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Show THE IRRIGATION COITVESTIOir. The Ojnveutioii that hasjust closed at Denver is one of the most important import-ant to the Suite and Territories w est 1 of the Missouri river, that has ever been held. Its subject for consideration, considera-tion, the watering and reclamation of the vast district of waste and arid country lying west of the prairie region, re-gion, and covering in extent half of the whole wca of the United States, is vital to the life of millions of peo- pie, vital to the power and import- 1 j anceof the entire land. Almost a I million square acres of nearly desert ! soil are to be brought under cultiva- , i Lion, tho wilderness is to be subdued, , ! and the vast waste that now is com- I paratively useless is to be made to 1 echo with the noise and hum of trade 1 and commerce, and teem with the ; lite of civilization. That this will be the final result is scarcely within the possibility of doubt, and, to those who . hesitate and cavil, the example of the hardy pioneers of Utah is at once a rebuke and an encouragement. encourage-ment. The meeting at Denver was the initiative in-itiative of a combined movement to this end, and as such was a marked success. The ball has been opened. It must now be kcfit rolling until it gathers so great momentum that it will be impossible to stop it. The people, the press, the legislatures and tho agricultural societies, of the Suites and Territories interested, are looked to to further the object in all ways and under all circumstances. Its importance cannot be overestL-. mated. Governor Elbert, of Colorado, in addressing the convention, presented pre-sented the subject in a terse ye able and perspicuous manner. . i ... Considering first the three great facts; tlfat so immense a region of country is arid; that its" productive capabilities under cultivation are unsurpassed; un-surpassed; and that its water supply, ' properly utilized, is abundant to redeem re-deem millions of acres of land that at present lie sterile; he noted also the fact that the great tides of emigration, which sweep over the United. States, are now halted upon the -very verge of hundreds of thousands of square miles of country which, irrigated, irri-gated, would be capable of supporting support-ing the densest population of the continent; con-tinent; and urged that to open up a way out of this complication, to over-.come over-.come and subdue this -physical tact, which fetters the growth and limits the future of the country, is the great problem which to-day confronts the people of the trans-Missouri region. To accomplish this, the general government, gov-ernment, the great land owner of the region to be benefited, must bo called upon to assist. Holding vast acres of land, that without irrigation must remain re-main unsold and useless, its interest demands that it aid the people of the Territories to completo a system which, in extent and completeness to meet the want, is beyond the limit, of private - enterprise or individual adventure, ad-venture, and reqtiires the aid and countenance of the nation. Governor Elbert concluded his address ad-dress as follows : ' It seems to nm that thd magnitude- of the quuition wiil forcu it upon tho lav ur-ablo ur-ablo eons idi-rnt ion of congress. A? a matter of duty to ils citizens no ! government can afford to let 'so vast and Uplendid a portion of sits domain die waste. I As a matter of finance no government can aii'ord to let the couinluis millions of material wealth which .lu; locked' j A tie productive capabilities of such a domain Bleep mi sum moned. ; .: .. ... The. constant increase of emigrntian from Europe, the regular growth of our native imputation, Uk steady expansion of our railway system, the quickened power, and increased volume of all the forces of industrial organization seeking new and broader fields, of conquest, nil supplicate fr thu thorough and favorable coniidora-' lion of the question. To what is now the great west, irrigation !;:is become a necessity, absolute and ini tial!' a continent, politically an entire continent con-tinent is interested, -j Let us then lay our wants 'respectfully , and earnestly before our national congress. con-gress. Let us send up petitions fromevury , taie, Territory, town and hamlet, conii-iJent conii-iJent that tlie. statesmanship of tlieeountry wiil recognize and provide for the needs ofa country. No grander poisibiliti.'s: ever summoned a people to a vigorous" and united eUbrt. Thread your mountain valley- and pflrk with these gr?at artTis'of physical j life: throw over yuur arid plains the oool net work of a tliou-und canal.- and lake?, : pour over them lite annual tides of labor and life Mowing from the .East, and there is no picture of harvest and vintage that will equal the harvest glory which the "heiiilieetit mother" will spread at your feet. There is no dream of commercial wealth and commercial jniwer, that will equal ilie realization of that to which thi.- grand conqne-t of Uie physic: conditions condi-tions of half a continent inviii's us. |