Engineer, &. S. O. S, 

MONTROSE., COUQ

Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 93 . Series w torge, 10

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR

PROCEEDINGS

OP

FIRST CONFERENCE OF ENGINEERS OF THE 

RECLAMATION SERVICE

WITH AGOOMPANTING PAPERS

COMPILED BY

F. H. NEWELL

CHIEF ENGINEER

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1904

CONTENTS.

Page.

Letter of transmitted..--.....-.----....._...........-.............-----.-. 7

Call for conference ................................................. ..... 9

Attendance at conference ................................................. 9

Minutes of the meeting ................................................... 10

Committees appointed................................................ 14

Hydrographic branch of the United States Geological Survey................ 14

Organization of hydrographic branch.................................. 16

Division of hydrography.......................................... 16

Division of hydrology............................................. 16

Division of hydro-economics............... ...................... 16

Reclamation service ................................^............. 17

Accounts and property............................................ 19

Report of the conference......---..-......--.......-...:.-.--...-......... 21

Chief engineer's address .............................................. 21

Purpose of the meeting ........................................... 21

Personnel of the service .......................................... 24

Officers or regular appointees...................................... 27

Organization..................................................... 29

District engineers. -.-..---...--...........-.-...--..--........ 29

Supervising engineers......................................... 31

Consulting engineers.......................................... 31

Placing of responsibility...................................... 31

Boards and committees ........................................... 33

Committee on personnel......-.-.-..-...----................. 34

Civil-service requirements......................................... 35

Correspondence.................................................. 43

Requisitions ............................... ..................... 44

Reports.......................................................... 45

Bookkeeping..................................................... 50

Disbursements................................................... 52

Disallowances and suspensions .................................... 57

Express charges.................................................. 61

Printing......................................................... 66

Laws governing purchases ........................................ 67

Purchases in open market ..........-.............--.....---..---. 69

Rules governing contracts ........................................ 71

Advertising...................................................... 74

Specifications and proposals....................................... 80

Contracts and bonds.............................................. 81

Eight-hour day .................................................. 82

3
4 CONTENTS.

Report of the conference Continued. Page. 

Chief engineer's address Continued.

Outfitting.................................."...................... 83

Field offices....................................".................. 84

Subsistence of men ............................................... 85

Property ........................................................ 88

New projects..--....-........-......---..--..-.......-.--..-.--.. 89

Estimates of cost.............._...-._.....--...--..---.---..----- 92

Construction..........................--......-.......----.-.-.-- 92

Authorizations................................................... 93

Examination of land titles ...._..._..__.__......-..-----.-..----.- 96

Land purchases ........................'..................--...... 98

Land and water titles_._......_......-.-..-..............i.----.-- 100

Bight of way for canals..............---..........--.--..----.--.- 101

Notice of appropriation of water................................... 103

Form of notice............................................... 103

Land classification................................................ 104

Formation of associations ..........-..-......,.-------..-.......-- 106

Work in hand.................................................... 107

Printed forms..............----..------.......--..----...-....--. 110

Form of contract............................... .............. 110

Form of bond................................................ 112

Regulations concerning contracts and bonds ....................... 114

Papers read at the conference ..............--.............---..---.--.---. 117

Western hydrology, by N. H. Darton .................................. 117

Forestry and irrigation, by Gifford Pinchot..... ...................... 120

Telegram from the President...................................... 121

Colonization, by Frederick cle L. Booth Tucker ........................ 122

Work of the reclamation service, by Hon. Frank W. Mondell.. .......... 127

Investigations in Arizona, by A.P.Davis.......-...........-.....-.---. 128

Salt Kiver Valley Water Users Association, by B. A. Fowler ............. 130

Reclamation work in California, by Governor George C. Pardee ......... 158

Work in Colorado, by A. L. Fellows................................... 160

Topographic work in the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison, by I. W. McConnell.............................--.-...---.'.................... 162

The Colorado River, by J. B. Lippincott............................... 168

Conditions in Idaho, by Governor John L. Morrison.................... 172

Investigations in Idaho, by D. W. Ross ................................ 174

Limits of an irrigation project, by D. W. Ross.......................... 176

Investigations in Montana, by C. C. Babb.............................. 182

Construction in Nevada, by L. H. Taylor............................... 186

Investigations in Pecos Valley, by W. M. Reed......................... 204

Examinations in North Dakota, by Charles H. Fitch ................... 207

Irrigation in North Dakota by pumping, by F. A. Wilder............... 208

Conditions in South Dakota, by Charles H. Fitch........^.............. 210

South Dakota investigations, by R. F. Walter .......................... 211

Investigations in Oregon, by J. T. Whistler ............................ 213

Investigations in Utah, by Geo. L. Swendsen........................... 216

Water laws of Utah, by F. S. Richards................................. 220

Work on North Platte River in Wyoming, by John E. Field ............. 225

Investigations in Wyoming, by Jeremiah A hern........................ 227

Work in Washington, by T. A. Noble.................................. 231

Relation of Federal and State laws to irrigation, by Morris Bien ......... 232

Electrical transmission of power for pumping, by H. A. Storrs........... 237

Correct design and stability of high masonry dams, by Geo. Y. Wisner .. 240

Reconnaissance and plans, by Geo. Y. Wisner ......................... 247
CONTENTS. 5

Page.

Papers read at the conference Continued.

Reports and statements, by H. N. Savage.............................. 249

Methods and reports, by J. B. Lippincott.............................. 250

Irrigation surveys and the use of the plane table, by J. B. Lippincott.... 252

The use of alkaline waters for irrigation, by Thomas A. Means .......... 255

Accompanying papers .................................................... 259

The reclamation law.................................................. 259

Measurement of flow of streams, by E. C. Murphy __................... 263

Instruments and camp equipment, by E. M. Douglas ................... 265

Surveys in Oklahoma, by Gerard H. Matthes .......................... 268

Colorado River reclamation projects, by E. T. Perkins.................. 272

Reclamation and water storage in Nebraska, by O. V. P. Stout.......... 276

Portland-cement manufacture, by E. C. Eckel.......................... 284

. Legal status of irrigation, by H. L. Holgate ............................ 296

Reclamation surveys (report of committee)............................. 300

Power development, by H. A. Storrs .-......-..............----.-.-.-- 311

Personnel of the reclamation service...............-..--.....-...----...-.- 315

Index ................................................................... 353

ILLUSTRATION.

Page. 

FIG. 1. Diagram showing method of survey of Gunnison Canyon .......... 166

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 

Washington, £>. C., September %8, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript relating 

to the conference of the engineers of the reclamation service held at 

Ogden, Utah, September 15 to 18, 1903.

The necessit}T for this meeting arose from the fact that, while the 

reclamation service had been in active operation for over a year, its 

personnel was largely made up of men who were new in Government 

service, and unacquainted with each other and with the conventional 

methods of transacting business. As projects in each State had 

reached a point where relative merits must be considered, it was 

deemed advisable to bring the principal engineers together, in order 

to discuss somewhat informally the methods and results of work.

The place and time of this meeting was determined by the facts that 

Ogden is a central point within the reclamation States, and that the 

Eleventh Irrigation Congress was then held there. At this congress 

delegates were present from the thirteen States and three Territories 

named in the reclamation law, as well as from Texas and the country 

farther east. This enabled the engineers of the reclamation service 

to meet public men and others who are interested in the work and to 

exchange views freely concerning it.

About twenty -five of the principal consulting, supervising, and district engineers of the reclamation service met at Ogden, this being 

about one-tenth of the number of engineers and assistants engaged in 

the field work of the reclamation service. The headquarters were 

conveniently located, and the engineers met in sessions beginning 

early each morning and continuing, with short interruptions, throughout the day and evening, discussing matters of organization, personnel, methods of work, cost of surveys and construction, details of 

plans, specifications, etc. From time to time prominent men or delegations from various States were received, and-brief addresses were 

made to the engineers by governors, senators, and others. A partial 

stenographic report was made of the proceedings, and this has been

7
8 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

amplified in the accompanying manuscript. It is believed to be desirable to preserve this material and to send it out to the various engineers and assistants who were not present at the meeting, in order to 

give them information concerning some of the subjects discussed. 

The public also is interested to a certain extent in many of these 

details, and it is considered permissible to present, in this somewhat 

informal discussion, matters that might not be pertinent to the annual 

report.

I therefore respectfully recommend that this matter, together with 

such incidental information as may be convenient for reference in this 

connection, be printed as one of the water-supply and irrigation 

papers.

Very respectfully,

F. H. NEWELL,

Chief Engineer. 

Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT,

Director* United States Geological Survey.-
PROCEEDINGS OF FIRST CONFERENCE OF ENGINEERS OF RECLAMATION SERVICE, AT OGDEN, 

UTAH, SEPTEMBER 15-18,1903.

Compiled by F. H. NEWELL, Chief JEn-g

CALL FOR CONFERENCE.

The following notice was sent out from the office of the chief engineer of the reclamation service:

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

RECLAMATION SERVICE, 

Wellington, D. C., July 15, 1903. 

NOTICE.

The various engineers and assistants of the reclamation service will assemble at 

Ogden, Utah, on September 14, to hold a conference on important details during the 

days from September 15 to 18, inclusive. It is expected that, as far as possible, the 

time will be devoted to official business and the discussion of plans and results, and 

adjournment will be taken to attend the meetings of the National Irrigation Congress.

The following-named persons are expected to be present: Messrs. Ahern, Babb, 

Bien, Blanchard, Chandler, Darton, Davis, Fellows, Field, Fitch, Hinderlider, Lippincott, Matthes, McConnell, Newell, Noble, Peery, Quinton, Reed, Ross, Sanders, 

Savage, Storrs, Swendsen, Taylor, Walter, Whistler, and Wisner.

On Friday morning it is expected that the engineers will participate in the meeting 

of the National Irrigation Congress.

Very respectfully, F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer.

ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCE.

In accordance with the above notice, a conference was'held at Ogden, 

Utah, at the time of the meeting of the Eleventh Irrigation Congress, 

September 15 to 18, 1903. The following persons were present:

Ahern, Jeremiah, district engineer, northern Wyoming. 

Babb, Cyrus C., district engineer, Montana.

Bien, Morris, engineer in charge of land and legal matters, Washington, D. C. 

Chandler, A. E., hydrographer and State engineer of Nevada. 

Darton, N. H., geologist in"charge of western section of hydrology. 

Davis, Arthur P., supervising engineer for Arizona, etc. 

Fellows, A. L., district engineer for Colorado.

Field, John EM district engineer for North Platte, Wyoming and Nebraska.

9
10 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Fitch, Chas. H., supervising engineer for South Dakota, etc.

Lippincott, J. B., supervising engineer for California.

McConnell, I. W., engineer on Gunnison Tunnel.

Newell, F. H., chief engineer, Washington, D. C.

Noble, T. A., district engineer for Washington.

Peery, E. H., law clerk.

Quinton, John H., consulting engineer, Los Angeles, Cal.

Eeed, W. M., district engineer for New Mexico.

Boss, D. W., district engineer for Idaho.

Sanders, Win. H., consulting engineer.

Savage, H. N., consulting engineer.

Swendsen, Geo. L., district engineer, Utah.

Taylor, L. H., district engineer for Nevada.

Walter, Eaymond F., constructing engineer for Black Hills region.

Whistler, John T., district engineer for Oregon.

Wisner, Geo. Y., consulting engineer.

Storrs, H. A., electrical expert.

In addition to these there were present at several of the meetings 

Mr. Gifford Pinchot, chief of the Bureau of Forestry, Department of 

Agriculture, and four of his assistants; Mr. B. A. Fowler, president 

of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, and many State 

officials, as well as other prominent persons, some of whom delivered 

addresses, which are noted or printed in the following pages.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING.

The following brief statement of the principal events of conference 

gives the names of the principal speakers and the topics discussed:

The engineers of the reclamation service met at the Virginia Hotel 

on Tuesday, September 15, at 8 a. m., and began the formal discussion 

of the organization of the service and the methods and results of work 

already accomplished. The organization of committees and other 

details were considered. In the matter of the cost and the results 

of work of supervision and construction a committee was designated 

consisting of Messrs. George Y. Wisner, A. L. Fellows, and L. H. 

Taylor.

The relation of the reclamation service to forest preservation was 

discussed and the importance of close cooperation with the Bureau of 

Forestry was considered. A committee on forest preservation and 

utilization was designated consisting of Messrs. Fitch, Gifford Pinchot 

(chief of the Bureau of Forestry), and Plummer.

As regards the designation of men for specific work and the promotion of those who had shown merit and fitness, there was a general 

discussion of ways in which to determine the ability and value of each 

man. The opinion was expressed that it would be very difficult to 

ascertain the executive ability of any one man through the usual clerical examination, but that by a combination of examination and reports 

it would be possible to determine merit.
NEWELL.] MINUTES OF MEETING. 11

Mr. N. H. Darton, geologist in charge of the western section of the 

division of hydrology, spoke of the work done on artesian wells and 

stated that maps had been prepared showing where, in a considerable 

portion of the West, there was a possibility of obtaining deep or 

flowing wells.

At 9.30 a. m. the engineers adjourned to attend the meeting of the 

National Irrigation Congress.

The afternoon session of the engineers was devoted to further discussion of organization and methods of work. Mr. Gifford Pinchot, 

chief forester of the Department of Agriculture, spoke of the necessity of cooperation between forestry and reclamation work.

The method of making reports from the field was considered at 

some length, as well as the details of presenting the results of investigation and determining the cost of construction. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Lippincott, Davis, and Fitch, was appointed to 

recommend committees on the various subjects of interest to the 

engineers.

On Wednesday, September 16, the engineers of the reclamation 

service were addressed on the subject of colonization by General Booth 

Tucker, who brought out a number of points of interest. He claimed 

that the Salvation Army could furnish colonists, if needed, and could 

give assurance that these colonists would be competent farmers and 

desirable citizens.

Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah, spoke to the engineers on the importance of the work and the beneficial results that would result from it 

in the near future.

Hon. Frank W. Mondell, of Wj^oming, extended his greetings to 

the engineers and expressed his intention of supporting their conclusions in every practicable manner.

The committee on organization, consisting of Messrs. Lippincott, 

Davis, and Fitch, submitted a list of proposed committees to act as 

advisers in the technical work and operations of the service.

Mr. Arthur P. Davis described at some length the proposed Salt 

River reservoir in Arizona. He was followed by Mr. A. L. Fellows, 

who stated the present condition of operations on the Gunnison tunnel 

in Colorado. A general discussion of these projects followed.

The engineers then adjourned to attend the meeting of the Irrigation 

Congress.

At the afternoon session Senator Burton, of Kansas, addressed the 

engineers on the importance of floods and the interrelation of storage 

for irrigation with the control of floods.

Mr. J. B. Lippincott described the work in progress in California, 

particularly that on King and Colorado rivers.

Mr. L. H. Taylor announced that construction work had begun on
12 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

the Truckee project, and that surveys, showing the irrigable lands, 

were rapidly being pushed forward.

Mr. D. W. Ross described three large projects under examination 

in Idaho, and called attention to the vast extent of irrigable land near 

Jackson Lake, and the possibility of obtaining an ample water supply 

for its utilization by storage in that lake.

Mr. Cyrus C. Babb spoke of the work on Milk River, in Montana, 

and the opportunities of diverting water upon the adjacent lands.

Mr. W. M. Reed described the Hondo reservoir, and also the progress of field work on the Urton Lake project.

At the evening session on Wednesday, September 16, the Hon. 

Francis G. Newlands, Senator from Nevada, addressed the engineers 

on the recent Nevada irrigation law, passed largely at his instigation 

and by means of his active support. This law is unique, in that it 

compels the most intimate cooperation between the United States 

reclamation service and the State engineer.

Governor Morrison, of Idaho, commented upon the work of the 

engineers and *tehe importance of reclamation to the State of Idaho. A 

number of other public men spoke approvingly, and showed by their 

words aneUaction the deep interest that is felt by Senators and Representatives and* State officers in the progress of the work of the reclamation service.

Mr. B. A. Fowler, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' 

Association, described the organization of that body and entered into 

the various details and the necessary forms of such organization of 

water users. A general discussion was participated in by the engineers and public men present.-

At the morning session, Thursday, September 17, Hon. W. A. 

Reeder addressed the engineers on the importance of the work and 

the general interest felt in it.

Mr. John T. Whistler described the surveys in progress in Oregon 

on Malheur, Umatilla and other rivers. The importance of enacting 

water laws for the State was discussed, and various features relating 

to water filings were considered.

Mr. Morris Bien read a decision of the Secretary of the Interior in 

regard to water rights, which was generally discussed.

The Kansas delegation, headed by Senator Burton and Congressman 

Reeder, called to pay their respects and inquired concerning the service in Kansas.

The surveys in South Dakota were described by Mr. Charles H. 

Fitch and Raymond F. Walter, particular reference being made to the 

Belle Fourche projects.

Mr. George L. Swendsen spoke of the surveys of Utah and Bear 

. lakes now in progress. The chief difficulty in regard to Utah Lake is
NEWELL.] MINUTES OF MEETING. 13

the enormous evaporation from it during the irrigating season, 

amounting to fully 1,000 cubic feet per second.

At the afternoon session on Thursday, September 17, Hon. Malcolm 

A. Moody, of Oregon, introduced Judge T. G. Hailey, of Pendleton, 

Oreg^ who addressed the engineers 011 the importance of the reclamation work to Oregon.

Capt. Hiram M. Chittenden, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, 

spoke briefly regarding the work of surveying and examining the 

reservoir sites of the arid region.

Mr. John E. Field described the conditions existing on North Platte 

River, and particularly the reservoir sites on Sweetwater River and 

below the mouth of this stream.

Hon. Frank W. Mondell, member of Congress from Wyoming, 

pointed out some of the opportunities for reclamation, and dwelt upon 

various features of the desert-land law relative to reclamation. A 

general discussion followed, which was participated in by Messrs. 

Morris Bien, Arthur P. Davis, and others.

Mr. Jeremiah Ahern described the work on Shoshone River in 

northern Wyoming, and the topographic methods employed.

Judge F. S. Richards, of Salt Lake City, described briefly the Utah 

Arid Land Reclamation Commission Fund, which was created by the 

last legislature, and of which he is the legal adviser.

Mr. Clarence T. Johnston, State engineer of Wyoming, spoke of the 

facilities offered to the reclamation service by the records of the State 

engineer's office, and proffered his assistance in making the work 

successful.

Mr. T. A. Noble dwelt upon the opportunities for reclamation in 

central Washington, and described in particular the Big Bend Project 

and the surveys near Okanogan River.

At.the evening session Governor George C. Pardee, of California, 

spoke on the condition of irrigation in his State, and of the importance 

of cooperation in bringing about a higher development of the country.

On Friday, September 18, the engineers attended the meeting of the 

Irrigation Congress, addresses being made by Mr. F. H. Newell, 

chief engineer, Mr. Gifford Pinchot, and others, on the work in 

reclamation and in forestry.

On Friday afternoon the conference, after completing various details, 

adjourned.
14 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

COMMITTEES APPOINTED.

The following committees were appointed at the conference:

Personnel and Assignments:

Davis.

Fitch.

Savage. 

Water Laws:

Bien.

Lippincott. 

Duty of Water:

Ross.

Chandler.

Code. 

Methods of Reconnaissance and Survey:

Ahern.

Babb.

Quinton. 

Standard Plans and Specifications:

Quinton.

Wisner.

Costs and Results: 

Wisner. 

Fellows. 

Taylor.

Cement and Concrete:

Duryee.

Wisner.

Sanders.

Electric Power Development and Pumping:

Storrs.

Sanders.

McPherson. 

Alkali and Drainage:

Means.

Sanders.

Reed. 

Forms of Water Users' Associations:

Bien.

Savage.

Davis. 

Diamond Drilling:

Davis.

Hammond.

Hamlin. 

Forestry:

Fitch.

Pinchot.

Plummer.

HYDBOGBAPHIC BBANCH OF THE UNITED STATES 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

The United States Geological Survey was created by an act of Congress approved March 3,1879. (Stat. L., vol. 20, p. 394.) From time 

to time additional duties have been assigned to the Survey by law or 

by Executive action. A brief summary of the laws is given in the 

Regulations of the United States Geological Survey, taking effect 

January 1, 1903.

For administrative purposes the Survey is divided into branches 

and divisions, as shown on page 8 of its book of Instructions, issued 

May 1,1903. The branches are: administrative, publication, geologic, 

topographic, and hydrographic.

The Geological Survey is one of the bureaus of the Department of 

the Interior, of which Hon. Ethan Alien Hitchcock is Secretary. 05 The

a Hitchcock, Ethan Alien, Secretary of the Interior since February 20,1899; born at Mobile, Ala., 

September 19,1835; attended private schools at Nashville, Tenn.; completed his course at a military 

academy in New Haven, Conn., 1866; settled in St. Louis and engaged in mercantile business until 

1860, when he went to China to enter commission house of Olyphant & Co., of which firm he became 

a partner in 1866; retired from business in 1872, and spent two years in Europe. Returned to United 

States in 1874, and was engaged as president of several manufacturing, mining, and railway companies 

until 1897. United States minister, 1897-98, and ambassador, 1898, to Russia. Home, St. Louis, Mo.
NEWELL.] ORGANIZATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 15

Secretary of the Interior is charged with the supervision of public 

business relating- to patents for inventions; pensions and bounty lands; 

public lands and surveys; Indians; education; railroads; the Geological Survejr; the Hot Springs Reservation, Arkansas; Yellowstone 

National Park, Wyoming; the Yosemite, Sequoia, and General Grant 

parks, California; forest reservations; distribution of appropriations 

for agricultural and mechanical colleges in the States and Territories; 

custody and distribution of certain public documents; and supervision 

of certain hospitals and eleemosynary institutions in the District of 

Columbia. He also exercises certain powers and duties in relation to 

the Territories of the United States.

The director of the Geological Survey, Hon. Chas. D. Walcott,* has 

charge of the classification of the public lands and examination of the 

geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national 

domain, and the survey of forest reserves, including the preparation 

of topographic and geologic maps; also the measurement of streams 

and determination of the water supply of the United States, including 

the investigation of underground waters and artesian wells; and als.o 

the reclamation of arid lands, including the engineering" operations to 

be carried on by the use of the reclamation fund created by act of 

June 17, 1902, from proceeds of sales of public lands.

The hydrographic branch has charge of all investigations relating to 

the occurrence of water as a mineral and a source of wealth to the 

country. It also, through the reclamation service, prepares plans 

for the construction of reservoirs, canals, and other works for the 

irrigation of arid lands. The functions of this branch are more fully 

described in Instructions Relating to.the Work of the Geological Survey, May 1, 1903, pages 81-103. The principal divisions, as above 

stated, are those of hydrography, hydrology, hydro-economics, and 

the reclamation service.

The division of hydrography measures the surface streams, studies 

their fluctuations, and determines the quantity of the water supply of 

the United States. It is divided into two sections, eastern and western, 

the latter including the thirteen States and three Territories within 

which work is being done under the reclamation law.

The division of hydrology has charge of investigations relating to 

the geologic conditions governing water supplies. This division also 

consists of two sections, eastern and western.

a Walcott, Charles Doolittle, Director U. 8. Geological Survey; born at New York Mills, N. Y., March 

31, 1850; educated in public schools of Utica, N. Y.; assistant New York State survey, 1876-1879; 

assistant geologist CV S. Geological Survey, 1879-1888; paleontologist in charge invertebrate paleontology, 1888-1891; chief paleontologist, 1891-1893; geologist in charge geology and paleontology, 1893- 

94, and since 1894 director U. S. Geological Survey; also secretary Carnegie Institution of Washington 

since its organization in 1902; member National Academy of Sciences; Fellow American Association 

for the Advancement of Science, etc.; degrees from Hamilton College, University of .Chicago, Johns 

Hopkins University, and University of Pennsylvania; author of many reports and papers on geology 

and paleontology.
16 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO.93.

The hydro-economic division studies the quality of water as-related 

to its uses for industrial or domestic purposes. Attempts are being 

made to devise rapid methods of field examinations of waters to 

supplant as far as possible the more expensive and cumbersome 

analysis.

The hydrographer in charge of the hydrographic branch, Mr. F. H. 

Newell, is also chief engineer of the reclamation service, and reports 

to the Director of the United States Geological Survey, who in turn 

reports to the Secretary of the Interior. The hydrographers and 

engineers of the hydrographic branch report to the chief engineer, 

directly or through the district engineers.

The following brief outline gives the form of organization of the 

hydrographic branch.

ORGANIZATION OF HYDROGRAPHIC BRANCH. . 

DIVISION OF HYDROGRAPHY.

EASTERN SECTION.

New England. N. C. Grover, engineer, Orono, Me., hydrographer in charge, 

assisted by H. K. Barrows, assistant engineer, and F. E. Pressey, engineering aid.

Neiv York. Robert E. Horton, hydrographer, 75 Arcade, Utica, N. Y., hydrographer in charge, assisted by Clermont C. Covert, assistant engineer, F. H. Tillinghast, engineering aid, and others.

Pennsylvania, etc. Edwin G. Paul, engineer, Washington, D. C., hydrographer in 

charge, assisted by Wilbur C. Sawyer, engineering aid.

Southeastern States. B. M. Hall, resident hydrographer, and M. R. Hall, hydrographer, Temple Court, Atlanta, Ga.; assisted by James M. Giles, engineering aid, 

and Warren E. Hall, hydrographic aid. '

Central States. Edward Johnson, jr., assistant engineer, 263 Dearborn street, Chicago, 111., assisted by Frank W. Hanna and L. R. Stockman, assistant engineers.

Texas. Thomas U. Taylor, resident hydrographer, Austin, Tex.

DIVISION OF HYDROLOGY.

EASTERN SECTION.

M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge; assisted by A. C. Veatch, assistant geologist.

WESTERN SECTION.

N. H. Darton, geologist in charge; assisted by W. C. Mendenhall, geologist, and 

George B. Richardson, assistant geologist.

DIVISION OF HYDRO-ECONOMICS.

Marshall 0. Leighton, hydrographer, Washington, D. C., hydrographer in charge; 

assisted by R. B. Dole, engineering aid.
NEWELL.] THE HYDJROGRAPHIC BRANCH. 17 

RECLAMATION SERVICE.

Created by law of June 17, 1902,' authorizing the survey and construction of irrigation works for reclaiming arid lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, 

Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South 

Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming from the proceeds arising from the sale 

and disposal of public lands.

CHIEF ENGINEER.

F. H. Newell, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.

EXECUTIVE AND CONSULTING STAFF REPORTING TO THE CHIEF ENGINEER.

Arthur P. Davis, supervising engineer and principal assistant, Livingstone, Ariz., or 

Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo.

George Y. Wisner, consulting engineer, 34 West Congress street, Detroit, Mich.

J. B. Lippincott, supervising engineer, 408 Byrne Block, Los Angeles, Cal.

J. H. Quinton, consulting engineer, 1016 West Eighth street, Los Angeles, Cal.

Wm. H. Sanders, consulting engineer, 915 Grand View street, Los Angeles, Cal.

H. N. Savage, consulting engineer, San Diego, Cal.

Charles H. Fitch, supervising engineer, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, 

Colo.

H. A. Storrs, electrical expert, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo.

Morris Bien, engineer (on land and legal matters), Washington, D. C.

E. Duryee, cement expert, Phoenix, Ariz.

A. L. Fellows, district engineer, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo.

D. W. Koss, district engineer, Boise, Idaho.

L. H. Taylor, district engineer, Reno, Nev.

N. H. Darton, geologist, Washington, D. C.

Charles S. Slichter, consulting engineer, Madison, Wis.

Cyrus C. Babb, district engineer, Malta, Mont.

George B. Hollister, executive officer, Washington, D. C.

T. A. Noble, district engineer, Seattle, Wash.

George L. Swendsen, district engineer, Logan, Utah.

John T. Whistler, district engineer, Pendleton, Oreg.

Gerard H. Matthes, district engineer, Lawton, Okla.

Jeremiah Ahern, engineer for Shoshone district, Cody, Wyo.

John E. Field, engineer for North Platte (Wyo.) district, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo.

W. M. Reed, engineer in charge of Pecos surveys, Roswell, N. Mex.

Edwin H. Peery, law clerk, Washington, D. C.

E. C. Murphy, inspector of hydrographic methods, Washington, D. C.

DISTRICT ENGINEERING FORCE.

Arizona. Arthur P. Davis, supervising engineer in charge, Livingstone or Phoenix, 

Ariz., and Louis C. Hill, engineer, Livingstone, Ariz.; assisted by W. A. Farish, 

C. K. Olberg, Archie L. Harris, Willard G. Steward, and K. W. Hawley, assistant 

engineers; O. T. Keedy, Beauford E. Hayden, Harry T. Holmes, Oliver T. Reedy, 

Hugh Redmond, and Isaac Voorhees, engineering aids, and others.

California. J. B. Lippincott, supervising engineer in charge, Room 408, Byrne 

Block, Los Angeles, and Room 431, Rialto Building, San Francisco, Cal.; Homer 

Hamlin, engineer on Salinas Valley, etc., 408 Byrne Block, Los Angeles, Cal.; E. T. 

Perkins, engineer on Colorado River, Yuma, Ariz. J H. E. Green, engineer on SacraIBK 93 04 2
18 FIBST BECLAMATIOI* SEBVICE OOFFEBEFCE. [NO. 93.

mento River, Room 431, Rialto Building, San Francisco, Gal., and S. G. Bennett, 

engineer on river measurements, 431 Rialto Building, San Francisco, Cal.; assisted by 

W. B. Clapp, Jacob C. Clausen, and Ralph P. Dillon, assistant engineers, and Linus 

B. Brainard, Andrew C. Hansen, 0. W. Peterson, and Ralph S. Hawley, engineering aids.

Colorado. A. L. Fellows, engineer in charge, Chamber of Commerce Building, 

Denver, Colo.; Ira W. McConnell, engineer, Montrose, Colo.; Robert S. Stockton, 

engineer, Meeker, Colo.; M. C. Hinderlider, engineer, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo.; assisted by W. P. Edwards, Edward E. Sands, Andrew Weiss, 

Fillmore Cogswell, Joseph A. Sargent, and Charles R. Steiner, assistant engineers; 

. E. C. Bebb, topographer; Lavern J. Charles, Oro McDermith, E. R. Childs, Ralph 

I. Meeker, and Roy H. Bolster, engineering aids, and others.

Idaho. D. W. Ross, engineer in charge, Boise, Idaho; assisted by John T. Burke, 

Charles B. Smith, and James G. Camp, assistant engineers; G. H. Hogue, Leon L. 

Gay, H. S. Williams, William G. Davies, Chester C. Fisher, Robert J. Newell, John 

L. Savage, Fred Stockton, and N. S. Dils, engineering aids.

Kansas. Charles H. Fitch, supervising engineer, Chamber of Commerce Building, 

Denver, Colo.; W. G. Russell, hydrographer, Russell, Kans.

Montana. Cyrus C. Babb, engineer, Malta, Mont.; assisted by S. B. Robbing, 

engineer, C. M. Pritchett, E. W. Myers, Alden M. Sprigg, Harry T. Paterson, L. E. 

Granke, Carlos T. Prall, Josiah L. Rhead, and Goyne Drumnicmd, assistant engineers; 

Adolph E. Place, Arch. M. Gilbert, and William P. Flynn, engineering aids, and 

Charles E. Slonaker, observer.

Nebraska. John E. Field, engineer for North Platte district, assisted by A. J. 

Parshall, hydrographer; J. D. Stannard, L. V. Branch, Charles G. Carpenter, and 

L. M. Lawson, assistant engineers; Hugh G. Stokes, Frank C. Magruder, Francis M. 

Madden, Ray Owen, and W. R. Saxton, engineering aids; J. M. Heizer, field 

assistant.

Nevada. L. H. Taylor, engineer in charge, Reno, Nev.; assisted by William E. 

Swift, consulting engineer; Albert E. Chandler, engineer; Augustus V. Saph, hydrographer; Fred A. Temple, Alfred C. Lootz, William Sargeant, D. W. Hays, W. A. 

Keddie, Burt E. Forbes, and C. V. Taylor, assistant engineers; L. L. Richard, C. H. 

Southworth, Edwin P. Arnot, John D. Cameron, Bertram E. Corlett, I. W. Huffaker, 

and Aug. H. Schadler, engineering aids, and others.

New Mexico. Arthur P. Davis, supervising engineer, Phoenix, Ariz.; W. M. Reed, 

engineer in charge of Pecos surveys, Roswell, N. Mex.; assisted by Hurd C. Hurd, 

assistant engineer; Ernest L. Robinson, Otis L. Mclntyre, Earl G. Marsh, Sam G. 

Porter, Frank S. Dobson, engineering aids, and others.

Also J. A. French, engineer in charge of surveys on the Rio Grande; assisted by 

George E. Stratton, assistant engineer; Clarence K. Hosford, Williard R. Ewing and 

Ernest D. Hendricks, engineering aids, and others.

North Dakota. Charles H. Fitch, supervising engineer, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo.; Frank E. Weymouth, assistant engineer in charge; assisted 

by John N. Kerr and Elwyn F. Chandler, assistant engineers; Frank A. Wilder and 

others.

Oklahoma. Gerard H. Matthes, engineer, Lawton, Okla.; assisted by Ferdinand 

Bonstedt, assistant engineer, on reconaissance of reservoir sites; also Charles E. 

Gordon, L. M. Holt, Joseph J. Reamer, and Arville C. Redman, assistant engineers; 

George L. Warner, engineering aid; John E. Fennerty, field assistant, and others.

Oregon. John T. Whistler, engineer in charge, Pendleton, Oreg.; assisted by 

W. T. Turner, topographer; Herbert D. Newell, M. D. Williams, and T. B. White, 

assistant engineers; Edmund I. Davis, Fred W. Huber, John H. Lewis, engineering 

aids; F. K. Lowry, field assistant, and others.
NEWELL.] THE RECLAMATION SEEVICE. 19

South Dakota. Charles H. Fitch, supervising engineer, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo.; Raymond F. Walter, engineer, Belle Fourche, S. Dak.

Utah. George L. Swendsen, engineer, P. O. box S, Salt Lake- City, Utah (D. W. 

Ross, consulting engineer, Boise, Idaho), assisted by William P. Hardesty, William 

E. Young, and Caleb Tanner, assistant engineers; and Milo H. Brinkley, Thomas H. 

Humphreys, Henry S. Kleinschrnidt, and W. W. McLaughlin, engineering aids. 

Howard S. Reed, assistant engineer, in charge of stream measurements on Uinta 

Indian Reservation.

Washington. T. A. Noble, engineer, 427 Peyton Block, Spokane, Wash., assisted 

by Christian Anderson, assistant engineer; W. W. Schlecht, assistant topographer; 

'George H. Bliss, assistant engineer; Charles E. Hewitt, Ernest A. Bailey, Calvin 

Casteel, Charles B. Cox, George F. Harley, and Olaf Laurgaard, engineering aids.

Wyoming. Jeremiah Ahern, engineer for Shoshone district, Cody, Wyo., assisted 

by A. H. Horton, assistant engineer; P. M. Churchill, assistant hydrographer; E. S. 

Ela, assistant topographer; H. R. Evans, Austin C. Downey, Thomas J. Striekler, 

and 0. P. Bowie, engineering aids.

ACCOUNTS AND PROPERTY.

The hydrographers and engineers named in the following list are authorized to 

certify accounts for approval by the chief engineer, and are responsible to the chief 

engineer for property purchased in the field.

DIVISION OP HYDROGRAPHY.

Eastern section. N. C. Grover, R. E. Horton, E. G. Paul, M. R. Hall, E. Johnson, jr.

DIVISION OP HYDROLOGY.

Eastern section. M. L. Fuller. 

Western section. N. H. Darton.

DIVISION OP HYDRO-ECONOMICS.

M. 0. Leighton.

RECLAMATION SERVICE AND WESTERN SECTION OP HYDROGRAPHY.

Arizona. Arthur P. Davis.

California. J. B. Lippincott.

Colorado. A. L. Fellows.

Idaho. D. W. Ross.

Kansas. Charles H. Fitch.

Montana. Cyrus C. Babb.

Nebraska. J. E. Field.

Nevada. L. H. Taylor.

New Mexico, Rio Grande district. A. P. Davis.

New Mexico, Pecos district. W. M. Reed. *

North Dakota. Charles H. Fitch.

Oklahoma. Gerard H. Matthes.

Oregon. John T. Whistler.

South Dakota. Charles H. Fitch.

Utah. George L. Swendsen.

Washington. T. A. Noble.

Wyoming. Jeremiah Ahern.

REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE.

ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF E1STGINEEB,

[At 8 a. m. on Tuesday, September 15, the meeting was called to 

order, and the chief engineer made an informal address upon the 

organization of work of the reclamation service, questions being 

invited and discussion ensuing on various topics thus brought up. 

The principal points covered are given in the following pages, various 

details being amplified, as a result of the discussion.]

PURPOSE OF THE MEETING.

The principal engineers of the reclamation service have been here 

brought together in this first general meeting for the purpose of 

becoming better acquainted with each other and with the work of the 

service, and of exchanging views and information concerning the 

work in hand and that which is planned for the future. The operations which have been authorized by the reclamation law of June 17, 

1902, have expanded rapidly, and in the haste of pushing forward 

the organization and field work in order to attain important results 

diverse methods have arisen and important questions have been asked, 

the answers to which can be given only after more complete knowledge is gained in regard to the work in progress and the men who are 

executing it.

