148 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



200 invitations which covered individuals interested 

 in irrigation districts and projects, hydro-electric 

 companies, power companies, commercial organiza- 

 tions, labor unions, clearing house associations, 

 county officials and others, asking that they send 

 delegates to Tacoma on July llth and 12th for the 

 purpose of framing a water code and further to 

 agree on some line of procedure which would estab- 

 lish recognition before the next session of the legis- 

 lature, which convenes in January, 1917. 



Washington's sister States, Oregon and Idaho, 

 with many other States in the arid belt, have re- 

 vised their water laws in protection of irrigation 

 interests, but the great State of Washington is still 

 straddling the fence. 



The Constitution of Washington provides for 

 appropriations, but the Supreme Court of the state 

 has taken at times a decided stand in favor of ri- 

 parian rights, and it is the opinion of those who are 

 well acquainted with the situation that relief must 

 and may only be obtained by the adoption of a new 

 code. 



Interest is peculiarly divided in the State of 

 Washington. The Cascade Mountain range, run- 

 ning North and South, makes Eastern and Western 

 Washington as different in climatic and other con- 

 ditions as England and Australia. 



On the West side of the range the water power 

 interests are strongly intrenched. 



The Great Northern Railroad has a stupendous, 

 potential hydroelectric plant at Lake Chelan, not 

 to mention a number of others. 



At each session of the legislature the people 

 who are working for a new water code have met 

 with opposition from other interests and it was de- 

 cided that the wise thing to do would be to begin 

 right and allow sufficient time to shape public senti- 

 ment before the legislative body meets. 



The meeting at Tacoma brought out the old- 

 time opposition, and not much of value was accom- 

 plished. It is stated that irrigation interests could 

 have secured at this meeting the adoption of almost 

 any sort of a resolution recommending a code most 

 favorable to their interests, but as the object of the 

 conference was to get together and arrange matters 

 so that the old-time fight would not be encountered 

 at the time of the meeting of the legislature, it was 

 suggested that some sort of a compromise be ef- 

 fected which would.be fair to both sides. 



The result was an adjournment, and another 

 meeting will be held at North Yakima in November 

 of this year, at a date to be set by the permanent 

 chairman. Much work is necessary to accomplish 

 the aims of the irrigation group, but by harmonious 

 and concerted action the desired result may be 

 secured. 



American 

 Federation 

 Of Water 

 Users 



The editor of IRRIGATION AGE will 

 start on August 12th for a gen- 

 eral trip to all of the Federal Ir- 

 rigation projects, with the object 

 in view of inducing all the Water 

 Users' Associations to join the American Federa- 

 tion of Water Users. 



The plan of establishing a permanent irriga- 

 tion congress to be held annually at either Salt 

 Lake City or Ogden, Utah, or Boise, Idaho, will be 

 thoroughly canvassed with the officers of the va- 

 rious Water Users Associations, and it is now 

 planned to hold the first Congress in January, 1917. 



This trip will occupy three or four months, and 

 the following projects will be visited : The Carlsbad, 

 Hondo and Elephant Butte projects in New Mexico ; 

 Salt River, Arizona, Yuma, Arizona and California ; 

 Uncompahgre and Grand Valley projects in Colo- 

 rado ; Garden City, Kansas ; Strawberry Valley, 

 Utah ; Salt River, Arizona, Yuma, Arizona, and Cali- 

 fornia; and the Klamath Lake project in Oregon 

 California, Minniedoka and Payette Boise, Idaho ; 

 Umatilla, Oregon ; Sunnyside, Tieton and Okano- 

 gan, Washington ; the St. Mary, Blackfeet, Sun 

 River, Milk River, Lower Yellowstone and Hunt- 

 ley projects in Oregon ; the Williston and Buford- 

 Trenton, North Dakota; Belle Fouche, South Da- 

 kota; North Platte, Nebraska Wyoming, Shoshone 

 and Pathfinder in Wyoming. 



This work will necessitate almost continuous 

 traveling for three or four months, and owing to 

 the widely scattered points to be reached, careful 

 survey has been made of the entire field, so that 

 no time may be lost or ground gone over twice. 



The question of a permanent location for the 

 Congress of Water L'sers and headquarters of the 

 Federation will be determined by the attitude of 

 the commercial interests of the three cities named. 



The city that will secure the permanent head- 

 quarters will not be called upon to pay any expenses 

 beyond the hall, rent for annual meeting of Congress, 

 entertainment of delegates, and a small sum to 

 cover stenographer or assistant secretary expenses 

 during the time that publicity work is being done 

 for the congress from year to year. 



Unlike the old-time Irrigation Congress, there 

 will be no "pork barrel," as none of the officers will 

 be allowed, under the constitution and by-laws, to 

 draw a salary. 



A full report of progress in this work will ap- 

 pear regularly in IRRIGATION AGE. 



If you wish to keep posted on the development 

 of work along the line of the Water Users' Federa- 

 tion, send $1.00 for one year's subscription to Irri- 

 gation Age. 



