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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1902)
THE MORNING OREGON! AN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1902, 10 - - IRRIGATION THE SLOGAN FOR A GREAT CONVENTION OF LEADING CITIZENS OF OREGON (Continued from First Page.) as nominated by the county delegates are as. follows: Resolutions O. L. Miller, Baker: M. E. Brink, Crook: J. TV. McCullough, Mal heur; H. R. Kincaid, Lane; W. B. Sar gent, Union; R. G. Gunn, Sherman; H. E. Ankeny. Jackson: G. A. Hartman, Umatilla; X. "Whealdon, Wasco; Charles Hilton, Wheeler; B. F. Jones, Lincoln; JR. Scott, Clackamas; Dalton Briggs, Har ney; H. H. Brooks, Douglas; E. C. Wies ner, Marion: George T. Baldwin, Kla math: Henry E. Reed, Multnomah. Legislation Sam White, Baker; T. H. Lafollette, Crook; F. M. Metcalfe, Mal heur; E. J. Frasier, Lane; F. S. Bram--well, Union; W. H. Moore, Sherman; Mllo P. Ward, Jackson; C. J. Smith, Umatilla; E. H. Johnston, Wasco; J. A. Johnson, Wheeler; B. F. Jones, Lin coln; R. Scott, Clackamas; M, Fitzgerald, Harney; A. C. Marsters, Douglas; Frank Davey, Marion; E. S. Phillips, Klamath; Seneca Smith, Multnomah. WELCOME TO DELEGATES. Mayor George II. Williams "Extends the Frepdoxn of the City. In his address of welcome Mayor George H. Williams said: "Gentlemen of the Convention: I need hardly say as the official representative of the people of the City of Portland that they extend to you n hearty welcome to this city. You have assembled to con sider a subject that concerns the wel fare of the whole country, and especially, the growth and prosperity of the eastern part of our stale, and anything which promotes the prosperity of that part of Oregon, promotes the business interests of Portland. As naturally as the waters of the Columbia River flow ' to the sea. the trade of the country drained by that great river flows to this city. Water that irrigates the arid lands of Eastern Oregon fldws through the products of its fertilized soil into the storehouses of this city. Every quarter-section of land east of the Cascade Mountains redeemed from barrenness by Irrigation arid re duced to cu'tivatlon adds to the supply, and every new business enterprise in the City of Portland adds to the demand,. and thus the consumer and producer are brought close to each other, to the mutual benefit of both. N "Sometimes a jealousy of the growing power and influence of Portland appears In the country, and apropos to this is a story of what hanpened at a political meeting . in Missouri. While a candidate for office was telling the people how the tariff had robbed the p'oor laborer and the farmer had enriched the bloated million aire, an he reached the climax of his speech and paused for breath, an old farmer in the audience spoke up and said: 'Wall, 1 guess I can stand It so long as wheat is 1 u bushel.' and so 1 guess our friends in the country can -stand the in fluence of Portland in puolis affairs so long as it affords a convenient and profit able market for what tac-y produce and have to sell. "Water is a useful thing. Our friends east of the Cascade Mountains drink it sometimes, but generally use it for pur poses of irrigation, but they have not yet been able to save enough to water any considerable portion of their country. Private enterprise has gone far enough to. prove the inestimable value of irrigation. I was in BoIrJO City at an early day, when there wan little or nothing growing- there but sagebrush out of a hard soil of gravel, but 1 have since been there to see a flourishing city, with beautiful lawns end gardens, with a luxuriant growth of vegetation, ali produced by water upon an otherwise unproductive soiL "Our good and gracious Government has taken hold of tills matter with xa paternal spirit, and two nets have been passed to provide for the reclamation ot the arid lands of the country. I am re minded "V- these acts of the Irishman's definition of government. 'Government,' said he, answering his son, who had asked what government was, 'is where a lot of people get together and think what is best for themselves, and then say that Is best for us.' I havo not seen the s.ct called the National irrigation act, but I have heard it said that Oregon Is entitled to $1,100,000 under the provisions of that act. This is enough to Incite the patriotic ardor of every man in the state. lmagi: nation must stretch Itself to take In the number of dams and reservoirs that U.OOO.Cft) will build. If wc can obtain this amount of money and it is judiciously ex pended, we may hopefully look forward to the time whe-n the lands now possessed by the coyotes and jackr&bbits will be converted into green, meadows and grain producing fields. "Eastern people who have traveled In California and have been told there that It rains 12 months of the year in Oregon will ba surprised to hear that $1,000,000 can be properly expende-d in this state in ar tificial irrigation; but they do not know that Oregon is a state distinguished for Its variety of scenery, climate and soil. We have plenty of rain in the Willamette Valley, and at times some to spare, but It Is a warm, refreshing rain, and falls alike upon the .just and the unjust, as you -will, find out perhaps before this con vention adjourns. I am glad to see, gen tlemen, that you have brought with you your umbrellas, overcoats and rubber shoes, for somtimps the irrigation busi ness is a little overdone In this city at this season of