In a general meeting of the principal members of the reclamation 

service it is possible to state facts and discuss matters with a thoroughness and understanding which is impossible through formal 

reports or correspondence. Many details may be talked over here 

which can not with propriety be brought up elsewhere, and it is desired 

to have a full and clear understanding of points that may be a source 

of inquiry or doubt to the men in the field. '

The reclamation law requires surveys and examination in thirteen 

States and three Territories. To carry into effect the objects of tb.' 

law, an engineering corps known as the reclamation service has been 

organized by the Secretary of the Interior as a portion of the hydrographic branch of the United States Geological Survey, in order to get 

the benefit of thp regulations and methods of that Bureau.

21
22 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. LNo.93.

The engineers of the reclamation service are, in effect, the advisers 

of the Secretary of the Interior in the great work of reclaiming the 

arid lands of the West. They are to obtain facts as to the cost and 

advisability of various projects and to submit these with recommendations for the construction of certain selected works. The attempt has 

been made to secure the best engineering experience available and to 

bring into the subordinate positions in the corps young, well-trained 

men, competent to carry on field work economically and rapidly. The 

positions are filled by competitive civil-service examinations. Each 

district engineer prepares plans and estimates for reclamation work 

along the rivers under his charge, these being submitted to the consulting engineers for examination and criticism. If approved, the 

reports are forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior with recommendations for immediate construction.

In making these recommendations to the Secretary, the relative 

importance of the work is considered, as well as the economy of construction, the cost of reclamation, the character of the land, and all 

other facts which bear upon the feasibility and probability of bringing 

about the settlement and thorough cultivation of the reclaimed area. 

The prime requisite is that prosperous homes may. be made upon the 

irrigated lands. At present the projects are all large and expensive, 

as most of the smaller reclamation schemes have either been constructed by private enterprise or can be so constructed if left for this 

purpose.

Actual settlement and cultivation of the reclaimed lands is required 

by the terms of the law, and there is little, if any, possibility of _ speculation, since the individual who takes up the land must live on it five 

years and can acquire complete title only after all payments for water 

are made. The cost of the works is ultimately refunded, and the 

money thus returned to the Treasury can be used over again for 

building other works.

Of the various projects now under consideration, one, in Nevada, is 

actually under construction. Others are at a point where the specifications and form of contract are nearly ready for submittal to the Secretary. Many projects have been examined and condemned or laid aside 

for future action. The careful survey and examination necessary to 

determine the feasibility of these projects necessarily consume time, but 

all friends of the work are willing and desirous that ample time should 

be taken to ascertain all the facts and to avoid mistakes. With a wellorganized engineering corps actively in the field at work and construction closely following the determination of the essential facts, 

it will be possible to bring under irrigation, before many years, 

considerable areas of lands now vacant and useless. The creation 

from these desert tracts of homes for hundreds of families will make a
NEWELL.] GENERAL DUTIES OF ENGINEERS. 23

wonderful change in the western part of our country, and will create 

in it a higher standard of living and of citizenship.

The object of this meeting, and, in fact, of all such conferences and 

all inspections, is to learn how to do things. The duty of an engineer 

has been stated to be that of accomplishing for one dollar what the 

ordinary man does for two or more or does not do at all. In private 

affairs this doing of things rapidly and accurately is difficult in itself, 

but under governmental regulations the accomplishing of results 

economically and efficiently requires more skill and forethought, owing 

to the many necessary checks and requirements of law. The resources 

of the Government offer wonderful opportunities, but these magnificent 

facilities for work on a large scale are in part offset by exacting and 

intricate requirements. In our work we must have not merely good 

engineers, but men who can and will study the reasons and underlying 

principles of national law, and who can skillfully guide and direct 

affairs, meeting all requirements directly and accurately.

It must be borne in mind that the success of the reclamation service 

depends not only on good engineering work, but also on the constant 

exercise of sound judgment and of tact in dealing with what may be 

called the human or social problems. The phj^sical side offers great 

difficulties to the engineer, but these frequently become less detrimental to ultimate success than the conditions arising from human 

agencies.

Everything depends on unity and continuity of purpose and of action 

and the creation of an esprit de corps, or what may be expressed as 

the holding of a unity of ideals by the entire body of men engaged in 

the work.

The supervising and district engineers and chiefs of parties should 

inculcate in the younger men the comprehension that success is dependent largely upon ability to carry out the purpose of the work without 

minute instructions. Every man must have clearly in mind the object 

of the work, and be prepared to exercise good judgment in producing 

the desired end. The ability to accept responsibility and accomplish 

results is the principal factor to be considered in advancing each man. 

At the same time there must be. a proper observance of rules and 

regulations in order to conform to essential requirements, but it must 

be remembered that the strict observance of rules is never an adequate 

substitute for good judgment.

In this general discussion it is desired to take up first matters relating to the personnel and the relation of the men to one another; next 

the organization, its strength and limitations; then the appointment 

of committees and other matters; next the work by committees; then 

the consideration of the reclamation law, the policy which has been 

outlined, and the relation to the public in general.
24 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO.93. 

PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE.

In the work authorized by the reclamation law, opportunities are 

offered for achieving some of the grandest results conceivable by the 

human mind, viz, the utilization of the resources of nature and the 

creation thereby of thousands of prosperous homes throughout an 

arid region. It is not necessary to dwell upon this matter, but at this 

time it is sufficient to call attention to the fact that the accomplishment of this great work necessitates the creation and organization of 

a thoroughly well-equipped body of men. The Secretary has thought 

fit to intrust this work to the Director of the Geological Survey, and 

he in turn has authorized the formation of a corps of engineers and 

experts as one of the parts of the hydrographic branch of that 

Survey.

The rules and precedents governing the Geological Survey are, it is 

believed, among the best of those of any Government bureau. There 

is an elasticity about the organization which enables individual development, and there is a constant attempt made to conduct affairs on 

purely business principles, and jet with scientific care and accuracy. 

It is without doubt an honor to be a member of the Geological Survey, 

and it is hoped that the high standard that has prevailed in that corps 

of scientific workers will be maintained and advanced in the reclamation service.

Every effort should be made to attain the highest possible efficiency 

in every branch of the work. The men who come into the regular 

force of the reclamation service do so through competitive civil-service examination. It must not be supposed, however, that a man who 

passes the examination and is appointed has met the only requirement. 

This is but the beginning; and no man should be retained in the service who does not keep up to the standard set. It has been found 

desirable, from time to time, to intimate to various men who have 

civil-service appointments that they are not performing their duties 

in the best manner possible and that unless marked improvement is 

seen in their work their resignations will be accepted. This hint has 

generally been sufficient.

It should be borne in mind at all times that we can not be satisfied 

with men who are simply " good enough. 11 If a man is mediocre or 

takes only a perfunctory interest in his work, this fact should be 

clearly stated and he should be induced to seek employment elsewhere. 

This applies particularly to the younger men who are just entering the 

service. It is sometimes the very best kindness to them, as well as a 

duty to the organization, to show them that employment in this service 

means efficiency and devotion to work.

During the past year or two the papers of several hundred men 

have passed through nry hands, and I have talked with many of these*
NEWELL.] APPOINTMENTS TO THE SERVICE. 25

or have had correspondence with them. A great many people endeavor 

to enter the Government service, and some of them have extremely 

curious notions regarding the work and what is required of them. It 

is difficult to convince some of these people that the Government service demands that the best business principles must be followed, and 

that every effort is being made to iind out the ability of each man and 

give him recognition accordingly. Indorsements or importunities from 

any source other than those of a strictly business character are not 

needed, and may be detrimental, especially if employment is sought 

on political grounds. No considerations of sentiment, religion, or 

politics should have any weight, but each man should be judged solely 

by his character, ability, and physique.

There is a special provision in section 10 of the civil-service law 

(approved January 16, 1883), regarding recommendations by members of Congress. This is frequently overlooked by persons who 

have the mistaken idea that they may be appointed or advanced by 

the use of influence from this direction. It reads as follows:

That no recommendation of any person who shall apply for office or place under 

the provisions of this act which may be given by any Senator or Member of the 

House of Representatives, except as to the character or residence of the applicant, 

shall be received or considered by any person concerned in making any examination 

or appointment under this act.

There are also men who desire a position on the reclamation service 

for the advertising it may bring them and with the hope of obtaining 

through it occasional outside employment as specialists. It has been 

found wise to require that each man connected with the Geological 

Survey or its branches shall devote all of his energies to the work for 

which he is engaged and to abstain from any other occupation for 

which he will receive remuneration. In short, his entire time and 

energies should be devoted to advancing the work on which he is 

engaged.

Great care must be taken in the case of new men to see that they are 

physically able to endure the work. A number of well-educated ^nd 

experienced men have fallen out on account of lack of physical strength. 

In one or two instances men have been transferred without specific 

inquiry into this matter, and considerable expense and annoyance to 

the service and to the friends of these men have resulted, as they have 

developed sickness when far away from medical treatment or means of 

transportation.

The opinion seems to be prevalent that if a $ick man or one partly 

well can only get employment in a Government party he will have 

opportunity for rest and recovery. This is true particularly as to 

persons afflicted with consumption, many of whom have sought in 

every possible way to get employment in the arid West. In a few 

instances such men, apparently in good health, have become attached
26 FIEST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO 93.

to field parties, but the hardships have been too severe, and they have 

succumbed. While we have pity for such unfortunate cases, we can 

not encumber the field work by employing these men, nor can we afford 

to run risks of injury to them or to others.

Great care must also be exercised concerning men of another class, 

who are trying to get into the reclamation service. These are young 

college students or graduates, who merely desire summer occupation or 

an outing. A number of such men have been obtained through civilservice certification, and after they had been transported to different 

points they have stated that they did not intend to continue in the 

work and have gone elsewhere. Attempt is made to ascertain in 

advance whether each new man intends to remain indefinitely with the 

service; but if men who are restless or who change their minds are 

employed, it is desirable to get rid of them as soon as possible in order 

not to waste money on their education. Much of the investigation 

being carried on has high educational value, and the men who are thus 

trained should be retained as far as possible for the future work of the 

service.

Occasionally a man has been found to be good, but not worth the 

salary paid. In such a case recommendation should be made for its 

reduction to'the amount which he is actually worth, and opportunity 

should be given for him to work up if he shows capacity and energy. 

On the other hand, if a man receiving a low salary shows unmistakable 

evidence of skill and administrative ability his promotion should be 

recommended.

Attempts should be made to impress upon all of the men in the service not only the necessity of good work, economical^ conducted, but 

also the importance of keeping up appearances, both personally and 

as to the camp. A field suit of khaki can be obtained at a small price, 

and the men should be encouraged to wear these suits whenever practicable and to avoid a slouchy, ragged, or untidy appearance. Similarly, the camps should be arranged in an orderly manner, the tents 

placed symmetrically, and the spaces between the tents kept in a neat 

condition. It requires no particular outlay of time and money to preserve good appearances, and these have a reflex action upon the work. 

Accuracy, economy, and neatness are usually coordinate.

It must be remembered that the general public judge largely from 

outward appearances, and that each man is, to a certain extent, 

responsible for the others and carries the reputation of the entire 

service in his hands. Many things which he might properly do were 

he working for himself he can not do as a member of an engineering 

corps; he must at all times remember that he is a part of an organization of which the whole may be judged by that part.

A phrase has been suggested here which is peculiarly applicable 

that is, the necessity of good "team play. 11 Each man is one of the
NEWEU,.] GOOD TEAM WORK ESSENTIAL. 27

team, and the successful play can be made only by every man performing quickly and accurately his especial part as the emergency arises. 

No one is sufficiently independent of the others to carry on the play 

alone. We must have not only the very best men, but these must be 

capable of working together coordinately as parts of the whole. Many 

men have been found who are good in themselves, but who can not 

safely form an integral part of a great organization, since they do not 

have the fundamental ideas of good " team play." Each of these must 

be the captain or nothing, and their talents are wasted, as far as the 

reclamation service is concerned, by their failure to cooperate and 

assist others.

All of the work in hand, especially that of reconnaissance and preliminary surveys, is, to a certain extent, full of emergencies. Countries partly explored or almost unknown are examined and unexpected 

contingencies are constantly arising. Weather conditions play a large 

part, and the seasons are frequently such that certain classes of work 

are impossible. Opportunities must be seized and personal convenience must not be regarded. When floods occur they must be measured, 

and when the sky is clear signals must be observed even at personal 

sacrifice. For this reason heat or cold and times or hours of work 

can not be considered, and if any man in the regular service begins to 

complain of irregularities of hours of employment do not hesitate to 

recommend him for private occupation.

When there is a particularly good man in any part of the country, 

it is, of course, the desire of the party or district chief to keep him 

there, and it is of ten more convenient to retain in one field the services 

of such a man; but, on the other hand, some consideration must be 

given the man himself in order to develop and build him up. For 

this reason it is desirable to recommend the occasional shifting of men 

from one district to another in order to afford them opportunities for 

wider observation and for the development of judgment in engineering 

work. Do not recommend for transfer only the men whom you may 

wish to get rid of, but also bear in mind the desirability of giving each 

man broad experience, as far as the work will permit.

OFFICERS OR REGULAR APPOINTEES.

There are two classes of men employed on ttye reclamation work 

those who are regularly in the service and those who are employed 

temporarily, from time to time, as occasion may require. Those who 

are regularly employed hold an appointment from the Secretary of the 

Interior, and have been selected, after competitive examination, from 

lists furnished by the Civil Service Commission. All of the men who 

have been thus regularly appointed are officially designated on the 

Government register as " temporary," this being the designation of
28 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

those persons whose office is not specifically created by act of Congress. 

No positions in the reclamation service were thus specifically created, 

and hence all of the men are officially in the category of temporary, 

though regular, employees. This designation need not alarm any 

one, as the greater portion of the force of the Geological Survey consists of "temporary" appointees, some of whom have been twenty 

years or more in the service of the Government and intend to devote 

the remainder of their lives to the work. A few persons in the 

Geological Survey are not "temporary," such, for example, as the 

director, chief clerk, chief disbursing clerk, a few messengers, etc., 

but most of the geologists, topographers, hydrographers, etc., are 

designated as "temporary," even though their terms of service may 

extend over the greater part of a generation.

It is, in one way, an advantage to be a temporary appointee, since 

the compensation of such an employee is not fixed rigidly by law, and 

in his case it is possible to pursue the methods of ordinary commercial 

life that is, his compensation may be increased or reduced at the will 

of the Secretary and arranged in accordance with the ability of the 

employee and the character of the duties performed by him.

The regular employees of the reclamation service are classified, in 

accordance with duties and compensation, into various grades, ranging 

from the aids, at $60 per month or even less, up to the consulting 

engineers and chief. The aids, as a rule, are young men, fresh from 

college or technical school, who are supposed to have had a thorough 

education in civil, hydraulic, electrical, or mechanical engineering. 

Their compensation is usually $60 or $75 a month for the first six 

months, or until ability has been shown in the field. As a rule, attempt 

is made to procure young men at a nominal compensation, in order 

to give them a trial and determine what they are worth.

After service in the field the aids are promoted from $720 to $900 

or $1,000 per annum, and after one or two years of service promotion to the position of assistant engineer may be considered.

When this grade is attained the appointees are considered as regular 

officers of the reclamation service, while all below the class of assistant 

engineer that is, below class 1 of the civil service are habitually 

spoken of as occasional employees. The regular officers are furnished 

with an identification card for convenience in transacting business.

The assistant engineers are men who have had a certain amount of 

experience in the field, and who have been found competent to handle 

small field parties and suggest or initiate minor branches of the work. 

As the organization now stands, a considerable number of the assistant 

engineers are men who have come in from private practice and who 

have had considerable experience in surveying and constructing irrigating ditches. Not all of the men are graduates of colleges or tech-
NEWELL.] BATES OF PAY. 29

nical schools, for the various grades of assistant engineer have been 

sometimes filled by the promotion of young men who have been 

educated in the service as engineering aids. Assistant engineers are 

paid $1,200, $1,400, and $1,600 per annum.

Officers designated as engineers receive $1,800 or more per annum. 

They are required to have sufficient experience and ability to carry on 

independent work and to direct the movements of several field parties. 

Advancement is made, as ability is demonstrated, to $2,000, $2,200, or. 

$2,4:00, and ultimately, as the value of the judgment of the men is 

demonstrated, they may become consulting engineers at $3,000 or more.

Entrance into the regular service is gained as above stated, through 

competitive civil-service examination, and by selection, under customary rules, from the lists submitted by the Civil Service Commission. It is proposed each year to have two examinations one of 

these will be held in the spring (probably in April) to secure young 

men who are about to graduate from college, and the other will be 

held in the fall (probably in October) to give an opportunity to more 

experienced men. In the latter examination experience counts largely 

and book learning plays a less essential part.

ORGANIZATION.

Next in importance to the character of the men themselves is the 

general plan of organization, and to this much time and thought has 

been devoted during the past year. With the rapid growth there has 

been and will continue to be a gradual shifting, but in a general way 

it may be said that the organization of the reclamation service is now 

fairly well outlined.

DISTRICT ENGINEERS.

The grouping together of the various grades of aids, assistants, 

engineers, and consulting engineers, is based largely on geographic 

divisions. In each of the thirteen States and three Territories named 

in the reclamation law, there are one or more district engineers, the 

district being the basis of the organization and embracing an important 

river basin. The district, for convenience, is designated by the name 

of the State rather than by that of the river, provided there is only 

one district recognized in a State.

The district engineer has charge of all of the work in his district, 

and matters are referred to him for report. He corresponds directly 

with the chief engineer, prepares quarterly estimates of expenditures, 

approves all accounts, and is responsible for all Government property. 

Each district may be regarded as the unit in the field organization.

There are assigned to the district engineer other engineers to take 

charge of various parts of the work, and under these, in turn, are 

assistant engineers and aids to execute the details. The assistant
30 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

engineer, as a rule, has charge of a small party, and acts as principal 

instrument man. The aids act as recorders, rodmen, or occasionally 

use level and transit, acquiring experience which will enable recommendations to be made for their future promotion.

The district engineer receives the reports of the assistant engineers, 

arranges and digests the information, and elaborates the results into, a 

definite statement, with recommendations concerning the feasibility of 

some one reclamation project or another. At the same time he directs 

the preliminary surveys and examinations that are conducted in various 

parts of his districts, and keeps all matters moving forward along the 

lines approved by the chief engineer.

When a district engineer has prepared for presentation his detailed 

report, with plans and estimates, on any particular reclamation project, 

it is transmitted to the chief engineer and by him referred to a board 

of consulting engineers convened for the purpose and instructed to 

ascertain all the facts, to verify the conclusions, and to approve or 

disapprove the recommendations.

There may be distinguished three stages in the development of any 

great project of reclamation: First, the exploratory and location surveys; second, the designing; and third, the execution.

The first stage, that of exploration and location, is carried on by 

the district engineer and his assistants, with aid from a supervising 

engineer. His conclusions are then passed upon by a board of engineers, of whom the supervising engineer is one of the members.

The second stage, that of designing, is next taken up by the district 

engineer with the assistance of specialists in the particular line of construction. The results are again passed upon by the same or another 

board of engineers, and if the results are approved by. the Secretary 

of the Interior the project passes to the third stage, that of 

construction.

When a project reaches the construction stage, experienced constructing engineers are detailed to the work, these men being taken 

as needed and assigned to the particular work in hand to stay with it 

continuously and supervise and inspect every detail of construction. 

In short, in all stages of progress the attempt is made to provide men 

specially fitted by education and experience to carry on the work in 

hand. At the same time the number of men is kept at the minimum 

and the force increased only where needed.

With this form of organization, it is expected that the experienced 

men in the field will initiate ideas and make suggestions and recommendations, to be passed upon by the chief engineer and boards of consulting engineers. These ideas may be modified or expanded, but the 

success of any man rests largely upon his intelligence in grasping the 

general situation, and his ability to execute readily and economically
NEWELL.] PLACING RESPONSIBILITY. 31

the conceptions which, originating largely with himself or his assistants, 

are approved before being put into effect.

SUPERVISING ENGINEERS.

The supervising engineers are in effect deputies of the chief engineer and possess alt requisite authority to execute the work which may 

be delegated to them. As it is impracticable for any one man to 

supervise all of the operations of planning and construction, the territory of the supervising engineers is designated in general terms and 

is being in each case gradually narrowed, additional supervising engineers being designated from time to time as the work progresses. 

The supervising engineers are men of experience in engineering affairs 

and in executive work, and they may serve as consulting engineers, 

but it is assumed that the greater part of their time wilt be used in 

the executive work pertaining to the conduct of affairs in the various 

districts under their charge.

CONSULTING ENGINEERS.

The consulting engineers are men employed continuously to give 

advice and suggestions concerning various details of the engineering 

work. They have few, if any, executive functions, but upon them is 

placed the responsibility of determining engineering details and policies. They are not limited geographically in their operations, but 

their sphere of activity is rather in specialization of operations. That 

is to say, the consulting engineer of most experience in cement work 

is called into consultation in any part of the country where important 

questions are raised concerning the use of cement in large quantities.

The consulting engineers are generally organized into boards, as the 

problems presented in any one locality may fall into various departments of engineering. They travel widely,, and meet according to 

prearranged programme, bringing together such of the men as are 

believed to be best qualified to pass upon the broad problems met in 

each project. The supervising and district engineers are usually 

called in consultation wherever practicable, but the main features are 

left to the decision of the engineers employed in a consulting capacity.

PLACING OF RESPONSIBILITY.

In the organization of the reclamation service great care has been 

taken to preserve and place direct responsibility upon each individual, 

so that he appreciates his relation to the work and is stimulated by 

the fact that he will receive recognition or disapproval according to 

his actions or judgment.

In widely diverse and broadly scattered work of this kind a carefully 

graded organization is needed to insure the complete responsibility of
32 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

individuals and to have the burden bear upon each individual precisely 

in proportion to his experience and opportunities.

Primarily, the Secretary of the Interior, as required by law, is the 

responsible officer. He in turn holds responsible the Director of the 

Geological Survey, and he in turn the chief engineer of the reclamation 

service. Under the direction of the latter are the supervising and 

consulting engineers, each of whom, acting individually or in boards, 

submits carefully prepared written statements and recommendations 

covering each important point. Next come the district engineers, 

who have the direct and immediate responsibility for all work in their 

districts, and under these are the designing and constructing engineers, 

the inspectors, instrument men, etc., each with his specified line of 

work.

The two principal ends aimed at by the organization of the reclamation 

engineers as outlined are, first, the fixing of responsibility definitely 

upon those engineers to whom the execution of a project is assigned; 

and, second, the securing of such elasticity in the organization that 

the best talent possessed by the corps of engineers may easily be applied 

to the special needs of the service.

In order to attain these ends the execution of each project is placed 

in the hands of a limited number of engineers, preferably three viz, a 

resident engineer, a district engineer, and a supervising, directing, or 

consulting engineer, whose duties are as follows:

(a) The resident engineer is directly in charge of the construction 

work, and reports to the district engineer.

(£) The district engineer has general supervision of the execution of 

the project, and reports to the chief engineer.

(c) The supervising, directing, or consulting engineer is definitely 

attached to the given project, being selected and assigned to that duty 

by the chief engineer, and he reports to the chief engineer only in 

conjunction with the district and resident engineers.

These three engineers constitute what may be termed the "project 

board" for a particular project. They are individually and jointly 

responsible for the successful carrying out of the approved plans covering a project, and for all expenditures incurred in connection with 

the execution of the project.

The resident engineer devotes himself exclusively to a particular 

project; the district engineer divides his attention among all the projects, whether contemplated or approved, lying within his district; the 

supervising engineer divides his attention among all the projects, 

regardless of districts to which he is assigned.

The district engineer keeps in close touch with the details of the 

work being done by the resident engineer, so that practically nothing 

will be done without the joint knowledge and approval of these two 

members of the project board.
NEWELL.] ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 33

All reports, estimates, and general statements covering expenditures are made out or approved in the office of the district engineer 

for transmittal to headquarters.

The supervising engineer gives sufficient study to the project to 

keep himself adequately posted regarding the progress of the work, 

so that he considers himself equally responsible with the other members of the project board for all work and expenditures involved in 

the execution of the project. To this end he visits the project as 

often as he or the district engineer deems necessary, and receives from 

the district engineer such reports of the work being done or contemplated as will enable him to prevent the carrying out of any plans or 

the making of any expenditures of which he does not approve and for 

which he is not willing to be held responsible.

The supervising engineer, at the request- of the chief engineer or 

the district engineer, considers and definitely reports any feature of 

the project upon which a final decision is required.

The second object aimed at viz, elasticity and adaptability as regards 

the character and qualifications of the engineers of the service in 

relation to the varying demands of the work is secured by means of 

the following arrangement:

All the supervising engineers are members of and constitute the 

board of supervising engineers. At least one supervising engineer is 

usually present in the Washington office, and at the direction of the 

chief engineer fills the position of acting or deputy chief engineer. 

Whether the chief engineer is present or absent, the supervising engineer, who is designated as acting chief engineer for the time being, 

dispatches all the business of that office within the limits of his authority and ability.

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

While the reclamation service, for effective administration, is and 

must be a one-man organization, in the sense that one man is responsible at each stage of the proceedings, yet at the same time, for 

consulting and advisory purposes, it is organized into a number of 

committees that is to say, in the execution of the work, the 

chief engineer, or the district engineer, or the engineer in the field, 

or the assistant, etc., is directly responsible for certain details, and 

the responsibility is rigidly enforced yet in matters of opinion the 

advice of a number of men is sought. For this purpose committees are 

constituted to advise the chief engineer. These committees consist of 

men who are familiar with certain details, and whose knowledge is 

needed in making plans for the future. There are many of these committees; some of them constituted for temporary purposes and then 

discharged; others practically continuous, the personnel changing 

IBB 93 04 3
34 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.'

gradually. The chief engineer is ex officio a member of all committees, even though not mentioned among the names. A list of committees appointed at the Ogderi meeting is given on page 14.

An arbitrary distinction is made between boards and committees in 

that the term "board "is used to include occasional organization of 

engineers in the field for consideration of specific projects for construction and to take up special points of engineering practice. Under 

the term ""committee" is included the office organizations or groups 

of men appointed at engineering conferences to consider methods of 

transaction of business, coordination of the various parts of the 

reclamation service, legal or physical questions which pertain to the 

operations of the service, and various matters of this kind which relate 

more directly to administrative operations.

All actions of boards or-committees should be unanimous, if possible, 

and a carefully prepared report should be signed by all members, each 

becoming individually responsible for the accuracy of the statements 

or for the correctness of the judgment. These reports should be 

addressed to the chief engineer, and should be as explicit and concise 

as possible.

COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL.

One of the most important committees is that on personnel. This 

is constituted of persons who are best acquainted with the men and 

their work, and who visit the various tield parties and form an opinion 

of the operations. This committee makes recommendations, from 

time to time, regarding the advancement or dropping of certain men 

or their assignment to various classes of work. It is expected that 

this committee will make such recommendations to the chief engineer 

in May and November, and that these recommendations will apply to 

the entire list of regular emplo3T ees. Each district engineer, and in 

some cases a chief of field party, will be expected to state to the committee confidentially his opinion as to the relative ability of the men 

working under his direction. Action by the committee is to be based 

wholly upon the ability of each man and the results accomplished by 

him in his line of work.

Any importunities or attempts to influence the judgment of the 

committee or of the chief will count against the men making them. 

There is, unfortunately, an opinion prevalent in certain quarters that 

in Government work it is necessary to secure the endorsement and 

continued support of some politician who will act as a sort of patron 

and continually urge the officers of the Department to advance his 

protege. This, as far as the Geological Survey and its branches are 

concerned, is wholly untrue, and there is nothing that an employee can 

do that will lower him more in the estimation of his fellow members 

and of the responsible officers of the Bureau than to try to bring such
NEWELL.] PEKSONNEL OF THE SEEVICE. 85

influence to bear in his behalf. An attempt made by any man in the 

employ of this Bureau of the Government to procure advancement in 

other ways than by demonstrating- his ability to accomplish his designated work is regarded as a sign of weakness and incapacity. Such a 

mnn is at least under justifiable suspicion.

The committee on personnel should consider, as part of a man's 

qualifications for advancement, not merely the results which he has 

accomplished, but his fitness for larger duties. This should include 

his tact and ability to get along well with men and to manage efficiently 

the party or parties that may be placed in his charge. An effort is 

made to keep careful account of expenses incurred in various lines of 

work, and a man's record for economy is an essential matter for 

consideration.

As regards those younger members of the service who have not }T et 

had opportunity to show their ability in large matters, consideration 

should be had of the neatness and accuracy of their work and of the 

impression which they make. It is.not desirable to .advance a man 

who is habitually careless in his personal appearance and address, as 

it is presumable that he is weak in other matters.

There are also suitable committees to take up various other matters, 

such as the consideration of the water laws of the various States, the 

duty of water, methods of reconnaissance and survey, standard plans 

and specifications, costs and results of survey and construction, tests 

for cement and use of concrete, electrical power and its development 

and use in pumping, alkaline drainage, the forms of association of 

water users, methods and equipment of diamond drilling, the protection of drainage areas b}r forestry, etc. All of these and other 

important points should be considered b}^ qualified men, and the 

results should be discussed by all of the engineers of the service.

CIVIL-SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.

The operations of the reclamation service, as well as of the Geological Survey in general, must be carried on in conformit}T with laws 

governing the civil service and the rules and regulations of the Civil 

Service Commission. These laws and rules have been drawn mainly 

with reference to the systematic, methodical conduct of Government 

business at Washington and in the larger offices throughout the 

country. They designate how persons shall be employed, and cover 

il£ a broad way the usual requirements of departmental duties. In 

the Geological Survey, however, and particularly in the reclamation 

service, where work is being initiated and carried on in unsettled or 

almost unexplored regions, the regulations that cover ordinary office 

routine are not always applicable. The civil-service laws do not 

distinctly recognize such unusual conditions, but provide for exigen-
36 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

cies and give to the Civil Service Commission a certain amount of 

discretion in enforcing the letter of the law. The Commission, recognizing the unusual nature of the duties of the Geological Survey and 

its branches, has been liberal in its requirements and has done everything possible to facilitate the work of the Bureau. This liberality on 

the part of the Commission must be respected, and every attempt 

should be made })y men in the field to live up to the letter and spirit 

of the law and preserve the confidence of the Commission that the law 

will be observed in all particulars.

All persons regularly employed in the service of the Government 

are grouped into grades and classes. In any given grade are included 

all persons performing certain kinds of duty, irrespective of their 

compensation; that is to say, the engineer grade includes all men who 

are doing engineering work, whether they are paid $1,000 or $2,000 a 

year or more. Promotion within a grade can take place without 

special requirements of examination, but men can not be transferred 

from one grade to another without some form of examination or 

certification as to ability to perform the duties of the now grade.

Within each grade persons are divided into classes, according to the 

amount of compensation received. The term "grade," in connection 

with employees or positions, refers to a group of employees or 

positions in the classified service arranged upon the basis of duties 

performed, without regard to salaries received, as messenger grade, 

clerk grade, engineer grade; while the term "class" refers to a group 

of employees or positions in any grade arranged upon the basis of 

salaries received, in pursuance of section 163 of the Revised Statutes 

and of section 6 of the civil-service act. A person regularly serving 

in any class in a given grade is not required to undergo examination 

for promotion to any other class in the same grade.

Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4 were created in 1853, and since then from time 

to time other classes have been added above and below these, until at 

present the arrangement is as follows:

Class A. All persons receiving an annual salary of less than $720, or a compensation 

at the rate of less than $720 per annum.

Class B. All persons receiving an annual salary of $720 or more, or a compensation 

at the rate of $720 or more, but less than $840 per annum.

Class C. All persons receiving an annual salary of $840 or more, or a compensation 

at the rate of $840 or more, but less than $900 per annum.

Class D. All persons receiving an annual salary of $900 or more, or a compensation 

at the rate of $900 or more, but less than $1,000 per annum.

Class E. All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,000 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,000 or more, but less than $1,200 per annum.

Class 1. All persons receiving'an annual salary of $1,200 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,200 or more, but less than $1,400 per annum.

Class 2. All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,400 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,400 or more, but less than $1,600 per annum.
NEWELL.] CIVIL-SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. 37

Class 3. All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,600 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,600 or more, but less than $1,800 per annum.

Class 4. All persons receiving an annual salary of $1,800 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $1,800 or more, but less than $2,000 per annum.

Class 5. All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,000 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,000 or more, but less than $2,500 per annum.

Class 6. All persons receiving an annual salary of $2,500 or more, or a compensation at the rate of $2,500 or more per annum.

This classification is recognized by the Department, and classes 1, 2, 3, and 4 are 

recognized by the Revised Statutes.

The new code of rules of the Civil Service Commission, brought 

up to September 1, 1903, should be carefully read and frequently 

consulted by members of the reclamation service in order that its 

provisions may lie observed. Each member should also obtain the 

annual reports of the Commission by application to the Civil Service 

Commission, Washington, D. C., in order to keep in touch with the 

changes in the rules or the application of rules to specific cases.

In attempting to apply these rules to the work of the reclamation 

service it is seen at once that a certain amount of interpretation of 

general statements and a certain degree of executive discretion is 

necessary. As a rule the work of the reclamation service is primarily 

that of exploring or ascertaining facts in advance of a knowledge of 

the limiting conditions. Field parties must be equipped and organized 

in new regions and care must be taken so to arrange and proportion 

these parties that work will be carried on efficiently and economically. 

It is obviously not practicable to assemble a considerable number of 

men, instruments, animals, and supplies at remote points, sufficient to 

cover all contingencies, since the cost will be practically prohibitive. 

On the contraiy a few well-equipped men must be employed at first 

and additional assistants and supplies sent to these men quickly and 

economically, wherever they happen to be, and the chief of party 

must be in a position to procure necessary assistants without delay. 

In short, a chief of field party operating 50 or 100 miles from the 

nearest telegraph station can not be expected to send to Washington 

for men or material to supply each want as it arises. To a field party 

costing $40 to $60 or more a day, any delay, even of an hour, means 

considerable loss, and the exigencies are such that even with all possible foresight and oversight, freedom must be left to the chief of party 

to obtain and procure needed assistants.

For this reason departmental practice and the Civil Service Commission have permitted and encouraged the exercise of judgment in 

equipping and maintaining field parties. It is usually very difficult to 

procure competent men, and it is not possible to wait for certification 

in the midst of a short field season. For example, in the case of cooks, 

while for an Indian school or Government hospital a civil-service
38 FIEST KECLAMATION 8EEVICE CONFERENCE. INO. 93.

examination or registration might be desirable since it is extremely 

difficult to get and retain any competent man in this position, yet for 

a field party examination would obviously be absurd.

Progressing from such extreme cases upward, there comes a grade, 

however, where it is possible to foresee and expect continuous employment, and these men, who are responsible assistants, should be selected 

through the civil service and provided in advance of work. Each chief 

of a field party is expected to ask in advance for men or to take such 

men as may be assigned to him by the district engineer or chief 

engineer, and in organizing the work to employ such other men in the 

field as may be needed from time to time. Men regularly employed 

season after season are, as required by law, in the classified civil service. The other men, taken for occasional or job work or needed as 

exigencies occur, are emplo3red as field assistants and must be so designated on the vouchers, the word "field" being used to distinguish the 

men from others of similar grade in the classified service. For example, 

if an assistant engineer becomes sick, or his place must be temporarily 

filled, or if an additional assistant engineer is required immediately, 

the person thus employed should be designated as "field assistant'1 or 

"field engineer,'1 '' not as assistant engineer, as this position is in the 

classified service. The employment of such men in the field is in the 

nature of job work, for a specific purpose, and is not regular employment in positions existing or created. The men are employed not to 

fill a definite position, but to perform certain acts that are necessary 

to carry into effect the provisions of law concerning work authorized 

by Congress.

When, however, it becomes apparent that such employment may be 

permanent in character, then application should be made for certification of suitable eligibles, and the requirements of the case should be 

stated plainly and explicitly. The report should contain the following 

facts: The name, age, occupation, and experience of the person temporarily employed; the character of work for which he is employed; 

the probable term of service; and if the work will probably be of a 

continuous nature a request should be made for the appointment of a 

qualified person to fill this place, all of the facts in the case and the 

needs of the work being plainly stated. This report should also state 

the rate of compensation, the fact whether subsistence is furnished in 

camp, and whether transportation to or from the place of employment 

is to be included, as well as all other matters that may serve to aid in 

the selection of a proper man to be sent to the designated point.

Allowance must be made for the length of time required to request 

such appointment through the ordinary channels;, that is to say, a 

chief of party in the field, away from ordinary lines of travel, should, 

when necessity arises, employ the nearest available man suitable for 

the purpose, and then promptly make statement of the fact, and, if
NEWELL.] EMPLOYMENT OF FIELD ASSISTANTS. 39

necessary, request the designation of a person to fill the place. This 

request should come to the office of the chief engineer for indorsement; it is then sent to the executive division of the Geological 

Survey, from there to the Secretary of the Interior and to the appointment division of his office, and finally to the Civil Service Commission. 

