Wikipedia

National Irrigation Congress

TheNational Irrigation Congresswas held periodically in theWestern United Statesbeginning in 1891[1]and ending in 1916, by which time the organization had changed its name toInternational Irrigation Congress.[2][3]It was a "powerful pressure group."[4]

1893 session of National Irrigation Congress inLos Angeles OperaHouse

Nineteenth century

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1891 The first congress was organized inSalt Lake CitybyWilliam Ellsworth Smythe,the editor of the publicationIrrigation Age,Elwood Mead,a Wyoming irrigation engineer, and SenatorFrancis E. Warrenof Wyoming. As a result, irrigation became a substantial national issue.[5]The congress passed a resolution urging that public lands controlled by the federal government be turned over to the states and territories "needful of irrigation."[6] Between 450 and 600 delegates attended.[7][8]

1893 Thepanic of 1893undermined financial backing for the congress;[9]nevertheless, the second conference opened in August 1893 in the Grand Opera House in Los Angeles, California, with an address byJohn P. Irishof San Francisco and the presence of a number of foreign representatives who had responded to an appeal by theState Departmentto attend the meeting. They came from France, Russia, Mexico, Ecuador andNew South Wales.[10]The body also appointed commissioners in every state and territory to surveyarid landsand submit the results to the U.S. Congress.[11]

C.W. Allingham of Los Angeles introduced his "heliomotor," a sun-powered engine that he said could be used to pump irrigation water.[12]TheLos Angeles Timesreported: "He said it might be stated that the idea was a cranky one, but it must be remembered that it was the cranks that made things move. (Laughter.)"[13]

1894The congress inOmaha, Nebraska,[14]was highlighted by adoption of a plan to settle 250 families in aplanned communitycalledNew Plymouthin Idaho. "Farmers were... restricted to living no more than two miles away from their crops, and the sale of alcohol was banned... to keep the farmers sober and well-mannered at all times."[15]

John Wesley Powell,director of theUnited States Geological Survey,"talked of the storm-water storage plan. He thought that this was still an experiment. In Utah and California, where it had been tried, it had been successful."[16]

1895

Arid regions of the United States as published in theLos Angeles Times,1893

A congress held inAlbuquerque, New Mexico,in 1895 adopted a resolution that stated in part:

We declare that it should be the policy of [the United States] Congress to frame laws which will enable the people to obtain possession of the aridpublic landsupon terms which bear a fair relation to the cost ofreclamation,and that this cost should be regulated by public authority.... We earnestly ask for the creation of a National Irrigation Commission... to be composed of men familiar with the condition of the arid region and including a representative of skilledengineers.We would have this commission empowered to use the facilities of theDepartment of the InteriororAgricultureand ofWar.[17]

1896 At the fifth congress inPhoenix, Arizona,A.G. Wolfenbargerof Nebraska described the West as "a country destined to become at some future time the very Garden of the Gods, the home of intelligence, learning, riches, philanthropy, everything that can measure the power and greatness of a great nation... millions of people are waiting to be led out into these great plains waiting to welcome them to a home that will make them absolutely independent."[18]

1897 The congress of 1897 inLincoln, Nebraska,which attracted representatives from thirteen states, was opened with an address by E.R. Moses, chairman of the national executive committee, who said:

We irrigationists are satisfied that [the U.S.] Congress will have to adopt our plan of preventing the overflow of large streams by the storage of waters near the[river] headsin such a manner as to feed the stream at times of low water, and at other times to be used in irrigation, navigation, and manufacturing industries... and large tracts of arid land can be reclaimed by these waters and opened for settlement.[19]

William Jennings Bryan

Defeated Democratic candidate for the U.S. PresidencyWilliam Jennings Bryantold the delegates he was opposed "to turning over large bodies of land to corporations controlling water rights, unless safeguards were thrown around the transaction to protect small holders of irrigable land."[20]

1898 The 1898 congress inCheyenne, Wyoming,called for the federal government to allocate "no less than $100,000 forhydrographic surveysfor the measurement of streams and the survey ofreservoirsites "and urged the formation of aforestry bureau.[21]But a Colorado legislator reportedly likened the America West "to a graveyard, littered with defunct irrigation corporations."[22]

1899 A battle developed at the 1899Wichita, Kansas,meeting of another Western body — theTrans-Mississippi Congress— over the stand by the National Irrigation Congress favoring federal "storage reservoirs" and the "leasing of thepublic grazing landsby the states without cession and those who advocated the public lands to the States and Territories. "After much debate, theTrans-Mississippigroup endorsed the policy of the Irrigation Congress.[23]