the year. "I wish here to express my unqualified approval of the policy of the Govern ment in making reserves of our moun tainous districts. Our mountains are our fountains. Were reckless woodsmen al lowed ,to denude the mountains of their forests there would be no streams to dam up for reservoirs, and the country de pendent upon the mountain streams for a supply of water -would not be worth a 3am. "We -wish you to understand, gentle men, that our welcome has more of sub stance than mere words. Our citizens have raised $1500, and they are determined that you shall have $1500 worth of enjoy. nient while you stay In this city. Though the 'melancholy days, the saddest of the year" are upon us, and our city is ntft as beautiful as it was In the Summer time, when the trees were clothed In their livery of green, and the flowers were in bloom, yet we hope "that you will see and Who Delivered" the Address of of Welcome. lL hear much here that will contribute to the pleasurs of your visit. Preparations j 1UL UUI trillCl lilllUUCill- In various ways, as you can see from the programme which has been published. We have plenty of good things to eat and to drmK, and I Invite your attention to our Bull Run water, which comes j oounumg to our city irom- tne icy nuis of co'ld sublimity,' and is so plentiful and so palatable that one of you need not make the remark to another that the Governor of North Carolina is said to have made to the Governor of South Car olina. ' "Street-cars, if you desire to go, will take "ou to Portland Heights, where you can. overlook one of the most magnificent landscapes in the world. Our City Hay is worth your attention, in which you will find the home of our State Historical So ciety, and where also you can find a free museum, in which you can see zoological curiosities of all kinds, from the skull of a whale to .the stuffed body of a humming-bird. Our City Park has many natural attractions, and we have on ex hibition there elk, deer, bear, monkeys ana. other animals, and those of you who be lieve in Darwin's 'Descent of Man' will no doubt be much Interested In the monkeys. "Let us hope, gentlemen, that v your work here may inaugurate a system of irrigation that will make the sandy plains of Eastern Oregon as fair and as green as the lands of the Willamette Valley, so that every Oregonian, as he surveys our widely extended fields and magnificent scenery, may proudly say of his state: ".Land of the forest and the rock. Of dark bUie lake and mighty river. Where mountains rear-on high to mock The storm's career and lightning's shock. My own green land forever." MR. WILLIAMSON'S ADDRESS. CongreNsnian-Elect DiscunMes "Irri gation Movement in Oregron.' The full text of Congressman-elect Williamson's address was: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: From frequent expressions of anxious solici tude a wholesome fear is entertained by certain of our citizens lest, through the beginning of an organized movement in this state for the promotion of the cause of irrigation, a mistake has been made. The spirit of development of the vast j agricultural resources ot me state, through application of the principle of Irrigation by Individual effort, seems to have so completely possessed the minds of certain of our citizens that the mere suggestion of an organized effort tq ad vance our Interests in this line, on the part of the people really and vltallS' in terested, appears to have about the samo effect uportwthem as the act of flaunting a red flag Immediately in front of an In furiated bull. Without stopping for a moment for -considerations of either honesty or truth, some of these self-alleged and self-titled irrigators have taken It upon themselves to rush Into print with columns of at tack, and then, again, without stopping to cast about at the damage done, or even offering to gather up as much as a single piece of the wreckage wrought, have hred again in whatever direction their-Diunaernuss nappenea xo oe point- ea, in me jiuye, iipiiciJLJ, iu uai, u.l least one of the Instigators of this move ment. . j From the eIzo and character of this i audience, it Is evident that such expecta tions have not thus far been realized. Vain hope is the reward of their effort ! to date. If a mistake was made on the part of a single one of those who Instigated I a movement that has resulted In bring ing together this magnificent body, of our representative citizens for the pur pose of devising ways and means for ex ploiting one or more of the undeveloped resources of this wondcrrui state, sucn was a just and righteous mistake, and is clearly pardonable on the ground of public utility. For so sure as we are to- ' PROMINENT SPEAKERS . MorieD" fe. ' 5 ". 