Here the records will be searched, names certified, and papers sent 

through the same channel and forwarded, if necessary, to men in the 

field. This will require, from the lime inquiry is started, a minimum 

of at least two weeks, and may require a month or six weeks. When 

the names are before the chief engineer, or the engineer in the field, 

he must take up correspondence with the persons certified to ascertain 

whether they are then available and whether they will accept work at 

the designated point and position. If, for example, a man employed 

on engineering work in Massachusetts is certified for work at some 

remote point in Arizona he will generally desire to correspond about 

the matter, and may require to give his employer a month's notice 

thus a month may be consumed in correspondence and in getting ready 

to start.

Experience has shown that the greater part of the field season is 

frequently consumed in getting the right men through the ordinary 

routine, and great patience is required, as well as strict attention to all 

of the details and correspondence. This condition must be borne in 

mind in judging of the exigency of any particular case, and good 

judgment must be used at all stages in endeavoring to comply with 

the law and at the same time in pushing forward the work economically and rapidly.

Difficulty or delay in procuring the certification of proper persons 

will not be accepted as an excuse for delays in the field, as everywhere 

the field party and district engineer must bear in mind the fact that 

the duty is first to perform the work, and, secondarily to this, to cany 

it on in compliance with official rules and regulations. Results must 

be had economically and effectively, and no excuse of so-called " red 

tape" can be considered.

Taking up in detail the grades of men employed in the field, and 

beginning with river observers, it is to be remembered that these are 

not included within the rules of the civil service, even though employed 

year after year indefinitely. These men are paid usually from $3 to 

$5 a month and in some cases a higher rate, as where they are located 

at remote, inaccessible points. It would, for example, be obviously 

impossible to obtain a certification for an observer to live at a certain 

designated point or ranch, many miles from other habitations, at such 

a salary. In such cases there is probably only one man the occupant 

of the ranch who could be induced to make river observations.

Cooks, drivers, packers, and laborers in general do not come under 

the cognizance of the civil-service rules, since these men are employed
40 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

only for certain specified work for a few days or a few months, and 

are hired and dropped as the exigency requires, or, more frequently, 

as they can be obtained, as this class of labor in the West is very 

uncertain and difficult to obtain.

Various technical experts, mechanics or mechanical engineers, electricians, cement experts, etc., must be employed from time to time to 

assist in planning or construction. When there is reason to believe 

that the services of such men will be required, they should be employed 

under the operations of the rules. When, however, an exigency 

exists, the district engineer will at once make use of the service of the 

best available man and report the fact as above indicated.

Young men to act as rodmen, station assistants, and to perform 

functions more or less technical in character, fall about the border line 

of the civil-service rules. To properly organize a field party several 

of these may be required, and as far as.possible a register should be 

established of these men, or they should be obtained in advance from 

among those regularly employed. If, however, it is found that additional help is required, young men may, under existing custom, be 

employed at the point of outfitting and retained throughout the field 

season, or until registered or classified men properly qualified may 

be had.

Coming to the higher grades of assistant engineer, engineer, etc., 

these men should all be within the classified civil service. In case, 

however, of need of an expert man, or failure of an assistant regularly 

employed, the chief of the party or division engineer must substitute 

at once a qualified person without loss of time. The facts of the case 

should be reported as above designated to the chief engineer, and the 

place, if permanent, filled through transfer or certification from the 

Civil Service Commission.

Summing up the condition as regards laws and regulations relating 

to the civil service, the employees of the reclamation service may be 

considered in four schedules, as follows:

1. Laborers not in the classified civil service and not appointed.

2. Occasional or job employees not in the classified civil service and 

to whom appointments are not given.

3. Surveyors and mechanics who may be taken from a registered 

list prepared, without educational tests, by a civil-service board.

4. Engineers, assistants, and aids, appointed after competitive educational examination and duly certified by the Civil Service Commission.

It is not practicable to classify these men by compensation, for, in 

the parts of the country where the work of the reclamation service is 

being carried on, the compensation paid must vary with the conditions 

and needs of men; that is to say, men who under ordinary circumstances in or near a city should be paid $2 a day may receive $4 per 

day in remote districts.
NEWELL.] GRADES OF EMPLOYEES. 41

Laborers. Under this heading are included all unskilled laborers 

and those employed as axmen, chainmen, boatmen, cooks, derrick or 

drill hands, drivers, packers, and general assistants about a camp or 

construction outfit.

Occasional employees, Under this classification are included all persons above unskilled laborers in rank, who are not appointed, but who 

are occasionally employed, and whose occupation is such that it is not 

possible to establish a register for them, either because of the character of the work or because it is only temporary and of the nature of a 

job. Under this head there are also included temporary assistants, 

men taken in an emergency to fill a need when it is impracticable to 

procure competent assistants from the register or by certification 

from the Civil Service Commission. Various technical experts are 

also included, their work being of the nature of a job to be performed.

Surveyors or mechanics. Under this designation are included all 

skilled assistants whose work is of such character that an educational 

test is not desirable or necessary, and who may be employed in cases 

where skill is a prime essential. In each district a register of capable 

men should be established at the earliest practicable date, and selections 

made from this register in accordance with civil-service rules. The 

register is to be established by a local board, acting as the agent of the 

Civil Service Commission and reporting directly to that Commission. 

In this schedule are included inspectors, overseers or foremen, master 

laborers, master carpenters, recorders, transitmen, levelmen, rodmen, 

timekeepers, cement testers, gage readers or observers receiving over 

$50 a month, telephone linemen, and similar employees.

Engineers. In this schedule are included all engineers, assistant 

engineers, engineering aids, and all employees filling similar technical 

positions, constituting what is known as the regular force of the reclamation service. All of these positions are filled by competitive 

educational examination, and, as far as practicable, assignments to 

responsible positions are made from the various classes of engineering 

aids and assistants. The civil service rules are particularly applicable 

to all persons included in this schedule, and great care must be taken 

to observe all of the requirements of law or of regulations pertaining 

to this regular force of employees.

Local boards. Under authority of the Civil Service Commission a 

local board of examiners may be designated in each of the reclamation 

districts. This board consists of a secretary, vice-secretary, and one 

or more additional members. It is the duty of each of these boards 

of examiners, through the secretaries, to supply the Commission with 

information in reference to the needs of the service, to give out application blanks and circulars of information to applicants, to receive 

applications for positions for which no educational examination is
42 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

required, to grade the papers, to establish registers of eligibles, and 

to do such other work as the Commission may direct.

Applications for positions requiring an educational test should be 

made to the Civil Service Commission at Washington, but applications 

for positions not requiring an educational test may be made to a local 

board of examiners, by whom the applicants will be graded according 

to age, intelligence and experience, character as workmen, and physical qualifications, in accordance with the usual regulations. All marks 

are given on a ratio of 100, but different weights are attached to the 

classifications, greater weight usually being given to experience than 

to other elements. The principal facts to be considered are age, 

quality of work, rapidity of work, industry, experience, physical 

condition, and general intelligence or disposition.

Applications for field employment. The applications for employment in the reclamation service have become so numerous that a 

printed circular has been issued governing the matter, dated May 7, 

1903. This is quoted as follows:

ALL POSITIONS UNDER CLASSIFIED SERVICE.

Positions requiring skilled or technical service, such as engineers, assistant engineers, transitnien, levelmen, plane-table men, and their principal assistants, are under 

the classified civil service, and appointments to them are made after certification by 

the Civil Service Commission. Examinations have been held and several large 

eligible lists established from which selection must be made. Similar examinations 

will be held from time to time; inquiries regarding examinations should be addressed 

to the Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.

Appeals to prominent men for assistance in securing appointment are useless,' as 

selections from the civil service list must be made without reference to sentiment, 

charity, politics, or religion, and attempts to influence the action of appointing officers 

in any such way must necessarily prove unavailing.

FEW ADDITIONAL MEN DESIRED.

When the reclamation law went into effect experienced engineers in the employ 

of the Geological Survey were detailed to this work. From time to time the force 

has been increased by adding experienced and qualified men obtained through civilservice examination. The surveying and engineering parties are practically complete, 

and only a few additional engineers and assistants will be needed, from time to time, 

to fill vacancies caused by resignations or by gradual expansion of the operations.

NO TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT.

No college students or other young men are needed for. temporary, or summer 

employment. There is a large eligible list of young college men who have been 

graduated or are about to be graduated, and all young engineers needed as aids or 

assistants are being selected from this list, prepared by the Civil Service Commission.

UNSKILLED LABORERS.

Teamsters, cooks, and unskilled laborers are employed by the chiefs of field parties, and applications for such positions should be addressed to them and not to 

officials at Washington. The chief of each field party is held responsible for his 

men. As a rule each chief of party has a large list of names from which to select.
NEWELL.] OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. 43

All the employees last mentioned will, when practicable, be engaged in or near 

the areas under survey, and they must present themselves at the field outfitting 

point of the party to which they are attached and will be discharged at the end of 

the field season. No traveling expenses to and from the field will be allowed. Preference will be given to applicants from States in which the work is to be done.

CORRESPONDENCE.

^11 official correspondence of the reclamation service should, be con-, 

ducted according to the ordinary rules of business, but it is in addition 

important to observe certain proprieties or courtesies that tend to 

facilitate the accomplishment of results. In any large organization 

there are certain requirements that are due to the necessity of keeping 

various persons informed of the details of operations.

The chief engineer is the responsible head of the reclamation service, 

under the Director of the Geological Survey and of the Secretary of 

the Interior. As far as possible all communications should pass 

through his office, in order that he may keep himself informed concerning details of the work. All letters from men in the field should 

pass through the chief of part}^ or district engineer to the chief engineer, in order that the various men responsible for details may be kept 

fully informed on all points.

jJJl letters from the chief engineer are addressed to the consulting, 

supervising, or district engineer, or through chiefs to the individuals, if necessary to communicate directly with them. As a rule, direct 

correspondence with the chief engineer is limited to a relatively few 

responsible men in the field.

Persons connected with the reclamation service should not correspond directly with other offices or branches of the Government nor 

with the higher officials of the Department of the Interior. Official 

rules provide regular channels for the transaction of business, and confusion results if these channels are not followed. No correspondence 

should be had concerning official plans or duties with public men or 

members of Congress. All letters received that relate to the general 

policy or the larger features of the reclamation service will be referred 

to the Director of the Geological Survey, and through him to the 

Secretary of the Interior.

Each official letter should relate to one subject only, and that subject 

should be stated briefly at the top of the letter.

For convenience of filing and reference, all letters and ordinary 

memoranda should be written upon letter paper of the size furnished 

by the Department of the Interior, this being 8 inches wide and 10^ 

inches long.

Letters originating from the Washington office are initialed according to prescribed rules, the initials of the person dictating the letter 

and of the stenographer being placed in the upper right-hand corner.
44 FIRST "RECLAMATION SERVICE COISTFERETSTOE. [NO. 93.

Other initials may be placed on the letter indicating that the matter 

has been considered by other persons.

Every letter covering inclosures should distinctly specify each paper 

inclosed and note such as are duplicates, and every inclosure should be 

so marked as clearly to indicate its nature and substance and its relation to the letter of transmittal. The number of inclosures should be 

plainly stated at the foot of the letter.

Frequently brief letters of inquiry are sent out from the office of 

the chief engineer to which a few words of answer only are necessary. 

In such cases the reply should be written (with signature and date) 

upon the blank space below the letter, which should be returned at once 

to the chief engineer's office. If the reply can not be given on the 

lower part of the letter sheet, as many additional sheets should be 

attached as may be necessary. In this way the original inquiry and 

reply will be kept together.

Telegrams should be sent on the official blank provided by the Geological Survey for this purpose, and plainly marked " Official business, 

Government rates." Those addressed to Washington should not be 

prepaid, and those going from Washington should be received without 

payment, as all charges are settled at the Washington office.

Telegrams addressed to the chief engineer should be addressed, not 

by name nor to Chief Engineer, but " Hydrographer, Geological Survey." If addressed to him by name, they may be delivered at his 

residence and not at the office.

Telegrams between officers in the field, if sent from the larger telegraph offices, can be charged to the Government and the account settled at Washington. To guard and facilitate such charges, both the 

Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies have issued cards to 

the principal engineers to the effect that telegrams signed by the persons to whom these cards are issued, and answers thereto, when 

indorsed "Government business," will be transmitted on the lines of 

the companies at Government rates on account of the United States. 

Payment for telegrams handled in accordance with the cards will not 

be required of the sender.

It is sometimes difficult to convince the operators at smaller stations 

of the propriety of this course of procedure, .and if the telegrams will 

not be received in this way it is preferable to prepay them at Government rates rather than subject the recipient to the trouble of making 

payment or running the risk of delay.

REQUISITIONS.

Requisitions for instruments and supplies should be made upon separate sheets from other communications, and should not be included 

with correspondence relating to other subjects.
NEWELL.] REQUISITIONS. 45

Requisitions should be classified according to material; instruments, 

for example, should be grouped together in one request, and blanks, 

notebooks, and similar supplies in another, so that the separate 

requisitions ma}r be forwarded to the separate divisions that will supply the material.

Each person filling a requisition is required to indicate Toy initials 

or otherwise the fact that the requisition is filled, and to mark the 

package with his initials, so that if it is received in bad order the 

responsibility can be placed. Persons in the field receiving material 

not in good condition should immediately report the fact to the chief 

engineer.

Requisitions for instruments should state the nature of the work to 

be performed and the character and quality of the instruments desired, 

in order that the person in charge of supplies and equipment may 

ascertain whether instruments suitable for the purpose can be furnished from the supplies on hand or available.

If requisitions are not promptly filled or acknowledged, the attention of the chief engineer should be called to the matter by a statement 

that a requisition for certain material was sent on a certain date. 

Care should be taken to prevent duplication and to indicate that the 

second request refers to a requisition previously sent.

REPORTS.

Frequent and definite reports concerning the field work must be 

made to the. chief engineer by district engineers and by men in the 

field, especially by chiefs of parties and men acting independently. 

Intelligent control and direction of work is possible only through the 

 definite information obtained by means of such reports, and men in 

the field must show from time to time what has been accomplished for 

the expenditures made. But it must be remembered that while on the 

one hand the field work can be better understood and greatly facilitated if concise, definite statements are periodically made, yet it is, on 

the other hand, desirable to avoid delaying field work by the preparation of reports more elaborate than absolutely necessary.

Information to the public should be given out only through official 

channels. On this point the following circular has been issued, dated 

July 1, 1903:

The attention of engineers and assistants in the reclamation service, and of all 

other persons concerned, is called to the provisions of section 2 of the law of June 17, 

1902 (Stat. L., vol. 32, p. 388), which reads as follows:

That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to make examinations and 

surveys for, and to locate and construct as herein provided, irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and development of waters, including artesian wells, and to report to Congress at the beginning 

of each regular session as to the results of such examinations and surveys, giving estimates of cost of 

all contemplated works, the quantity and location of the lands which can be irrigated therefrom, 

and all facts relative to the practicability of each irrigation project; also the cost of works in process 

of construction as well as of those which have been completed.
46 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

This section indicates clearly the manner in which information concerning these 

surveys and examinations is to be given to the public. All persons desiring infor- 

"sofetion 011 the subject should be referred to the annual report printed by authority 

of Congress or to the Secretary of the Interior. The necessity for exercising prudence 

in this matter arises from the fact that the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out the 

purpose of the law, must from time to time secure certain lands or privileges essential 

to the construction of the reclamation works. In order to obtain these lands and 

rights at reasonable market rates it is necessary to mature plans quietly and to make 

arrangements with the owners upon a fair and equitable basis. If a report is spread 

that enormous sums are to be expended in a given locality, prices are advanced to a 

point where it is impossible to deal with the owners without condemnation proceedings. It is intended that facts shall be obtained for the information of the Secretary 

only. These will be passed upon by experts, who will consider them from various 

standpoints and without personal prejudice or sentiment. The results, together with 

recommendations, will be brought to the attention of the Secretary, and individuals 

should not discuss the policy nor anticipate the action of the Secretary by announcing 

plans or stating what may be done in the future.

If the Secretary believes that he can properly give to the public the results of 

examinations and surveys he will do so upon request.

Reports are required at different periods for different purposes; as 

weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.

Weekly reports. A. weekly report, covering the operations for each 

day, should be submitted to the district engineer by the chief of each 

field party, and by each man working alone. This report should be 

concise, and should state for each day the essential facts as to the 

character and progress of the work. Such statements as "engaged in 

computation," or "measuring streams," or "running level lines," are 

not sufficient; a few additional words must be added, specifying where 

and for what purpose the particular work is being done, so that the 

district or supervising officer may obtain at a glance a comprehensive 

idea of the work in hand without the necessity of referring to letters or 

correspondence. The report should conclude with a few words as to 

the probable operations of the next week, and should be mailed as 

promptly as may be practicable, consistent with the demands of 

the work.

Monthly reports. The monthly report should give a resume of the 

work accomplished during the month by each party, or in each district, the facts being assembled in concise order for quick reference, 

so that it may be perfectly plain what work is being carried on and 

where. This report should show the rate of progress, the present 

conditions, and the plans for the coming month. The monthly report 

should be forwarded with vouchers, or a statement of classified expenditures, to the office of the chief engineer for his information. It * o

should be accompanied by the weekly reports of field parties, if these 

have not been abstracted in the report.

A duplicate or carbon copy of the monthly report should be forwarded to the supervising engineer for his information. The original 

report sent to the office of the chief engineer may be accompanied by
NEWELL.] PERIODIC REPORTS. 47

reports of the various chiefs of parties, construction engineers, etc., 

and these can be marked for return to the district office if it is not 

considered desirable to retain a copy. Care should be taken to avoid 

unnecessary copying and to forward papers for examination and return 

where such duplication may lead to unnecessary delay or expense.

Equal care must be exercised to forward full information of value 

for preservation. It has been found that valuable data collected by 

various hydrographers and engineers have been lost or overlooked or 

have not been made sufficiently prominent in general correspondence. 

Each man should be held responsible for transmitting facts which 

may come under his observation even though these are negative in 

character, namely, that certain streams were found to be dry or that 

surveys have not been completed in certain areas.

All vouchers for the pay of occasional employees and men not 

attached to field parties should be accompanied by the daily statement, 

on Form 9-245, showing the fact that work has actually been performed on these days and indicating the character of the work. This 

statement must be brief yet explicit; for example, it should state not 

simply "computing," but should indicate the character and purpose of 

the computations.

Quarterly reports. The quarterly reports are largely administrative 

in character, the quarter having been selected as the most convenient 

unit for accounting for propertj^ and discussing finances. They should 

comprise a resume of expenditures incurred, a statement of the character of these, and a report of the results accomplished, in units of miles 

of level or transit line, square miles of topography, yards of construction, or other definite, intelligible units.

The quarterly statements and accounts are of first importance from 

the administrative standpoint. They consist primarily of two parts, 

the first for transmittal by the chief engineer, through the Director to 

the Department, and the second the portion for the information of 

the chief engineer and for the records of his office. The first part of 

this quarterly statement and estimate consists of descriptive matter in 

somewhat stereotyped form, giving under each project or principal 

heading one or more paragraphs devoted to each of the following subheadings:

Location.

Past operations.

Present conditions.

Future work.

Expenditures.

Under the head of "Location" should be given a brief description 

of the location of the work, such that a stranger taking the material 

can gain some idea of how the work is being carried on.
48 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

"Past operations" should include the work performed, its extent, 

scale, and the results accomplished.

"Present conditions" should recite the character of the work in 

hand during the current quarter in which the report is prepared.

"Future wrork" should cover the operations proposed for the next 

quarter, or those for which authority to continue the work is desired.

"Expenditures" should recite briefly the total expense incurred up 

to the end of the preceding quarter; also the probable expenditures for 

the current quarter and the amount which should be set aside to cover 

the future work for the ensuing quarter.

This first part should be sent in promptly, so as to reach the chief 

engineer on or before the 15th day of March, June, September, and 

December. It should be prepared in the form in which it is to go to 

the Department, so that it can be assembled quickly and copied without 

the necessity of editing or extensive revision.

There should also be prepared, if possible before the above descriptive material, an estimate showing the cost of the work done during 

the quarter, the units of miles surveyed or yards of construction completed, the rations issued, and the cost of other important items. The 

information thus set forth is to be forwarded to the chief engineer for 

the records of his office, and the results should be briefly summed up 

in the material which is to go forward to the Department.

Another important quarterly operation is in connection with the 

property returns. Every reasonable effort should be made to dispose of material not in use, and to keep the property returns explicit. 

All property should be inventoried and accounted for, all worn-out 

and useless articles being condemned or sold after the necessary 

authority has been obtained. At the end of the calendar year 

especial attention should be given to cleaning up the property returns, 

no unnecessary articles being kept; at the same time an account should 

be rendered for all material obtained or on hand.

Annual reports. Four printed annual reports are required by law 

and by custom, and the material for these must be prepared promptly 

and transmitted to the chief engineer on the days specified below.

1. The Director of the Geological Survey reports to the Secretary 

of the Interior at the end of the fiscal year all of the operations of the 

Survey from July 1 to June 30. The portion of his report relating to 

the reclamation service contains from 5,000 to 10,000 words, and the 

work done during the fiscal year on each project or survey should be 

described in from 200 to 500 words. These descriptions should be 

sent to the chief engineer on or before June 1, so that they may be 

available for use before June 15.

2. The Secretary of the Interior also makes an annual report at the 

close of the fiscal year, and in this report reference to the reclamation 

service is restricted to less than 1,000 words. Reference to work in
NEWELL.] ANNUAL REPORTS. 49

each State or Territory should therefore be confined to 100 words or 

less. The material for this report should be sent to the chief engineer 

on or before July 15.

3. Under the terms of the reclamation law, the Secretary must also 

make a specific report to Congress at the beginning of each regular 

session, on the first Monday in December. This report must be full 

and complete, as required by law, and must state every detail of cost 

and results. It must be prepared during the latter part of the field 

season and must state concisely what has been accomplished during 

that season. The material for this report the annual report of the 

reclamation service must be derived from full reports made by the 

district and other engineers, and these reports should be sent to the 

chief engineer on or before October 15.

The manuscripts of these reports should be accompanied by illustrations sufficient to make clear all important points. A table of contents should accompany each manuscript or portion of report, as well 

as a list of illustrations, giving the title of each illustration and number of the manuscript page at which it should appear. The illustrations may consist of photographs or drawings. Upon each photograph 

or drawing should be written a descriptive title and the number of 

page of the manuscript where it is to be used. All drawings to be 

used for illustrations should be clearly made with a good quality of 

India ink on white paper; tracings should be avoided if possible. No 

lettering should be made in ink; words and figures should be plainly 

written in pencil at the proper places. Titles should be written on the 

margin in pencil or ink. These should be explicit and should give the 

number of page of the manuscript where the drawing is to be placed. 

Drawings for illustrative purposes should be simple; all detail or 

elaboration which is not absolutely necessary should be avoided. 

Elaborate lettering is worse than useless, for many drawings are 

reproduced by processes that require the removal of the original lettering and the substitution of another form. Tracings can be utilized, 

but are not so desirable as good, clear drawings on white paper. 

Tinted papers should be avoided, especially those having a yellowish 

tinge. In this connection, attention is called to the book of Instructions, page 100.

Each manuscript for the annual report of the reclamation service 

should be accompanied by a short abstract, to be used by the chief 

engineer in his introduction. This abstract should be concise and 

should cover in a few pages the essential features and conclusions of 

the more detailed report. In this report it is essential to give especial 

attention to the financial statement to show the amounts expended or 

liabilities incurred, the results accomplished, and the amount of funds 

probably necessary for the work of the ensuing year; also all other 

facts essential to a clear comprehension of the costs and benefits. 

IRK 93 04 i
50 FIEST KECLAMATION 8EEVICE CONFEBENCE. [NO. 93.

4:. In addition to the reclamation report it is customary to publish 

at the end of each year all matter pertaining to the operations of the 

hydrographers, hydrologists, and others, in separate volumes that present all of the data accumulated during the calendar year. District 

engineers are expected to see that all data of this kind are assembled 

and presented promptly to the chief engineer as soon as possible after 

January 1 of each year, so as to reach him by January 15.

BOOKKEEPING.

The system of bookkeeping for the reclamation fund has been given 

considerable thought, and an attempt is made to devise methods of 

allotment of expenditures in the most rapid and economical manner 

possible. Each voucher, before transrnittal in duplicate for payment, 

must be certified by a responsible officer having full knowledge of the 

expenditure. He should require his assistants to previously check 

the items and initial the papers, thus attesting their accuracy.

The voucher, if payable at the Washington office, should be forwarded to the chief engineer, with a charge sheet or letter of transmittal (form 9-272). If payable by a local disbursing officer, the 

charge sheet should be sent at once to the office of the chief engineer 

at Washington. These sheets form the basis for bookkeeping and 

should be tilled out to give the essential facts on which the allotment 

of the various items may be based, thus serving as pages of a day book.

The original voucher goes to the Treasury and the duplicate is 

retained by the disbursing clerk; the charge sheet alone remains in the 

office of the chief engineer, and, although the original or duplicate 

voucher may be consulted, this is attended with some difficulty and 

loss of time. The charge sheet should therefore contain all the information essential for proper bookkeeping entries.

The object of bookkeeping is to enable a statement to be made at 

any time of exactly how much money has been expended for various 

objects and in different kinds of work. There are at least three distinct 

degrees to which the bookkeeping may be carried, and these, for convenience, may be designated as primary, secondary, and tertiary.

The primary classification of accounts covers the larger allotments, 

such as to States, to distinct projects, or to reconnaissance surveys. 

It is of first importance to know the total amount expended under 

these primary headings.

The secondary distribution of accounts is for the purpose of ascertaining how much has been expended in each State or in each localitjr 

for different classes of work. The principal items are the cost of preliminary surveys, topographic surveys, testing for foundations, location 

surveys, subdivision of land, designing, construction, etc.
NEWELL.] CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES. 51

The tertiary classification again subdivides these features into the 

various ways of expenditure. These consist of services, traveling 

expenses, subsistence, equipment, etc. A wide latitude of judgment 

may be exercised in this tertiary classification, and the engineer 

approving the accounts must be guided by general principles rather 

than by specific instructions.

The following lists give the principal headings provisionally determined upon for the primary, secondary, and tertiary classifications. 

Suitable blanks are being provided .for convenience in stating these 

items, and it is believed that, with reasonable care, the engineer, in 

certifying accounts, can apportion the items without notable delay or 

difficulty.

Primary classification. The following are the principal headings 

in the ledger of the Washington office. The charge sheet for each 

voucher should have one of these headings prominently given, and as 

far as practicable, no voucher should be assigned to more than one of 

these principal items:

Washington office:

Supervision.

Correspondence.

Bookkeeping.

Disbursing.

Legal expenses.

Computing.

Drafting and photography.

Lithographing.

Stationery.

Instruments and supplies.

Express and telegraph.

Furniture.

Messenger. 

Arizona:

Salt River.

San Carlos.

Yuma. (See California.)

Reconnaissance, etc. 

California:

Sacramento Valley.

Owens Valley.

Yuma.

Reconnaissance, etc.

General.

Cement pipe. 

Colorado:

Uncompahgre.

White River.

Grand.

Reconnaissance, etc.

General.

Idaho:

Minidoka.

Dubois.

Payette-Boise.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Kansas:

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Montana:

Milk River.

St. Mary.

Marias.

Sun River.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Nebraska:

Pathfinder.

Gosh en Hole.

Gering.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Nevada:

Truckee-Carsou.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

New Mexico:

Hondo.

Urton.

Rio Grande.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

North Dakota:

Fort Buford.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Oregon:

Umatilla.

Malheur.
52 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Oregon Continued.

Harney.

Reconnaissance.

General. 

Oklahoma:

Reconnaissance, etc. 

South Dakota:

Belle Fourche.

Reconnaissance, etc.

Utah:

Utah Lake.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Washington:

Big Bend.

Okanogan.

Reconnaissance, etc. 

Wyoming:

Cody.

De Smet.

North Platte.

Reconnaissance, etc.

Bear Lake.

Secondary classification. In the lower part of the charge sheet are 

to be inserted the amounts of the secondary allotment or distribution 

of vouchers, this consisting of the items given below. A separate page 

of the ledger should be assigned to each secondary item, the tertiary 

classification being extended in columns across the page.

Preliminary survey.

Topographic survey.

Testing or boring.

Location survey.

Subdivision of land.

Designing.

Construction.

Executive.

Tertiary classification. The tertiary subdivision or character of 

expenditures is shown under each of the secondary headings. These 

subdivisions are recognized as being approximate in character, and it 

is not desirable to make the subdivision too minutely.

The principal items of the tertiary division are services, traveling 

expenses, subsistence, equipment, office expenses, supplies, storage, 

etc. It is desirable not to have any items of miscellaneous expenditure if these can be avoided, as it is assumed that all items can be 

assigned to one or another of these headings.

DISBURSEMENTS.

The next important matter to be considered is the relation of the 

men to the Government in the matter of accounts. Good financiering 

is the foundation of success, and although no profit is here to be conr 

sidered, yet it is important that all work done should be worth what 

it costs, and that the interests of the Government should be protected 

in every way. On the other hand, the men who are doing the work 

must be promptly and fully provided with funds, as all delays or 

difficulties in this matter are sources of expense and trouble both to 

the workmen and to the work.

At this time it is not desirable to discuss the question of costs and 

benefits of the surveys and the subsequent construction, but it is 

important to consider now some of the features of rendering accounts 

and of so arranging these that they will be quickly audited. The situ-
NEWELL.] DI8BUK8EMEJSTTS. 53

ation as regards the reclamation service is in one sense peculiar. All of 

the work is being performed in remote localities and under difficulties, 

and is now carried on by men who have had very little previous experience with Government methods. During the past season there have 

been unusual and vexatious delays and difficulties in securing settlement of accounts; each man in the field has a number of grievances 

and in his opinion injustice has been frequently done to him.

In order to put the matter of accounts somewhat more clearly before 

the new men it is desirable to state a few elementary facts or principles which should be known by everyone, but which as a matter of fact 

are clearly understood by few. Theoretically every man is supposed 

to know the law, but practically few men do know the law concerning 

most of the details of Government transactions.

An attempt has been made in the regulations of the Survey a 

manual that has now passed through three editions, the last of which 

was approved to take effect January 1, 1003 and in the Survey's 

Instructions (approved to take effect May 1, 1903) to outline some of 

the more important facts and requirements concerning Government 

accounts. It is impossible, however, in any book of moderate size to 

discuss or consider all of the details that may come up in current practice, for, as above stated, each man has different experiences, and the 

difficulties that one man has encountered may not be met by another.

Especial attention should be called to the statements beginning on 

page 26 of the regulations, in which an attempt is made to present a 

few instructions covering the more important points. The great difficulty with regard to Government accounts lies in the fact that on 

the one hand general laws are enacted by Congress, and on the other, 

rulings are made by the officials of the Treasury Department upon 

various legal or other points that may arise. In the attempt to apply 

these general laws and Department rulings to specific cases it is frequently found that they are in apparent conflict or are not applicable 

to the conditions. Since the general laws do not fit the exact conditions, it is often necessary to state an account in such a way that while 

it will not run counter to some general law, it will at the same time 

present the salient facts necessary to obtain its settlement. The 

auditing officers of the Treasury have little to do with the equity or 

justice of a claim or an account; they simply pass upon its legality 

in the light of the facts presented. They may sometimes ignore a 

legal technicality in the interest of justice or in conformity with 

common practice, but they can not be expected to do so often.

The general authorization to carry on work covers with it the purchase of ordinary equipment and necessities of field parties, such as 

horses, wagons, tents, cooking utensils, and articles covered by the 

ration list of the Geological Survey; also a small amount of customary remedies or medicines needed by men and animals working
54 FIRST EECLAMATIOIT SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

at a distance from medical attendance. In this connection care must 

be taken to explain fully the need of any unusual article of this kind, 

such as medical supplies, and to keep these to the minimum of actual 

requirements, since medical attendance is not furnished employees 

where it can be had in the customary manner.

The theory upon which the present system of accounts" of the Geological Survey is based is one that can be understood only after a little 

explanation. The system has gradually grown up through nearly a 

generation of practice, and under it millions of dollars have been 

disbursed.

Under a strict construction of law it is held that no money can in 

any way be advanced on behalf of the Government. Each purchase 

or expenditure should be made by a bonded disbursing officer or agent. 

For operations outside of the city of Washington nearly every Government bureau, except the Geological Survey, has such a bonded 

disbursing officer with each party or body of men under its direction. 

In this survey, however, the number of disbursing officers has been 

gradually reduced, until now practically all disbursements are made 

from Washington, field men sending all accounts to one or two bonded 

clerks at that city.

This system, as above stated, is apparently the outgrowth of custom, 

having received the approval and tacit acquiescence of Department 

officials throughout many years.

Theoretically the disbursing officer pays for everything, and no 

Government employee need have money, as his expenses are provided 

for by the disbursing clerk. Practically, however, the reverse is the 

case under the present system. The field men must have on hand an 

ample supply of private funds in order to carry on the Government's 

work, which they do at their own expense, seeking reimbursement 

immediately after the end of each month.

The principal exception to this rule is where men in the field purchase 

supplies, animals, wagons, etc., and arrange with the seller to send 

signed vouchers to the disbursing clerk at Washington. This can be 

done with business men who are accustomed to such matters, but frequently the seller is suspicious and will not sign vouchers in advance 

of payment, or does so only after obtaining the guarant}7 of the field 

man that he will be personally responsible for the payment of the 

accounts.

It thus happens, as above noted, that the men in responsible charge 

of field parties must have considerable sums of money to meet current 

expenses, and each man may thus have tied up in Government work 

from $300 to $500 a month, or even more; in some cases several 

thousand.
NEWEL!.] DIFFICULTIES OF DISBURSEMENT. 55

Some of the men are not able to do this without considerable sacrifice, and during the past year a few of them have paid as high as 1 per 

cent a month to procure funds to be used for Government purposes. 

Inquiry has been made as to whether these men can not be reimbursed 

for this outlay, but from the interpretation of the law, as above stated, 

it is obvious that this is impossible. Relief from this large outlay by 

employees can be had only by following more closely the provisions of 

law by appointing bended disbursing agents for each of the large 

parties. Gradual changes in this direction are being made, and it is 

planned to have a disbursing agent in each district to perform ordinary 

clerical work in connection with his disbursements, and to make himself generally useful to the district engineers. It is desirable, wherever 

possible, that this clerk should be also a stenographer in order that he 

may be of greater assistance.

The fact that men are compelled to advance their own money for 

Government work makes it very important to secure prompt settlement of their accounts. The delays of the past summer have been 

due to two causes: First, most of the men making the accounts were 

inexperienced in this work; and second, the force in the Washington 

office employed to examine and revise the accounts and present them 

for payment has been inadequate. Both of these causes of delay have 

been obviated in part; the men have gained larger experience and the 

office force has been increased.

At the present stage of the reclamation service, as above noted, all 

matters are in a condition of transition or evolution. The necessity 

of having competent disbursing officers at each important locality 

where work is being carried on is now apparent, both for economy 

and for full compliance with the spirit of the law. In view of such 

changes, attention is called to certain general requirements:

The chief engineer supervises all disbursements by officers of the 

reclamation service. His approval of their accounts, as to the necessity 

or expediency of the expenditure and the prices paid, and his certificate that the mode of expenditure adopted was the most economical 

and advantageous to the Government are requisite. If the district or 

disbursing officer certifies that the mode of expenditure adopted was 

the most economical and advantageous to the Government, the certificate of the chief engineer to that effect may be omitted.

As has been already stated, the chief engineer presents to the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the Geological Survey, 

on or before the last day of each quarter a report of the operations of 

the reclamation service, with such suggestions relative to its affairs as 

he may deem expedient, accompanied by an estimate of funds required 

for the service during the ensuing three months.

An officer or agent who may supervise the disbursement of money 

for any work of construction or survey in his charge, or any operations
56 FIKST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

involving expenditures, must furnish to the chief engineer an estimate 

of the probable expenditures for the coming- quarter and a plan 

showing- the manner in which it is proposed to apply the money.

All officers, agents, or other persons who are charged with the safe-keeping, transfer, or disbursement of the public moneys, shall keep an accurate entry of each sum 

received and of each payment or transfer, and shall render distinct accounts of the 

application thereof according to the appropriation under which the moneys may 

have been advanced to them. Every officer or agent who, having received public 

money which he is not authorized to retain as salary, pay, or emolument, fails to 

render his accounts for the same shall be deemed guilty of embezzlement, and shall 

be fined in a sum equal to the amount of the money embezzled, and shall be imprisoned not less than six months nor more than ten years.

Every officer or agent of the United States who receives public money which he is 

not authorized to retain as salary, pay, or emolument, shall render his accounts 

monthly * * * (Rev. Stat., 3622.)

The law requires that a separate account be kept with each appropriation disbursed. The usual forms of account current and abstracts 

prepared for this purpose and approved by the Comptroller of the 

Treasury should be used by disbursing officers. Accounts current 

should be made in triplicate. Two copies, accompanied by two sets of 

abstracts and one set of vouchers complete, should be forwarded to 

the chief engineer. The other copy, also accompanied by abstracts 

and vouchers, should be retained by the officer.