Hiram M. Chittenden

1900 The 1900 meeting of the Irrigation Congress inChicago, Illinois,featured a paper read by CaptainHiram M. Chittendenof theArmy Corps of Engineerscontending that the best way to get the U.S. Congress to act on irrigation was to "divorce the storage reservoir problem from that of irrigation in general, that the former is properly within the field of the General Government, and is in a fair way to secure favorable action by Congress, provided that it is well understood that no attempt will be made to involve the Government inirrigation work."[24]

Twentieth century

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William A. Clark

1903 The eleventh congress was held inOgden, Utah,in September 1903, with SenatorWilliam A. Clarkof Montana as chairman. The agenda included "Practical irrigation and forestry lessons; reports of experts; application of provisions of theReclamation act;State progress under the National act; views on settlement of legal complications, and the theme ofcolonization."[25][26]

CommanderFrederick Booth-Tuckerof theSalvation Armymade the principal address, arguing on behalf of the a plan to "colonize the irrigated lands of the West with poor people from the cities." He said some 3,000 acres of land had been settled in such a way in Colorado, California and Ohio.[27]

1905 The 1905 meeting of the congress, held inPortland, Oregon,in conjunction with theLewis and Clark Centennial Exposition,attracted 1,200 delegates. A plan to hold "sectional meetings" was deemed a failure because most of the delegates preferred to attend the fair instead, aNew York Timesreporter said.[28]

1906 The congress, held inBoise, Idaho,[29]took a stand against any "legislative concessions in favor of Philippine sugar," a nationrecently conquered by the United States,so that sugar-beet production "may be fully developed in the arid regions of America."[30]The delegates also rescinded a resolution that the 11th conference had adopted in 1903 endorsingZea Maizeas the "national floral emblem."[31]

Luther Burbank

1907 The congress was opened inSacramento, California,in September, held in conjunction with a colorful Interstate Exposition of Irrigated Land and Forest Products. The "four great objects of the congress" were "To save the forests, store the floods, reclaim the deserts, and make homes on the land."[32]AgronomistLuther Burbank,the "Wizard of the Plant Industry," told the delegates he had developed a "thornless cactus" that would "become the great fodder of arid regions."[33]

1908 For the 12-day conference inAlbuquerque, New Mexico,beginning September 29, the federal government appropriated $50,000 to underwrite an exposition exhibiting the products of agriculture. Territorial GovernorGeorge Currymoved his office from the state capital atSanta Feso he could be on hand to greet the 4,000 people who eventually arrived. New Mexicans used the event to drum up support for statehood, which was granted four years later, in 1912. A reporter reviewing the event said that:

The toniclike effect of the entire affair buoyed spirits of Albuquerque's many boosters and reinforced in them the conviction that their city, in the century stretching ahead, was marked for bright and wondrous things.[34]

1909 Gifford Pinchot,who had been appointed by PresidentWilliam McKinleyto head the government'sDivision of Forestryin 1898 and who had run theU.S. Forest Servicesince it had taken over management of forest reserves from theUnited States General Land Officein 1905, became convinced that U.S. Secretary of the InteriorRichard A. Ballingerintended to "stop the conservation movement". In August, speaking at the annual meeting of the National Irrigation Congress inSpokane, Washington,Pinchot accused Ballinger of siding withprivate trustsin his handling ofwater powerissues.[35]

In his opening speech at the congress, chairmanGeorge E. Barstowurged the government to find work for (overseas) immigrants "out West",to provide them with transportation and to lend them money to establish homes.[36]

1910 The 1910 conference inPueblo, Colorado,was highlighted by a dispute over whether water policy should be in the hands of the federal government or, as sought by congress chairmanFrank C. Goudyof Denver, "larger private and State holdings in irrigation projects."[37]The congress endorsed federal control of interstate water "by a substantial majority."[38]

Gifford Pinchot

1911 At the Chicago, Illinois meeting, a move was afoot to change the name of the organization to National Reclamation Congress and "make the reclaiming of the swamp and lowlands of the South the primary object and the irrigation of the Southwest and the West a secondary matter."[39]The attempt was not carried out. At one session,Gifford Pinchot,"PresidentRoosevelt'sright-hand man and former chief of the government forestry service "was verbally attacked" and his widely heralded policy of conservation was declared to be 'fantastic.' "The congress split into two factions over the matter.[40]

`Abdu'l-Bahá

1912 The session inSalt Lake City, Utahhad on the agenda such items as "Irrigation of the Great West," "Storing of the Floods" and "Heeding the Call of the Landless Man for the Manless Land."[41]The congress saw a change in name toInternational Irrigation Congressand ended with a resolution favoring control of water resources by the federal government, and not by the states.Henry S. Graves,United States forester, who gave the principal address, favored the latter proposal.[42]