1 : AND DELEGATES " " MImW ' " 'V' ' " :: QTfPTrHFn it thf -c- m ff MmMmWMM! ' fv.v.v- ! . . . GJtfSDtA m Ml i .i 111 fiBF . ' I ffl .. : . h i i a in km m gether In this beautiful city today, just so sure will untold good be accomplished by this movement, If properly directed. The feeling of great care and iriomcnt ous responsibility that should pervade every consideration of such an undertak ing as the outlining and shaping a pol icy for an association of this nature in Oregon precludes under normal conditions any reference whatever to personalities. However, my absence from the state during these repeated and vulgar personal attacks upon myself. Impugning my mo tives, both private and public. Is apology 'sufficient for calling your attention to at least one feature of the case, viz., that those Individuals who have been leading the opposition to the formation of this association, and who have been the most vindictive in their attacks upon those who saw fit to begin this movement, myself In particular, are men who are notorious for never, having "built as much as one foot of ditch or canal, or placed a single drop of water on an acre of land wlthlr the-borders of the state: men who "are al this time making their living by foisting their schemes upon those who have meant whom they can beguile Into a hearing men who, wearing the guise of friendship with one hand beckon the Government into the state under the new law. whlk with the other they undertake to crrc such barriers as will make It practical".? Impossible for the Government to get int the state for years to come: men whos. calling requires them to move out anc on when promotion pure and simple n longer finds a profitable market. Do not understand me to utter as muci as one syllable of criticism against th man or collection of men who in goo faith and in compliance with law are ma! lng an honest endeavor to reclaim 100.C acres, or 100 acres, or as much as or. .acre of Oregon's arid empire. Such people have my hearty commends tion. and whatever I am able to besto in the way of assistance, either in a pr. vate or public capacity. But there is something about the ma who appears suddenly upon the seen from what direction God only knows, hi decked from head to foot with empt titles, who has engineered and plannc this earth and girdled with canals t very moon Itself, that appeals to ' n deepest sympathies. He it Is who is competent, to sit In jud. ment and impugn the motives of men wl have devoted- their life work to wrestir the plains of Eastern Oregon, from tl wilderness it once was. He It Is who J in open hostility, though voclferousl. , denylng ltf to the newly enacted Federa jrricTation law These are the men with whom I air proud to differ, for whose criticisms i care not, and with whom I am unalter ably at war. The formation of a State Irrigation As sociation in Oregon at this tipie owes nc man or set of men an apology. All other of the semi-arid states have such an or ganization. The time lor the movement is opportune, and excuses and apologies for Its exlstetnce are not In order. Vested Rights. So far the opposition for by no other name can it be known has both in sea- j son and out of season sought to miscon- strue the object or tnis movement It has been repeatedly alleged that the 0 . XXJXOiStt -rr- , 1 AWff 3 I ': '' T M I) 111' object sought was to promote or bring about an attack upon certain vested rights. No statement could be further from the, truth. One word, however, upon the subject of rested rights. It will be noted that those who are loudest in their protestations, in '.his regard are the ones who would put he broadest construction on the term. To heed "their woeful admonitions, every - hlng in Oregon, from a well-conducted anKing- e,staonsnmcnt down to a claim i tne waters of a whole river, advocatea y any old superannuated blatherskite, may c t-it not onjv to tne sta-te board -xscd upon nothing but sthin air, is a f having in charge the iniatlory steps to -ested right. i the acquirement of these rights to large About the sacredness of a right duly bodies of our public domain by inulvld quired by law. there is, neither can Ual or corporations, but have the further here be, any qdestlon among honorable rignt through organization or otherwise en. However, according to my own way , to make such showing and rccommenda- thinking, there is a vast difference, ' tfnns hs thev mav see fit to the denart- . ...o.oqoiti.iii L. ROSENBLATT. Secretary of the Portland Com mittee of Bn.iinesN Men. - . ' not to say a marked distinction, between a vested richt and a rlsht about to be vented. It is with the latter class of 5 right that this association has every ' license to deal. The people of Oregon, through an asso- cation of this nature or otherwise, have a perfect right to Inquire into and cause whatever they mav in. the way of ah in- I vestigailon that rnr.v throw l.'ght upon . the subject of rights" about to be vested, And In this particular connection to make . sufreestions.and recommendations as they ment at Washington, where final action Is had. ' ' I Such action on the part of the people of the state Is both heeded and welcomed by the state board and by the department people at Washington. And. considering the fact that nearly 500.CCO' acres of the public lands in Oregon are In the initial c-iac nf nnnrnnrint'nn imiipr nnr tatr law, which takes advantage of the Carey - - - ....... .. .. . act. 1 submit that It is high time tnat the people of the state, through an asso ciation of this nature, were taking an i active interest inthe proceeding. I Particularly Is this true in view of the vast amount of money that Is now pro visionally "come to Oregon by virtue of the recent Federal law. and which Is about i to be barred out of the state for years . . n nj to come oy a series ol u.etu , tenant Qn the otherto continue the flow , vestea ngnts. j of -water in the canal a moment longer Aot Opposed to Irrigation. , j tnan tho land reclalmet3. except the The silly charge that citizens of the i vuilie Qf the water obtained from its sale, sparsely settled regions are opposed to J The moment he discovers a more valu Irrlgation is scarcely worth refuting, and j abie purpose for