8 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



in sending the young men and women into foreign 

 countries is to learn all that is possible about agri- 

 culture, so that it may be taught from the very 

 earliest grades in their schools. 



Another idea of the Uruguayan government 

 that could well be copied by our own, it that this 

 system of teaching agriculture will stem the tide of 

 population toward the cities and have a tendency to 

 induce some of the city folks back to the country. 



It is the impression of Miss Martinez, who is 

 evidently the leader of this group, that this idea can 

 be properly carried out if the schools generally teach 

 the subject of agriculture. 



It is possible that some work of this kind has 

 been carried on by the United States government. 

 If not, this will be a good suggestion to our Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



Phoenix De- 

 cides Not to 

 Entertain 

 Irrigation 

 Congress. 



Our news bureau items inform us 

 that there is a strong likelihood that 

 the International Irrigation Con- 

 gress will go begging for a site for 

 the meeting of 1913. 



At a recent meeting; of the citi- 



zens of Phoenix, Ariz., whose representatives at 

 Salt Lake City pledged a certain amount for the 

 expense of the congress, a vote was taken and it 

 was decided not to attempt to entertain the 1913 

 congress in view of the fact, as one of the gentle- 

 men stated, that "Phoenix had better not try to 

 entertain the congress unless she can do it well." 

 The sense of the meeting was that it would not do 

 for Phoenix to risk losing the excellent reputation 

 for hospitality that has been accorded that city even 

 for the benefits that would come with a session of 

 the International Irrigation Congress. 



The principal objection was raised on account 

 of a request for an increased guarantee and the 

 large expense entailed, with a lack of proper hall and 

 hotel facilities to take care of the crowd that would 

 naturally visit that city during the time of the 

 meeting. 



This brings to mind the fact that Mr. B. A. 

 Fowler, who has held various offices in connection 

 with the congress, was one of those who directly 

 objected to the arrangement. Mr. Fowler has been 

 in contact with the congress and its work since the 

 time of its meeting at Phoenix in 1896, and is also 

 familiar with the methods of raising money and its 

 expenditure in connection with the 'work of pub- 

 licity and entertainment. 



It is surprising, however, to find Mr. Fowler 

 objecting to having the congress held in his own 

 city on account of lack of funds, when he, as an 

 official, has been free to use part of the funds raised 



by many other cities and has never heretofore sug- 

 gested similar opposition. 



This brings to mind the fact that the IRRIGATION 

 AGE stated to Mr. Fowler and other officials of the 

 congress a year or more ago that there was no 

 necessity for the heavy initial expenses. It was 

 claimed that the dignity of the congress could be 

 better maintained by the regular employment of a 

 high-priced secretary. The AGE has always insisted 

 that the work necessary to carry on the congress 

 could be done in three months' time. 



Formerly, the secretary received no salary and 

 was expected to pay all of his own expenses. At 

 present the secretary has one or two assistants who 

 are, no doubt, fully competent and able to handle 

 the details of the work, and he receives not only his 

 expenses in traveling, but a salary of $3,600 per 

 year. 



When the congress gets back to a point where 

 the secretary's work can be performed in three 

 months' time, with possibly one or two assistants, 

 ' and where the expense for this character of work 

 does not exceed $2,500, including stationery, etc., 

 it will be found much easier to locate towns that 

 will be glad to entertain that body. 



As the Phoenix people look at it now it will re- 

 quire at least $20,000 to cover the actual expense of 

 publicity and entertainment. On the other hand, 

 cities like Spokane, Ogden, Sacramento and Boise 

 expended all the way from $25,000 to $80,000. There 

 was an object in making a great publicity campaign 

 in connection with this work, as it largely benefited 

 each city and the country surrounding it. And so 

 long as the citizens were willing to pay the bills no 

 objection was raised. 



It was supposed that owing to the completion 

 of the Roosevelt dam and the immense amount of 

 good that has been done the Salt River valley by 

 the exploitation of this project, Phoenix and the 

 people of the surrounding country would be very 

 glad to stand a reasonable expense in entertaining 

 the congress. The facts perhaps are that all of the 

 benefit to be derived from the location of this great 

 dam has already been taken advantage of, and the 

 people there do not feel that it is necessary to fur- 

 ther exploit their district. 



Land values went kiting when the location of 

 the dam was first decided upon, and there is very 

 little likelihood of an increase in land values in that 

 territory for some years to come. Hence, people 

 who have made the money out of the location and 

 were shrewd enough to secure this great expendi- 

 ture for their territory, have no doubt, in many 

 instances, pulled out from under and the new comers 

 are not prepared to nor do they understand the 