An error made in an account must be corrected in the next account 

current of the officer after he is informed of the error, and reference 

should be made therein to the particular voucher in which the error 

occurred.

In notifying officers of remittances the chief engineer will inform 

them of the amount remitted under each head of appropriation. All 

officers who make transfers of public funds will pursue a similar 

course, stating in the invoices and receipts the amount transferred 

from each appropriation. In the letters notifying officers of requests 

for remittances the chief engineer, in addition to the amount of each 

appropriation, will give the titles of appropriations to be used in 

accounts current, abstracts, and vouchers.

Disbursing officers will promptly, at the close of business at the end 

of each month, make and forward statements showing explicitly where 

their funds are deposited. Officers will include in the sums claimed 

to be on deposit only such as have been officially credited to them, and 

of which credit they have been duly informed by the depositary.

When an officer is relieved from duty on any work he should certify 

the outstanding debts to his successor, and transmit an account of 

them to the chief engineer. Unless otherwise ordered, he will turn 

over to his successor the public money and property and the books 

and papers appertaining to the service from which he is relieved.
NEWELL.] DUTIES OF DISBURSING OFFICEES. 57

Disbursing officers, when they have the money, shall pay cash, arid 

not open an account.

When disbursing officers draw checks in payment of accounts on 

funds placed to their credit with assistant treasurers or other depositaries of the United States, they should note upon the receipt taken 

for such payment the number, date, and amount of the check given 

in payment, and designate the assistant treasurer or depositary upon 

whom it is drawn; and when an account is paid in part by currency, 

the amount of the same should be stated.

Persons employed in the reclamation service may be allowed actual 

traveling expenses for travel on duty under orders, to be paid from 

the allotment applicable to the works upon which such persons are 

employed. The affidavit of the person should be made in the prescribed form.

Vouchers for purchases made should specify the quantity and price 

of each article bought, the name and business place of the person from 

whom it is procured, and the date and manner of purchase. Vouchers 

for services rendered should state the nature and period of service, the 

rate of pay per diem or month, etc. Vouchers for emergency purchases or services should state that the price paid was the lowest 

market rate, and that the mode of expenditure adopted was the most 

economical and advantageous to the Government.

When original vouchers can not be furnished with accounts, copies 

duly certified as true by a disinterested officer may be accepted. 

If no other officer than the payor or payee is at the locality when payment is made, both must certify to that fact and also to the correctness 

of the copy.

When vouchers are not sent with the account to which they belong, 

an explanation must be made as to why they were not produced with 

and included in the proper account.

At the time vouchers are transmitted by an officer with his accounts 

if any of the articles purchased as noted thereon have been " expended 

and applied to the purpose for which purchased," a certificate to that 

effect may be made, and when so made the articles referred to need 

not be taken up on abstracts of property or on property returns.

Requests for the admission free of duties and charges of articles 

imported for the use of the Government of the United States, must be 

accompanied with a list of the articles to be forwarded to the collector 

of customs for his information and guidance and for the permanent 

files of his office.

DISALLOWANCES AND SUSPENSIONS.

One of the most important duties of an officer of the Government 

is to learn how to make acceptable accounts. Much experience is
58 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

required to do this, and much application of constructive energy. It 

is our business to learn to do this clerical work rapidly and economically. The Treasury officials at Washington are, in one sense, not 

constructive as regards such matters. Their rulings are mainly prohibitions this or that thing should not be done. On the other hand, 

there are few persons whose business it is to tell the field man how to 

do things. It becomes, therefore, one of the important duties of the 

more experienced field men to give to others the benefit of their 

experience and to show them how Government accounts can be rendered acceptably, accurately, so that they may stand every test of 

scrutiny or of searching investigation.

Occasionally mistakes are made by new men, and disallowances of 

just claims result; but with care and forethought it is usually possible 

to avoid such difficulties. During the past season each man has been 

perplexed by his accounts and has suffered financially, but as a rule 

the losses have been comparatively trivial by reason of the fact that 

every effort is made at the Washington office to assist in rectifying 

blunders and supplying omissions. The accounts that the men make 

in the field go at first to the office of the chief engineer in Washington, 

and are there carefully scrutinized for mistakes and informalities by 

clerks who have spent years in this particular work and who are 

guided by the monthly statement of suspensions and disallowances 

made by the Auditor's office.

A number of questions have been asked concerning disallowances on 

accounts. As a rule an attempt is made to notify men in the field of 

the reason for a disallowance, but in some cases the reason is so obvious that it should not be necessary to write a letter.

As far as practicable all mistakes and clerical errors are detected 

during the examination of accounts in the office of the chief engineer. 

These are briefly pointed out or explained to the men in the field. 

From this office the accounts go to the disbursing clerks of the Geological Survey, who also examine them and if they are satisfactory 

make paj^ment by checks. It is assumed that if errors are discovered 

later, in the Treasury Department, and disallowances made for any 

items, the men in the field will reimburse the disbursing clerk for the 

amounts covering items disallowed. Thus it frequently happens that 

after an account is paid the disbursing clerk will call upon the field 

man to refund a small amount which has been suspended or disallowed 

by the accounting officers of the Treasury Department because of an 

error discovered by them. Sometimes satisfactory explanation can be 

made by the man in the field, and it will not then be necessary to 

refund the money, but if he can not give such explanation he should 

immediately forward the money to the disbursing clerk; otherwise, it 

will be necessary for the certifying officer to pay this amount out of 

his own pocket.
NEWELL.] SAMPLES OF DISALLOWANCES. 59

Disallowances are of two kinds; those made by the disbursing clerk 

before the account is paid and those made by officers of the Treasury 

Department after the account has been paid by the disbursing clerk. 

In the first case the deduction is made by the disbursing clerk and a 

check is sent for the remainder of the account. In the second case the 

money must be refunded to the Treasury Department by the field man 

through the disbursing clerk. A careful record is kept of these matters and a definite system is followed.

The accounts of the disbursing clerks or agents are sent to the 

Treasury Department and are there examined carefully for errors. 

These examinations may not be made for several weeks or months. 

Hence, an account for January, which may be paid in February, will 

probably not be heard from until May or June. At that time the 

disbursing clerk will receive from the Treasury Department a 

letter allowing most of the items in his account, but suspending or 

disallowing certain other items. An example of these suspensions is 

given in the following paragraphs, extracted from one of the Auditor's 

letters relating to accounts for December, 1902. In these the .names 

of the persons concerned have been omitted.

SAMPLES OF SUSPENSIONS OR DISALLOWANCES MADE BY THE AUDITOR 

IN ACCOUNTS OF A DISBURSING CLERK.

Vou. 40, subvoucher 12, includes charge for supper, November 3, 1902, 50 cents.

Suspended, as supper for same date is charged per voucher 20............. $0.50

Vou. 41, subvoucher 1, W. U. Telegraph Co., message of 57 words from Rawling, Wyo., to Los Angeles, Cal., 75 cents. Should be 71 cents. Suspended- .04

Vou. 49, subvoueher 7, for $3.00; receipt is for $1.50 only. Suspended ...... 1.50

Vou. 85, notary fee, 50 cents. Legal rate for Idaho, 25 cents. Suspended ... .25

Vou. 103, subvoueher 15 of Wells, Fargo & Co., express, $5.16. Receipted for 

$5.15. Suspended...................................................... .01

Vou. 104, subvoueher 2, board bill at Denver, Colo., $2.50. Suspended, as 

travel order does not authorize stop-over at Denver....................... 2.50

Vou. 119, subvoueher 10, , services as cook from November 1 to 6, 

1902, $9. Suspended, as he was paid for month of November, per voucher 

189 of this account...................................................... 9. 00

Vou. 232, subvoueher 15, lunch , Dec. 10, charged 

10 cts. Suspended, as dinner and supper for same date are also charged per 

subvouchers 16 and 17.................................................. .10

Vou. 56, , first item, 50 Ibs. flour, at lj cts. per lb., $1.25; should be 

63 cts. Suspended ..................................................... .62

Vou, 68, December 2,1902, sleeper, Reiio to San Francisco, $2. Correct charge, 

$1.50. Suspended...................................................... .50

Vou. 69, , Nov. 25, 1902, railroad fare, Roseville to Sacramento 

and return, $1.10. Disallowed, travel being over bond-aided line ......... 1.10

Vou. 156, , p. 1, line 3, two fry pans, at 20 cts., 80 cts.; should be 

40 cts. Suspended ..................................................... .40

Vou. 178, , subvoueher 6, breakfast, Dec. 8, charged 19 cents. 

Suspended, as breakfast for same date is also charged for subvoueher 24, 

January voucher 134.................................................... .19

Vou. 63, January 6, 1903, porter's fee, 75 cts.; should be 25 cts. Suspended.. . 50
60 FIRST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

In some of the cases above given the apparent error can be explained 

and the suspension will be removed; in other cases, especially those 

involving a slight difference in car fare, it is preferable to remit the 

few cents, and let the amount be disallowed. It must be remembered 

that some one refunds this money to the Treasury either the man in 

the field, who, presumably, made the mistake, or the certifying officer.

AUDITOR'S CIRCULAR.

The following paragraphs regarding disallowances and suspensions 

are taken from a Treasury Department circular dated April 18,1902, 

and signed by R. S. Person, Auditor for the Interior Department:

Disbursing officers, disbursing clerks, and disbursing agents of the Department of 

the Interior, and special agents employed by the Secretary of the Interior charged 

with the disbursement of public moneys are instructed to observe strictly the following regulations in making explanations to statements of differences made in the 

examination and settlement of their accounts in the Treasury Department:

DISALLOWANCES.

Explanations to items disallowed by the Auditor on examination and settlement of 

an account can be considered only by the Comptroller of the Treasury on revision 

of the account. Requests for revision of accounts should be made directly to the 

Comptroller of the Treasury, and in all cases within one year from the date of 

settlement.

SUSPENSIONS.

1. All explanations of items suspended by the Auditor on examination and settlement of an account must be made directly to the Auditor for the Interior Department. 

(Treasury Department circular 87, issued by the Comptroller of the Treasury and 

approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, April 25, 1895.)

2. Explanations should be made promptly. They should reach the Auditor, if 

possible, not later than thirty days from date of settlement.

3. Different accounts must be explained in separate communications, so that the 

explanations may be filed with the certificate of settlement in which final action is 

had.

4. Eefer to accounts by period covered, and Auditor's certificate number. It will 

facilitate the handling of your explanation if you will begin it in the following 

manner:

Herewith are submitted explanations to items suspended in my account as 

for the quarter ended , 190 , stated per Auditor's certificate No. .

Follow this with the explanation to each item separately and in regular order, 

referring to voucher number, and giving amount claimed under each item.

5. Explanations should answer fully and specifically all questions asked by the 

Auditor, and objections raised to the allowance of any item. All the items suspended 

in an account must be explained at the same time, so far as possible.

6. Items to which you desire to make no explanation should be indicated in your 

communication as "conceded."

7. Where explanations are not received within a period of six months from date 

of settlement, and no satisfactory reason appears for the delay, it will be assumed 

that the disbursing officer has no sufficient explanation to make, and the item will 

be disallowed.

The attention of field men is called to the fact that the Government 

spares no expense to correct trivial errors. All bills are rigidly
NEWELL.] MAIL, EXPBESS, AND FREIGHT CHARGES. 61

checked, and if errors are found much correspondence is required to 

correct them. The Government may incur an expense of ten dollars, 

or a hundred dollars, in clerical services, correspondence, etc., to correct an error of a few cents in a voucher. For this reason it is extremely 

important that anyone initiating an account should see that it is correct in the first instance. Errors may not be detected for months or 

even years, but when detected the men in the field are called upon for 

explanation. Thus it is to the interest of all concerned to use every 

possible precaution to avoid the necessity of taking up these trivial 

matters a second time.

EXPRESS CHARGES.

Engineers and hydrographers are requested to give especial attention to matters pertaining to shipment of material by express. The 

experience of the past summer has shown that it is costing the Government more to get satisfactory vouchers than the expressage itself 

amounts to. This is due to the fact that the regulations are very 

exacting and require certain information which it is extremely difficult 

to obtain without large outlay of time and money in clerical labor and 

in visiting the offices of express companies.

The first rule to be observed is that material should not be sent by 

express if it can be sent by mail or freight. In this connection the 

rule regarding the use of the official frank, contained on page 19 of 

the Regulations, should be noted. Material too bulky to be sent by 

mail should be sent by freight if time permits. On this point the 

Regulations, page 51, section 68, and Instructions, page 34, section 

12, should be consulted.

Annoyance arising from defective vouchers can be avoided by utilizing the survey bill of lading (Form 9-060), both for express and for 

freight. The principal express and freight companies have instructed 

their agents to accept this form, but trouble will usually be found 

with agents at out-of-the-way stations. Some of these men refuse to 

accept this bill of lading, and occasional instances have arisen where 

agents have insisted upon cash payments in addition to the bill. When 

the survey bill of lading is used payment should not be made. If the 

agent refuses to accept the bill of lading, the facts should be briefly 

reported to this office by telegram and instructions should be asked 

if the place is near a telegraph office. If it is not near a telegraph or 

post-office, payment should be made under protest, and the facts 

should be stated upon the voucher.

When express matter is received great care must be taken to have 

the voucher properly filled out. This is a comparatively small matter 

if it is possible to visit the express office and present the vouchers in 

person, but where, as is frequently the case, the vouchers must be sent
62 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

and obtained through the service of a messenger, a teamster, or an 

uneducated person, care must be exercised in writing out full instructions as to how the vouchers should be filled. The rules require for 

the ordinary field account two distinct receipts, one of these being in 

duplicate, making three signatures in all. These signatures must be 

in ink, not in pencil, nor in the so-called indelible pencil commonly 

used by express messengers. The signature must be clear and legible, 

and not merely a hasty scrawl, as is frequently the case.

The first voucher required is the ordinary slip receipt supplied by 

the express company. This must contain all of the facts furnished 

by the company. In addition to this ordinaiy slip receipt it is necessary to obtain duplicate subvouchers on the usual form. These subvouchers must state distinctly the facts called for in the regulations 

and instructions, and also certain additional facts recently required, 

particularly the rate per hundred. Express shipments are not computed directly on the weight of the article, but upon a basis of so 

much per hundred pounds between certain points. For example, if 

payment on a 7-pound package is 35 cents, the rate is not 5 cents per 

pound, but some undeterminable rate per hundred, which can be 

ascertained only from the express company.

The principal facts required to be stated upon an express subvoucher are as follows:

Point from which material is shipped.

Point to which material is shipped.

Name of express company first receiving goods.

Name of express company delivering goods.

General statement as to contents of package.

Statement as to value. (This should not exceed $50, even though 

value is several hundred dollars.)

Condition in which received whether good or bad.

Rate per hundredweight.

It has recently been decided that when express is paid in connection with traveling expenses it is not necessaiy to secure subvouchers 

on the Geological Survey form. A single receipt from the express 

company giving the above facts, on its ordinary form, will suffice. 

This will greatly simplify the labor and expense, of procuring the necessary vouchers, and it is hoped that this rule will prove operative in 

the future.

In order to avoid making mistakes, it is essential that the men in the 

field should know something about the methods of express companies. 

There are a number of these companies Adams, American, Denver 

and Rio Grande, Northern Pacific, Pacific, Southern, United States, 

Wells-Fargo, etc. Most of these have adopted a uniform method of 

classification and uniform tables of graduated charges per hundredweight (see pp. 64,65).
NEWELL^ EXPRESS CHARGES. 63

In brief, it may be said that when the rate per hundredweight is less 

than $2, the charge increases gradually by units of 5 pounds, but not 

in exact proportion to the weight. For example, a 1-pound package 

will be 25 cents, whatever the rate; 2 pounds may be 25 or 30 cents; 

3 pounds from 25 to 40 cents; 5 pounds will run from 30 to 55 cents, 

and 50 pounds from 40 cents to $1.10.

When the rate is above $2 per hundredweight a pound rate is made 

for 50 pounds and over. For packages under 50 pounds in weight the 

graduated charge is sometimes greater than the proportional weight 

would indicate.

Two packages sent by the same person to the same destination are 

not charged on a basis of their united weight, but are each charged 

separately, if under 20 pounds each. It is important therefore, for 

economy, to make one package of material as far as practicable.

Graduated charges, as above described, apply to matter weighing 

less than 100 pounds when the rate is under $2 per hundred pounds; 

also to matter less than 50 pounds when the rate is $2 or more per 

hundred pounds. For example, between points where the rate per 

hundred pounds is $1.50, a box weighing 63 pounds must be charged 

at the graduated rate under the heading u $1.50," or at $1.25. Packages exceeding 7 pounds, carried by more than one company, have a 

graduated charge for each company.

When the rate per hundred pounds is $2 or more the pound rate is 

charged for 50 pounds or over. The charge for less than 50 pounds 

is made by the graduated scale and must not exceed the charge for 

50 pounds.

When the through charge can not be accurately ascertained, the 

charge to the transfer point only should be obtained and the consignee 

notified of this fact.

In making out vouchers, if the rate per hundred pounds can not be 

ascertained from the express company, it should be computed from 

the accompanying table, and the error, if any, should appear to be in 

favor of the Government, for the reason that errors which appear to 

favor the Government are not corrected by the accounting officers, 

while errors resulting in an apparent overcharge to the Government, 

however trivial, are sought out, and if discovered refund is demanded.

The express business is comparatively simple when it is handled by 

a single company, but difficulties arise when express matter is sent 

over two or more lines. The attempt is made by the company receiving the matter to send it as far as possible over its own line, and it 

may thus be sent by a route which is not the quickest or the cheapest. 

Care should therefore be taken to see that, whenever practicable, 

express matter is sent by a route involving the least possible charge, 

as the officials of the Treasury Department will suspend express bills 

on packages that are not sent by the cheapest route.
Graduated charges for packages weighing less 

[When the rate between any two points is not given below, use the 

Over 1 Ib. ......

9

3 ......

4 '......

5 ......

7 ......

10 ......

15 ......

20

25 ......

30 ......

35 ......

40 ......

45 ......

50 ......

60 ......

65 ......

70 ......

75 ......

80 ......

85 ......

When rate 

.40

1 Ib. 25 

2 " 25 

3 " 25 

4 " 25 

5 " 25 

7 " 30 

10 30 

15 30 

20 30 

25 35 

30 35 

35 40 

40 40 

45 40 

50 40 

55 40 

60 40 

65 40 

70 40 

75 40 

80 40 

85 40 

100 40

.50

1 Ib. 25 

2 " 25 

3 " 25 

4 " 25 

5 " 25 

7 " 30 

10 30 

15 30 

20 30 

25 35 

30 40 

35 40 

40 40 

45 40 

50 45 

55 50 

60 50 

65 50 

70 50 

75 50 

80 50 

85 50 

100 50

.60

1 Ib. 25 

2 " 25 

3 " 25 

4 " 30 

5 " 30 

7 " 35 

10 35 

15 35 

20 35 

25 40 

30 45 

35 45 

40 50 

45 50 

50 55 

55 60 

60 60 

65 60 

70 60 

75 60 

80 60 

85 60 

100 60

.75

1 Ib. 25 

2 30 

3 30 

4 SO 

5 35 

7 35 

10 40 

15 40 

20 40 

25 45 

30 50 

35 50 

40 55 

45 60 

50 60 

55 65 

60 70 

65 75 

70 75 

75 75 

80 75 

85 75 

100 75

1.00

1 Ib. 25 

2 " 30 

3 " 30 

4 " 35 

5 " 40 

7 " 40 

10 45 

15 45 

20 50 

25 55 

30 60 

35 65 

40 70 

45 75 

50 80 

55 85 

60 90 

65 90 

70 100 

75 100 

80 100 

85 100 

100 100

1.25

1 Ib. 25 

2 30 

3 35 

4 35 

5 40 

7 45 

10 50 

15 55 

20 60 

25 65 

30 70 

35 75 

40 80 

45 90 

50 100 

55 100 

60 110 

65 115 

70 125 

75 125 

80 125 

85 125 

100 125

1.50

1 Ib. 25 

2 ' 30 

3 ' 35 

4 ' 40 

5 ' 45 

7 ' 50 

10 55 

15 60 

20 70 

25 75 

30 80 

35 85 

40 90 

45 100 

50 100 

55 110 

60 120 

65 130 

70 140 

75 150 

80 150 

85 150 

100 150

a When the rate per 100 pounds is $2 or more, charge pound rates for 50 pounds or over, but the ch

than the charge for 50 pounds. If less than 12 per 100 pounds, a graduated charge must be made, but t

not be more than the charge on the same shipment when the rate is 12 or more per 100 pounds.

When the rate exceeds $20 per 100 pounds, charge pound rates, but never less than the 120 gradua
Graduated charges for packages weighing less than 

Packages not over. . .

Over lib.

2

3

4

5

7

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

When rate is 

5.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

.5 " 75

7 100

10 110

15 125

20 140

25 160

30 175

35 200

40 225

45 250

50 250

6.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 75

7 100

10 115

15 135

20 165

25 185

30 210

35 250

40 275

45 300

50 300

7.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 80

7 100

10 120

15 150

20 175

25 200

30 . 250

35 275

40 325

45 350

50 350

8.00

lib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 80

7 100

10 125

15 160

20 200

25 225

30 275

35 326

40 350

45 400

50 400

9.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 80

7 100

10 135

15 175

20 200

25 250

30 300

35 350

40 400

45 450

50 450

10.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 80

7 100

10 150

15 200

20 250

25 300

30 325

35 375

40 425

45 475

50 500

11.00

1 Ib. 30

2 " 35

3 " 45

4 " 60

5 " 80

7 100

10 150

15 200

20 250

25 325

30 875

35 425

40 475

45 525

50 550

12.00

1 Ib. 3

2 " 3

3 " 4

4 " 6

5 " 8

7 10

10 15

15 21

20 27

25 35

30 40

35 47

40 52

45 57

50 60
66 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. Of.

All express matter sent from Washington is prepaid, and all express, 

matter sent to Washington should be sent "collect," so that difficulties concerning shipments to and from this point are avoided. Thechief annoyances relate to express packages sent from one party in the; 

field to another. When express matter is shipped a receipt should be> 

taken and forwarded at once by mail to the person to whom the package is directed. The principal facts as to the route and charges should, 

be learned, and the consignee should be notified of these so that he; 

will have no difficulty in making out his accounts.

An extra charge is made for the shipment of merchandise that is 

valued on a bill of lading at more than $50. As a rule, most of the 

packages of instruments, maps, etc., exceed this in value, but according to the instructions it is not allowable to pay excess express charges, 

and therefore the valuation should be given as "not exceeding $50."

PRINTING.

The Assistant Comptroller of the Treasury, on October 21, 1903, 

decided that the Secretary of the Interior is. authorized under section 

10 of the act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat., 390), known as the reclamation act, to make rules and regulations to govern the manner in which 

the printing necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act 

shall be done, subject to the limitations of the act of January 12, 1895, 

and that if he should prescribe by rule and regulation that an officer 

doing field work should procure for his use the printing of notices and 

specifications outside of the Government Printing Office, as the exigencies of the service required them, the printing so done would not 

come within the provisions of the act of January 12, 1895, as applied 

to printing done for an Executive Department. If printing for such 

purpose can be held to be for an Executive Department within the 

meaning of the act of January 12, 1895, such action of the Secretary 

of the Interior would place it in the class of printing "otherwise provided for by law." (4 Comp., 274.) The decision concludes:

I am of the opinion, therefore, that you are authorized to prescribe by rule and 

regulation the manner in which the printing described in your communication shall 

be procured, and that the printing so provided for can be paid for out of the '' reclamation fund."

The usual or routine printing for the reclamation service is done at 

Washington on requisition through Departmental channels. When it 

is apparent that on account of an exigency printing should be done in 

the field, a request must be made to the chief engineer for suitable 

authority to be had for the general or specific purpose. Requests for 

such authority should state clearly the character of the printing, 

number of copies, character and extent of the work, and the estimated 

cost. No printing should be undertaken until such authorization is 

obtained.
NEWELL.] BIDS AND CONTRACTS. 67 

LAWS COVERING PURCHASES.

As work progresses from preliminary reconnaissances to detailed 

surveys and examinations, a larger and larger number of articles must 

be purchased and a greater variety of machinery and appliances 

obtained, such as diamond drills and other tools of various kinds. 

The regulations and instructions of the Geological Survey and the 

customs growing out of a quarter of a century of field work govern 

the usual expenditures for surveys and examinations, but the additional duties of the reclamation service pass somewhat beyond the 

precedents established, and for this reason especial attention must be 

paid to the laws governing purchases in general and care must be 

taken to observe all such laws. v_

The following quotations from the Revised Statutes contain some of 

the most important provisions of law regarding purchases:

SEC. 3709. All purchases and contracts for supplies or services in any of the 

departments of the Government, except for personal services, shall be made by 

advertising a sufficient time previously for proposals respecting the same when the 

public exigencies do not require the immediate delivery of the articles or performance of the service. When immediate delivery or performance is required by the 

public exigency the articles or service required may be procured by open purchase 

or contract at the places and in the manner in which such articles are usually bought 

and sold, or such services engaged, between individuals.

SEC. 3710. Whenever proposals for supplies have been solicited the parties 

responding to such solicitation shall be duly notified of the time and place of opening 

the bids and be permitted to be present either in person or by attorney, and a record 

of each bid shall then and there be made.

SEC. 3737. No contract or order or any interest therein shall be transferred by the 

party to whom such contract or order is given to any other party, and any such 

transfer shall cause the annulment of the contract or order transferred so far as the 

United States are concerned. All rights of action, however, for any breach of such 

contract by the contracting parties are reserved to the United States.

SEC. 3739. No Member of or Delegate to Congress shall directly or indirectly, 

himself or by any other person in trust for him, or for his use or benefit, or on his 

account, undertake, execute, hold, or enjoy, in whole or in part, any contract or 

agreement made or entered into in behalf of the United States by any ofiicer or 

person authorized to make contracts on behalf of the United States. Every person 

who violates this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined 

three thousand dollars. All contracts or agreements made in violation of this section 

shall be void; and whenever any sum of money is advanced on the part of the 

United States in consideration of any such contract or agreement, it shall be forthwith repaid; and in case of refusal or delay to repay the same, when demanded, by 

the proper ofiicer of the Department under whose authority such contract or agreement shall have been made or entered into, every person so refusing or delaying, 

together with his surety or sureties, shall be forthwith prosecuted at law for the 

recovery of any such sum of money so advanced.

SEC. 3740. Nothing contained in the preceding section shall extend, or be construed 

to extend, to any contract or agreement made or entered into or accepted by any 

incorporated company, where such contract or agreement is made for the general 

benefit of such incorporation or company, nor to the purchase or sale of bills of 

exchange or othe^r property by any Member of (or Delegate to) Congress where the
68 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

same are ready for delivery and payment therefor is made at the time of making or 

entering into the contract or agreement.

SEC. 3741. In every such contract or agreement to be made or entered into, or 

accepted by or on behalf of the United States, there shall be inserted an express condition that no Member of (or Delegate to) Congress shall be admitted to any share 

or part of such contract or agreement or to any benefit to arise thereupon.

SEC. 3742. Every officer who, on behalf of the United States, directly or indirectly 

makes or enters into any contract, bargain, or agreement in writing or otherwise, 

other than such as are hereinbefore excepted, with any Member of (or Delegate to) 

Congress, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined three thousand dollars.

SEC. 3743. All contracts to be made, by virtue of any law, and requiring the 

advance of money, or in any manner connected with the settlement of public accounts, 

shall be deposited promptly in the offices of the auditors of the Treasury according 

to the nature of the contracts: Provided, That this section shall not apply to the 

existing laws in regard to the contingent funds of Congress (as amended July 31, 

1894).

SEC. 3744. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, of the Secretary of the 

Navy, and of the Secretary of the Interior to cause and require every contract made 

by them severally on behalf of the Government, or by their officers under them 

appointed to make such contracts, to be reduced to writing and signed by the contracting parties, with their names at the end thereof, a copy of which shall be filed 

by the officer making and signing the contract in the returns office of the Department 

of the Interior as soon after the contract is made as possible and within thirty-six 

days, together with all bids, offers, and proposals to him made by persons to obtain 

the same, and with a copy of any advertisement he may have published inviting 

bids, offers, or proposals for the same. All the copies and papers in relation to each 

contract shall be attached together by a ribbon and seal and marked by numbers in 

regular order, according to the number of papers composing the whole return.

SEC. 3745. It shall be the further duty of the officer, before making his return 

according to the preceding section, to affix to the same his affidavit, in the following 

form, sworn to before some magistrate having authority to administer oaths: "I do 

solemnly swear (or affirm) that the copy of contract hereto annexed is an exact copy 

of a contract made by me personally with ; that I made the same fairly, without any benefit or advantage to myself, or allowing any such benefit or advantage 

corruptly to the said , or any other person; and that the papers accompanying 

include all those relating to the said contract, as required by the statute in such case 

made and provided."

SEC. 3746. Every officer who makes any contract, and fails or neglects to make 

return of the same, according to the provisions of the two preceding sections, unless 

from unavoidable accident or causes not within his control, shall be deemed guilty 

of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more 

than five hundred, and imprisoned not more than six months.

SEC. 3747. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, of the Secretary of the 

Navy, and of the Secretary of the Interior to furnish every officer appointed 'by 

them with authority to make contracts on behalf of the Government with a printed 

letter of instructions, setting forth the duties of such officer, under the two preceding 

sections, and also to furnish therewith forms, printed in blank, of contracts to be 

made, and the affidavit of returns required to be affixed thereto, so that all the 

instruments may be as nearly uniform as possible.
NEWELL.] EXIGENCIES OF FIELD WORK. 69

PURCHASES IN OPEN MARKET.

The most important feature as regards the current operations of the 

reclamation service is that contained in section 3709 (given on p. 67), 

to the effect that when immediate delivery or performance is required 

by the public exigency, the articles or services required may be secured 

by open purchase or contract at the place and in the manner in which 

such articles are usually bought and sold or services engaged between 

individuals.

As a rule, at present the operations of the reclamation service are 

what may properly be termed a series of exigencies, as distinguished 

between the ordinary routine of Departmental practice. The law evidently contemplates the purchase of supplies and material for wellestablished bureaus which are carrying on year after year operations 

which have been defined bylaw or by custom and are of such character 

that it is possible to anticipate months in advance what material may 

be needed.

The work of the reclamation service is, and must be for several 

years, largely devoid of routine features; the requirements are novel 

and future conditions unknown. The work leading up to the building 

of large irrigation works is a chain of events, one linked with the other 

in such a wa}^ that it must be finished before the next can be touched. 

It is impossible to look far into the future, and the completion of 

one detail reveals entirely unanticipated conditions in the next. If 

it were required for each step of the proceeding that the material 

needed must be obtained by advertisement and competitive bidding, 

months would be required to perform some of the operations which, 

under ordinary business practice, can be accomplished in a few days 

or weeks. It is obvious that the letter and spirit of the law do not 

compel any dilatory practice.

Under the existing regulations and customs of the Geological Survey, which govern also the reclamation service, necessary supplies 

and material may be purchased in the field. In the conduct of surveys 

and examinations in unsettled regions, where exigencies are continually 

arising, such procedure is essential, but as the work advances to the 

stage of construction and large purchases must be made, these should 

be fully and carefully guarded.

A somewhat arbitrary line must be drawn between preliminary surveys and examinations and work that partakes of the nature of construction. In all expenditures for such surveys and examinations, the 

general authority granted in advance and the approval of plans conve}^s 

authority for making purchase of animals, tents, instruments, cooking 

utensils, and other material which can not be obtained upon requisition.

As soon as the examinations have proceeded to a point where recommendations can be made for preliminary or final construction, the
70 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 03.

results are presented to the Secretary of the Interior with recommendations. His approval contains or carries with it specific or general authority for making1 such other purchases as may be necessary, 

the articles to be obtained either by advertisement or purchased in 

open market, according- to the nature of the material and the exigencies existing-.

The district or local engineer, in making his plans for field work or 

for construction, should anticipate as far as possible not only the number of men that it may be necessary to procure through civil-service 

rales, but also the character and amount of purchases to be made. 

The plans comprising these and all other items should be prepared and 

submitted so far in advance of the need that they can be approved in 

ample time to enable advertisement to be made for material, which 

should be procured through competitive bids; or authority should be 

had covering the purchases that must be made in open market.

Even with the exercise of all reasonable foresight contingencies 

will arise where articles must be had without waiting to obtain authority, and it is expected that these articles will be purchased in open 

market and that the exigency will be plainly stated.

Responsible officers in the field must bear in mind the conditions 

existing and must guard on the one hand against the appearance of 

reckless or thoughtless expenditure and on the other against delays 

consequent upon requests made for authority in minor or unimportant 

matters. Work should be pushed forward rapidly and economically and 

at the same time every effort should be made to comply with the letter 

and spirit of the law regarding purchases made by the Government.

Purchases may be made in open market without advertising at the 

places where such articles as may be wanted are usually bought and 

sold, and in the mode in which such purchases are ordinarily made. 

All purchases of subsistence supplies must be limited to articles comprising the established survey ration.

In unusual open-market purchases by an agent of the reclamation 

service involving any considerable expenditure of money, informal 

proposals should be invited from the principal dealers in the articles 

needed who may be within his reach. All such proposals must be forwarded to the chief engineer as evidence that the prices paid were the 

lowest and the terms and conditions the most favorable that could be 

obtained.

Specific authority from the chief engineer must be obtained for purchases of an unusual character before purchase is made, except in 

cases of special exigency, when the absolute necessities of the service 

will not permit the delay incident to obtaining such authority. In 

such cases purchases may be made before authority is obtained, but 

only to the extent of relieving the immediate necessity.
NEWELL.I " OPEN-MARKET pimcHASES. 71 

v

District engineers are not the sole judges of the exigency spoken of 

in the preceding section; a full report of the facts attending purchases 

made without authority, accompanied by an itemized list showing 

articles purchased and prices paid, must be immediately submitted for 

the consideration of the chief engineer. With proper care and fore-- 

sight such exigencies will seldom arise. Engineers making such purchases without previous authority do so at their own risk. If such 

purchases do not meet with approval the person making them will be 

compelled to pay for the articles out of his own private funds.

In submitting requests for authority to purchase, engineers must 

state explicitly whether or not the prices quoted include the cost of 

transporting the articles required to the place where they are required. 

If not, the estimated cost of such transportation must be stated.

Requests for authority to make purchases or for other purposes 

should, in all possible cases, be made by letter and not by telegram.

Engineers and bonded officers are reminded that the law does not 

regard open-market purchases with favor, but permits such purchases 

to be made only because of conditions and emergencies which inevitably arise in the service and which can not be foreseen.

A requisition for authority to make purchases in open market should, 

regardless of the aggregate cost, cover all the actual requirements of 

the service for the ensuing season or year as far as it may be practicable for intelligent business foresight to anticipate them.

RULES GOVERNING CONTRACTS.

The following rules, somewhat modified from those in use by other 

bureaus of the Department of the Interior, are presented for the 

information and guidance of the officers of the reclamation service. 

After full consideration and test of their applicability they will be 

presented to the Secretary for his final approval.

1. All contracts for supplies or services shall be made only after 

due public advertising for proposals, except in the case of:

(a) Personal services.

(5) Supplies not exceeding $1,000 in value at any one time.

(c) Goods and supplies to be purchased in open market.

(d) Funds allotted for construction of ditches and other works for 

irrigating, which may be expended in open market, under general 

authority from the Secretary of the Interior.

(e) Purchases from Indians.

(f) Exigency, when, in the discretion of the Secretary of the

Interior, he may direct that purchases may be made in open market.

2. Advertisements forbids or proposals for construction or supplies
72 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

shall be published either in one or more papers of the largest circulation in the localities most favorable for securing the services or purchasing the articles required, or such advertisement may be by sending 

out circular letters and by a public posting of such circular letter in 

the same localities. Authority for advertising in either form must be 

obtained through the chief engineer.

3. Information in detail in regard to supplies or construction for 

which proposals have been invited should be furnished to all persons 

desiring it who may make application to the source designated in the 

advertisement.

4. Proposals should be made in strict accordance with the terms of 

the advertisement or circular of instructions.

5. Proposals for supplies should be so framed that each article or 

item may be considered separately.

6. Specifications need not be incorporated in the body of the proposal; their attachment to the proposal and the declaration that they 

form a part of it will be sufficient.

7. Each bid must contain the names of all parties to it or that may 

be interested in it, and must be signed by the bidder submitting the 

same with his usual signature in full

8. Bidders must designate their places of business and post-office 

addresses.

9. A copy of the advertisement inviting the proposal must be 

attached to each bid.

10. Proposals must be inclosed in envelopes, sealed and indorsed, 

and addressed as required by the advertisement, and must be received 

by the officer to whom they are addressed before the time appointed 

for the opening.

11. All proposals received prior to the advertised time of opening 

must be securely kept by the officer to whom addressed, and must not 

be opened nor read until the time appointed.,

12. Bids shall be opened and read aloud at the time and place designated, in the presence of bidders and others who may wish to attend, 

and the contracts shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder if 

such award shall appear to be for the best interests of the service; but 

no work shall be performed in pursuance of such award, nor shall any 

supplies be received under it, until after the contract shall have been 

approved by the chief engineer and then by the Secretary of the 

Interior.

