OCR Text |
Show EXPERTS AT THE CONGRESS. A very important adjunct of the Irrigation Ir-rigation Congress now in session at Boise, is the assemblage there of a large number of the irrigation engineers engi-neers and assistants under the charge of Mr. Newell, Chief of tho Reclamation Reclama-tion Service. About four hundred of these export engineers and assistants are now in charge of tho reclamation work on projects which are practically practical-ly in hand, and a few others which are undergoing examination. These experts ex-perts come to tho congress as they have attended other sessions of tho Irrigation Congress, full of practical ideas and of information with respect to matters already accomplished under their direction, and in tho purview of the work upon which thoy nro engaged. Tho delegations attending tho congress by appointmont, and in virtue of their official positions, from tho different portions por-tions of the arid belt, find much satisfaction, sat-isfaction, pleasure, and instruction in conversing with these experts and in the general discussion of irrigation questions and the application of tho principles involved in particular cases that they may have in view. Altogether, Alto-gether, this is ono of the most pleasant pleas-ant functions of tho whole congress. This meeting these experts from the different parts of the arid region where reclamation work is in progress, ascertaining tho amount of work done, its condition at present with regard to the final completion, and the quantity quan-tity of land which will bo reclaimed by each of the projects, is valuable indeed. Another matter of considerable importance, im-portance, not strictly related to irrigation irriga-tion work, but still coming well within the general scope of tho betterment of the arid region,, is a discussion of tho forest reserve question. "Very sharp differences of opinion appear with re-spoct re-spoct to the Government's policy that is being pursued as to forest reserves. The silly claim that to discuss this matter drags polities into tho Irrigation Congress is . too childish to be considered. consid-ered. The very situation in Idaho demonstrates dem-onstrates that there are no politics to the quostion, for Senator Dubois, a Democrat, is a thorough-going champion cham-pion of the administration's policy as to forest reserves, while Senator Hey-burn, Hey-burn, a Republican, is bitter in his denunciation of that policy. No plainer plain-er proof could bo desired that this is in no sense a political question, than the respective positions of these two Senators as to this question. Itis to bo hoped that the Irrigation Congress, now that the forest reserve question is fully before it, may issue something like an authoritative declaration declar-ation from tho practical men who compose com-pose that congress with respect to this policy. So far aB that matter affects thiB immediato region, tho pinch comes very largely upon the matter of grazing. graz-ing. There are divisions of opinion as to this on two points; first, as to the number of sheep (for sheep is the main issue here) that may and should properly be allowed to graze on these reserves; and second, tho question whether the whole number of sheep that are to be allowed to graze on the reserve shall be filled by the large herds of the heavy flockmasters, or whether the division of grazing privileges privi-leges shall be apportioned pro rata among sheep owners so that the small owners will havo a proportionate opportunity op-portunity in this grazing with tho heavy eheep owners. There has been so far no hard and fast rule laid down by the department or the forest rangers with respect to this matter; but usually those who make sufficient complaint about discrimination get more or less of a chance to graze their sheep. Thero should be, however, a definite rule established es-tablished so that all -may know what to expect, a rule that would, allow1 of new flockmasters gotting a chance at the J-forest reserve.' grazing, as we'll-as those who have heretofore had such privileges and are well known as sheep men. |