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THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



wonderful possibilities in the way of revolutionizing plant growth, and 

 producing from the now useless plants of the desert, wealth at this trme 

 incalculable. 



Reservoirs Prevent Floods. 



" 'Our government still pours untold millions into river and harbor 

 improvement, while small percentages of the sums thus spent, if placed 

 in the west, will accomplish a much larger proportion of results. Large 

 bodies of water stored in reservoirs at the heads of streams and an in- 

 creasing acreage under irrigat'on, adds to evaporation and increases rain- 

 fall. This statement is so old that it is almost hackneyed but these de- 

 velopments serve another and less familiar purpose. They prevent floods 

 and damage along the lower water courses; and assist navigation by pro- 

 ducing a more regular flow. 



Dry Farming Prevents Floods. 



" 'These costs, and the costs of a few hundred or a thousand experi- 

 mental farms is a mere bagatelle, and should be borne by the govern- 

 ment. In stirring up the soil dry farmers permit the water to run into the 

 earth that would otherwise pass off in floods, and their methods of con- 

 servation checks rapid evaporation and consequent violent precipitation; 

 and a considerable portion of the water that passes into the earth through 

 plowed fields, finds subterranean channels to springs and streams. Per- 

 collating waters move much more slowly than those upon the surface, 

 thus dry farming incidently is useful to irrigation. 



" 'It is a duty of the government to sustain the expenditures neces- 

 sary to carry forward the work that I have outlined above, for by so doing 

 there are created more homes for the homeless, and vast sums are added 

 to American wealth, 



" 'Practically useless lands are made to advance to ten, twenty, forty 

 and sometimes hundreds of dollars per acre by the simple expedient of 

 combining a few well known physical facts. A few dollars may be re- 

 quired to demonstrate these facts, and in what better use can we expend 

 the federal revenues, 



" 'Yours truly, 



" 'G. L, SHUMWAY, 

 " 'Executive Chairman, American Irrigation Federation,' " 



FAREWELL FROM RETIRING PRESIDENT. 



GOV. BROOKS (presiding) : "I would state before closing, that this 

 convention has been undoubtedly of great use and benefit not only to 

 this state, but to the entire western country, and that we hope the in- 

 teresting proceedings as published later will be widely read throughout 

 all sections of the world. We appreciate very greatly the attendance here 

 at this convention and wish to express our appreciation and thanks to all 

 who have prepared papers or delivered addresses during the three days' 

 session. Despite the weather conditions, this has been a truly remarkable 



