THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



363 



suffering in the arid region by providing desert wells and 

 water saving devices, by erecting permanent guide boards and 

 by providing penalties for their removal or defacement, and 

 by protecting springs, wells and waterholes from contamina- 

 tion under severe penalties ; and that we favor the co-operation 

 of the United States geological survey with the states and 

 counties in locating and maintaining these wtaer sources and 

 in disseminating accurate information concerning them, 

 through maps and reports. 



That in commending the reclamation act of 1902, we ex- 

 press our satisfaction with recent demonstrations of the large 

 importance of underground waters; and that we favor the 

 utilization of this great resource for irrigation just as the 

 surface waters are utilized, using pumps and other water rais- 

 ing devices as adjuncts and parts of the irrigation works. 



That we favor and urge upon Congress the early repeal 

 of the timber and stone act, to the end that the accumulation 

 of the public timber lands in the hands of a few great corpora- 

 tions may be avoided. 



That we strongly urge upon Congress the speedy creation 

 of the Southern Appalachian and White Mountain natural 

 forests. 



That this congress heartily endorses the policy of the 

 present administration in its efforts to preserve timber lands 

 throughout the Union, and we earnestly recommend to the 

 several states their hearty co-operation in the work of pre- 

 serving the forests in their borders, and recommend in every 

 state the creation of state and national forest plantations, 

 sufficient to supply the demand for wood and 'timber of the 

 people of such state. While appreciating the importance to 

 the west and the entire country of the protection of our forest 

 by every adequate means, we favor the highest utilization for 

 all economic purposes of all our public lands. 



We therefore recommend that an adequate appropriation 

 be made at the next session of Congress for the use of the 

 hydrographic division of the geological survey to determine 

 by experiment, measurement and observation the practical 

 effects of grazing and lumbering on the supply of water for 

 irrigation, and on the erosion of soil, and silting up of streams 

 and reservoirs, and we recommend that such investigations 

 extend over the entire watersheds both in and out of national 

 forests and that such investigations be prosecuted simultane- 

 ously throughout all the states and territories in the arid and 

 serni-arid west. 



The importation of free tropical sugar in competition with 

 our home product would be destructive of the domestic 

 industry. We therefore urge our representatives and senators 

 to earnestly oppose the enactment of any legislation that would 

 allow such competition. 



That we favor the adoption of vigorous measures in each 

 of the Trans-missouri arid and semi-arid states and territories 

 to secure the creation of immigration bureaus, supported by 

 liberal appropriations, in order that reliable and official in- 

 formation may be available for the benefit of homeseekers. 



That this congress expresses its appreciation and endorse- 

 ment of the tree growing movement being promoted by the 

 Federation of the Tree Growing Clubs of America. 



That it is the sense of this congress that such legislation 

 should be had, in justice to the forest service and claimants 

 to property rights within national forests, as will provide for a 

 review at the instance of any party affected, by a competent 

 tribunal, of controversies relating to homestead entries, or 

 forest control or regulation, or arising from any action, 

 regulation, or the ruling of forest officers. 



That whenever large tracts of land suitable for agricul- 

 ture and which are not natural forest, and which are not 

 intended to be made forest and which are not necessary or 

 proper for the preservation of the forest or the watershed 

 or water supplies for the purposes to which they have been 

 devoted, lie within forest reserve boundaries, such tracts 

 should be restored to entry as public land. 



That we urge the Congress of the United States to 

 amend the so-called Carey act, so as to make it apply to terri- 

 tories as well as states. 



That it is desirable that this congress shall co-operate so 

 far as it may be able, with the National Conservation Com- 

 mission for the promotion, and accomplishment of its pur-, 

 poses, the president of this congress is authorized and directed 

 to appoint a committee to be known as the conservation com- 

 mittee of the National Irrigation Congress, which shall con- 

 sist of the president of this congress and four other members, 

 to be appointed by him, to co-operate and aid the National 

 Conservation Commission in its objects and purposes in so 



far as they coincide with the objects and purposes of this 

 congress. 



That in harmony with the report of the special committee 

 authorized by the Fifteenth Irrigation Congress, we urge the 

 importance of holding an early session of this congress, at 

 Washington, D. C, and authorize the president of this 

 congress to appoint a committee of three, to communicate 

 with state and territorial legislatures, with a view of securing 

 appropriations and of taking such other steps as may be 

 necessary to effectuate the purposes of this resolution, such 

 committee to report at the seventeenth session of this congress. 



Whereas, the members of our National Congress at Wash- 

 ington should be familiar with the sentiments which find ex- 

 pression in the resolutions adopted by the National Irrigation 

 Congress at its annual sessions; 



Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the president of the 

 National Irrigation Congress be empowered to appoint a 

 committee of five to be designated as the Congressional Com- 

 mittee, whose duty it shall be to present the resolutions 

 adopted by this congress to the National Congress at the 

 session following their passage by this congress and to urge 

 their importance and the necessity of their recognition by the 

 National Congress; 



Resolved, that the congress extends its sincere thank,s to 

 the territory of New Mexico, and the city of Albuquerque, its 

 commercial organizations and citizens for the hearty welcome 

 and generous hospitality which have been extended to the 

 members of this congress; also 



To Governor Curry, and to the other officials of the terri- 

 tory and city for their courteous care for the welfare and 

 comfort of the delegates; 



To the governments of France, Brazil, Chile, Canada, 

 Cape Colony, Germany, Italy and Mexico for the interest and 

 recognition shown in the appointment of delegates to the con- 

 gress ; 



To the press of the city, territory and county for the 

 consideration shown in the reports of the proceedings; 



To Frank C. Goudy for the frank' and impartial manner 

 in which he has presided over the deliberations of the con- 

 gress, and 



To B. A. Fowler, the efficient secretary of the congress; 



To W. S. Hopewell and R. E. Twitchell, chairman and 

 secretary of the board of control for their untiring efforts in 

 perfecting the highly successful arrangements for the congress. 



To Miss Caroline Strong, the conductor, to the quartet, 

 and to the chorus of ladies and gentlemen who furnished the 

 excellent musical program for the congress ; also 



To John J. McClellan, the author and composer of the 

 Irrigation Ode; 



To the Mexican government for the presence of the Regi- 

 mental band, of the state of Chihuahua; 



To the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company 

 for its enterprise and effort looking to the success of the 

 congress. 



That this congress requests that the report of the pro- 

 ceedings of its sessions be published within thirty days. 



THE FARMER AND HIS RESERVOIR. 



This is the time of the year when every fanner 

 should ask himself whether his reservoir and irrgation 

 ditches are ready for next year's service. 



To retain the Fall precipitation, Winter snows and 

 Spring rains in the reservoir means a guarantee of 

 plenty of water for next year's crops. When the weak 

 spots are repaired and the headgates examined and put 

 in good order the farmer can feel secure about his water. 



The rapid increase in the cost of lumber for head- 

 gates and repairs when they get leaky, is causing many 

 famers to put in iron headgates, which cost a trifle more 

 to commence with, but more than pay for themselves by 

 the saving on the cost of repairs. 



The Handbook for irrigators, which is being sent 

 free to farmers by C. D. Butchart, of Denver, Colo., 

 gives full particulars about Northwestern Iron Head- 

 gates and other irrigation specialties that farmers are 

 interested in. Every farmer should send for one of 

 these books, as the information contained in it will give 

 many little helpful hints to irrigators. 