13. The contracting officer is at liberty to reject a bid from any 

person who has in any respect defaulted in any previous bid or contract.

14. Any or all bids, or any part of any bid, may be rejected if such 

rejection is deemed best for the interests of the Government.

15. Where samples accompany the bids, and because of the superi-
NEWELL.] RULES GOVERNING CONTRACTS. 73

ority of the samples, or for other good cause, the contract is awarded 

to a bidder not the lowest, the reason for such award must be fully 

and clearly stated.

16. Whenever bids for any article contain conditions detrimental to 

the Government, they may be rejected, and the articles specified in 

such bids may be purchased in open market, at prices not to exceed 

those of the lowest bidder and not to exceed the market price of the 

articles, until such time as satisfactory bids can be obtained, for which 

immediate advertisement shall be made. Authority for such openmarket purchase should be asked for, if desired, when all the bids are 

recommended for rejection.

17. Bids for goods to be furnished or work to be performed must 

be accompanied by a certified check or draft for 5 per cent of the 

amount of the bid, payable to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.

18. In case a bidder to whom a contract is awarded fails to execute 

a written contract, the amount deposited by him shall be forfeited and 

paid into the Treasury of the United States.

19. After a contract is duly executed the amount deposited by the 

bidder will be returned to him.

20. Bidders for goods and supplies will be required to furnish samples of the articles bid for in all cases, except such as lumber, building 

material, machines, engines, and like bulky articles, in which case the 

kind, size, capacity, and qualit}7 proposed to be furnished must be fully 

stated, the Department reserving the right to call for samples if that 

course shall be deemed to be for the best interests of the service.

21. When samples are required, they should be delivered at the 

place and before the time of opening bids, so marked that they may 

be identified at any time.

22. Samples must not be opened until after all bids have been publicly read.

23. As soon as practicable after the reading of the bids the samples 

offered should be examined and passed upon either by the contracting 

officer himself or by some competent, disinterested person or persons 

to be selected by him.

24. In making awards under bids or proposals for furnishing goods 

and supplies the right will be reserved to increase or diminish to any 

extent the quantity of any of the articles specified in any bid, and the 

"further right to increase or decrease the quantities specified in any 

contract to an extent to be specified in the contract. Parties desiring 

to limit the quantity of any article or material offered must state in 

their bids the quantity proposed to be furnished, which should be 

followed by the word "only," and the right will be reserved to accept 

any part thereof, not exceeding the amount designated.

25. As soon as practicable after proposals shall have been opened
74 FIRST. RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 03.

and read an abstract of them shall be made, upon which shall be 

entered every proposal received, the entry to comprise the names of 

the bidders, the items covered by the bids, and the prices at which it 

is proposed to supply the material or labor specified. The accepted 

bid, with the quantity and price of the materials or labor to be furnished thereunder, shall also be noted on the abstract.

26. An abstract of the proposals must accompany the draft of the 

contract, and this should be sent to the chief engineer with all other 

papers including-the envelopes in which the bids were received, properly marked for identification.

27. When bids are opened, and it is contemplated to enter into 

formal written contract, with bonds, the abstracts of the bids, except 

in cases of emergency contracts, will be forwarded to the office of the 

chief engineer with recommendation for action in regard to accepting 

or rejecting the bid or bids received, and no such bid should be 

accepted or rejected by the officer in charge of work in advance of 

approval by the chief engineer.

28. In case a contract is made by an agent or officer of the reclamation service the abstract of proposals must be duly certified to by such 

agent and forwarded to the office of the chief engineer, with the original of the contract and all the papers relating to the bids.

29. All contracts made by officers of the reclamation service or 

agents in charge of works, as well as all papers connected with contracts, will be prepared in accordance with the printed forms prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior; and these forms and other 

printed forms to be used will be furnished from the office of the chief 

engineer when required.

ADVERTISING.

When it is intended to have any work performed, or purchase made, 

by contract, the specifications, except in case of an exigency contract, 

must be previously submitted, through the chief engineer, to the Secretary of the Interior for his approval.

In advertising for proposals for contract work to be done under the 

direction of the chief engineer, officers and agents of the reclamation 

service will state in the specifications what proportion of the total 

consideration of the contract will determine the amount of the bond 

to be required of the contractor. The Department usually requires a 

bond of 50 per cent of the contract price.

The law governing advertising is specific, and should be carefully 

observed. The following paragraphs give the principal features of 

the law and the current practice of the Department:

No advertisement, notice, or proposal for any Executive Department of the Government, or for any Bureau thereof, or for any office therewith connected, shall be
NEWELL.] RULES OOVERNINO CONTRACTS. 75

published in any newspaper whatever, except in pursuance of a written authority 

for such publication from the head of such Department; and no bill for any such 

advertising, or publication, shall be paid, unless there be presented with such bill 

a copy of such written authority. (Section 3828, Eevised Statutes, United States.)

That hereafter all advertisements, notices, proposals for contracts, and all forms of 

advertising required by law for the several Departments of the Government, may be 

paid for at a price not to exceed the commercial rate charged to private individuals, 

with the usual discounts; such rates to be ascertained from the sworn statements to 

be furnished by the proprietors or publishers of the newspapers proposing so to 

advertise. (Act June 20, 1878.)

Blanks upon which to render the sworn statements required by the 

above law are furnished by the Departments upon application.

Newspapers publishing- advertisements pertaining- to the Executive 

Departments are required to forward to the Department from which 

the advertisements emanate a sworn statement of the commercial rates 

charged by them to private individuals, with their usual discounts. 

Changes in advertising- rates take effect from the date upon which the 

sworn statement thereof is received at the Department, unless a subsequent date is fixed therein by the publishers. These statements 

will give the size of type used in the advertisements and the line rate 

for the first and subsequent insertions.

The Departments insist upon the line rates, as they furnish fewer 

opportunities for mistakes and misunderstandings in the settlement of 

bills than do rates based upon the square, inch, or folio. If the commercial rates of a paper are by the square, inch, or folio, the Government line rate should be relatively the same, or less, because, under 

the law, rates in excess of the commercial rates charged to private 

individuals can not be allowed by the Government.

The sworn statement of rates must be accompanied by a copy of the 

printed card rates charg-ed to private individuals.

"Special,'1 "local," or " reading" rates can not be allowed, and in 

auditing bills no allowance will be made for displayed or leaded advertisements or prominent headings. The matter must be set up solid, 

without paragraphing, and should be in the type specified in the sworn 

statement of rates on file in the Departments. If other type be used, 

no allowance will be made for additional space on that account. The 

number of solid lines only in advertisements, by actual count, will be 

allowed. All abbreviations in copy must be strictly followed. The 

particular column or page of the paper in which advertisements 

appear is left entirely to the option of the publisher.

The filing of a statement of rates in one Executive Department can 

not be construed as a notice to another Department that rates have 

been filed. Such statement must be furnished to each Department 

advertising.
76 FIRST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

The following is a sample of advertisement set up in accordance 

with the Government requirements:

nEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOK, 

\J United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., October 9, 1903. Sealed proposals, in duplicate, will be received until 2 

o'clock p. m., Tuesday, November 3, 1903, at 

the office of the Eeclamation Service, Denver, Colorado, and will then be opened in the 

presence of such bidders as may attend, for 

the construction and equipment of a metalliccircuit telephone line from the Arizona dam 

on Salt River to a point on that stream near 

Livingston, Arizona, via Mormon Flat and 

Fish Creek, a distance of about 56 miles. 

Specifications and particulars may be obtained on application to H. A. Storrs, Chamber of Commerce, Denver, Colorado, or 

Arthur P. Davis, Phoenix, Arizona, at whose 

offices the plans may be inspected. Each 

bid must be accompanied by a certified check 

payable to the order of the Secretary of the 

Interior for 5 per cent of the aggregate 

amount thereof as a guaranty that the bidder 

will, if successful, promptly execute a satisfactory contract and furnisli bond in the sum 

of 50 per cent of the contract price for the 

faithful performance of the work. The right 

is reserved to reject any and all bids, to waive 

technical defects, and to accept any part of 

any bid and reject the other part, if the 

interests of the Government require it. Proposals should be addressed to H. A. Storrs, 

Chamber of Commerce, Denver, Colorado. 

H. C. EIZEE, Acting Director.

An advertisement must appear in the language of the paper in which 

it is inserted, i. e., if inserted in a German paper, it must be in 

German. ;

In no case must an advertisement extend beyond the morning of the 

date therein named for the opening of the bids, sale of material, public hearings, etc.; and unless the authority given should specifically 

include insertion in the Sunday edition, publication in that edition 

must not be made.

Changes in rates or ownership of newspapers should promptly be 

reported to the Departments.

All accounts for official advertising pertaining to the Executive 

Departments must be audited in strict conformity to the foregoing 

provisions, and all amounts charged in excess of those allowable under 

those provisions will be disallowed.

Every voucher for official advertising must be rendered upon the 

Government official form, and be accompanied by the letter of authority 

to publish and a copy of each issue of the paper in which the advertisement appeared.

The permanency of the records of the Executive Departments of 

the Government being of the first importance, no deleble or fugitive
NEWELL.] RULES GOVERNING CONTRACTS. 77

inks, pencils, or stamps are permitted to be used in making them up. 

Therefore all vouchers for advertising must be made out and receipted 

with-durable ink.

The letter of application for authority to advertise for proposals 

shouM be forwarded through the office of the chief engineer; and with 

it should be transmitted a copy of the proposed specifications with the 

proposed form of advertisement prefixed.

The notices to the newspapers are signed by the Secretary and sent 

out by the Department in the following form:

To the Publisher of "The..............

SIK: You are hereby authorized to publish the inclosed advertisement for proposals for ......................................................................

to be set solid without any display in the heading, in the...................edition

of your paper,..........times,..................................................

provided your charges for the same do not exceed the sworn rates on file or to be 

filed in this Department, and such rates are not in excess of the commercial rates 

charged to private individuals, with the usual discounts.

You will please send one copy of each issue of the paper containing the advertisement to......-.-.......-.....-., in one package, with the title of the advertisement

marked on the outside. This letter must accompany your bill when presented for 

payment; the latter to be rendered upon the voucher inclosed herewith, and be 

receipted in duplicate by the person authorized to receipt for the money. 

Respectfully,

Secretary.

All matters connected with payments for advertisements should be 

left to the Department for attention. It is sufficient to furnish the 

Department in advance with the names of newspapers in which the 

advertisement is to be inserted and the principal facts to be stated in 

the advertisement, such as the time and place of opening bids, the 

name of the person to whom application should be made for necessary 

blanks, as well as all other items that may be essential to the full 

understanding of the matter.

If delay will be involved by correspondence, a suitable telegram 

can be sent, preferably at night rates, reciting these facts. The telegram should be addressed in the usual form, " Hydrographer, Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.," and will receive immediate attention.

Advertisements for other purposes, as for the recovery of lost property or strayed animals, should be made in the same manner, a request 

being sent by wire, if necessary, for the insertion of advertisements 

in specified newspapers and for a given length of time.

Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes requires that advertisements 

should be made for proposals, but the term "advertising" or "advertisement" is not defined in the statutes. Question has arisen as to
78 FIEST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

the nature of the advertising necessary, and it has been determined 

that in general this should be by proper notice inserted in newspapers, 

as described in preceding pages, but that in exceptional cases circulars 

will suffice as compliance with the law. On this point the following 

decisions have been rendered by the Comptroller of the Treasury 

(3Comp., 175):

The question as to what is sufficient advertising, it appears to me, depends primarily upon the character of the purchase to be made or the service to be performed, 

the purpose of the statute requiring advertisement being evident. Section 3709 was 

enacted for the purpose of giving publicity and a consequent opportunity for free 

competition in making contracts for supplies for the Government.

'' The law requiring advertisements and proposals for public contracts obviously was 

intended by Congress to invite competition among bidders and to prevent favoritism 

and fraudulent combinations in awarding contracts." (Harvey v. United States, 8 C. 

Cls. R, 501; 2 Opin. A. G., 259; 15 Opin. A. G., 538.)

Accordingly such steps must be taken as will bring to the individuals or corporations engaged in a particular kind of business, and to the public generally, knowledge 

of the intended purchase, and in such a manner as is designed to attract general, 

attention. This need not necessarily be by advertisement in the newspapers, 

although the term "advertisement" has come ordinarily and in common parlance 

to refer to that form of advertisement. Bouvier defines advertisement as "a notice 

published either in handbills or in a newspaper" (edition of 1848); while the definition in Black's Law Dictionary is 

"Notice given in a manner designed to attract public attention; information communicated to the public, or to an individual concerned, by means of handbills or the 

newspaper."

After 

*******

an exhaustive search of the authorities, I am unable to find in any case a 

judicial definition of this word, but those above given seem to have been uniformly 

accepted.

After referring to several cases where the word has been used by a 

court or Departmentas including posters and circulars, the Comptroller 

adds:

I therefore conclude that in connection with the contract in question the advertisement need not necessarily be by publication in the newspapers, but that circulars 

sent to the various people engaged in laundering in the various cities where such 

work is to be performed for the Marine Corps, together with a public posting of handbills at each of these places, announcing the intention of the Department to enter 

into such contracts, would meet the requirements of section 3709.

The principle above announced was reaffirmed in 3 Comp., 470.

In 15 A. G., 226, the Attorney-General held that the limitation fixed 

in an advertisement made by the Post-Office Department for proposals 

for furnishing postage stamps, restricting the proposals to " steel-plate 

engravers and plate printers," was compliant with section 3709, the 

Attorney-General saying (227):

In my opinion such limitation was proper, if it was intended to confine an answer 

to the proposals to such persons only as could satisfactorily furnish the article of 

supply needed. The manner of advertising is left by the law to the discretion of tJie Depart-
JTEWELL.] . ADVERTISING DEFINED. 79

ment advertising. No particular form is required. * * * If, knowing the articles 

needed, and knowing that they can be supplied only by particular classes of people, 

he sees fit to limit his advertisement to them he may properly do so.

To the same effect is 1 Comp., 363.

In 15 Comp. (MS.), 1535, it was held that where articles of furniture 

in ordinary use are required, the selection of particular patterns, which 

can be supplied by only one manufacturer, does not authorize their 

purchase without advertising for proposals.

On the other hand, in 2 Comp., 632, it was held that section 3709 

does not require advertising for proposals for the purchase of patented 

or copyrighted articles where the benefit of competition can not be 

secured.

In Schneider v. United States (19 C. Cls. R., 547) it was held that 

where the advertisement called for sandstone for a public building, 

an alteration in the contract, substituting marble at a price different 

from that named in the first contract (the material being the sole 

-subject-matter of either agreement), was not a mere modification of 

the first, but required a new advertisement. So it was held in 20 A. G., 

496, that a bid prescribing a time for completion some months later 

than that prescribed by the advertisement could not be accepted without new advertisement, as such acceptance would violate section 3709 

and the river and harbor act of 1888. In 13 A. G., 174, it was held 

that the Postmaster-General had no power to renew or extend the term 

of a contract for printing envelopes without readvertising, as such 

extension would be a new contract. But a reasonable provision may 

be inserted in a contract whereby it may be modified from time to time 

by agreement of the parties, as the public interests may require, and 

the subsequent modification in accordance with such provision is not 

of the nature of a new contract, such as must be preceded by a new 

advertisement under section 3709 (21 A. G.,207).

From the foregoing it would appear 

(1) That the selection of a particular pattern of a common article 

does not dispense with the necessity of advertising, even if that pattern is manufactured by only one person or company; though the rule 

is otherwise where a patented or copyrighted article made by only one 

manufacturer is required.

(2) Where advertisement is necessary, it may be either by publication in a newspaper or by circulars and posters. Whether circulars 

alone would suffice does not appear to have been decided; doubtless it 

would in some cases.

(3) No particular form of advertisement is necessary.

(4) The advertisement may limit proposals to the particular class 

of persons qualified to supply the articles in each case.
80 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

(5) The advertisement may reserve the right to reject any and all 

bids and this right may be taken (M A. G., 682).

(6) The advertisement must describe the subject-matter of the proposed contract with a reasonable degree of accuracy and certainty. 

Thus if the advertisement is for delivery of material only, a different material can not be substituted in the contract, nor can a contract for material and services be substituted (15 A. G.,253). The 

time for completion stated in the advertisement can not be extended 

by the contract, though extension may be made by agreement after part 

performance; nor can a new contract for similar supplies be made 

after performance of the first one without a new advertisement.

(7) It is, however, entirely proper that the contract provide for 

such modifications as may become necessary from time to time in the 

interest of the public service.

SPECIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS.

In all cases where advertisements are to be issued inviting proposals 

for material or labor, for works of repair or construction, or other 

like works of the reclamation service, it is required that full and 

detailed specifications be prepared and printed in time to supply all 

parties desiring to bid under the advertisement.

The specifications should be comprehensive, clear, and sufficiently 

detailed to enable bidders to understand fully what is required; and as 

it is designed that these specifications, together with the advertisement, be attached to and form a part of the contract, it is important 

that great care be observed in their preparation in order that all questions that may arise during the execution of the contract may be 

settled and determined by reference to the instrument itself. A copy 

of the advertisement should be printed with and form a prefix to the 

specifications.

A general form of specifications available for most cases has been 

prepared. It may be necessary for some classes of work to make 

changes or additions, but in nearly all cases this form can be used 

as the first part of the specifications, covering the general conditions 

of building and the relations between the contractor and the Government. The particular requirements of the work form the subject of 

additional paragraphs. In all cases where drawings are to accompany the specifications it will be necessary to reproduce a large number 

of them, for at least five copies of each contract, with copies of the 

accompanying specifications, will be required, and other copies will 

be needed for filing, reference, and other purposes. The photographic 

laboratory of the Survey can make these reproductions rapidly and at 

small expense from tracings or black and white drawings. As soon as 

the tracings or drawings which are to form part of the specifications
NEWKLL.] CONTBACTS AND BONDS. 81

have been prepared in final shape, they should be forwarded to the 

chief engineer for duplication. The specifications should contain a list 

of drawings, each described by number and title.

CONTRACTS AND BONDS.

All contracts to be executed under tli3 reclamation law must be 

made in the name of the Secretary of the Interior upon the general 

form used by the reclamation service. The contracts should be accompanied by bond of conventional form. The form of the contract and 

bond are shown on pages 110-114.

It is customary to execute 5 copies of the contract. Only one copy 

of the bond need be executed. A copy of the contract is ultimately 

sent to each of the following places:

(a) To the Treasury Department.

(&) To the Department of the Interior for the files of the returns 

clerk.

(c) To the contractor.

(d) To the engineer in the field.

(e) To the chief engineer of the reclamation service, in the office of 

the United States Geological Survey.

The Treasury Department retains its copy of the contract in order 

that payments can be indorsed upon it and a record thus kept of these 

until the contract is completed.

The returns clerk of the Department of the Interior keeps a complete 

file of all contracts made by the Government, as required by law. In 

this office are to be filed not only the contract when executed, but all 

of the papers relating to the contract, including the rejected bids and 

copies of all correspondence explaining the award to the successful 

bidder. Care must be taken to preserve all rejected bids and file 

them with the accepted contract.

The 'contractor, of course, requires a copy of the contract, and the 

engineer in the field should have one. The chief engineer, being the 

certifying officer, should also have a copy for reference in his office. 

Thus it is desirable to have five complete copies.

In making the returns to the Department care must be taken that 

all of the papers are carefully kept together and so marked as to be 

understood. The extract from the Revised Statutes, noted on page 

68, gives in detail the requirements of the returns office (sec. 3744 

to sec. 3747).

Whenever the contract for materials or work can be let in separate

divisions or classes, each part which might be contracted for separately

should be listed in the specifications under a separate heading, as

Division or Class 1, 2, 3, etc. When possible, the detail specifications

IRK 93 04 6
82 FIBST RECLAMATION SEKVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

relating to each division or class should be so separated that the portion of the specifications relating to that division or class will be complete in itself and not require the inclusion in the contract of details 

relating to another division or class. So also a reference to Class 1 

or Division 1 in the contract should be sufficient to fix its scope exactly. 

Regulations to govern the execution of contracts and bonds were 

issued by the Secretary of the Interior under date of April 8, 1903, 

see page 114.

EIGHT-HOUR DAY.

The law in regard to the eight-hour day, so far as it relates to the 

reclamation service, is as follows:

Provided, That in all construction work, eight hours shall constitute a day's work, 

and no Mongolian labor shall be employed thereon. Section 4 of the reclamation 

act approved June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 388).«

Eight hours shall constitute a day's work for all laborers, workmen, and mechanics 

who may be employed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States. 

Section 3738 United States Eevised Statutes (act June 25, 1868, 15 Stat. L., 77).

Be it enacted, etc., That the service and employment of all laborers and mechanics 

who are now or may hereafter be employed by the Government of the United States, 

by the District of Columbia, or by any contractor or subcontractor upon any of the 

public works of the United States or of the said District of Columbia, is hereby 

limited and restricted to eight hours in any one calendar day, and it shall be unlawful 

for any officer of the United States Government or of the District of Columbia or 

any such contractor or subcontractor whose duty it shall be to employ, direct, or 

control the services of such laborers or mechanics to require or permit any such 

laborer or mechanic to work more than eight hours in any calendar day except in 

case of extraordinary emergency.

SEC. 2. That any officer or agent of the Government of the United States or of the 

District of Columbia, or any contractor or subcontractor whose duty it shall be to 

employ, direct, or control any laborer or mechanic employed upon any of the public 

works of the. United States or of the District of Columbia who shall intentionally 

violate any provision of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and for 

each and every such offense shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to 

exceed one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or 

by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court having jurisdiction thereof. Sections 1 and 2, act of August 1, 1892 (27 Stat. L., 340).

It will be observed that the law applies only to laborers, workmen, 

and mechanics employed in the construction of public works. The 

Comptroller of the Treasury has made a specific ruling to the effect that 

one who is employed under the designation of "special laborer" is not 

included in this description, the reasoning of his decision being that it 

applies specifically to mechanics and those employed in ordinary forms 

of labor. (6 Comp., 180.) Accordingly, cooks, field assistants, chain 

men, instrument men, etc., would not be subject to the provisions of 

this law.

The enforcement of this law as between the contractor and his 

employee has been held not a matter for departmental action.

a Pp. 259-261 of this paper.
NEWELL.] FIELD EQUIPMENTS. 83

OUTFITTING.

At the present time much of the work of the reclamation service 

consists of preliminary surveys, and hence many new equipments are 

being and must be procured in the near future. In obtaining the 

various articles that may be required, care should be taken that all 

needs are provided for and at the same time that no unnecessary 

material is purchased. Instruments, stationery, and the lighter articles can be procured from the Washington office. Eequisitions for 

these should be made as far in advance as possible. Attempts should 

be made to keep a record of all instruments and of their condition, 

as well as of the degree of use that is made of them, so that planetable outfits, transits, levels, etc., may be transferred quickly, when 

not in use, to points where parties are preparing to begin work.

Horses, mules, and wagons can usually be purchased or hired near 

the point of work. It is preferable to procure such means of transportation, if suitable arrangements can be made, by hiring a man and 

his team by the day or month. The man is thus responsible for the 

horses and wagon and for keeping the wagon in repair, as well as for 

seeing that the horses are properly fed, shod, and cared for. If it is 

impracticable to hire in this way, then teams must be purchased. 

Good serviceable animals and wagons should be procured, for it is 

usually more economical to pay a fair price for a suitable outfit than 

to save a few dollars at the outset and run the risk of a breakdown in 

the field.

The attempt is being made to set certain standards of equipment, 

and a report upon this subject has been prepared by members of the 

survey (see p. 267).

Tents may be procured upon requisition sent to the office of the 

chief engineer, suitable arrangements having been made with the 

Quartermaster-General of the Army. These tents are shipped from 

the nearest supply depot, and the cost is ultimately paid from the 

Washington office. The quality of the tents is usually good, although 

complaint has been receivecl from men in the field of patched, worn, 

or partly mildewed tents being issued. To avoid the delay and uncertainty of obtaining tents from the Army, arrangements have been made 

with a manufacturer in Denver to furnish tents for definite prices. It 

is, therefore, possible to procure tents by direct purchase from Denver 

or in open market at other points whenever necessary.

Stoves, cooking utensils, various implements, and groceries should 

be purchased as needed from the nearest and cheapest point. The 

vouchers for these should be carefully itemized, the quantity and the 

unit price being clearly stated. The bills should be checked by 

the assistant engineers or aids to see that the items and additions are 

correct to the last cent. When so checked the fact should be stated 

on the margin or back of the voucher ("Checked by John Smith") to
84 FIEST EECLAMATIOK SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

place responsibility in case of error. Small mistakes of a few cents 

on large itemized bills are extremely annoying, as they delay the work 

of the disbursing officer and prevent prompt payment of other vouchers. For this reason, if for no other, as great care should be required 

in store accounts as in level or transit notes.

Attention is called to the necessity for strict economy in outfitting 

and in the execution and administration of all works and duties of the 

reclamation service. The number of assistants, draftsmen, clerks, 

mechanics, laborers, and all other employees should be reduced to the 

lowest possible limit that may be consistent with efficiency.

FIELD OFFICES.

During the time of preliminary reconnaissance and surveys leading 

up to construction, the district offices are located at some central 

point or important town. It is apparent, however, that as soon as 

construction begins, the district offices should be placed upon or near 

the works, in order to insure full oversight; also to give the younger 

assistants and others connected with the office as full information as 

possible concerning construction work and all matters pertaining to it.

Pending the time of occupancy of these field offices suitable rooms 

can be rented in nearby cities or towns. General authority has been 

granted by the Secretary for the rent of such office rooms, to be charged 

to the reclamation fund. In each instance the renting of the room is 

to be promptly reported to the Department for its information and 

confirmation.

When the plans have been determined upon, a convenient but relatively inexpensive office should be built and so located, if practicable, 

that it will serve as the permanent residence of the keeper, who will 

ultimately live at the headworks. Around this should be symmetrically placed other structures for the convenience of the men, and some 

of these may be sufficiently permanent to be left for stables or outbuildings for the keeper. While new and clean they will serve as 

lodging houses and furnish accommodations for the assistants 

employed on the work.

The field offices should be provided with ordinary cooking and dining facilities, the usual office furniture of desks, drawing tables, chairs, 

book and filing cases, and should also have plain, substantial sleeping 

accommodations for the use of the district, supervising, or consulting 

engineers when visiting the work. By providing these the expense of 

living at a hotel will be avoided. All purchases of this kind should 

be estimated in advance and authorized in the customary manner.

Where lumber is expensive it is practicable to purchase portable 

houses, of which several kinds are on the market. These can be 

quickly erected and moved from time to time along the line of the 

work. They are preferable to tents, as they are not shaken by ordi-
NEWELL.] FIELD OFFICES. 85

nary winds, are relatively free from dust, and by their use moving 

is expedited and the preparation of drawings and ordinary clerical 

work is carried on more effectively.

A commissary should be maintained for all of the men, and care 

taken to see that everything is neat and systematic, but not expensive. 

It is of the utmost importance to produce a good impression on persons visiting the works in order that they may see that everything is 

being conducted in a proper manner. The district engineers must 

bear in mind that much of the future efficiency of the service depends 

on creating a good opinion in the minds of the public, particularly in 

a farming community. If there is apparent extravagance, even in 

small matters, this will reflect unfavorably. If, on the other hand, 

public men and citizens interested who visit the work find that everything is being carried on systematically, and with due regard to 

economy, the service will be correspondingly strengthened.

The statutes require that not less than seven hours labor shall be 

performed per day by employees of the Government, and limit the 

time of ordinary labor to eight hours per day. District engineers 

are expected to fix office hours of not less than seven hours nor more 

than eight hours, and to arrange them in accordance with local custom 

and convenience. As a rule the hours should be from 8 to 12 and from 

1 to 5.

The office or some other room at the headquarters should be so 

arranged that it will be comfortable and convenient for the assembly 

of the men during the evening and at other times when not employed, 

so that there will be reasonable inducements for the men to read, 

study, or discuss engineering matters. The engineers in charge should 

bear in mind at all times that it is necessary not only to build good 

works, but to improve and strengthen the men who are executing them.

It is very desirable to keep the younger assistants out of the cities, 

and to bring them together in fairly comfortable camps or headquarters, where they can be associated at all times with planning, 

designing, and constructing. Every reasonable effort should be made 

toward this end.

SUBSISTENCE OF MEN.

Subsistence furnished to persons employed in the reclamation service is neither an emolument nor a perquisite, but is furnished solely 

for the purpose of facilitating the field work of the parties, and upon 

this principle individual cases will be decided by the chief engineer, 

who may at any time make such changes as may seem most feasible or 

economical for the Government.

The regulations and instructions of the Geological Survey cover 

largely the various questions arising as to subsistence. In camp provision is made for the wants of all men employed; groceries and other
86 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE [NO. 93.

supplies are purchased in accordance with the ration list; a cook is. 

employed, and all necessary articles are furnished for board and 

lodging, sucli as tents and dining accommodations.

The men are expected to furnish their own blankets and a cot, if one 

is desired; also towels and all similar articles for personal use. The 

Survey furnishes the cook and kitchen utensils, as well as food of 

good quality and in sufficient quantity for men undergoing severe 

physical exertion. Luxuries or unusual articles are not purchased, 

and medical attendance is furnished only when away from settlements 

or in localities where the ordinary practitioners can not be had. It is 

understood in engaging the services of assistants and field men that 

they will be supplied with ordinary and necessary medical supplies 

suitable for the peculiar conditions or exposure under which they are 

working.

Only those persons directly connected with the work are subsisted 

in camp. Visitors should not be entertained, except under conditions 

leading to the furtherance of the work. In short, every effort is made 

to provide comfortable and satisfactory subsistence and to avoid 

extravagance and unnecessary expense. Field parties, as a rule, move 

camp frequently and all unnecessary furniture must be excluded, as 

well as all persons not absolutely needed for the work in hand.

It has been the custom at the end of the field season, on the discontinuance of field work, to bring the regular employees to Washington 

or to some central point. Here, following usual customs, the men 

supply their own subsistence, usually returning to their families or 

permanent places of abode.

Men regularly employed at a certain point are not entitled to subsistence as are field assistants who are required to move from point to 

point with the camp, or shifting work. Where men are ordered to a 

regular office for work, or to a locality where they will practically 

establish a home, it is not allowable to pay for subsistence or to cover 

this by any form of expenditure.

As construction is taken up and the men are located at a given point 

for an indefinite time, it is expected that they will provide their own 

subsistence and establish homes, if convenient. Discretion is left 

largely to the district engineers in this particular, and care must be 

exercised by them in making recommendations covering exceptional 

cases.

Men who are employed for field work and paid a salary which is 

understood to be for this work, with subsistence furnished in the 

field, should, if ordered to remain at a definite point for several days 

or weeks, be reimbursed for reasonable and ordinary cost of board 

and lodging while at this point. If, however, they are ordered to a 

locality, with the probability of remaining there for a month or more,
NEWELI,] SUBSISTENCE IN FIELD. 8T

they should not be allowed subsistence unless special authority is given 

by the chief engineer.

During the winter, or at times when field work can not be actively 

carried on, the men should be brought to headquarters camp and subsisted there. If they prefer to bring their families and locate them at 

near-by points, the men will be expected to exercise their option as to 

whether they personally will take a part of their meals at the general 

commissary. If the men prefer to remain with their families no 

allowance can be made for this. It should be plainly understood that 

a commissary is provided for the subsistence of the men, and that it is 

optional with them whether they take their meals at the commissary 

or not.

Men instructed to remain at a town or other locality for a definite 

time exceeding two weeks will be expected to make arrangements for 

their own subsistence.

It is not expected that any general rules can be formulated which 

will be sufficiently definite for every individual case, and such cases 

will be decided by the engineer in charge upon the principles above 

laid down. In case of doubt, or disagreement, the case will be referred 

to the chief engineer for decision.

In the Corps of. Engineers of the United States Army conditions 

exist similar to those prevailing in the reclamation service. Every 

assistant engineer in this corps, from the highest grade to the lowest, 

is appointed under civil-service regulations at a specified salary per 

annum. These assistant engineers receive no allowance in lieu of 

expenses, bat have all actual field expenses and subsistence paid when 

on field duty. The practice in connection with detail to this work is 

variable. There are no hard and fast rules, and each case is considered 

separately by the officer in charge and the Chief of Engineers. In 

their view the man in the field has harder work, longer hours, and 

more arduous duties than the man in office. Besides, he has two 

establishments to support, his family at home and himself in the 

field. If his office is at a permanent station, he has his family 

with him, and his living expenses are little or no additional charge 

upon him. Therefore under army regulations the field man is paid 

more than the man who is engaged in office work. This payment 

is made in the form of subsistence; in other woods, the man on 

field duty has added to his pay his subsistence. When he is engaged 

in office duty he receives his pay only. This is identical with the 

usual practice of the Geological Survey. Where assistant engineers 

or subassistants of the corps of engineers of the army are permanently 

located at Cincinnati, Frankfort, etc., they subsist themselves from the 

day they report for office duty. When ordered into the field they are 

subsisted on house boats or otherwise. In some cases men are moved
88 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 9$.

about so frequently that they may be said to have no permanent residence. They may be in Frankfort for two months, may go to the field 

for a time, and then be ordered elsewhere. In such cases their subsistence is paid in the temporary office as well as in the field. Where, 

however, a man is detailed to an office for several months, and is so 

notified, it is assumed that he will make such necessary permanent 

arrangements concerning his living as may seem desirable.

PROPERTY.

In the operations of the reclamation service property is acquired in 

various ways and must be accounted for with exactness. The system 

in use by the Geological Survey is being modified and the attempt 

made to simplify the making of property returns.

The Regulations of the Geological Survey, beginning on page 40, 

gives most of the essential facts concerning property, and the Instructions, on page 38, relates to the matter. The most important fact to be 

noted is that property acquired by purchase, transfer, etc., is divided 

into two classes, expendable and nonexpendable.

Expendable property, such as groceries and supplies of various 

kinds, is to be used or consumed for purposes of the service. A certificate by a responsible officer to this effect is all that is required. 

Care should be taken, however, to verify the fact that the expendable property has been put to proper official use.

Nonexpendable property must be classified and carried on property 

returns from quarter to quarter indefinitely, or until the articles 

are worn out or disposed of in some lawful way. Care must be taken 

to get rid of unnecessary articles and keep the property returns free 

from accumulations of things not needed.

At intervals of six months or a year all unserviceable articles should 

be gathered together at some convenient point and inspected by proper 

officers. Authority for such inspection should be procured in advance 

from the chief engineer, and all requirements preliminary to the 

proper disposal of the articles should be observed.

Auction sales should be had of all unserviceable animals and equipment, after suitable authority has been procured and advertisement 

made in the customary manner. Blanks for this purpose and for 

making returns should be obtained from the chief engineer. An auctioneer, if employed, can be paid out of the proceeds and the necessary 

cost deducted from the returns.

The proceeds from auction sales should be transmitted to the chief 

engineer, with all the papers, to be forwarded to the Department.

Each district engineer and principal officer in the field is a custodian 

or subcustodian for the chief engineer. Property returns must be 

made quarterly and must be explicit in all details, every article of 

nonexpendable property being accounted for in one way or another.
NEWELL.] CHIEF ENGINEER'S ADDRESS. 89

NEW PROJECTS.

All projects for new works must he submitted for consideration to the 

Secretary of the Interior through the chief engineer and the Director 

of the Geological Survej^.

When plans for work of any kind have been sanctioned by the 

Secretary of the Interior or by the chief engineer, they must not be 

departed from without the express permission of the Secretary of the 

Interior or of the chief engineer.

Public works in charge of the reclamation service will be inspected 

at least once a year, and also when completed, by such officers as the 

chief engineer shall designate.

There may be one or more boards of engineers whose duty it shall 

be to plan or revise, as may be directed by the chief engineer from 

time to time, projects of reclamation required for the development of 

the arid lands of the United States; also to consider and report upon 

such matters as may be referred to it by the chief engineer (see also 

p. 33).

It shall also be the duty of any member or members of the board, 

whenever required by the chief engineer, to inspect and report upon 

any of the works of construction or other operations, the inspection 

reports to be made to the board and by it submitted to the chief 

engineer with such remarks as may be deemed proper.

The board shall consist of not less than three officers, to be designated by the chief engineer with the sanction of the Secretary of the 

Interior or of the Director of the Geological Survey.

Two members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but its final decisions in important matters must be 

sanctioned by a majority of its members.

The reports of the board will be made to the chief engineer. It will 

keep a journal of its proceedings, and will on the last day of each 

month report to him the movements of its members and a brief statement of the occupation of the assembled board.

The chief engineer submits all important reports of the board, with 

his views thereon, to the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the Geological Survey. No important work should be undertaken without the consent of the Secretary.

The orders of the senior officer of the board shall be authorit}r for 

journeys made by its members and associates and for the necessary 

expenditures incurred by the board in pursuance of its duties, but the 

authority of the chief engineer must be obtained by the senior officer 

of the board for all journeys made by the board or members thereof 

to localities other than the usual place of meeting.