thV water, or the mo I shall waste no time upon such an un- j ment the state board refuses to allow warranted statement, further than to call ; him what he may consider a fair price attention to the large delegations here J for the water, down goes the headgafes today from the remote districts of the to his canal and a whole community is state. Let any man who has honestly j quickly starved Into either submission or entertained such a doctrine take the pains j ruination. There is absolutely no pro before the sun goes down today to con- j vision, neither dp I know that there can verse with' some of these people. Leth',m be. under our constitution, to compel the take into consideration the long distances owner of the canal and of the water It traveled, the Inconveniences endured and contains to furnish water for irrigation the expense of making the journey to be to .the community dependent upon It for present here today, and then ask himself one moment after it is reclaimed and he why for one moment he allowed himseli ' sets his money out of the land. He Is to believe such a malicious slander on the good name of these worthy people. The Carey Act. . So much has been said through the l- press of the state by the opposition to . the new Federal law in favor of the Carey j theory of reclamation that I deem it , proper to call attention both to our state i law taking advantage of the Carey act I and to the workings of similar laws in ' othfr states. Wishing to benefit my soul by making an honest confesstion, as well as" in re sponse to a desire at all times to be scrupulously fair when dealing in matters of great moment, I will state here now '. that I had as much, perhaps more, to do ; v.lth the enactment of our present state , arid-land lav as any other members of the ' last Legislature. .It Is with no feeling of pride that I make this statement. Gladly would I It were otherwise. It. however, was my duty to j nerve during that session of the Legisla- ture as chairman of the committee on j irrigation in the Senate. And I now serve I notice on those who so savagely attack t my action In this, as well as other mat j ters. that whatever of good there Is in i that law, whose praises they continuously I sing. Is, perhaps, more directly attrlbut I able to my action than any other one man in Oregon. I would rejoice that it might end here. i But it cannot. The converse of the prop ortion must also be true. Whatever of evil is traceable to that, law Is equally attributable to my action. The light of the rapid transition In conditions in respect to the great subject nf irrieation throughout the West, and the consequent light of an education born 1 of such experience exposes to view not j only the inefficiency of the law. but I thrusts into disagreeable prominence a j number of defects which amount to but little rhort of gross negligence on the part of myself and others of the last Oregon Legislature. I l would call your attention" first to that feature of the law which attaches a pcr- petual water .right to every tract of land by the tenant on the land paying for tne , water forever that nins through the rignt. ' Section S of the law reads .as follows: "The right "to the use of water for irrl- gation of any tract or subdivisions of land uclaimed under the provisions of this act shall become and perpetually remain appurtenant thereto, subject, however, to the annual maintenance charges and to proper ana reat-uiuiuje iui im icS' lions adopted for the irrigation system under and by which the land has been reclaimed." I have seen it claimed in print by the opposition that the water right under the law once paid for became not only ap purtenant to. the land, 'but that the right entitled the owner thereof to a propor tionate- Interest in the canal ana irnga- tion works. 13ut if any man can point out such a statement In the law I will d-op the whole contention ana agree with him that the Government' should keep its money and stay out of the irrigating busl- - ness. 'lhe section I have, quoted Is the only light our state law throws upon that im- oortant feature of the case. Under lti provisions a permanent water right at . 1 . .V. IotiiI tiQV nir full Trl( taches to the land by paying full price fcr it. and paying for the water that runs through the right for all time to come. The second feature of the law to which I desire to call your attention Is the fact that there is nothing whatever In the law that would compel the owner of the canal the landlord for such a law establishes firmly the two classes. : ine lanuioru on uiu ui.tj imim w.u absolute master of the situation. But the price of the water is fixed by the state board," say the opposition. -Not one cent of it after the land Is once re claimed. From that moment the owner of the canal places his own price upon the water and his tenants pay it or move on. Tho settler has no security whatever from ex cessive water rates: He owns none of the canal or irrigation works and has no voice whatever in Its management. Third I would call your attention to the fact that there is no provision for a guar antee of the execution of tho contract with the state by the party submitting euch proposal. The state Is compelled by the law to send a competent engineer to examine the land and to expend their time in all preparations for the contract, and no provision for reimbursement is made, Jn ease the annlieant refuses to sign the con tract when the state has performed its