

 in the lovely valley along a spur of the Rocky Mountains. 

 On the west the great canon of the Rio Grande splits the 

 valley from the timbered uplands to the southern extremity. 

 It is one of the finest landscapes in America and one of the 

 fairest valleys. 



The Pueblo Indians, as stated in former articles, 

 have been tilling the soil for hundreds of years with- 

 out replenishing it in any manner, and it is apparently as 

 productive today as in the early history of that tribe. 



The Ranches Orchard & Land Company, of which Mr. 

 Joe B. Warner, Taps, New Mexico, is manager, has made 

 wonderful strides this year in the matter of developing crops. 



Construction Camp of the Ranches Orchard & Land Company, near 

 Taos, New Mexico. 



A large force of skilled workmen have had charge of this 

 development and they have been assisted by Indians of the 

 local tribe who are familiar with primitive irrigation, and 

 are fully capable of handling laterals and doing general irri- 

 gation of fields. 



We are showing herewith one of the camps which was 

 established early in the year. In the rear of the tent may 

 be seen the virgin sage brush, which is first cleared and 

 burned before breaking of the ground is started. In the dis- 

 tance may be seen the mountain range which is at least 

 twenty-five miles distant from the camp, possibly double that 

 distance. 



The Ranches Orchard & Land Company is desirous of 

 getting in communication with prospective settlers, and offer 

 opportunities in the way of home building seldom equalled. 

 Address A. L. Barker, president, Hopkinton, Iowa. 