In attendance was`Abdu'l-Bahá,eldest son and chosen successor ofBahá'u'lláh,the founder of theBahá'í Faith,duringhis historic journey to the westto spread the Bahá'í teachings. He was invited to be seated on the stage as an honorary guest.[43]

1914 The regular meeting of the Irrigation Congress was scheduled forCalgary, Alberta,Canada, October 5 through 9[44][45]with more than 8,000 people attending the closing session.[46](In April a Trans-Missouri Irrigation Conference,[47]not affiliated with the ongoing organization, had been held in Denver, Colorado, at the call of Secretary of the InteriorFranklin Knight Lane,who had "issued a broad invitation to all persons interested in irrigation," with the meetings "open to all." )[48]

1915 The congress was held at four locations inNorthern CaliforniaSeptember 12 through 20:Stockton,Fresno,SacramentoandSan Francisco.[49]

1916

Elephant Butte Dam under construction

The twenty-third and last irrigation congress, inEl Paso, Texas,was highlighted by the dedication of the newElephant Butte DaminElephant Butte, New Mexico,on October 15. One evening featured a debate on whether irrigation should be a governmental or private enterprise, withWill R. King,chief counsel for the U.S. Reclamation Service, arguing for the former and JudgeCarroll R. Gravesof Seattle, Washington, saying that "private exploitation would give better results."[50]At the same congress,William E. Smythe,of San Francisco, known as the "father" of the congress, proposed that a temple be erected as a memorial to the work of the irrigation pioneers.[50]