Questions as to water power and pumping should be brought to the 

notice of the electrical engineer by the engineers who encounter these
90 F1EST EECLAMATION SEEVIOE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

problems. The feasibility of a project may depend on the possibilities 

regarding power development and use, and as much time should be 

allowed for studying this phase of the undertaking as for the investigation of other engineering questions. If this information is withheld until all the plans for the irrigation system have been worked 

out, it may often happen that insufficient time will remain in which to 

make a comprehensive study of the design. Moreover, some data may 

be lacking or some modification of the approved plans of dam, canals, 

etc., may be required in order to secure the best design of power plant, 

therebj^ delaying the execution of the project.

Whenever the investigation of a new project has proceeded far 

enough to warrant a visit and examination by the consulting engineers, 

their report regarding the project should state whether or not any 

power development is contemplated. In case such development is contemplated, the report should, if possible, state briefly the amount and 

probable use of the power to be developed, and should also state when, 

in the opinion of the consulting engineers, the electrical engineer 

should receive from the engineer of the project such preliminary data 

as will enable him to study the situation sufficiently to decide what 

special additional information is wanted by him in working out the 

designs, plans, and estimates of the power system, or when, in their 

opinion, the electrical engineer should visit the project and consult 

with the local engineer regarding power possibilities.

In considering new projects it is necessary to take into account not 

merely the physical conditions, but many other factors. Among the 

most prominent of these are the questions as to whether the particular 

work can best be executed by private agencies. In many localities 

where the projects have been studied and the results generally known 

there are persons who come forward with a plan to build a portion of 

the project and who express the desire to have the reclamation service 

turn over to them the simpler or more attractive part of the scheme 

for development. There are cases where it might be better for all 

concerned for the Government to decline to take up the work, and full 

consideration must be given matters of this kind.

If the reclamation service is to step out of the way whenever a corporation or association of individuals expresses a willingness to build 

an irrigation project, the result will be a surrender of the best projects, 

leaving those which are lacking in merit. Works constructed by 

private corporations are built for profit, and every dollar that the 

settler can pay will be extracted from him.

The usual method of procedure of a private scheme is about as 

follows:

The agents of a new water corporation proceed through a district, 

seeking contracts for water to be furnished to the land, these contracts 

being in the nature of a first mortgage. With these contracts in hand
NEWELL.] PRIVATE WATER COMPANIES. 91

a promotion company then attempts the sale of bonds. These bonds 

must be heavily discounted in order to find purchasers and to pay 

commissions. They are frequently disposed of on a basis of about 75 

or 80 cents on the dollar. The promotion company usually surrenders 

to the bond underwriters the controlling interest in the common stock 

in the water company. The profit of the promotion company consists in the retention usually of from 33 to 49 per cent of the common 

stock of the water company.

The settler has to meet under these conditions three distinct charges: 

First, discount on the bonds; second, interest on the entire bond 

issue; third, interest on the capital stock. The consequence is that 

the final cost is far larger for works hastily and poorly built than 

if the Government constructed permanent works to endure for all 

time.

The constructing corporation usually plans to build a headworks at 

the most convenient point and to reclaim only the most readily irrigable lands. This results in condemning to sterility, at least for a long 

period of years, the remaining less desirable or less accessible lands.

On the other hand, the arguments in favor of stepping aside for 

private corporations may be summarized as follows:

The object and purpose of the reclamation act is primarily the 

development of the arid West. It is admitted that the present funds 

are inadequate for complete development, and this being the case it 

would seem improper for the Government to stand in the way of the 

construction of works by private capital when the Government could 

go elsewhere for the construction of other works in more remote 

regions where private capital is unwilling to invest.

If the Government refuses to step aside in irrigation projects, it 

will in each case incite the vigorous animosity of persons or corporations who desire to speculate.

Again, as it is impossible for the Secretary of the Interior to make 

decisions in all cases until definite plans and surveys are submitted, it 

is unjust for him to prevent the construction of works by private 

capital when the promoters are certain that they want the opportunity 

for investment.

The arguments for and against the construction of any particular 

project by the reclamation service should be carefully considered and 

particular weight be given to conditions involving the irrigation of 

public lands. The reclamation of these can unquestionably be carried 

on better under the reclamation law than by any form of private enterprise. It must also be borne in mind that the construction of large 

works of this character must involve endless strife between the water 

user and the company. As a rule, the water companies have in the 

past been financial failures and have not brought about the best development of the country.
92 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ESTIMATES OF COST.

In making estimates for any new project great care must be taken 

to determine accurately its probable cost and not to underestimate 

this. The landowners must ultimately pay the proportional cost per 

acre, and if the cost is found to be less than the original estimate the 

result will be satisfactory to all, but if the cost exceeds the estimate 

and the price per acre is placed above that originally fixed, the landowners may think that they have not been treated fairly. The cost 

per acre in any event will probably be far below the ultimate value of 

the water.

Engineers connected with the designing of large works must bear 

in mind that the greatest efficiency and economy of these works usually 

results from a careful study of the plans when nearly completed. In 

the initiatory stages of the reclamation service it has been necessary to 

push work rapidly in order to show results, but before the general 

plans have been approved and the work outlined it is highly essential 

for the engineers to study with great care and reasonable deliberation 

all of the important details and to take sufficient time to do this 

thoroughly.

CONSTRUCTION.

The reclamation law evidently contemplates that most of the work 

shall be executed by contract. Many portions, however, must be 

executed on what is commonly known as "force account"" that is to 

say, by the tools and appliances furnished by the reclamation service and 

by men employed by the day or by ordinary contract. There are 

many situations, especially in new work, where it is impracticable to 

furnish sufficient knowledge in advance to enable contractors to bid 

closely, and where the work can be done more effectively and economically by day labor. This, for example, has been found to be the case 

in drilling for foundations, where the locality is remote from lines of 

transportation and the underground conditions are uncertain. It has 

been found by actual experience that holes can be sunk or diamonddrill cores extracted at about a third of the cost at which the work 

could be let by contract.

In many operations also the work from day to day depends on the 

discoveries made under changing conditions. Here it is impracticable 

to let contracts in such form as to cover all of the contingencies, and 

the reclamation service must thus have a somewhat extensive plant for 

executing various kinds of work and must employ means utilized by 

other constructing organizations for pushing forward work rapidly and 

effectively.
NEWELL.] CHIEF ENGINEER'S ADDRESS. 93

AUTHORIZATIONS

It is important to bear in mind the origin of authority to execute 

work and expend funds, and at all times to ascertain that full authority 

is possessed for the proposed operations. The origin of all authority 

is traceable to acts of Congress. These confer, in general or specific 

terms, upon the Secretary of the Interior, or other executive officers, 

the power and duty of performing certain things in definite ways.

The act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 388), is the foundation upon 

which the work of the reclamation service is established. The details 

of the operations are, however, modified or guided by general laws 

and departmental rules, which have the force of law.

The Secretary of the Interior is the responsible officer, who in turn 

delegates certain authorit}^ to others. This is usually general in character and covers ordinary field operations and construction. It covers 

the purchase of the articles customarily needed and employment of 

persons, but is limited in detail by certain customs or by decisions of 

the Comptroller or Auditor. It must not be assumed that all freedom 

enjoyed by an individual or a corporation is possessed by the officers 

of the reclamation service.

It is impossible to state the limitations which are set to general 

authorizations. As a rule it may lie said that by the emplojmient of 

sound judgment in carrying out the purposes of the reclamation service there will be little difficulty encountered, as the attempt is made 

to keep the work on a substantial business basis.

The engineers and certifying officers must, however, not be sur 

prised at meeting occasional unexpected obstacles or limitations of 

authority, especially in minor details. These, though tiying, must be 

patientl}r and loyally endured, as protest is of little avail. To illustrate one of the minor limitations may be cited the fact that in transmitting small amounts of money in payment of official debts incurred 

it has been found by experience that the Comptroller will not permit 

the payment of the fee for a post-office order, but will allow the fee 

for registration of 8 cents, if supported by evidence. Thus, when 

necessity arises for transmitting monthly payments to observers, or 

similar small amounts, the responsible officer can either send his own 

check or put the money in a registered letter, but can not expect 

reimbursement if a postal order is used. These minor limitations can 

usually be made known only by experience.

In all work it is essential to have definite and explicit authority for 

expenditures of every kind. At the beginning of the fiscal year the 

Director receives estimates of proposed expenditures, and submits 

these to the Secretary of the Interior for approval, general authority 

being by this means obtained for all expenditures. The Secretary of
94 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO.98.

the Interior, through the Director of the Geological Survey, allots to 

the various branches and divisions of the Survey certain sums from 

suitable appropriations, and gives authority to the responsible officers 

for expenditures in general terms.

In the hydrographic branch the hydrographer in charge, or chief 

engineer, makes specific allotments to the various men and these allotments must not be exceeded without further authorization. Each chief 

of party, district engineer, or hydrographer must be sure that this 

authorization is explicit and complete, and in rendering statement 

of expenditures from time to time should quote the original authorization, showing the date and amount of allotment.

Before any important piece of work is undertaken which is not 

within the allotment, specific authority for this must be had; no investigation or piece of work should be begun until estimates for it have 

been made and authority obtained covering the necessary expenditures.

Authority to purchase materials and execute work by contract or 

otherwise, in the manner most economical and advantageous to the 

United States, must be granted by the Secretary of the Interior in 

some one of various forms.

When an officer has occasion to propose the execution of any special 

work, as repairs, temporary buildings, special surveys, rebuilding or 

repairs of roads, etc., the proposition should always be accompanied 

by an itemized estimate, where this is practicable, of the probable cost 

of such work.

No sales of property will be made without authority from the chief 

engineer. Private sales are prohibited.

Property pertaining to one appropriation, when transferred for 

expenditure in connection with another, will be paid for from the 

latter, as in the case of other property purchased from the usual 

sources of supply.

Special authority for the transfer of property is necessary when 

the purchase of such property from the usual sources would, under the 

regulations, require that authority.

It is desirable to sum up briefly the sequence of events and the steps 

to be taken by the district engineers in the conduct of any particular 

piece of work from its initiation to the time of construction. At each 

important step certain authorization must be obtained in order to keep 

the Department fully informed of the work and guard against error 

or .misunderstanding.

The first step in any project is the reconnaissance, or preliminary 

survey. The engineer in the field initiates this by calling it to the 

attention of the chief engineer; or, the latter, following a request from 

citizens or public bodies, refers the matter to the engineer in the field 

for examination and report. In any case, specific authority for mak-
NEWELL.] STEPS IN JSTEW PEOJECT. 95

ing examination should be obtained, and an estimate should be prepared as to the probable cost in which should be stated the methods 

to be pursued. In this preliminary examination care should be taken 

to ascertain the essential facts completely and at the same time not to 

make elaborate surveys where an inspection by a competent engineer 

would determine the essential points.

Upon the completion of a preliminary examination, results are 

reported to the chief engineer, and are summed up in certain recommendations, either that no further action be taken or that more complete survej^s be made. At this time a concise statement of all of the 

conditions should be given and an outline of the surveys and examinations necessary, together with an estimate of the cost of these, the 

time probably required, and the number of men and instruments and 

amount of equipment necessary. Specific authority to make these 

surveys should be obtained from the chief engineer before notable 

expenditures are made on the work.

The surveys thus authorized should be conducted vigorously; reports 

and estimates should be prepared and submitted to the chief engineer, 

to be referred ~by him to the consulting engineers for their opinion. 

When this opinion is rendered, it is transmitted through the Director 

of the Geological Survey to the Secretary of the Interior, with recommendation for abandonment or for further work of construction.

Authority from the Secretary of the Interior for further work is 

usually given in general terms, and definite instructions are issued by 

the chief engineer, covering the necessary details. If the authorization 

to proceed with construction necessitates the letting of contracts, the 

form of advertisement should at once be prepared and sent by the 

district engineer to the chief engineer, to be approved and forwarded 

to the Department. Advertising for bids is done usually through the 

miscellaneous division of the Secretary's office; if, however, by special 

authority, advertising is done by the engineer in the field, a copy of 

the authority and proof of advertisement must be submitted with subsequent papers.

When bids are to be opened, suitable officers will be designated to 

form a board, and the chairman will be responsible for the safety and 

the correct form of the papers. The board will open the bids in the 

presence of bidders and others interested, and will note particularly 

whether these are complete, and whether certified checks are inclosed. 

After canvassing and comparing the bids the board will make a formal 

report to the chief engineer, stating that the bids have been opened in 

accordance with advertisement, and that after examining the bids all 

of the papers relating to the matter, including the bids recommended 

for rejection, are transmitted with recommendations based upon certain facts
96 FIKST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

In case all bids are recommended for rejection, or if the lowest bid 

is not accepted, the reasons must be clearly given, and evidence presented in such form as to stand criticism by rejected bidders or other 

persons. All papers and bids must be transmitted with the report.

All papers, including the envelopes in which the bids were filed, must 

be transmitted to the chief engineer, these being listed and properly 

marked for identification. The letter of transmittal containing the 

recommendations must be explicit, showing all of the steps taken and 

the authority under which each act is done.

In case the general authorization from the Secretary of the Interior 

for construction is of such character that material must be purchased or 

labor performed without advertisement for bids, the authority for so 

doing must be explicit, and reference must be made to this authority in 

rendering accounts. It is not necessary to procure specific authority 

for making purchases of supplies to be used in preliminary surveys and 

field examinations, but if in the course of construction work it becomes 

necessary to expend considerable sums of money for example, over 

$1,000 or to make unusual purchases, separate authorization should 

be obtained through application to the chief engineer. In rendering 

the vouchers for such expenditures the authorization must be quoted.

In short, the engineer in the field must keep in constant touch with 

the central office, must push the work vigorously, foresee probable 

contingencies, secure authority for unusual matters, and at the same 

time not wait for authority if the exigency demands prompt action. 

Wherever such action is taken without the usual authority, the facts 

should be plainly stated in subsequent communication.

EXAMINATION OF LAND TITLES.

The examination of title to the lands involved in the various irrigation projects must be made at some time during the investigation. It 

is necessary before construction can begin to know as to each tract 

whether it is public or private land; while in connection with the purchase of right of way for canals or of lands to be flooded in reservoirs, 

a complete abstract of title will be required.

The first step will bo to obtain a copy of the record of the local land 

office to show the present status of each tract. It will not, of course, 

be necessary to copy notes of entries that have been canceled, of contests that have been decided, or the like. This record will give the nature 

and number of the entry, .a description of the land, the name and 

post-office address of the entryman, and other details. Such a record 

will show what land is vacant, what land is entered, and what land has 

been patented. A book has been prepared for making these abstracts 

and can be obtained on application.
NEWELL.] EXAMINATION OF TITLES. 97

The title to lands to be purchased or over which right of way is 

required must be carefully examined and brought down to date, in 

order that the office may be informed as to the present owner and the 

validity of his title when negotiations for the purchase are taken up.

Iii connection with the matter of right of way for canals to be constructed by the reclamation service, attention is called to the fact that, 

by decision of the Secretary of the Interior of October 5,1893 (Decisions 

of the Department of the Interior Relating to Public Lands, vol. 17, 

p. 521), it has been held that all lands entered subsequent to October 

2, 1888, are subject to a right of way for ditches or canals constructed 

by the authority of the United States, in pursuance of the act of August 

30, 1890 (26 Stat. L., p. 391). A circular has been prepared to be 

used in notifying the owner of land subject to such reservation that it is 

proposed to construct a ditch over his land (Form 9-263). It contains 

a copy of the law, and is to be used only after final decision has been 

reached that such construction will be undertaken. It is not advisable to issue this circular prior to that time, because the reclamation 

service would then be committed to the construction of a canal over a 

particular route, and a complication would thus be introduced which 

might interfere with necessary negotiations for purchase of rights of 

way at other points along the same line.

A knowledge of the lands for which patents have issued having been 

obtained from the records of the local land office, it does not appear 

necessary to make an abstract of the title in order to carry down the 

transactions to the present time. When the irrigation works are completed and the reclamation service has announced that applications for 

water rights will be received the parties owning lands will, in making 

application, be required to file affidavit that they have title in fee 

simple to the particular tracts which they desire to water. This assertion of title can be verified by the tax records of the county at very 

small expense. If the person making application for water right is 

also shown to be assessed for taxes on the tracts in question it is fair 

to presume that he has title in fee simple, as shown by the face of the 

record. The intermediate transactions are not important for the purposes of the reclamation service. This assertion of title, under oath, 

and verification by the tax records would undoubtedly be sufficient to 

protect the Government against fraud in this direction, and the expense 

of tracing down the title would be thus avoided.

Negotiations for the purchase of land, rights of way, water rights, 

or other property should be made as representing the Secretary of the 

Interior, for and on behalf of the United States of America. Authority 

to act in this capacity will be given by the Director of the Geological 

Survey to the person designated to take up the work.

IKK 93
98 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

In connection with some of the projects it may be necessary to make 

a thorough examination of the water rights of record. The conditions 

involved in each project will determine whether such examinations are 

necessary and also whether other special examinations of particular 

tracts or claims are required for the proper consideration of the details 

of the project. When the engineer has made a complete study of the 

water right and other conditions affecting the proposed work he should 

make full report thereon to the chief engineer, with recommendation 

as to the method of dealing with them.

LAND PURCHASES.

The reclamation law, section 7, authorizes the Secretary of the 

Interior to acquire, if necessary, rights to property by purchase or 

condemnation. It is preferable to make every reasonable effort to 

obtain favorable terms by purchase rather than to resort to the tedious 

and sometimes uncertain processes of law for condemnation. The 

procedure for the purchase of land by the Secretary is as follows:

When the work on any project has reached the point when construction will soon be decided upon, the district engineer will take steps 

looking to the acquisition of rights or property needed, such as water 

rights, lands, rights of way, etc. Options for the purchase of such 

propertjr should be obtained as much in advance of construction as 

possible, without committing the Government to any particular plan of 

operations prior to a definite decision by the Secretary of the Interior. 

The district engineer must exercise discretion as to the best time for 

beginning the work.

The district engineer or his assistant or other person designated by 

the chief engineer should examine and inspect the land and ascertain all 

of the essential facts as to ownership; he should then endeavor to meet 

the owners, or their representatives, and agree upon a price which 

may be deemed fair and reasonable. In all such matters great care 

must be taken to procure favorable terms, and to put them in writing, 

so as to avoid future misunderstanding.

The vendor is expected to furnish an abstract of title of his property. 

This abstract must be authenticated in some form. If authority is 

obtained to carry out a form of procedure now under consideration by 

the Department, the abstract can be submitted to the United States 

Attorney for the judicial district in which the land is situated, who 

will make a thorough examination of the record and the papers, and 

place thereon his certificate in the form required by the Department 

of Justice in other like cases. These papers, with his certificate, will 

then be forwarded to this office by the district engineer.

In case this procedure is not adopted it will be necessary to have 

the abstract of title certified to by the officers having custody of the
NEWELL.] LAND PUBCHASES. 99

records relating to land titles, judgments, and taxes, unless some other 

form of giving evidential value to the abstract of title is provided for 

by the laws of the State or Territory. The district engineer may adopt 

the latter method if the local laws make it easier.

With the abstract of title there should also be a form of deed which 

the vendor proposes to execute. In this deed the United States of 

America should be made the grantee, and it should contain the recital 

that the purchase is made in pursuance of the provisions of the act of 

Congress of June 17,1902 (32 Stat. L., 388). A duplicate of this deed 

should be retained in the district engineer's office in order that it may 

be executed if the title is found satisfactory and the form of deed 

submitted to the Department is approved.

In forwarding these papers to the chief engineer the district engineer will submit a statement covering the following principal points:

First. That the land is necessary for the purpose authorized by the 

reclamation law.

Second. That the persons with whom a tentative arrangement has 

been made are competent and authorized to make such tentative proposition.

Third. That the price tentatively agreed upon is fair, and that no 

more favorable rates can be obtained by ordinary methods, together 

with a definite recommendation for the purchase. In this connection 

statements should be given as to the cost or selling price of adjacent 

or similar property.

Fourth. A statement of the arrangements to be made for the payment of any taxes due or any other lien on the property.

It may be necessary to consider other items in various purchases, 

and these must be anticipated by the engineer when the papers are 

transmitted.

These papers are submitted to the Secretary of the Interior with 

suitable recommendations. They are considered and passed upon by 

the Assistant Attorney-General for the Department of the Interior. 

If the title as shown by the papers is satisfactory the chief engineer 

will so notify the district engineer. The deed should then be executed 

and recorded, whereupon payment for the land will be made.

Whenever a disbursing officer is in the field at a point convenient to 

the place where the purchase is made, he may make the payment 

under the following conditions: The deed, executed in the form 

approved by the Secretary of the Interior and duly recorded, must 

be delivered to him, and also certificates from the county recorder and 

the clerk of the county court showing that no instruments have been 

placed of record in their offices affecting the title to the lands in question between the date of their certificates forming part of the abstract 

of title and the date of record of the deed. Upon receipt of these
100 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

papers the disbursing officer can make the pa}7ment, for which these 

papers will be .sufficient basis, as the letter of the Secretary of the 

Interior approving the title and the form of deed, and authorizing 

the purchase, will be attached to his account when it is transmitted to 

the Treasury Department.

In case there is no disbursing officer available it will be necessary to 

send the executed and recorded deed to the Washington office of the 

Survey with the certificates of the county recorder and the clerk of 

the county court, whence they will be transmitted to the Treasury 

Department through the Secretary of the Interior. A warrant will 

then be drawn by the Treasury Department and forwarded to the 

vendor.

The various operations of transmitting and examining the papers in 

the several offices require time, and in all cases the party selling the 

land must be assured that, after the terms of sale have been agreed 

upon, a reasonable time must elapse for the transmission and examination of the papers and the final payment. This routine will require, 

as a rule, thirty to sixty days if the title is not defective in the first 

instance.

Authority to enter upon negotiations for options or for purchase 

can be procured on application to the chief engineer, and these negotiations are subject to the approval of the Secretary. Various forms 

of option have been provided for use in the purchase of lands and 

for acquiring right of way for canals or reservoirs, copies of which 

can be had upon application. In securing these options it is not customary to make the actual payment of the "dollar'1 mentioned, and if 

such payment is made it can not be recovered upon the usual form of 

account.

Most of the lands purchased are within reservoir sites or at points 

where the improvements must be ultimately destroyed or abandoned. 

When it becomes apparent that certain improvements must be abandoned or destroyed, all movable property not needed for the reclamation service should be sold at public auction, in accordance with law 

and the rules of the Department. Suitable advertisement of the sale 

should be made, or notices should be posted, and the expense of advertising, services of auctioneer, etc., should be deducted from the proceeds, which should then be transmitted to the chief engineer, to be 

forwarded, through the proper channels, to the Treasury Department.

LAND AND WATER TITLES.

In each project there are involved tracts of land in private ownership and waters claimed by individuals for purposes of irrigation, 

power, or other uses, and it is necessary to make a careful examination 

of the character of the title to the land and of the actual uses of the 

water. For this purpose suitable blanks and notebooks have been
NEWELL.] BIGHTS OF WAY. 101

prepared, and instructions given by various district chiefs. As an 

example one of these blanks is appended herewith that used in the 

State of Washington:

DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Report on irrigation canals taking water from ........-...--._._ ...... River in

........................ County, State of Washington.

I .............................................. do affirm the following to be a

true statement of facts concerning the irrigating ditch which I use to irrigate the land 

described as follows:

........................ which I E.---....................I have............

acres of land under cultivation, .............. acres of which I irrigate.

I have ample supply of water during ........................ During the

months of ......................... I have ...........'.............

My canal is .............. miles long and connects with ........................

The cost of repairs on my ditch, including my own and all other labor, is ..........

per year. I began to use water on the land about ........................ and do

not need it for purposes of irrigation after .....-......-....----. I use the water

for ......................................... I generally turn the water off from

the ditch ............ ............

I pay I.......... annually to ........................ for taking water from

SIGN HERE

In obtaining the above information two principal objects were in view. 

First, to obtain evidence as to how much water was being used per 

acre of land irrigated, and, second, to record before any probable legal 

complications arise a signed statement from the irrigator as to how 

much land was irrigated and from what sources. In the future there 

will doubtless arise difficulties in dealing with some of these people 

and evidence of this kind will be valuable in making settlements.

RIGHT OF WAY FOR CANALS.

The use of public lands for right of way for canals and laterals constructed by the reclamation service is provided for by the act of Oct. 

2, 1888 (25 Stat. L., 526). There is also a reservation of right of way 

for canals constructed by the United States affecting all lands disposed 

of subsequent to that date. The following circular has been issued 

concerning the matter:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., August 15, 1903. 

To the engineers in charge of projects of the reclamation service:

There is herewith transmitted a circular (9-263) for use in claiming rights of way 

to which the United States is entitled for ditches or canals constructed by the recla-
102 FIEST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

mation service. This form has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and 

such copies as may be needed can be furnished on application.

Engineers using this circular will keep a duplicate record of the names of persons 

to whom they have been sent and the lands specified in each case. One copy of such 

list should be forwarded to this office and the other retained in the files of the local 

engineer.

These circulars should be used only after a canal line has been finally located, and 

it is specially important that they should not be sent out when such action is likely 

to complicate negotiations for rights of way for other lands. The sending of such 

circulars will commit the reclamation service to a particular canal location, and if 

prematurely sent out would encourage those from whom rights of way must be 

acquired by negotiation to demand greater compensation than they might otherwise

F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer.

9-263.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 

Washington, D. C., ..............

Mr...... .__............__

SIR:

The reclamation service established under authority of the Secretary of the Interior 

in pursuance of the act of Congress of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 388), is about to 

undertake the construction of a ditch or canal across lands in section.......... T.

---...---., E. ........... ..............M., of which it is understood that you are

the owner.

An examination of the records of the United States Land Office shows that your 

entry was made subsequent to October 2, 1888, and that the lands included therein 

are accordingly subject to the following provision of law:

"That in all patents for lands hereafter taken up under any of the land laws of the 

United States, or on entries or claims validated by this act west of the one hundredth 

meridian, it shall be expressed that there is reserved from the lands in said patent 

described a right of way thereon for ditches or canals constructed by the authority 

of the United States." (Act of August 30, 1890; 26 Stat. L., 391.)

The entries or claims validated by that act are such as may be asserted under 

entries made subsequent to October 2, 1888, as held by the Department in the circular of October 5, 1893. (See vol. 17, p. 521, of the Decisions of the Department of 

the Interior relating to public lands.)

It is accordingly intended to exercise the right conferred by this law, and to take 

necessary right of way across the said lands for the construction and maintenance of 

the ditch or canal required in connection with the reclamation work authorized under 

the act of June 17, 1902.

For information concerning the location of the proposed canal or ditch you are 

referred to the engineer in charge, Mr..................... at....................

You are further informed that you will be entitled to receive water for the irrigation of your lands from the said canal or ditch, in accordance with the provisions of 

of the said act and regulations authorized thereunder by the Secretary of the Interior. 

Very respectfully,

CJJAS. D. WAX.COTT, Director.
NEWELL.] CHIEF ENGINEER'S ADDRESS. 103

NOTICE OF APPROPRIATION OF WATER.

Section 8 of the reclamation act provides that the Secretary of the 

Interior, in carrying out the provisions of the act, shall proceed in 

conformity with the laws of any State or Territory relating to the control, appropriation, use, or distribution of water used in irrigation. 

Before the filing of the first notice of appropriation of water in any 

State the matter of the advisability of making such filing should be 

submitted to the chief engineer, because some of the State laws may 

be such that it is impossible to comply with them in conducting operations under the reclamation act.

The following is a general form of notice of appropriation of water, 

submitted as a -guide for engineers who file such notices. Authority 

to act in the name of the Secretary of the Interior can be obtained by 

applying to the chief engineer, who will obtain the same from the 

Director, the latter being empowered by the Secretaiy of the Interior 

to designate suitable persons to act in his behalf.

In many cases it will be necessary to vary this form of notice in 

order to meet the requirements of the local laws. When such a notice 

has been prepared it is advisable to submit a copy to the United States 

district attorney, calling his attention to the instructions of the 

Attorney-General, dated September 14, 1903, providing for giving 

advice to the engineers of the reclamation service concerning the 

preparation of such notices, and requesting any suggestions which he 

may have to offer in regard to the form submitted. The original 

notice, with evidence that it has been recorded in the proper State or 

Territorial office, should be promptly forwarded to the chief engineer.

FORM OF NOTICE OF WATER APPROPRIATION.

......................... Engineer, United States Geological Survey, thereunto

duly authorized by the Secretary of the Interior, for and on behalf of the United 

States of America, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 17, 

1902 (32 Stat. L., 388), claims, at the point where this notice is posted, all the unappropriated waters of the........................ River, both surface and underflow,

more specifically stated as amounting to..............cubic feet per second.

This notice is posted on..................... 190.., on a......---..-..tree on

the..............bank of the.........................River, in sec............

T........... R............ ..........M., at a point distant.......... feet and bearing. .........from the......... .corner of said section.

The water is to be used for irrigation, domestic, power, mechanical, and other 

beneficial uses in and upon lands situated in........................ counties, and

located in the following townships: ...._.....................-.......-.-.........

The water hereby appropriated is to be stored by means of a dam located in sec. 

.......... T............ R............ in a reservoir located in Ts..--.-....., R.

.......... and will be conducted to the points of intended use by means of canals,
104 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93

flumes, pipes, tunnels, or other appropriate means of conveying water, of the following dimensions, ............... or such other equivalent dimensions and grade as

will give a capacity of............. .cubic feet per second.

AFFIDAVIT.

.................. ... .being duly sworn, deposes and says thaton.................

190.., he did post a notice of appropriation of water, of which the foregoing is a 

copy, for......... .cubic feet per second of the waters of........................

River, on a.......... tree at a point described as follows: ............... (Describe

exactly as in notice.)

Following is a copy of a notice actually filed with the recorder of 

Riverside County, CaL, and posted as indicated:

Notice is hereby given that Edmund T. Perkins, thereunto duly authorized by the 

Secretary of the Interior, for and on behalf of the United States of America, and 

under the provisions of an act of Congress approved June 17, 1902, claims at the 

point where this- notice is posted all unappropriated waters of the Colorado River, 

both surface and under flow, to the extent of 100,000 cubic second-feet 4,000,000 

miners' inches. The point where this notice is posted is described as follows: A 

point of rocks known as Black Point, in California, county of Riverside, about section 7, township 5 south, range 24 east, San Bernardino meridian, California. The 

notice is posted on a box nailed to a tree.

The said water is claimed for irrigation, manufacturing purposes, water power, 

domestic use, and other beneficial uses, and the terminus and place of its intended 

use is in the valley extending from said point along the Colorado River to and below 

Picacho, Cal., and along the line of a proposed conduit. The water will be diverted 

by means of a diversion dam and will be conveyed through canals, flumes, wooden, 

iron, steel, and cement pipes to the place of intended use. The size of the canal 

will be 100 feet wide on the bottom and 10 feet deep, or of such dimensions as will 

give it an equivalent capacity. The size of the conduits are to be such as to give 

them sufficient capacity to carry the amount of water required.

LAND CLASSIFICATION.

The detailed topographic survey of irrigable lands should be followed 

at once by a classification of such character that it will be possible to 

divide the lands into farms capable of supporting a family. A farm 

unit may be 10, 80, 120, or 160 acres. Lots as designated on the 

official township plots may be used by themselves or with 40-acre tracts. 

Sufficient knowledge must be had of each -iO-acre tract to enable the 

preparation of a map of each farm.

The subdivision of the irrigable lands into farm units is one of tne 

most important duties of the reclamation service. The following circular of September 3, 1903, has been issued as a guide for such work:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. C., Septembers, 1903. 

To the Engineers in Charge of Reclamation Projects:

By decision of the Secretary of the Interior, under date of August 21, the reclamation service is authorized to classify and combine the different subdivisions within 

lands withdrawn for irrigation under the reclamation act so as to make practically
NEWELL.] DESERT-LAND ENTEIES. 105

homestead segregations of the entire territory under any one project, specifying the 

particular legal subdivisions that shall constitute each entry as to all public' land 

included in the withdrawal. Such segregations of homestead entries must be by 

legal subdivisions (40-acre tracts or lots) and be limited to areas of not less than 40 

nor more than 160 acres. All the subdivisions forming each entry must be of contiguous tracts. Two tracts containing only a corner in common are not contiguous, 

nor in general are they contiguous when separated l>y an existing meandered stream. 

The homestead entries so segregated may be of different areas in the same project, 

the intent being to provide in each homestead entry such quantity and quality of 

irrigable land as shall be sufficient for the support of a family.

This classification of the lands will be reported by the Director of the Geological 

Survey to the Secretary of the Interior for incorporation in the public notice of the 

lands irrigable under each project, as required by section 4 of the reclamation act. 

In submitting such list the area of irrigable land in each entry should be specified, 

as it will form the basis of the payment required for the water supplied from the 

irrigation works of the reclamation service.

Very respectfully, F. H. NEWELL,

Chief Engineer

In order that .the lands withdrawn for the purposes of the reclamation service ma}^ be protected against acquisition by parties making 

desert-land entries before the withdrawal became effective, the Secretaiy of the Interior has ordered that before the acceptance of final 

proof on desert entries within withdrawn areas, the land shall be 

examined and reported on by engineers of the reclamation service.

The restoration and re-marking of public-land-survey corners by the 

engineers and topographers of the reclamation service on lands withdrawn under the reclamation act has also been authorized.

The circular of July 21,1903, covering both of these subjects, follows:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, EECLAMATION SERVICE,

Washington, D. C., July 21, 1903.

FINAL PROOF OF DESERT-LAND ENTRIES.

By order of the Secretary of July 6, 1903, the reclamation service will report on 

all desert-land entries for which final proof is offered when the lands involved are 

included within withdrawals under the reclamation act. This office will be promptly 

advised of the offer to make such final proof; you will be notified thereof and will, 

as soon as possible thereafter, have the land inspected by one of your assistants upon 

whose discretion and judgment you can rely. It is important that your report be 

promptly forwarded to this office, in order that there shall be no delay in the disposition of these cases by the General Land Office.

Inclosed herewith are several copies of a circular containing all the provisions of 

law concerning desert-land proofs, together with the regulations thereunder. Other 

copies can be furnished if desired.

PUBLIC-LAND SURVEYS.

By order of the Department of July 14, 1903, the engineers and topographers of 

the reclamation service are authorized to restore and re-mark any corners of the 

public-land surveys which may be found to have been destroyed or obliterated in
106 FIEST EECLAMATION SERVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

whole or in part upon the lands included within withdrawals under the reclamation 

act. In the work done in this connection the rules in the circular on the Restoration 

of Lost or Obliterated Corners, issued by the General Land Office, March 14, 1901, 

and the requirements of the Manual of Surveying Instructions for the Survey of 

Public Lands issued by the General Land Office must be followed.

In restoring corners it is important that there shall be no interference with vested 

rights where the lands have been settled upon and that no corner should be regarded 

as missing until diligent search has been made for evidences of its original location.

For this work it will generally be necessary to have copies of the field notes on file 

in the office of the surveyor-general of the State or Territory in which the work is 

located.

The topographers and engineers should keep careful and complete record of field 

notes of the work with descriptions of corners established, in the manner required 

by the regulations of the Land Office. Such field notes should be kept on file in 

the office of the engineer in charge.

No corners are to be reestablished or re-marked unless they are required for the 

classification of irrigable lands or for the identification of lands the title to which 

must be acquired.

There is herewith transmitted a copy of the circular on the Restoration of Lost or 

Obliterated Corners, approved March 14,1901, and also a copy of the Manual of Surveying Instructions. Additional copies of these circulars can be obtained on request, 

but you are advised that copies of the manual should be carefully preserved, as the 

published edition is not very large.

F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer.

General suggestions as to the withdrawal and classification of lands 

have'been given in the book of Instructions, beginning on page 96. 

Additional suggestions are desired from men in the field, such as may 

lead to the preparation of more specific instructions, based upon 

experience.

Cooperation is being had in some cases with the Bureau of Soils of 

the Department of Agriculture, and memoranda have been prepared 

with reference to the examinations of lands along Colorado River:

FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS.

When it appears probable that any particular project is practicable 

and will be carried into effect, steps should be taken looking toward 

the organization of an association of the people owning land under the 

project. This law is very general in terms, and it is necessary to 

supply by administrative action a body of rules and regulations covering such associations.

The object of these associations is to enable prompt and effective 

dealing between the Secretary of the Interior, represented by the 

engineers of the reclamation service, and the water users. The latter 

should have a common agent with whom business may be transacted, 

so that it will be practicable to reach definite conclusion on points that 

may be at issue. It is impossible to deal satisfactorily with the indi-
NEWELL.] WORK IN HAND. 107

viduals of a community where the members have had little or no 

experience in irrigation, and where there is wide diversity of opinion 

on matters of detail. When an association is formed, in which the 

majority rules, it is possible to refer to it all questions relating to 

water distribution and all other questions that form sources of individual discontent, leaving these to be settled under State laws or 

customs, or according to the wishes of the majority in interest.

Much time and thought has been devoted by many persons to the 

formation of these associations, and in particular the matter has been 

worked out with great care in the Salt River Valley, Arizona. The 

results of this work will be presented by Mr. B. A. Fowler, the 

president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, and reference should be made to pages 130-138 for the principal facts.

WORK IN HAND.

