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THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS 

 OF 1912 IRRIGATION CONGRESS 



We, the delegates to the twentieth International Irri- 

 gation Congress, assembled in Salt Lake City, state of 

 Utah, extend cordial greetings to the irrigation host 

 throughout our country and submit the following resolu- 

 tions as a declaration of principles: 



We hold that federal control as between the states is 

 essential to the equitable distribution and utilization of the 

 water of interstate streams. 



We approve the development of navigation throughout 

 the rivers and lakes of the United States in accordance 

 with the most comprehensive plan. 



Indorse Newlands Bill. 



We renew our indorsement of the Newlands river 

 regulation bill and urge its enactment by the federal con- 

 gress during the coming session. This bill provides for 

 the complete control of the flood waters of our rivers in 

 such way as to promote irrigation and drainage, the de- 

 velopment of power, the extension of navigation and the 

 protection of the lowlands from destructive floods. 



We heartily approve the federal forestry policy and 

 favor its continuance and extension, and commend the 

 co-operation of state and federal authority in the work of 

 forest protection. 



Name Needed Changes. 



We recognize the establishment of the United States 

 reclamation service, as second only in importance to the 

 passing of the reclamation act, in the development of the 

 arid west. Experience has demonstrated the expediency 

 of certain administrative changes. 



We believe the law should be so amended as to re- 

 quire that all contracts for the sale of power developed by, 

 or in connection with, any reclamation project shall be 

 approved by the project water users' associations under 

 such project, having an interest in such contract. 



Disposition of Profits. 



We believe that the profits arising from the opera- 

 tion of any project should be covered into the reclamation 

 fund to the credit of such project. 



We favor the establishment of water users' associa- 

 tions under all government projects when 20 per cent of 

 the land thereunder shall have passed into private owner- 

 ship. 



We recommend that complete plans and specifica- 

 tions of any work contemplated on any project should be 

 delivered to the project .water users' associations before 

 such work is begun and that itemized semi-annual reports 

 of all charges and expenditures under each reclamation 

 project should be furnished to the officers of the water 

 users' association under such project, and we favor the 

 appointment of a consulting engineer under each project 

 to be selected by and paid by the project water users' 

 associations. Having access to the plans, specifications 

 and accounts, but without supervisory power. 



Land Geological Survey. 



We commend the work of the United States Geolog- 

 ical Survey and strongly recommend that more liberal ap- 

 propriations be made by the federal legislatures of the 

 states for co-operation in the prosecution of the topo- 

 graphical and water resources branches of this bureau. 



We commend the irrigation and drainage investiga- 

 tions of experiment stations, the soil and water investiga- 

 tions of the bureau of soils and dry farming investigations 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 equally commend the work of the agricultural experiment 

 stations and engineering departments in the several states; 

 we favor further investigation of natural sub-irrigation 

 and of irrigation by pumping; and we urge more liberal 

 appropriations by the federal congress and by the states 

 for the work, and co-operation of these agencies, and for 

 the more general distribution of the reports and bulletins 

 recording their operations and results. 

 Believe in Carey. 



We believe that the administration of the Carey act 

 can be more effective by the establishment of effective 

 state supervision for all projects undertaken in any such 

 states. 



We deprecate the sale of abandoned military posts for 

 wholly inadequate prices, and recommend their transfer 

 to the states in which they may be situated for use as 

 agricultural schools, experiment stations or other uses. 



We recommend that the congress of the United 

 States rescind its action relative to the payment of ex- 

 penses of government officers and employes in attending 

 sessions of the Irrigation Congress, in so far as the same 

 relates to experts, whose work bears a relation to the pur- 

 poses of this congress. 



Panama Canal Proposal. 