People associated with the congress

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Brady
Chamberlain
Pardee

References

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  1. ^Fuller, Craig (1994),"Irrigation in Utah",in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.),Utah History Encyclopedia,Salt Lake City, Utah:University of Utah Press,ISBN0874804256,OCLC30473917
  2. ^"California Invitation,"Los Angeles Times,October 2, 1912, page 15This article includes the first mention of the new name of the organization.
  3. ^"Abundance of Water,"Los Angeles Times,October 17, 1916, page 11This article is the last one about this organization under either name.
  4. ^Phillip W. Studenberg, "Acreage Limitation and the Applicability of the Reclamation Extension Act of 1914,"South Dakota Law Review,21 S.D.L. Rev. 737 (1976)[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^"Donald J. Pisani,To Reclaim a Divided West: Water, Law, and Public Policy, 1848- 1902,Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press (1992), cited in Peter J. Hill, "The Bureau of Reclamation as a Bad Public Good," Northwestern University Law School Searle Center website "(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-09-02.Retrieved2010-12-19.
  6. ^"Irrigation Congress,"Los Angeles Times,September 18, 1891, page 4Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  7. ^"Arid Lands,"Los Angeles Times,September 16, 1891, page 1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  8. ^"Irrigation Congress,"Los Angeles Times,December 29, 1892, page 4Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  9. ^Lawrence B. Lee, "The Little Landers Colony of San Ysidro,"San Diego History Journal,winter 1975
  10. ^"Irrigation: The International Congress Opens,"Los Angeles Times,October 11, 1893, page 4Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  11. ^"The Next Irrigation Congress,"Los Angeles Times,April 1, 1894, page 18Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  12. ^"The Irrigationists,"The Record-Union,Sacramento, October 13, 1893, page 1
  13. ^"Hard at Work,"Los Angeles Times,October 13, 1893, page 4Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  14. ^"Irrigationists Assemble at Omaha,"Los Angeles Times,March 24, 1894, page 1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  15. ^"New Plymouth," UltimateIdaho website
  16. ^"Anti-Drought,"Los Angeles Times,March 22, 1894, page 1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.TheTimesreported that "Buffalo Bill" spoke at the convention, but it did not say which of the two claimants to the title,Bill CodyorBill Comstock,gave the speech.
  17. ^"Resolutions Call for an Appropriation to Continue Work in Progress,"New York Times,September 30, 1895Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  18. ^Ted Bartimus, Associated Press, in "Colorado River: For the Source of Life in the West, Demand Is Overtaking Supply,"Los Angeles Times
  19. ^"Irrigation Congress Meets,"New York Times,September 29, 1897Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  20. ^"The Irrigation Congress,"New York Times,September 30, 1897Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  21. ^"National Irrigation Congress,"New York Times,September 4, 1898Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  22. ^Marc Reisner, "Cadillac Desert"
  23. ^"Trans-Mississippi Desires,"New York Times,June 3, 1899Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  24. ^"Irrigation Congress Meets,"New York Times,November 23, 1900Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  25. ^"National Irrigation Congress at Ogden,"New York Times,July 26, 1903Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  26. ^"Mr. Roosevelt Lauds the Irrigation Law,"New York Times,September 16, 1903Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  27. ^"To Colonize City Poor,"New York Times,September 17, 1903Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  28. ^"Prefer Fair to Conference,"New York Times,August 24, 1905Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  29. ^Connellsville Courier, Sept 7, 1906, p. 10
  30. ^ab"Opposes Philippine Sugar,"New York Times,September 7, 1906Access this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  31. ^"Resolutions Adopted by the Fourteenth Irrigation Conference,"Imperial Valley Press,September 15, 1906, cited at the Chronicling America website
  32. ^"Great Congress Meets Monday, Associated Press in theLos Angeles Times,September 1907, page 11Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  33. ^"Wizard's Wisdom,"Los Angeles Times,September 6, 1907, page I-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  34. ^Marc Simmons, "Trail Dust: New Mexico Used Irrigation Spectacle of 1908 to Advance Statehood,Santa Fe New Mexican,April 23, 2005[dead link‍]
  35. ^Char Miller,Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism,Island Press (2001)]ISBN1-55963-822-2
  36. ^"Jobs for Immigrants,"New York Times,August 14, 1909Access to this link requires a subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  37. ^ab"Irrigationists Encouraged,"Los Angeles Times,September 28, 1910, page I-4Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  38. ^"Much Debate Over Policies," Associated Press inLos Angeles Times,September 29, 1910Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  39. ^"Hope to Bring Congress Here,"Los Angeles Times,September 2, 1911, page II-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  40. ^"Gifford Pinchot is Arraigned,"Los Angeles Times,December 9, 1911, page I-5Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  41. ^"Irrigation Congress,"Los Angeles Times,September 8, 1912, page I-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  42. ^"Phoenix Gets Next Congress," Associated Press inLos Angeles Times,October 4, 1912, page I-3Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  43. ^"The Biggest Week in the History of Salt Lake City".239 Days in America.2012-10-01.Retrieved2021-08-09.
  44. ^Ward, Tom (1975).Cowtown: an album of early Calgary.Calgary: City of Calgary Electric System, McClelland and Stewart West. p.316.ISBN0-7712-1012-4.
  45. ^"Nebraskans Are Jolly Picnickers,"Los Angeles Times,August 24, 1914, page II-6Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  46. ^"Irrigation Congress Adjourned Yesterday for Another Year".The Calgary Herald.9 October 1914. Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2013.Retrieved18 June2013.
  47. ^"Irrigation Congress Indorses Newlands Bill,"Los Angeles Times,April 11, 1914, page I-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  48. ^"To Put Reclamation of a Business Basis,"Los Angeles Times,April 10, 1914, page I-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  49. ^"Irrigation Congress,"Los Angeles Times,July 16, 1915, page II-8Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  50. ^ab"Abundance of Water,"Los Angeles Times,October 17, 1916, page I-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  51. ^"Biography, RootsWeb".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-30.Retrieved2010-12-19.
  52. ^Guide to the Governor James Brady Records, 1906–1911[permanent dead link‍]
  53. ^Arthur C. Sanders,The History of Bannock County, Idaho,Pocatello, Idaho (1915), quoted at IdahoGenealogy
  54. ^Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  55. ^Texas Handbook Online, quoted at Ward County Biographies, Genealogy Trails History Group
  56. ^"May Go Haying in Automobile,"Los Angeles Times,February 2, 1909, page 14Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  57. ^Handbook of Texas Online,El Paso Public Library
  58. ^"Officers and Addresses," Associated Press inLos Angeles Times,September 30, 1897, page 2Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  59. ^Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc.(1912), quoted in skyways.org
  60. ^(No headline)New York Times,August 14, 1909Access to this link may require subscription to the newspaper or its website.
  61. ^"Keeps on Good Side of National Congress,"Los Angeles Times,September 8, 1907, page I-2Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  62. ^"Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exposition in Seattle Celebrates Spokane Day on June 25, 1909," HistoryLink.org
  63. ^"Services Today for Engineer,"Los Angeles Times,January 29, 1927, page 18Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  64. ^""Arizona: The Youngest State," at USGenNet.org ".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-07.Retrieved2010-12-19.
  65. ^"In Salt Lake Next," Associated Press inLos Angeles Times,December 10, 1911, page I-9Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
  66. ^Past and Present of Alameda County California,Volume II, Chicago (1914), pages 429–431, in USGenWeb project
  67. ^Eugene Moehring, "Nevada's Mining Depression, 1890–1900," University of Nevada and Las Vegas History Department
  68. ^"Father of Sugar Beet Industry Dies,"Albuquerque Morning Journal,September 27, 1910, quoted at RootsWeb
  69. ^"Former Mayor of Santa Fe Called,"Los Angeles Times,August 27, 1925, page A-1Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
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