The following paragraphs give briefly the present condition of the 

work in each of the sixteen States and Territorities. This is being 

pushed forward as rapidly as possible consistent with economy of 

administration and efficient organization of the experienced men 

available.

In Arizona detailed surveys in connection with the proposed dam on 

Salt River, at the mouth of Tonto Creek, have been continued, and 

plans have been made for a power plant, cement mill, and other 

structures essential to the construction of the great dam. An organization of the water users has been effected, and ample time is afforded 

for holders of arid land to indicate their wishes as regards obtaining 

a supply of water from the Government reservoir, if constructed. The 

public lands in the Salt River Valley have been withdrawn from entry 

under the terms of the law, to be reclaimed if there should be sufficient water for any considerable part of these. An alternative 

project that near San Carlos, on Gila River has also been under 

consideration, and facts have been obtained concerning its feasibility. 

Other surveys and reconnaissances have been made in various localities, 

notably along Colorado River.

In California the most important work done has been that in connection with the storage and utilization of the waters of Colorado 

River, in the southeastern part of the State. Any project here must 

probably be of considerable magnitude, the complete utilization of the 

river being in some respects analogous to the achievements of the 

British engineers on the Nile, in Egypt. Examinations have also been 

made in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and facts have been 

obtained upon which to base a comparison of various projects and a 

determination of their relative cost and importance.
108 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

In Colorado attention has been given principally to the tunnel which 

it is proposed to build to convey the waters of Gunnison River to the 

Uncompahgre Valley, in the vicinity of the towns of Montrose and 

Delta. An examination has also been made of the proposed highline canal from Grand River, near Grand Junction, and of the feasibility of diverting and storing the flood water of South Platte River 

in the vicinity of Sterling. A general reconnaissance has also been 

begun in the northwestern part of the State.

In Idaho opportunities have been found at several places for reclaiming arid land by using the waters of Snake River and its tributaries, 

especially b}^ utilizing as reservoirs the lakes at the headwaters of 

Snake River. A large tract of land has been reserved on the Snake 

River Desert, in the vicinity of the town of Dubois; another tract 

-reserved lies below American Falls, near Minidoka; a third project 

contemplates the irrigation of lands lying between Boise and Payette 

rivers, west of the city of Boise.

In Kansas a number of small projects have been examined, but none 

of these appear to fall within the scope of the reclamation law. A 

very thorough study has been made of western Kansas and of the 

Great Plains in general, in order to ascertain the opportunities for 

obtaining deep or artesian water. A map showing the depth to the 

water-bearing strata and the probability that the water will rise to the 

surface has been prepared and is in process of publication.

In Montana surveys have been made for canals along Milk River, 

and steps have been taken to procure the necessary reservoir sites. A 

general reconnaissance has also been begun in the central part of the 

State, between Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, and examination has 

been made of the opportunities for diverting the Yellowstone in the 

eastern part of the State.

In Nebraska the principal opportunities for reclamation are bound 

up with the complete use, storage, and utilization of the waters of 

North Platte River. The reservoir sites are in the State of Wyoming. 

An examination has been made of these, and also of the feasibility of 

covering arid land in the western part of Nebraska by canals heading 

in Wyoming.

In Nevada construction has been begun, as already stated, in the 

Truckee Canal, taking water from the river of this name, the head of 

the canal being in the canyon below Reno and above the town of 

Wadsworth. This canal will take the flood or excess waters of Truckee 

River to a reservoir site on the lower part of Carson River, from which 

the water can be conducted out upon the desert lands lying to the 

east.

In New Mexico a number of surveys have been made upon Pecos 

River and the Rio Grande. On the former stream the principal locali-
NKWELL.] WORK IN HAND. 109

ties are above Roswell, at what is known as Urton Lake, and below 

Roswell on Hondo River. Maps of reservoir sites on the Rio Grande 

above the Mesilla Valley are also being prepared.

North Dakota presents few problems of national importance. The 

principal water supply of the State is found in Missouri River, the 

fall of which is so gentle that canals can not be taken from the stream. 

The tributaries of the Missouri in this State are small or intermittent, 

or are bordered by valleys so narrow that any considerable development 

of irrigation does not seem practicable. Pumping may be resorted to, 

and for this purpose lignite may be obtained. The efficiency of this 

method of irrigation is being investigated.

Oklahoma is in many respects similar to North Dakota, in that large 

reclamation projects are impracticable or unnecessary. The greater 

part of the Territory lies east of the one-hundredth meridian and irrigation is not regarded by settlers as playing an important part in the 

agricultural development of its area. Beaver. County, extending from 

the one-hundredth to the one hundred and third meridian, is to a large 

extent arid, but water must be supplied to these lands by the diversion 

and storage of flood waters, which is of doubtful practicability on a 

large scale.

In Oregon important detailed surveys are being made in. three 

localities, one of these being in Harney County, near the central part 

of the State; another on Malheur River, on the east; and the third on 

Umatilla River, near the northern boundary. Each of these projects 

has certain advantages and difficulties, and a very careful examination 

must be made before the feasibility and relative merits of these can be 

known.

In South Dakota there are apparent opportunities for reclamation 

in areas near the Black Hills. Several small' streams issue from this 

group of hills, and storage of flood waters is believed to be practicable. 

The principal opportunity for reclamation thus far discovered is that 

near Belle Fourche, but other irrigable lands, mainly in private ownership, have been noted east of Rapid City.

In Utah the people, through a State commission, have asked that 

first attention be given to Utah Lake. This body of water receives 

the drainage from a considerable part of the mountain area in the 

center of the State, and the greater portion of this water is lost by 

evaporation. The problem is largely to prevent by one means or 

another this enormous waste, which has been estimated to be equivalent to 1,000 cubic feet per second during the irrigating season. 

Another project under examination contemplates the use of Bear Lake, 

which lies partly in Idaho and partly in Utah.

In Washington the great body of irrigable land is in the central 

part of the State, within what is known as the great bend of the
110 FIRST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Columbia. This land is below the level of Spokane River, at the foot 

of Spokane Falls, and may be reached by water from this or other 

sources if the cost is not prohibitory. The scheme is gigantic in its 

proportions, and its feasibility can not definitely be determined without 

careful surveys. Similar bodies of land north of the Columbia and 

near Okanogan can be reclaimed probably at less cost.

Wyoming contains mountain masses from which come several of the 

larger rivers of the arid region. The altitude is high, but there are a 

number of opportunities for reclaiming desert land. The most notable 

of these is in the vicinity of Cody, in the Bighorn Basin. Surveys 

have been made in this area, and also on the east side of the Bighorn 

Mountains, to ascertain the possibility of storing water in Lake De 

Smet. On North Platte River also extensive surveys are being made 

to determine the possibility of storing its flood waters for use in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska.

As each of the projects above mentioned contemplates large works, 

requiring construction that is more or less involved in character, and 

as hydraulic works are difficult to build, and all questions of safety 

and stability must be settled in advance with great care, it is necessary 

to make examinations with unusual thoroughness. Instructions are 

given to ascertain all of the facts and to have every essential feature 

guarded in the most thorough manner possible. In this work it is 

better to run the risk of criticism for slow progress than rush into 

expensive yet inadequately considered construction, especially where 

safety is involved.

PRINTED FORMS.

Some of the forms for customary use in the various operations are 

here presented for general information and discussion.

FORM OF CONTRACT.

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this .......... day of .................

..._._, one thousand nine hundred and ....... by and between the United States

of America, acting in this behalf by...-..--....--.-.----, Secretary of the Interior,

party of the first part, and ................-........---....--.----., party of the

second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns,

WITNESSETH, That in pursuance of authority for the construction of irrigation 

works contained in the act of Congress approved June 17, 1902 (32 Stat., 388), entitled '' An act appropriating the receipts from the sale and disposal of public lands 

in certain States and Territories to the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid "land," the parties hereto have mutually covenanted and agreed, and 

by these presents do covenant and agree, to and with each other, as .follows:

ARTICLE 1. The second party agrees, under penalty of a bond conditioned upon a due 

compliance with the provisions of this agreement, to construct and complete .......

in accordance with terms of the attached advertisement, proposal, and specifications, 

the same being made a part of this contract, excepting in so far as the specifications 

may be amended or modified by the terms of this agreement.
NEWELL.} FOEM OF CONTRACTS. Ill

ARTICLE 2. For and in consideration of the faithful performance of the stipulations of this contract, the second party shall be paid, upon the presentation of proper 

accounts approved by the Chief Engineer of the Reclamation Service, the Director 

of the Geological Survey, and by the Secretary of the Interior, in the following 

manner:

ARTICLE 3. The contractors must save, keep, bear harmless, and fully indemnify 

the United States and any of its officers or agents from all damages or claims for 

damages, costs, or expenses in law or equity that may at any time arise or be set up 

for any infringement of the patent rights of any person or persons in consequence of 

the use by the Department of the Interior, or by any of its officers or agents, of articles supplied under this proposal, and of which the contractor is not the patentee or 

assignee, or lawfully entitled to sell the same.

[Here follows space for inserting additional articles.]

ARTICLE . It is expressly understood by the second party that, in conformity 

with the requirements of section 3737 of the Revised Statutes, neither this contract 

nor any interest therein shall be transferred to any other party or parties, and that any 

such transfer shall cause the annulment of the contract so far as the United States 

is concerned; all rights of action, however, for any breach of this contract by the 

contracting parties being reserved to the United States.

ARTICLE . It is further expressly understood that no Member of or Delegate to 

Congress, officer, agent, or employee of the Government is or shall be admitted to 

any share or part of this contract, or to any benefits which may arise therefrom, 

and the provisions of sections 3739, 3740, and 3741 of the Revised Statutes of the 

United States, relating to contracts, enter into and form a part of this agreement so 

far as the same may be applicable.

In witness whereof the undersigned have hereunto subscribed their names and 

affixed their seals the day and year first above written.

[DEPARTMENT SEAL.]

......................................... [SEAL.]

Secretary of the Interior, for and on behalf of the

United States of America, party of the first part.

Two witnesses to each signature. 

P. 0. address............................ J

P. 0. address............................J

(Executed in quintuplicate.)

......................................... [SEAL. ]

Party of the second part.

The preamble will have the following form in the case of a firm:

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this .......... day of ...................

one thousand nine hundred and ....... by and between the United States of America, acting in this behalf by..--..----......-..-....---........-...., Secretary of

the Interior, party of the first part,, and .........................................

and ..................................... partners, doing business under the firm

name and style of .......................................,of.....................

......................... party of the second part, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns.

The preamble will have the following form in the case of a corporation:

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this .......... day of...................

one thousand nine hundred and ....... acting in this behalf by ..................
112 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93. 

..-.--.-..---.--.-...., Secretary of the Interior, party of the first part, and......

..............:..........................., of......... ................ ........

................. a corporation duly organized and existing in the State of...--...

................. party of the second part, its successors and assigns.

FORM OF BOND

The following is a form of bond used when the contractor (principal) 

is an individual. A similar form is used, with appropriate changes, 

when the principal is a firm or a corporation.

BOND.

Know all men ]>y these presents, that we, ..

of .---.---.--.-----.-----,-.--.., county of ................................ and

State of .-..--.-..-...............-., principal, and ............................

of ........................... t ...., county of............................... and

State of ...-----..........._..._...., and ..........-.......,-..-.-.-..--....-..

of .... ....--..-...-..........-.-., county of .....-..--.-..............-..-, and

State of ............................. sureties, are held and firmly bound unto the

United States of America in the sum of.__.___..__._.....__...---..........---...

dollars ($ ..........), lawful money of the United States, for which payment, well

and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and each of us, our, and each of our, heirs, 

executors, administrators, and assigns, for and in the whole, jointly and severally, 

firmly by these presents.

Sealed with our seals and attested by our signatures, at .__..__.....___....-....._

this ................ day of ................. in the year of our Lord one thousand

..--....-. hundred and ....................

The nature of this obligation is such that if the said ............................

his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, or any of them, shall, and do in all 

things well and truly observe, perform, fulfill, accomplish, and keep all .and singular 

the covenants, conditions, and agreements whatsoever, which on the part of the said

his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, are, or ought to be, observed, performed, fulfilled, accomplished, and kept, comprised, or mentioned in certain articles of agreement, bearing date the ............ day of ............... one thousand

........ hundred and ............... between the said ..........................

and the said ....................... ...., Secretary of the Interior, concerning the

according to the true intent and meaning of said articles of agreement, and shall 

promptly make payments to all persons supplying labor and materials in the prosecution of the work provided for, then the above obligation to be void; otherwise, to 

remain in full force and virtue.

In testimony whereof, the said................................................

as principal.. and..............................................................

...........................................................^......., as sureties,
NEWELL.] FORM OF BOND. 113

have hereunto subscribed their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first 

above written. 

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of 

(P.O. address):

(P.O. address): 

(P.O. address): 

(P.O. address):

(P. O. address)

" (P.O. address): 

STATE OF.........

.[SEAL.]

[SEAL.]

[SEAL.]

COUNTY OF.

Personally appeared before me a........................

in and for said.................................. the said

[Here insert names of principal and sureties.]

who signed the foregoing obligation, and who made solemn oath that they and each 

of them own and possess property not exempt by law from execution, over and 

above their debts and liabilities and free from incumbrances of the value of the sum 

of......................................... dollars.

[Principal and sureties sign.]

Sworn 'to and subscribed as above written before me this .............. day of

........................ 1......

[L. s.] [Magistrate's signature.]#..^.....................................

the bond is executed in the District of Columbia, the following certificate 

must be signed by a United States officer other than a notary public. If executed 

elsewhere, by a judge of the United States court, or a United States district attorney 

of the district in which the sureties reside. 

............................... .District

......................... 1......

«If exe 

tifled by

uted outside District of Columbia, authority of the officer administering oath must be cer- 

,he clerk of a court of records under seal of court.

rot 93 04 8
114 , FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93. 

I hereby certify that. .........................................................

the sureties who have signed the foregoing bond are known to me as residents of 

.--.......-...---............-..---.........-------.---.---..-..---....--., and

citizens of the United States, and that I believe them to be amply sufficient security 

for the amount thereof, and that the bond is good.

REGULATIONS CONCERNING CONTRACTS AND BONDS.

The following paragraphs contain the regulations governing the 

preparation and execution of contracts and bonds. These are taken 

from departmental form No. 1-366, dated April 8, 1903, and signed 

by Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior:

CONTRACTS.

1. Every contract must be reduced to writing and signed by the contracting parties 

at the end thereof.

2. The post-office address of each party and witness must appear in the contract, 

all dates plainly written and blanks carefully filled, and all particulars and conditions stated as fully and clearly as practicable.

3. Every contract must contain the following clause: No Member of or Delegate 

to Congress, or any other officer or agent of the United States, either directly or 

indirectly, himself, or by any other person in trust for him, or for his use and benefit, 

or on his account, is a party to or in any manner interested, in whole or in part, in 

this contract, or in the enjoyments, benefits, profits, or emoluments arising therefrom. (Rev. Stats., sees. 3739-3742, inclusive.).

4. Erasures, interlineations, or other irregularities must be explained over the signature and seal of the parties to the instrument, and witnessed by the officer before 

whom the same is executed.

5. No assignment or transfer of any contract, or interest therein, will be recognized 

by the Department, and such assignment or transfer will operate as an annulment of 

the contract so far as the United States are concerned or interested therein.

6. All contracts must be executed in duplicate, unless otherwise directed.

7. Whenever the contract is between the Government and a copartnership, in 

addition to the firm name, each individual member thereof must sign his own name 

thereto; the firm -name alone will not be sufficient, and wherever the firm name 

appears in the contract it should be indicated thus: A, B, C, and D, partners doing 

business under the firm name of (here insert firm name), and the contract must be 

signed in the same manner.

8. Where the contract is between the Government and a corporation or an incorporated company, it may be executed in the name thereof by the officer authorized 

so to do by law or resolution, but in all such cases evidence shall be furnished the 

Department of the corporate existence of such company or incorporation, together 

with a certificate from the secretary or other officer having charge of the seal thereof, 

that the board of directors or executive committee duly authorized the making of 

the contract for and on behalf of the company by such individual; the act of such 

officer in executing the contract shall be binding upon the company or corporation 

represented by him, and the manner of fixing the signature thereto must be by first 

signing the name of the company or corporation, followed by the signature of the 

party authorized to act therefor, thus: (Name of company) , by 

~ (giving official character).

9. In the execution of contracts the names of all the parties thereto must be written in full and an impression or peal affixed to each; signatures by initials will not
-] CONTRACT AND BOND REGULATIONS. 115

>pted; each of the signatures of the contracting parties must be witnessed by 

t two persons, and the signatures of the witnesses should be written opposite

be ace 

at lea.' 

the sij natures witnessed.

^o contract signed by an agent or firm, or by one member thereof for another, 

in attorney, will be accepted, unless the execution thereof be accompanied by 

executed power of attorney from the party or parties for whom such agent, 

3r, or attorney shall act, which must specifically set forth the purpose for

10.

or by 

a duly 

memb

which] it was given, describing in full the names of the contracting parties, the date, 

and object thereof.

1 BONDS.

1. Each contract must be accompanied by a joint and several bond in the sum of 

at lea$t 50 per cent of the amount of the contract price, executed by the principal 

and at least two individual sureties conditioned for the faithful performance of the 

terms (thereof; but a corporate surety duly qualified under the act of Congress of 

August 13, 1894, may be accepted as sole surety. Corporate sureties on bonds are 

preferred.

2. The full name of the principal and each of the sureties should be written in the 

body o f and signed to the bond, and there must be a seal of wax, wafer, or other

adhesi re substance attached to the signature of the obligor and each of the sureties.

The printed words "seal" or "scroll" will not be deemed sufficient.

3. TJie principal and each of the sureties must sign the bond in the presence of 

two persons, who shall sign their names thereto as attesting witnesses, and it must 

appearl for whom each witness signs, but the same witnesses may witness all the signature$, if signed in their presence.

4. The sureties must justify in amounts the aggregate of which will be equal to at 

least frvjidce the penalty of the bond. This rule applies to corporate as well as to 

individual sureties; and corporate sureties will be required to attach to each bond a 

copy o| the last statement of their assets and liabilities as rendered pursuant to section 4 <ji>f the act of Congress of August 13, 1894, together with a certificate, under 

corporate seal, by the secretary of the corporation, as to the official character of the 

person [signing for the corporation, and that such person is so authorized.

5. AV here a party or parties become surety or sureties to more than one bond, 

evidence must be filed to satisfy the Department that the said party or parties are 

possessed of property not exempt from execution over and above all debts and 

liabilities, and free from all incunibraiices of value not less than the sum of

the sev sral bonds for which they are sureties.

6. W henever such affidavit is made before a notary public or justice of the peace 

outsidei of the District of Columbia, the jurat shall be accompanied by a certificate 

of the clerk of the district or circuit court under the seal thereof, in the county and 

State ill which such notary or justice resides, that at the time of administering such 

oath sui;h notary or justice held such office and was duly authorized by law to 

administer such oath.

7. No person who is a bonded officer or married woman will be accepted as a 

surety, but unmarried women may be accepted as such, provided that the officer 

adminii tering the oath certifies that they possess sufficient property in their own 

right to make them sufficient sureties, and that they are single.

8. W lere a corporation is a party to a contract, no officer thereof will be accepted 

as surety thereon, and the same rule applies where a copartnership is a party to a 

contrac

9. W lere the sureties are other than corporate, it must appear in the affidavit or 

oath of justification that such surety is more than 21 years old and in all other 

respects legally competent to make and enter into a contract.
116 FIEST RECLAMATION SEEVIOE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

10. Bonds may be executed before a clerk of a court of record, or before any other 

officer authorized to administer oaths, by observing rule 6 herein.

11. All bonds must be accompanied by a certificate as to the sufficiency of the 

sureties thereon, signed by a judge of a United States court, a United States district 

attorney, a United States postmaster (or such other officer of the United States as 

may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior), residing in the district where 

such bonds are executed. The foregoing does not apply to corporate sureties who 

have complied with the requirements of paragraph 4.

12. Special pains must be taken to prevent erasures or mutilations of any kind in 

any bond, but where made they must be explained by a certificate of the officer 

before whom the instrument is executed '' that such erasures or mutilations were 

made before the bond was signed by the obligor and the sureties."

13. Any contract or bond not executed in conformity with the foregoing regulations will be returned for an observance thereof.

[At the conclusion of the address by the chief engineer there was a 

general discussion which was participated in by the engineers present, 

numerous questions being asked, the answers to which have been now 

embodied in the text of the paper presented in the preceding pages. 

A general programme for discussion was then outlined, the States and 

Territories being taken up in alphabetic order.

As a preliminary to this systematic discussion of work in the field 

short addresses were made by Mr. N. H. Darton, geologist, upon the 

underground waters in the reclamation States; by Mr. Gifford Pinchot 

on the relation of forestry to irrigation, and by others present on 

various phases of the work.]
PAPERS READ AT THE CONFERENCE.

WESTERN HYDROLOGY.

By N. H. DABTON.

[The western section of the division of hydrology was created in the 

early part of 1903 to make a systematic investigation of underground 

water resources of all kinds and to collect all data relating to geology 

that have been developed by deep borings. There was and is a very 

large demand upon the Survey for information regarding prospects 

for using underground waters, and as the reports available covered 

only a few restricted areas it was evident that there was great need for 

an extended study of this important resource. As the investigation 

was almost entirely a geologic one, it was placed in the hands of geologists. Fourteen parties have been at work in the field, the area 

under investigation comprising the arid lands of the reclamation 

States and Texas.

Much of the work of the western section of hydrology is closely 

related to the reclamation service, as a large share of attention will be 

given to areas in which underground waters may be brought to the 

surface and employed in irrigating lands that are now unproductive, 

many of which are so situated that they can not be economically irrigated by the diversion or storage of surface waters. Some of the 

operations of the section and some of the results accomplished are 

here given, by States.]

Arizona. Mr. Willis T. Lee has made a very detailed examination 

of the geology and underground water resources of a portion of Salt 

Elver Valley, mainly lying south of Phoenix, and the preparation of a 

report on the results is now far advanced. The wells have been investigated and the light which their records throw on the underground 

geology has been duly considered. The volume of water available, the 

prospects for obtaining additional supplies from deeper horizons, and 

the conditions under which these waters may be pumped to the surface 

and used for irrigation have received due attention. Mr. Lee has also 

explored the Hualpai, Chino, Sacramento, and Aubrey valleys in western Arizona with a view to ascertaining the prospects for obtaining 

water supplies from the detrital materials with which these valleys are 

filled. Further work is to be done in Arizona during the winter to

117
118 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

determine the geologic structure and underground water conditions in 

various portions of the Territory.

California. Mr. W. C. Mendenhall and assistant are engaged in a 

detailed investigation of the geology and underground water resources 

of the region about San Bernardino and Riverside. It is expected that 

the results of these studies will throw light upon the conditions under 

which waters occur in the detritus-filled valleys and the broad, flat, 

alluvial fans at the foot of the mountain slopes in southern California.

Colorado. Considerable attention has been given to obtaining additional information regarding the prospects for artesian flows in a portion 

of Colorado lying east of the Rocky Mountain front, and numerous 

measurements have been made of the strata on their upturned edges 

along the Front range and Twin Butte uplift. Considerable new information was obtained as to the extent of districts in which flowing 

waters are obtainable, and one area was found in Prowers Count}7 which 

was not heretofore regarded as within the artesian belt.

Early in September Mr. C. E. Siebenthal began work in the San 

Luis Valley artesian area. He is making a canvass of artesian wells 

and determining the geologic structure. The purpose of his investigation is to determine the source, extent, geologic conditions, and volume 

of the artesian waters.

Kansas. Some deep borings are being sunk in the northwestern 

portion of Kansas by persons hoping to find oil, and as these wells 

will afford much evidence on the underground geology and prospects 

for water they are being watched very closely as to materials penetrated and water horizons developed.

Nebraska. During the summer Prof. G. E. Condra, of the State 

University, has examined the geology and wells in the northeastern 

portion of Nebraska. He has determined the extent of the artesian 

basin, and his results will throw much needed light on the structure 

and water prospects of a wide area southward.

Prof. E. H. Barbour, State geologist, has continued his compilation of information relating to underground water resources of the 

entire State, and will soon submit a report giving information of all 

important wells.

New Mexico. Prof. C. R. Keyes has prepared a report on the geology and underground water supplies of portions of the Rio Grande 

Valley, in the southern part of New Mexico, which will soon be ready 

for publication. A part of the expense of this work is paid out of 

Territorial funds.

Prof. C. N. Gould made an expedition in September into the northeastern portion of the Territory to study the relations of the'' Red Beds," 

which he followed to the Rocky Mountain front. One of the most 

important problems in eastern New Mexico is to ascertain the prospects for water in these "Red Beds " and underlying formations, and, as
NEWELL.] SEARCH FOR UNDERGROUND WATERS. 119

there is great need for water in the district, special consideration is to 

be given to this question.

North Dakota. Prof. I). E. Willard has continued his studies of the 

geology and underground waters in the Red River Valley region in 

North Dakota. He has obtained additional data to complete the report 

and folios of the late 0. M. Hall, and has extended the investigation 

into adjoining areas.

Prof. F. A. Wilder, former State geologist, has examined the lignite 

deposits in the western portion of the State, to ascertain to what extent 

they ma}^ prove available as fuel in pumping water for irrigation. 

The results of his examination will soon be readjr for publication.

Oklahoma. Prof. C. N. Gould has continued his studies of the "Red 

Beds" of Oklahoma and their water supplies. In August and September he made an expedition to examine the western portion of the 

Territory and adjacent regions.

Oregon. Prof. I. C. Russell has made an expedition through central 

Oregon to determine the geologic structure and ascertain the prospects 

for underground waters. Artesian conditions were discovered at 

several localities where their development would be of considerable 

importance.

South Dakota. Prof. J. E. Todd, State geologist, has continued his 

canvass of South Dakota for well data through the eastern portion of 

the State, and has obtained a large amount of important information 

bearing on the extent of the artesian area and the underground 

geology. He is giving much attention to the collection of evidence 

on diminution of flow and pressure in some districts to ascertain its 

cause.

Texas. Mr. G. B. Richardson has continued his work in Texas, 

jointly with the State mineral survej7 , to ascertain the geology and 

prospects for water in deep wells in El Paso County and a portion of 

Reeves County. He has made excellent progress, and has obtained a 

large number of data on the rocks and their structure.

Washington. Mr. Henry Landes, State geologist of Washington, 

has made a canvass for all available data as to underground waters 

in the State, and will soon have a report ready for publication.

Wyoming. The principle work in Wyoming has been done by Mr. 

C. A. Fisher, in the Bighorn Basin. The geologic relations and structure have been studied with care, and several horizons of underground 

waters have been found to exist. Much additional work, however, will 

be required before the investigation can be completed.

Further observations have been made along the Laramie Front 

range to determine the thickness of the strata that dip under the 

plains.

In the region north of the Black Hills considerable work has been 

done, mainly by Prof. C. C. O'Harra, and it has been discovered that
120 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

artesian waters may be expected at moderate depths in an area of considerable size in the valley of Little Missouri River and some of its 

branches near the Wyoming-Montana State line.

FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION.

By GIFFOED PINCHOT, Chief Forester.

[Mr. Pinchot spoke of the importance of conference between the 

members of the reclamation service and those of the Bureau of 

Forestry in order to bring about the most economical and effective 

administration of the forests and arid lands. In brief, he made the 

following statement:]

In the delicate and important task of administering the forest 

reserves, which are so vitally necessary to the well-being of industries 

and communities throughout the West, the Government is constantly 

met by the demands of conflicting interests. In each case it is essential that the administration of the reserves should meet the needs of 

the people; that each reserve should be maintained in its highest 

possible present usefulness, yet protected with the greatest care in its 

continued utility to the community.

The idea of permanent usefulness is fundamental in every case. 

The four great timber-using industries lumbering, building, mining, 

and transportation are peculiarly dependent for tlieir future upon a 

sustained supply of timber from the Government forest reserves, and 

special provisions must be made to meet their needs. The use of the 

mature timber is often required, and is almost universally advisable 

in a healthy, growing forest, and provision is made by the law for its 

disposition to those who need it. The use of the reserves will grow 

steadily greater and more necessary as time goes on, and every care 

should be taken to safeguard the young growth for the future.

For the present much the most important use of the forest reserves 

is to supply water to the irrigator, and their utility in this respect 

should be preserved in every possible way. This use, too, will 

increase with time, and it will become more and more evident that 

the foundation of the irrigation development of the West lies in the 

wise administration of the forest reserves. Not only can the present 

supplies of water be conserved by the right handling of the forest, but 

there is no question whatever that in many localities they may be 

largely increased. From this point of view as well as from many 

others, protection from fire is the first duty of the Government 

toward these reserves.

[Mr. Pinchot also called attention to the message of President 

Roosevelt to the Irrigation Congress, and spoke of the interest shown 

by the President in the work of the foresters and engineers. The 

following telegram from the President was received by the congress:]
NEWELL.] FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 121 

TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT.

OYSTER BAY, N. Y., September 15, 1903. 

To the Irrigation Congress, Ogden, Utah:

The passage of the national irrigation law was one of the great steps not only in 

the forward progress of the United States but of all mankind. It was the beginning 

of an achievement so great that we hesitate to predict the outcome. But it was only 

the beginning. Now that the law is an accomplished fact it must be given effect. 

To that end the reclamation service, organized under the national irrigation law of 

June 17, 1902, has been pushing its surveys and examinations of possible irrigation 

projects energetically in each of the thirteen States and three Territories named in 

the act. Some of the projects which promised well at first are found on careful 

study to be impracticable, either because of scanty water supply or of great cost; 

others must await higher values in land; while still others stand the test and are 

ready for immediate construction. The feasible projects are always large and costly, 

because private enterprise has already seized upon the smaller and less expensive 

ones, leaving to the Government the great works which are to bear so essential a 

part in bringing the nation to its full development. Great care and highest engineering skill are required to plan and build such works, which are among the most 

difficult undertakings of mankind. They must be built for permanence and safety, 

for they are to last and spread prosperity for centuries. To design and build such 

works a body of engineers of the highest character has been brought together in the 

reclamation service, for only men impartially selected for capacity alone are capable 

of creating these great structures.

Merit must govern not only in the selection of the men, but still more in the 

selection of the projects. Every reclamation project selected for construction must 

possess the qualities which commend it as a national undertaking, certain to reclaim 

large tracts of arid land and to support in well-being a dense and vigorous population.

Vast though the benefits of the reclamation law will be, many disappointments 

necessarily await both the advocates of special projects and the men whose desire for 

accomplished results outruns the slow and steady development of these great undertakings. It should be borne in mind that a broad survey of all possible projects 

gives new conception of their relative value, and that a work of prime importance to 

one group of men may seem less desirable in the light of wider knowledge. Nor is 

it wise in large affairs to begin construction first and to elaborate details afterwards. 

Each important point must be carefully studied in advance and the whole plan 

tested and approved before work can begin. Yet if we proceed both cautiously and 

persistently under this beneficent law we may confidently expect the largest possible 

development of our arid lands and their settlement by industrious, prosperous, selfrespecting men and women, who will exchange the products of irrigated agriculture 

for the products of mills and factories throughout the United States. Such communities, flourishing in what is now the desert, will finally take their places among the 

strongest pillars of our Commonwealth.

The irrigation development of the arid West can not stand alone. Forestry is the 

companion and support of irrigation. -Without forestry irrigation must fail. Permanent irrigation development and forest destruction can not exist together. Never 

forget that the forest-reserve policy of the National Government means the use of all 

the resources of the forest reserves. There is little profit in destruction compared 

with use. The settlement of the great arid West by the makers of homes is the 

central object both of the irrigation and the forest policies of the United" States. In 

forestry, as in irrigation, the immediate private interest of some individuals must 

occasionally yield to their permanent advantage, which is the public good. The 

benefits of forestry are not only for the future but for the present. The forest 

reserves are for all the people, but first for the people in their immediate neigh-
122 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

borhood, for whom supplies of wood and water are among the prime necessities of life. 

The wiser and more skillf ul the management of the reserves by trained men, the greater 

obviously will their usefulness be to the people. We must never allow our chagrin 

at temporary defects and difficulties in the management of the forest reserves to 

blind us to the absolute necessity of these reserves to the people of the West. Support of the forest-reserve policy has grown with wonderful rapidity in the West during 

the last few years. It will continue to grow till the last vestige of opposition, now 

almost gone, has wholly disappeared before a true understanding of the object and 

effect of forest reservation. The greater the support of the forest reserves by the people 

of the West, the greater the assurance that the national irrigation policy will not fail; 

for the preservation of the forests is vital to the success of this policy.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

COLONIZATION.

By FREDERICK DE L. BOOTH TUCKER.

[Comdr. Frederick de L. Booth Tucker, of the Salvation Army, addressed the engineers on the subject of colonization, showing the great 

importance to the reclamation work of systematic and careful colonization of the vacant land. After the works are completed the great 

problem will be to organize and control the diverse elements to consolidate the settlers into a community competent to utilize the great 

works. His remarks, in brief, are as follows:]

There are probably few more important questions now occupying 

the attention of this country nay, of the world than that of rendering habitable and populating millions of acres of rich land which has 

hitherto been labeled "desert" and "arid," owing to the lack of water. 

This is a magnificent undertaking, worthy of the combined genius of 

the wise men of the West.

Personally I feel the deepest interest in the question of irrigation. 

Having spent some twenty years in India, part of the time as a government official responsible for the welfare of the people, and part of 

the time as a Salvation Army missionary, wearing the Hindoo garb, 

dwelling in their houses, and intimately acquainted with their daily 

life, I have had, perhaps, exceptional opportunities for witnessing the 

immense advantages that lie within the reach of systematic irrigation. 

In India some of the largest rivers are captured and guided from their 

mountain sources to their ocean outlet, reclaiming on the way millions 

of acres that would otherwise be mere desert, and returning in some 

cases as much as 15 and 20 per cent interest on the capital invested. 

Not only is the direct flow of the river utilized, but the Hindoo farmer 

utilizes also to the utmost the underflow by means of wells worked 

day and night with Persian wheels and bullock power.

One main reason, however, why, in India, irrigation has met with 

such remarkable success has been the fact that on the border land, and 

often in the very midst of these irrigated areas, dwells an enormous 

and purely agricultural community, consisting of small farmers a
NEWELL.] COLONIZATION AND IBEIGATION. 123

nation of market gardeners one might almost call them who are ready 

to occupy every acre of land as fast as it is irrigated, and who have 

been trained in all the advantages of irrigation from childhood. The 

movement of population has there been automatic, and has required 

but little guidance or encouragement on the part of the government.

Our case is somewhat different, and careful consideration must be 

given to the subject of colonization. Irrigation is dependent for its 

success upon population. Colonization may be defined as the systematic populating of hitherto unoccupied tracts of land. The lack of 

systematic colonization has caused the failure of not a few excellent 

and thoroughly practicable irrigation schemes. The reason for this is 

not far to seek. A canal which will irrigate, say 100,000 acres of land, 

is necessarily a costly enterprise. The interest and upkeep can easily 

be met if the whole tract be quickly occupied. But if a small portion 

only be settled, either the colonists will be disheartened and driven 

away by the heavy charges made in the effort to meet expenses and 

pay dividends, or the investors will become discouraged at the long 

delay and the nonreceipt of a fair return for their investment. In 

either case the enterprise will be killed in its initial stage.

Scientific colonization can secure the rapid and immediate enjoyment 

of the fruits of irrigation. Each is a necessity to the other. An illdigested and haphazard scheme of irrigation will injure, if not ruin, 

colonization. Similarly an unsystematic plan of colonization will retard and frequently ruin the best laid and most feasible plans for 

irrigation.

Scientific colonization will not wait for the farmer with capital any 

more than manufacture will wait for the laborer with capital. Imagine 

the captain of industry who would employ no laborer who did not 

possess a few thousand dollars; and yet this is the course which colonization has generally pursued.

The most that the capitalist, or landowner, or irrigationist has been 

willing to do in the past has been to bring the water to the land and 

accept time payments for the latter from the settler. Further than 

this they have been unwilling to venture; and hence the colonization 

of irrigated lands has been almost entirely limited to farmers possessing capital.

This has had several serious disadvantages:

1. Irrigation lends itself much more readily to the small intensive 

farm than to the large ranch from which such settlers usually come.

2. The small farmer who is not too high toned to cultivate the land 

himself will succeed where the "gentleman"1 ' farmer who employs 

hired labor and sends his children to college will fail, even though the 

latter may control ten times as much land as the former and possess a 

few thousand dollars. Give the former a chance, select him with care, 

and back him with, say, $500 cash for a start, and he will succeed better
124 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

than the latter every time. With ample funds for irrigation now in 

sight, and with some of our brainiest engineers working out extensive 

plans,what our "arid West" calls for is not the nonresident gentleman 

farmer, with his staff of cowboys, but the resident, 20-acre, hornyhanded son of the soil, who does not consider it beneath his own or his 

children's dignity to drive the plow, milk the cow, and earn an honest 

living by his sweat of brain and brow. The old-time governor of 

Virginia was right when he told King George that he would rather 

have a dozen such than a shipload of the ladies and gentlemen whom 

the latter proposed to send out.

But granted that such settlers are desirable, why should there be 

any difficulty about obtaining them? For the simple reason that they 

have no capital and can not move themselves.