part. There are other defects In the law equally as glaring, but I have pointed out sufficient objection to convince any fair- minded business man that we have on cur statutes a very dangerous law rela tive to a very important subject objec tions sufficient to warrant a number ot radical changes in the law or Its repeal altogether. The Carey law itself was at best an effort in a good cause. And, sufficiently guarded, it might be of use as an ad junct to the present Maxwell law. . But as a reclaimer of the seventy odd million acres of irrigable public domain It Is a colossal failure. It has now been in operation more than eight years, and under its provisions but 11,000 acres in round numbers have been patented to all the states. At this rate of reclamation, worked by simple proportion, it would require to re claim the 71,000.000 acres of Irrigable land in the arid states a period of 5.000,000 years. And yet there are people who savagely criticise those of us who object to waiting so long. Conditions In Wyoming. In the State of Wyoming, the homa of the father of the law, and the state that took advantage of its provisions Im mediately after It was enacted, and a state that, through the able efforts of Mr. Elwood Mead, now Irrigation expert in the Interior Department at Washington. has a most excellent state law taking ad vantage of the Carey act. the law fall far short of giving entire satisfaction. Notice th'e apologetic tone of the vari ous reports of the state engineers of that state. I quote from an able report of Mr. Elw'ood Mead. State Engineer of Wyoming In the year 1SS6. Referring to the workings of the Carey act to that date in Wyoming. Mr. Mead said in his report: "Under the present system, there must be a long delay be tween the beginning of the surveys and the time when money can be expended In construction. It Is a system which, in vites the promoter rather than the in vestor. It was framed with the idea of lessening expense. Experience has shown that It falls to do thus." In another part of the same report In speaking of the same subject this emi nent authority says: "Its operation is limited to 10 years. This Is too brief a period." In the same paragraph Mr. Mead says: "In another year or two this lav will require amend ment or Its usefulness will be at an end because of the Inadequate time." And It afterward to amended allowing an extension of five years more time, or a period of 15 years for completion of tho works. Wyoming Is the home of the Carey act and the successes made by virtue of the law in that state are constantly referred to by the opposition to Government aid. Such being the case, we may be pardoned for quoting still further from the records and reports of the engineer's office of that state. I read again from the same report quoted above: "The experience of every irrigated country has shown the necessity for state aid in building large works. Ditches and canals of reasonable cost can be profitably built by unaided private en terprise. - The larger, costlier canals-can- not. Sooner or later there comes a time when the state lends its aid or 'develop ment stops." Then he cites three emi nent Illustrations, the Ganges Canal In India, the Goulburn Wler In Australia, and the Coubour Canal In Italy, all of which are Government works. I will, make one more quotation from the official report of the present State Engineer of Wyoming. Mr. Fred Bond. In Mr. Bond's last official report covering the last year, on page -10. speaking of tho length of time required to reclaim lands under the Carey act In that state, Mr. Bond says: "The operation of the Carey act should be extended 20 years beyond the present limit, as it Is believed that such extension can injure no interests, but on the other hand will be a much needed encouragement to reclamation on a scale soon to be found necessary." Note the fitatement following this, taken from the only state in the Union where the Carey law Is claimed to be a success. And bear In mind, the Carey act Is ad ministered in Wyoming under a well guarded .state law which attaches a share in the canal and Irrigation works to each water right, and many other advantages far In advance of Oregon's poor first effort. The statement I refer to Is made by the Stdte Engineer In Wyoming after eight years of experience: "That tho Carey law has not as yet been productive of large reclamation of lands in this stat may be admitted without in any way re flecting on that law as an incentive and encouragement to those who would build canals." Both a condemnation and an apology in one sentence. Having heard the successful operatiom of the Carey Law in Wyoming so persist ently and" continuously advocated, I be came possessed of a desire to run the case down In person. Consequently Thursday of last week I put in the day at Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming, and sought a personal interview with the State Engineer -and Governor of that state. The Governor being absent I questioned his private secretary and State Engineer Bond on all points that occurred to my mind appertaining to irrigation In Wyoming. , While claiming a partial success for the Carey law In that state, both these of ficials agreed that the Maxwell law must take precedence in that state and that the Carey law should be used as an adjunct to it. I have not interviewed our own state board upon the subject of the Carey law Secretary J. M. Moore ' I t t T I T ' T T t T T V T t T tjt