Realizing that the opening of the Panama canal in 

 1914 will greatly incease the influx of immigrants, by per- 

 mitting their landing on the Pacific, as well as the Atlan- 

 tic coast, and that the greatest benefits of foreign immi- 

 gration can be obtined only when the immigrants settle 

 permanently on farms where they can quickly develop the 

 spirit of citizenship, and help to render this a nation of 

 homes, we recommend co-operation among the various 

 state officers in the establishment of common agencies, in- 

 cluding expositions and other means of diffusing accurate 

 information, to the end that immigrants may be located 

 on the land under conditions suitable to their habits, and 

 conducive to the best development of the country. 

 Immigration Bureaus. 



We also recommend to the legislative bodies and to the various 

 commercial organizations, particularly of the states west of the Kocky 

 mountains, the establishment and maintenance of bureaus at those 

 Pacific coast ports, where the immigrants will land, and where accu- 

 rate information concerning agricultural lands and conditions can be 

 supplied to them. 



We further recommend that the congress of the United States 

 create a commision to investigate and report upon the colonization 

 system now in vogue in other countries concerning rural settlement 

 as well as the methods of co-operative farm loan systems. 



Back Panama Fair. 



Resolved, That the International Irrigation Congress co-operate 

 to the fullest extent with the Panama-California Exposition in pro- 

 ducing at "San Dit^o, in 1915, the most elaborate and comprehensive 

 international irrigation exhibit that has ever been assembled; that we 

 invoke the aid of the legislators of the several states from the western 

 part of the Union and of the governments of all foreign countries in- 

 terested in irrigation to the end that this plan may be successfully 

 consummated. 



We invite the attention of the president and directors of the 

 Panama-Pacific Exposition to the propriety of making provision for 

 an adequate exhibit of irrigated farm products from the several irri- 

 gated states at the San Francisco exposition to be held in 1915. 



The t'.ventieth International Irrigation Congress proffers its sin- 

 cere thanks to the state of Utah and to the City of Salt Lake, includ- 

 ing the citizens and the Commercial Club and other organizations thereof, 

 for the generous welcome and gracious hospitality extended to its 

 members. The Irrigation Congress has felt at home in the city of 

 its nativity. Its hearty thanks are tendered to Prof. J. J. McClellan 

 and to Prof. Evan Stephens and to the tabernacle choir for the in- 

 spiring music which graced the opening sessions of the congress. Espe- 

 cial thanks are extended to the Western Union Telegraph Company 

 for the unusual interest taken in advertising the congress throughout 

 the United States and foreign countries and for special wire and 

 messenger service afforded the congress. Cordial thanks are extended 

 to the Saltair railroad for the pleasant excursion tendered to the 

 members of the congress, and to the press of Salt Lake City for its 

 interesting and complete reports of our procedings. 



Tribute to Foreigners. 



The congress is to he congratulated upon the presence at this 

 session of the accredited delegates from the united commonwealth of 

 Australia, from the United States of Mexico, from the republic of 

 Brazil, from the republic of Portugal, from the republic of Gaute- 

 mala, from the provinces of Ottawa and Alberta, Dominion of Canada, 

 and from British Columbia. We bespeak for future sessions of the 

 congress addresses by eminent authorities on irrigation from these 

 and other nations to the end that the congress may become the clear- 

 ing house for the exchange of the most advanced ideas of all nations 

 upon subjects pertaining to irrigation. 



Taft Is Commended. 



We commend pur distinguished president, Senator Francis G. 

 Xewlands, for his inspiring leadership and his impartial conduct in 

 the chair. We commend Mr. Arthur Hooker for his untiring services 

 as secretary of the congress. The Utah board of control is entitled 

 to the thanks of all for the splendid success which has attended its 

 preparations for the twentieth Irrigation Congress. 



Resolved, That the earnest thanks and appreciation of this, the 

 twentieth International Irrigation Congress be extended to the Honor- 

 able William H. Taft, President of the United States, to Governor 

 Woodrow Wilson and to Honorable Theodore Roosevelt for their 

 cordial and encouraging messages expressive of a sympathetic interest 

 in the objects and purposes for which this congress has been established 

 and perpetuated. 