That there are millions of them prepared to move at a few hours' 

notice from all quarters of this and other lands in just such numbers 

as may be desired can not be denied. The talk about their unwillingness to leave the cities or go back to the land is pure, undiluted moonshine. The simple fact is that those who wish to be moved, and who 

would make the most desirable colonists, are blessed with large families, are often hampered with debt, and are unable to move without 

financial assistance. Who will pay their traveling expenses, buy their 

live stock, fix up their cottages, and trust them with land ? The farmer, 

like the manufacturer, wants the single man or woman, and the}7 must 

be young at that.

Into my office there walked a few days ago a New York banker 

escorting a splendid specimen of physical manhood a typical farmer, 

hale, hearty, manly. His wife was with him every inch a farmer's 

wife. He held excellent certificates from an ex-governor of New York 

and other prominent gentlemen on whose estates he had worked. But 

with a family of eight children he had been unable to more than barely 

pay his way. He had no wish for the city; but his large family made 

him undesirable to the farmer, and he had no capital with which to 

give himself a start. We made immediate arrangements to settle him 

on one of our colonies. This is but a typical case among tens of thousands. Not only do our cities abound with them, but multitudes of 

them may be found in our best agricultural districts. Why do our 

land agents pass over these laborers in favor of the farmer who has to 

sell his land in order to move? Not because the latter would make a 

better colonist, but because he has cash, while the former would 

require assistance.

Now scientific colonization uses the worthy family that has no cash. 

It says in brief, "Place this waste labor upon the waste land by means 

of waste capital, and thereb}^ convert this trinity of waste into a unity 

of production." It has been argued, on the other hand that, first, they 

would not go; second, they would not stay; third, they would not work;
NEWELL.] SUCCESSFUL COLONIZATION. 125

and last, they would not pay. We set to work some six years ago to 

put our theories into practice, and are now able to say positively, after 

more than five years' experience, that they have gone and stayed, 

have worked and paid. Even the comparatively few failures we have 

encountered have been a valuable education to us, and we are now in a 

position to handle the largest schemes, with self-sacrificing and expert 

managers to direct them, and with a practical code of regulations to 

guard us from the rocks on which so many similiar enterprises have 

been wrecked.

Our three colonies are located in Colorado, California, and Ohio, 

and comprise nearly 3,000 acres of land, on which about 400 men, 

women, and children have been settled. On the first two colonies 

eveiy famity is entirely self-supporting, and the repayments have 

amounted to considerably more than $20,000.

On the California colony last year the settlers averaged a cash 

income of $850 per family, each 20-acre farm being worth, with its 

improvements, about $3,000. The Colorado farms are worth from 

$2,000 to $5,000, according to their location and improvements. On 

the town site have been established some twenty country stores, most 

of which are operated by colonists. A commercial club has been 

formed for the development of the business interests of the settlement. 

Their turnover last year amounted to about $200,000, while the railroad received some $50,000 for freight from our little country depot.

On the California colony a 30-acre tract has recently been sold for 

$4,650, including orchard, farm house, and other improvements, beingat 

the rate of $155 an acre for land which cost us some five years previously 

$50 an acre. I mention these facts to prove that we were not oversanguine when we argued that land thus thickly settled would by its 

own rapid increase in value amply protect the investor against loss. 

Thus even supposing that the colonist himself could not or would not 

pay, the populating of the land would so add to its value that in the 

course of a few years it could be sold for a sufficient sum to cover the 

colonist's entire indebtedness and leave him a handsome margin with 

which to make a new start.

The further extension of colonization will depend, not on land being 

available, nor on the ability to secure colonists, but on the supply of 

capital. That this can be safely invested we think we have sufficiently 

demonstrated.

That there is land in abundance, admirably suited for colonization, no 

one will deny. The new irrigation projects now on foot will make 

available immense regions with fertile soil and salubrious climate, 

suited in every sense to be converted into a veritable poor man's paradise.

What a magnificent outlet is here afforded for the lamentable congestion of our great cities. How unspeakably sad, how incredible 

must it appear, that in this great, rich, prosperous country of ours
126 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

no less than 3,000,000 of our fellow-citizens men, women, and children at least 50 per cent of them agriculturists should be "cabined, 

cribbed, confined" in the unhealthy tenements of our cities, while 

there exist at the very gateways of our civilization these boundless 

prairies with their invigorating breezes.

President Roosevelt spoke to the heart of the nation when he 

pointed out the dangers of race extinction and the importance of the 

family the large family to the well-being of the nation. The pivot 

of true social reform appears to me to turn upon the preservation 

and, if necessary, the restoration of the family unit. Destroy the 

home and you destroy the nation. We must show the poor man how 

he can afford to get married and can bring up his family in decency 

and comfort, and become a home owner. If this can not be in the city, 

let us throw open to him our irrigated lands and provide him with the 

means for making a start. There is no need to treat him as a pauper. 

We can charge him with every dollar that we expend upon him, and 

make him pay a reasonable interest into the bargain.

How much better would it be if the fifty to one hundred million 

dollars now expended annually in the relief of poverty in our great 

cities could be devoted to the placing of worthy families on these rich 

irrigated lands. Tax consumers would become tax producers. 

Pauper dependents on charity would be converted into affluent home 

owners. The $50,000,000 annually expended for charitable objects 

would be turned into a rich investment which would be amply secured 

and ultimately repaid out of the profits from these irrigated lands. 

In ten years the money thus invested would amount to $500,000,000, 

which would suffice to locate 5,000,000 souls upon, say, 20,000,000 

acres of irrigated land, which would produce to its owners an annual 

income of, say, $400,000,000, while the value of the land at $50 per 

acre a moderate estimate for land so closely settled would be no 

less than a billion dollars.

What our American poor ask for is not charity but opportunity. 

Let this congress then throw wide open before our working classes 

that door of opportunity. Let it place within the reach of the landless man our manless lands. Let it speak with a voice which can not 

be misunderstood, and let it thunder at the doors of our national Capitol and of our State legislatures till colonization is made as much an 

imperative and practical question of the hour as by its brilliant and 

persistent efforts irrigation has already become.

The association of these, two powerful factors, irrigation and colonization, in the welfare of our nation will be well-nigh irresistible, and with these mighty levers this congress will lift from the 

nation's pathway the dead weight of poverty and congestion which 

has obstructed our national progress, created internecine struggles 

between capital and labor, and threatened to shipwreck our future 

prosperity.
NEWELL.] PAPERS BEAD AT THE CONFERENCE. 127

WORK OF THE RECLAMATION SERVICE.

By Hon. FRANK W. MONDELL.

I very much appreciate this opportunity of meeting the engineers of 

the reclamation service and of hearing your discussions of the surveys 

and examinations of the various projects contemplated under the 

national irrigation law. I wish to congratulate Mr. Newell on having 

surrounded himself with so able a corps of engineers and lieutenants, 

and 1 wish to congratulate all of you on your employment in a service 

so important and beneficial and which promises so much for development by irrigation in western America.

I think the idea of a gathering of the engineers of the reclamation 

service at this time for the purpose of consultation and discussion is a 

verjr happy one. The mutual exchange of views and opinions will 

undoubtedly result in much good, and by comparison of the respective 

advantages and difficulties of the various projects under consideration 

each of you will have a better idea of the relative merits and feasibility 

of the particular project on which he is engaged.

It would be clearly superfluous for me to enter into a discussion of 

the national irrigation act with gentlemen who are so thoroughly 

informed in regard to it as are you who are charged with the practical 

work of carrying the provisions of the law into effect. I venture to 

say, however, that in your operations under the law so far you have 

been struck with its broad and comprehensive character. It was not 

intended, as we all understand, that the act or the operations under it 

should interfere with, supplant, or to any considerable extent curtail 

the legitimate field of private enterprise in irrigation development. 

My observation is that the effect of the law so far has been to encourage 

and stimulate private enterprise all over the arid region. And the 

territory to be covered is so vast, the possibilities so great, and the 

conditions so diversified, that we must needs have the active aid of 

every possible agency, private and public, to accomplish the complete 

reclamation of the arid regions of our country.

The field of operations of the reclamation service is vast, and in my 

opinion will be a constantly growing one; that is to say, projects which 

at this time seem out of the question by reason of their great cost will, 

in time to come, as the demand for irrigated land increases, be undertaken, and this will undoubtedly include a wider variety of projects 

than are in contemplation at this time. Primarily the national irrigation act contemplates the irrigation of land now in public ownership 

and upon which new homes can be established, but its provisions are 

clearly applicable to the irrigation of lands in private ownership, with 

or without a partial water supply, and in some cases the best results 

will undoubtedly be obtained by works which will supply water for 

lands so situated,
128 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

I am one of those who believe that in carrying on the work of the 

reclamation service you will encounter much less difficulty than has 

been generally supposed in adjusting the matter of water rights on 

interstate streams. The supreme court of my State, Wyoming, has 

recently handed down a decision, which, in my opinion, will come to 

be recognized as the universal law of the arid region, to the effect that 

priority of use gives priority of right to the use of water on an interstate stream, regardless of State lines. With the improvement of 

water laws in the various States this principle can be easily carried 

into effect.

The crowning virtue of the national irrigation act lies in the fact 

that it compels the division of the country irrigated into small farms, 

and therefore insures that thorough and intense cultivation which is 

essential to the success of any irrigated region.

INVESTIGATIONS IN ARIZONA.

By ARTHUR P. DA vis, Supervising Engineer.

The irrigation project contemplated for h'rst construction in Arizona 

is a storage reservoir on Salt River at the mouth of Tonto Creek. It 

will directly irrigate about 150,000 acres of land near Phoenix, the 

capital of the Territory, and will furnish power for the irrigation of 

possibly 50,000 acres more by pumping from wells. The proposed 

reservoir site is very nearly inaccessible, being remote from railroad 

connections and surrounded by rough mountains and profound canyons.

Borings were made on this site in 1901 at the expense of a waterstorage commission that had been organized under the laws of the 

Territory of Arizona and had been provided with funds raised by taxation in the county of Maricopa, which includes all the irrigable lands. 

The borings proved the foundation and all conditions to be favorable. 

On the dam site finally adopted the deepest hole to bed rock is 28 feet, 

and the rock is of the most excellent character. Samples of the rock 

were crushed in the crushing machine of the navy-yard at Washington 

and showed higher tests than average granite used for building purposes. In fact, the machine used for the testing had never been put 

under such a strain before.

From the direction of Phoenix there is no road except one that is 

very roundabout and very long. There is a very rough trail through 

the country, which can be followed with difficulty. The easiest 

method of gaining access to the dam site is by leaving the main line 

of the Southern Pacific at Bowie and there taking a branch road, about 

125 miles long. This road has no competitors and its rates are exceedingly high. At the former freight rates and prevailing prices the 

cheapest first-class cement that could be laid down at the end of the
NEWELL.] SALT EIVEE EESEEVOIR. 129

branch would cost $7.89 a barrel, and the additional wagon haul would 

bring the cost still higher.

For a structure requiring over 200,000 barrels, the cost of cement 

alone is immense. To avoid bringing in the great quantity required, 

search was made for cement-making material near the dam site, and it 

was found that materials suitable for the manufacture of Portland 

cement can be obtained in the vicinity. These materials were first 

tested in 1901 by the chemist of the cement works at Colton, Cal., who, 

after a thorough trial, reported that they were suitable for making a 

true Portland cement of a superior quality. To check this determination further tests of the material were made by a firm in Philadelphia, 

and their analysis also shows that it may be used for manufacturing a 

first-class article. It has been found that the building and machinery 

for a cement plant there will cost about $120,000. The actual cost of 

manufacturing the cement, after constructing the mill and providing 

power, will be about $2 a barrel. By adding this to the cost of the 

plant it will be seen that the cement will cost $2.50 a barrel.

We have also been handicapped in the matter of power. There is 

very little fuel in the valley, just a little scrubby mesquite and sparsely 

scattered cotton wood. We would be seriousl}T handicapped in getting 

fuel into the country because of the poor transportation facilities. To 

overcome this difficulty it is proposed to develop water power in the 

river. The water can be diverted through a canal about 18 miles long, 

and ample power can thus be developed for all purposes for which 

power can be used in the construction of a large work of this kind, 

and afterwards used for pumping.

A unique feature of this project is the proposal to utilize the power 

generated by drawing water from the reservoir under full head through 

water wheels and transmitting it a distance of 60 miles to the valley 

below for power purposes.

Fifteen years ago the highest dam in the world was the Furens dam, 

in France. Its total height was about 170 feet. Since that time three 

structures in the United States of very much larger dimensions have 

been commenced and are nearing completion. One is for the city 

waterworks of New York, on the Croton River; another is for the waterworks of Boston, at Clinton; the third is for the waterworks of Denver, 

on the South Fork of the South Platte River. These dams are all 

much higher than the Furens dam in France. Each one will in some 

respect hold the record for high dams; the Croton dam will be the 

largest mass of masonry; the dam at Clinton will impound the largest 

quantity of water, and the dam on the South Platte will be the highest. 

When completed, as proposed, the dam on Salt River will be the 

highest dam in the world, and will impound twice as much water as all

IKK 9c
130 FIKST RECLAMATION SEKVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

these three reservoirs put together. It will be about 270 feet in total 

height and will impound 1,200,000 acre-feet of water, forming the 

largest artificial storage reservoir yet constructed.

SALT RIVER VALLEY WATER USERS' ASSOCIATION.

By B. A. FOWLER.

[Mr. B. A. Fowler, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' 

Association, described the steps leading up to the organization of this 

association and the difficulties encountered.

The Salt River Valley Water Users' Association is the first organization created to operate under the terms of the reclamation law. Section 

6 of that law states that " The management and operation of the irrigation works shall pass to the owners of the land irrigated thereby, to be 

maintained at their expense, under such form of organization and under 

such rules and regulations as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the 

Interior."

Where there are considerable bodies of land in private ownership, 

and where a large number of persons must be dealt with, it is evident 

that the earlier organizations like those contemplated by the act are 

created, the more definitely will the work proceed. It is necessary, 

for promptness of action with these persons, to have a common agent 

or representative to transact business. In order, therefore, to bring 

about the construction of the Salt River dam in Arizona the abovenamed organization has been formed. Being the first of its kind, it 

was necessary to consider many matters which subsequent organizations will probably adopt without further thought.

The articles of incorporation, resulting from much deliberation and 

correspondence, are presented in the following pages. It is thought 

that these cover most of the requirements of law and good administration.]

CONDITIONS IN SALT RIVER VALLEY.

The first irrigation ditch in Salt River Valley, Arizona, was dug in 

1868. As the population increased other ditches and canals followed, 

until there are now about 14.

The early settlers had water in abundance, and no one then anticipated a scarcity; but as from time to time additional land was put 

under cultivation it became evident that the use of more economical 

methods, the better conservation of the normal supply, and the 

impounding of winter floods were of vital importance. Several unorganized and short-lived movements to procure a reservoir or some 

system of water storage for the valley were made prior to 1900, but 

these accomplished nothing except to arouse a temporary interest in 

the subject.
NEWELL.] SALT EIVEE VALLEY ASSOCIATION. 131

In April, 1900, the valley was beginning to feel the effects of a 

drouth which had continued for nearly two years with increasing 

severity. At that time the Phoenix and Maricopa County Board of 

Trade appointed a committee of five members to investigate and report 

upon conditions and needs and to devise ways and means for providing 

a water supply sufficient for the purposes of irrigation. This committee published a report the following month, which was widely circulated throughout the valley, and led to the calling of a mass meeting 

of the landowners on Friday, August 31, 1900, in the Grand Opera 

House at Phoenix. The auditorium was filled with an eager and 

interested assemblage of landowners from all parts of the valley, who 

continued in session all day.

As a result of this meeting a water-storage committee of 25 members was selected, each canal being represented, to which was added 

the five members of the board of trade committee. Immediately upon 

the adjournment of the meeting this committee organized, and on the 

following Monday held a meeting, at which a committee of five was 

appointed by the chair to nominate subcommittees to investigate and 

report upon various subjects connected with irrigation. Frequent 

meetings were held by the executive committee, and diligent investigation and correspondence were begun wherever the different committees thought to gain reliable information which might be utilized.

The interest of the entire valley had by this time become aroused to 

the paramount importance of the water question, and it was felt that 

far-reaching legislation on this subject would in all probability be 

enacted by the next territorial legislature. Accordingly, the friends 

of water storage, in November, 1900, elected representatives to that 

body in sympathy with the movement, and also sent a delegate to the 

National Irrigation Congress, held at Chicago, 111., the same month.

SURVEYS IN THE VALLEY.

About this time a letter was sent to the Secretary of the Interior 

by Mr. B. A. Fowler, as president of the Salt River Valley waterstorage committee, setting forth the conditions existing in the vallej^ 

and the action taken by the residents, and offering on their behalf to 

contribute the sum of $1,500, to be expended for investigations if an 

equal amount should be allotted from the funds of the United States 

Geological Survey. 65

This letter was referred to the Director of the Geological Survey, 

who replied to the Secretary of the Interior on January 14, 1901, 

recommending the expenditure.

Hydrographic work was pushed on Verde River through the winter 

ind later in the Tonto Basin on Salt River. In the meantime an

"See Water-Sup, and Irr. Paper No. 73, U. S. Gaol. Survey, 1903, p. 10.
182 FIRST RECLAMATION 8EEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93,

act was passed by the Arizona legislature, then in session, creating 

a "water-storage commission," providing for a tax levy of about 

$14,000 a year for two years for purposes specified, and authorizing 

the commission " to cooperate with or contribute toward the expenses 

of any investigations now being made or hereafter to be made by the 

United States Geological Survey."

The hydrographic and preliminary work continued throughout 1901 

and into 1902. Up to this time efforts had been concentrated on procuring all reliable data obtainable before deciding how best to secure 

construction. There were many plans and schemes, but only two met 

with much favor. One was to make it an object for private capital to 

construct, the other was that the county should build and issue bonds 

in payment for the work. Both ways were beset with difficulties and 

risks, and each met with decided opposition. There were a few wh(5 

dared hope for Government aid, and firmly believed that national irrigation was near at hand. But by the great majority these were called 

u rainbow chasers," " dreamers from dreamland," and considered a 

little " off."

PASSAGE OF THE RECLAMATION ACT.

Meanwhile the national irrigation movement was steadily growing, 

the country over, and finally crystallized into the reclamation act of 

June 17, 1902. Under it the people of Salt River Valley, or many of 

them at least, realized that they might become its beneficiaries, and 

without delay began to put themselves in harmony with its requirements, as they interpreted them. There was no official interpretation, no court construction, no authorities to be consulted. The only 

guide was the law itself new, untried; a magnificent experiment.

MEETING AT PHOENIX.

A mass meeting was called in the court-house at Phoenix, August 

2, 1902, at which was chosen a committee of 25 citizens, representatives of the various canals, to be known as "The Water Storage 

Conference Committee," which was organized one week later. At 

this meeting an invitation was extended to Mr. George H. Maxwell, 

executive chairman of the National Irrigation Association and the 

active exponent of its work, to come to the valley and assist in formulating a plan in accord with the national irrigation act. Responding 

to the invitation, Mr. Maxwell came and addressed a large meeting 

of farmers and landowners August 9, 1902, and outlined a plan of 

action, which met with general approval.

JUDGE KIBBEY's ADDRESS.

Early in September, 1902, Judge Joseph H. Kibbey, of Phoenix, 

author of the well-known "Kibbey decision," presented to the com-
NEWELL.] JUDGE KIBBEY'S ADDRESS. 133

mittee for consideration a plan, comprehensive in scope and rich in 

practical suggestions, drawn from a wide and varied experience of 

many years in dealing with such matters. In the statement of his plan 

Judge Kibbey said:

The earliest legislation in this Territory recognized the right of appropriation of 

water from its streams, lakes, etc., for, among other things, the cultivation of the 

soil, and recognized that appropriators are entitled to priority of use of the water in 

the order of the dates of appropriation, and, I think, by necessary inference, the 

right is appurtenant to the land for which it was appropriated, as the right was 

limited expressly to the owners or occupants of the lands.

In 1877 Congress, pursuing the long-settled policy of having actual tillers of the 

soil as the owners of the national domain, provided by the enactment of the "desertland law'' that the entryman could acquire title by paying a nominal sum per acre for 

the naturally desert land, and authorized him to appropriate water from the public 

sources of supply for its reclamation and cultivation. This law gave priority of right 

to such appropriators in the order of the times of appropriation, and upon proof of 

such reclamation and the permanent right to the use of water the Goverment transmitted to the entryman, by the same deed, a title to both land and water.

The latest act of Congress, the Newlands Act, contemplates that stored or other 

water impounded or developed under its provisions shall be used only by those 

acquiring the right to use it under the act, and that the right shall be inseparable 

from the land. Thus we have denned the status of the landowner who has a right 

to the use of water.

The acts constituting an appropriation of water are held to be 

(1) The diversion of the water from the source of supply.

(2) The conveyance of the water to the place of use.

(3) The actual use

These different acts may be, and in practice in this valley are most frequently, 

performed by two different persons; that is, the diversion and carrying or conveyance is by one (an association or a corporation usually), and the actual use by 

another (the landowner or occupant). The landowner or occupant is the appropriator, for by the law he is the only one who can appropriate water, and the carrier 

is merely an agency adopted by the appropriator to effect the appropriation. The 

relation of the one, the appropriator, to the other, the carrier, must arise by contract, 

express or implied, or, if the term may be used to promote brevity of expression, by 

estoppel.

Now it is probable that of these propositions none will remain undisputed by some 

of those whose interests are, or seem to be, variant. The first, or, in any event, the 

most essential thing to be done, is to settle these disputed questions, and if success 

is to be attained it is submitted they must be settled as here stated. To settle them 

by simple agreement is impracticable, for that involves unanimity of all the disputants, which is hopeless; and it would be difficult to frame an agreement so definitive 

of the rights of all the parties that it would be satisfactory to either the Government 

or to the parties themselves. Nothing short of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction will suffice, for that alone can be either definitive or final.

A very casual consideration of the Hansbrough-Newlands Act will make apparent 

the absolute necessity for this settlement. It may be assumed that, from motives of 

self-interest which in any case are always the safest to which to appeal if from no 

others, the appropriators and the carriers of water in this valley urgently desire a 

prompt, definite, and final adjustment of these questions.

The variant interests may, in a broad way, be divided into two classes; that is, the 

water users and the carriers, where the user is not also the carrier. There will have 

to be settled among the one class, the users, the question of time and extent of
134 FIKST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

appropriation of water, and as to them, the fact that the right to use water is appurtenant to the land for which it was appropriated. Among those of the other class, 

the carriers, assuming that they may preserve their autonomy, there will arise 

questions of their relative rights to divert and carry water. All these questions are 

preliminary to and independent of any consideration of the administration of 

stored water, and are questions in the determination of which the Government 

probably can not and certainly will not engage. They must be settled before we 

can go to the Government at all. It may be taken for granted that the HansbroughNewlands Act will be construed to authorize the construction of reservoirs for the 

storage of water for the irrigation of lands now in private ownership for which 

there is only a partial and hence an inadequate supply. This construction seems 

easily warranted, and is in entire consonance with the purposes of the act.

The act also contemplates the organization of the owners of the lands irrigated by 

the reservoir or other works into an association for the management and operation of the works; but this management and operation will not, under the terms of 

the act, vest in such association until the major part of the cost of the works shall 

have been repaid to the Government.

The cost of the reservoir at Ton to (or practically all of it) will have to be assessed 

against the land that is held in private ownership, at a rate per acre to be fixed by 

the Government. This assessment will be divided into annual payments extending 

over a period of not more than ten years, and beginning at a time to be fixed by 

the Secretary of the Interior, probably when the reservoir is ready for service.

The act suggests that the Government will provide its own means for enforcing 

payment of these assessments, except possibly, and perhaps preferably, if the plan 

of association hereafter proposed shall be approved by the Secretary of the Interior 

and the association selected as the medium of the collection of these payments to the 

Government.

Now, if a plan can be devised whereby, first, all disputes among the variant interests concerned in the storage project may be settled so finally and definitely that the 

Government may have no concern in that respect; and, second, the owners of land 

now in private ownership and homesteaders under the act shall initiate rights to the 

use of the stored water in the manner outlined in the act in such numbers as to warrant the Government in the belief that sufficient money will ultimately be repaid to 

reimburse it for its expenditure in the construction of the reservoir, then we have 

brought ourselves within the purpose and scope of the act and subjected ourselves to 

its conditions and have reason to believe that our application will be favorably entertained by the Secretary of the Interior.

To accomplish these things it is proposed to at once organize the association of 

water users contemplated by the act itself. They should incorporate under the 

laws of the Territory of Arizona. Those, and those only, who have initiated rights, 

or may initiate rights to the use of water from the reservoir, should become constituent members. The act defines those to be homesteaders or owners of lands now in 

private ownership, who initiate rights to stored water under the provisions of that 

act.

The capital stock should be a sum equal to the estimated cost of the reservoir and 

other works undertaken by the Government and should be divided into a number 

of shares equal, at a conservative estimate, to the number of acres that may be so 

supplied with stored or other water. The division of the entire fixed capital by the 

number of shares so ascertained will of course fix the par value per share of the 

stock. As the proposed stockholders can not now initiate their water rights under 

the reservoir, and can not do so until the Government shall offer them for acquisition, the subscription for the stock should be for a cash payment for it at par, with 

a provision in the articles of incorporation, made irrevocable except upon proper 

consent of, say, the holders of three-fourths of the stock; that the stock of any sub-
NEWELL.] JUDGE KIBBEY'S PLAN. 135

scriber shall be deemed fully paid up upon the production by him of proper evidence 

that he has initiated a right under the reservoir, conditioned for forfeiture for his 

failure to comply with his engagement with the Government, or with the association 

as the agent of the Government for that purpose, in like manner and under the same 

circumstances as imposed by the Government, and that until that time the subscribers of the capital stock subscribed for shall not be subject to be called upon for 

payment of their subscriptions.

In no event does the proposed corporation deal with the Government in its corporate capacity in initiating or perfecting any individual right; all those negotiations 

are by the individual with the Secretary of the Interior, precisely as though there 

were no such corporation, or as though, if there were one, the individual was not a 

member of it.«

The initiation of the acquisition of the right and its final perfection are mere 

qualifications to membership of the proposed corporation, and it is the principal 

qualification ^required by section 6 of the Hansbrough-Newlands Act for membership 

in such an organization.

In making estimates the greatest care and the most conservative course should be 

taken. If error is made in fixing the estimate of cost too high and the extent of 

acreage of land too low they can be corrected to meet the event with advantage to 

all; while if the estimate of cost is made too low and estimate of irrigable acreage 

too high the mistake can not be remedied. To exceed the limits ultimately and 

irrevocably fixed by conditions in the estimate of lands capable of irrigation by the 

reservoir is disastrous. We can expand to meet conditions; contraction is impracticable, if not impossible.

Until the management and operation of the works shall be turned over to the 

associated land owners having rights under the reservoir, the Government will of 

course have the administration of the stored water; and that, it may be assumed, 

will be in accordance with expressed wishes of the right owners whether expressed 

by them jointly through their association or by them individually. A partnership 

of Government and association is not proposed, nor can there be interference by 

the association, either with the purpose of the Government or its methods. Both 

are independent, seeking to accomplish a common purpose, with the association 

always subordinate to the Government, until by lapse of time and in the course of 

events, the management and operation of the works, by the terms of the law, 

vests in the association.

Now, it may happen that some may subscribe to these articles of incorporation who 

may never qualify by becoming the initiators of rights under the reservoir, either 

because they do not apply to become so or because there may not be enough rights 

to be had. To meet this condition a provision should be made that applications 

can be made for such rights within a reasonable time, failing which the subscribers 

shall become disqualified, shall be released from his cash subscription, and shall lose 

his rights as a stockholder.

Incident to the power to manage and operate the work constructed by the Government as provided in section 6 of the act, are naturally the power to acquire the 

means of distribution of the water stored and developed as waterways, pipe lines, 

flumes, gates, dams, etc. and to acquire or use agencies for that purpose, and to 

manage and control any of these, according to the rules prescribed by the Government as to the stored water, pending the vesting of that management arid operation 

in the association; and independent of that, but of course never inconsistently, to 

distribute other than stored water, as long and in so far as a distinction can be and

a Since writing this Mr. George H. Maxwell, in his address to the people here on August 9,1902, suggested that the Government would probably prefer to deal with the association rather than with 

individuals who seek to acquire rights under the reservoir. If so, that would simplify matters, and 

the association could become practically the agency of the Government in that respect.
136 FIKST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 88.

is desired to be preserved between stored water and that normally flowing in the 

rivers. Those powers should be carefully denned and stated in the articles of incorporation and yet made comprehensive enough to meet any conditions existent or 

that can be anticipated.

There are now waterways and other means of distribution in the valley more or 

leas adapted to the needs of distribution of stored as well as other water. Provision 

should be made for the use of these means, or such of them as may be expedient, 

and also, if after careful consideration it be deemed best, for the acquisition of new 

and other means. It seems almost too flat a truism to say that the Government will 

not undertake to store water if there are no means provided for its distribution to 

the users and those means must be adapted to that purpose. It is true that the act 

may be construed to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct or otherwise 

acquire means of distribution of the stored water, but it seems unreasonable to expect 

it, under the conditions prevalent in this valley.

As the means for the distribution of stored water is so necessary an adjunct to the 

storage works, the Government will naturally and logically require that the means 

of distribution shall be coextensive with the storage works themselves, entirely 

adequate to the service, and subject irrevocably to all the rules of practical use 

necessary to accomplish the purpose of the construction of the storage works i. e., 

the use of the water so stored.

The owners of the present canals have certain lights property rights of which 

they can not be divested without their consent except by the exercise of the power 

of eminent domain. Yet it is extremely desirable that the means of distribution of 

all water, stored and other, shall be under the immediate and exclusive management and control of the water users. Several plans suggest themselves for the 

accomplishment of this desideratum.

If the canal companies, the ownera of mcst of the canals, should preserve their 

autonomy and the ultimate title to their property, then a perpetual contract could 

be entered into between them individually with the association of water users, 

whereby:

First. The property shall be perpetually leased to the association for an agreed 

reserved rental, payable annually or otherwise, with a right to the association to 

purchase; or

Second. The canal company shall undertake to carry and distribute stored and 

other water to its customers at a reasonable cost, to be agreed upon between the 

company and its customers, subject, however, to the rules of the Government as 

prescribed by it for the distribution of stored water, and to the rules prescribed by 

the association for the distribution of both stored and other water, not inconsistent 

with those prescribed by the Government, with an agreement to sell to the 

association.

Either of these plans fall short of the desideratum, and involve many difficulties. 

Still they are both practicable. Each, of the above propositions, it will be noted, 

reserves to the association the privilege of purchase. Many contingencies, too 

numerous to mention here, but necessary to be considered, are to be met, as expiration of corporate franchises, existing contracts, mortgages, etc.; difficulties not insuperable, but tedious and complex in the working out.

A more desirable plan involves the purchase outright by the association of such of 

the canals and other works as may be found necessary or desirable for the purposes 

of the association. A rather anomalous situation would arise between the proposed 

association and the canal companies considered as possible purchaser and seller. 

There would be but one possible purchaser and that purchaser would be desirous to 

buy, and there would be but one seller and he would be desirous to sell; it would 

seem, therefore, that they should easily agree upon terms.
JUDGE KIBBEY'S PLAN. 137

The maximum value of the property to be sold is simply the amount of money 

necessary to construct a new system of canals, etc., adequate to the carriage and distribution of both stored and other water.

If this plan of purchase were adopted it would have to be after it was found to be 

desirable after negotiations had progressed so far as to determine the price and the 

terms of payment. The price should be satisfactory and the terms of payment 

should be so adjusted as to be conveniently met by the purchaser. In this plan, as 

in the others suggested, there will be difficulty in adjusting the rights of lienors and 

others who will have to be dealt with before final consummation. The rights of 

water-right owners offer no obstacle, for if the association is formed as suggested, and 

a purchase of any or all of the canals are effected by it, the water-right owner's right 

is replaced by a better one in the association and merged in it, as will be hereafter 

explained.

Another plan, and the simplest, is to acquire the canals by the exercise of the 

power of eminent domain by condemnation proceedings. This plan may be 

adopted to acquire the title to one or more of the canals, or of all of them seriatim, 

as the association may elect, the proceedure being entirely adequate to those ends. 

This plan eliminates in a great measure a consideration of the right of lienors, etc., 

as they are transferred to the fund created by the payment of the assessed damages.

Finally, the association may construct its own system of canals and other distributing works.

The cost of the several plans that may be considered might and should have considerable influence in the determination of the selection of a plan.

Now, as the raising of funds for meeting the cost under any plan: The articles of 

incorporation should provide that all the ordinary expenses of maintenance and 

operation should annually or at other stated intervals be estimated by the directors 

and assesed pro rata by the number of acres, against the stockholders, and that when 

an extraordinary expenditure is contemplated, as for the purchase, construction, or 

other method of acquisition of a canal or other works, exceeding in cost, say $5,000, 

the board of directors shall formulate a proposition for the same to be submitted to 

the stockholders. The proposition should contain a statement of the purpose of the 

contemplated expenditure and the estimated amount of it, full enough to acquaint 

the stockholders in a general way of the purpose of the expenditure. Upon a resolution of two-thirds of the directors a special meeting of the stockholders should be 

called to consider the proposition submitted, and if holders of two-thirds of the stock 

should vote in favor of the proposition the directors should proceed to carry on the 

work proposed, and should assess the estimated cost thereof against the stockholders, 

as hereinafter proposed.

For the purpose of these extraordinary expenses the country embraced in the 

lands under cultivation by stockholders of the association should be divided into districts. These districts should be made severally to consist as nearly as may be practicable of lands immediately supplied by the canal system; as, for example, the lands 

under the Salt River Valley canal should constitute one district, those under the 

Maricopa another, those under the Utah another, and so on. Then when it is proposed by the association to expend money for an extraordinary purpose, as for the 

acquisition of a canal by purchase, condemnation, or construction, the cost should 

be assessed against the stockholders of the district particularly benfited, and among 

those in that district as they are individually benefited.

It should be provided that if in particular cases it should seem inequitable to assess 

the whole cost against a particular district, then the council should have power to 

direct what portion should be so assessed, and what portion should be borne by 

the association at large.

If the proposed expenditure is not all required to be made in one year the assess-
138 F1BST EECLAMATION SEBVICE CONFEBENCE. [NO. 93.

ments may be made payable in annual or other periodical installments, adjusted so 

as to meet the expenditure as they may be required. The manner of enforcing the 

payments of such assessments is set forth in another place.

The articles should provide that the shares of stockholders should be complete 

evidence of the right of the holder to the use of the water for the irrigation of designated land at the rate of 1 acre for each share of stock, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the association therefor; that the ownership of stock should be 

evidenced by a certificate thereof, duly attested by the proper officers of the association, wherein the lands to which the water right is appurtenant are described with 

certainty sufficient to identify them; that the stock should be transferable on the 

books of the association, but as appurtenant to the lands described in the certificate, 

and the same should be deemed to pass, whether expressly conveyed or transferred 

by any conveyance of the land, or pro tanto any part of it, to the successor in title, 

whether such transmission of title is by grant or by operation of law. It should be 

further provided that any stockholder by the act of subscription shall pledge the 

land and appurtenances for which water rights are acquired and evidenced by such 

certificate of stock for the prompt payment of all assessments made in the manner 

prescribed by the articles, and that the lien for the payment thereof may be 

enforced by a sale of the land or so much thereof as may be necessary to discharge 

the same from time to time, and as often as such assessments are in default, such 

sale to be by the treasurer of the association, upon due notice, and at a place designated, with a reasonable time of redemption reserved. The particular provisions 

concerning the enforcement of the collections of the assessments should be very 

definitely stated.

The creation of this lien will probably require the assent of the wife where the 

land is community property. It must be remembered that the whole matter, whatever plan be adopted, will, particularly at first, involve long and tedious labor. But 

there is no evading it, and it ceases to be formidable when it is considered that the 

work is no more difficult than the assessment of county taxes.

Each stockholder of at least one share should be allowed one vote at all corporate 

elections, and only one, whatever the number of shares he or she may own, and his 

or her qualifications as an elector should be determined by reference to the association's books as they appear, say, twenty days before an election. In no event should 

voting be permitted by proxy, but should be done at the designated polling place or 

places, by the stockholder in person.

Eegular elections should be provided for, to be held annually for the election of 

directors and for the transaction of such other business as may be properly referable 

to the stockholders. These regular elections should be held in the spring, so as to be 

free from the influences of and the confusion incident to county and territorial elections. Specific rules governing elections should be provided, as for polling places, 

election boards, voting, canvass of votes and returns, etc. Provision should be made 

also for the calling and holding of special elections. There should be provided a 

council, in whom should be lodged the general legislative powers of the corporation 

as to making, modifying, or repealing by-laws for the government of the members 

and the directors. The council should consist of, say, 40 members, who should 

be stockholders, one-half elected every year, and holding two years. This council 

should meet in regular session at designated times and places, and specially when 

called by the directors, or by a designated number of the stockholders. To this council should be left the general matters of the by-laws, the fixing of salaries, and compensation of officers, etc. They should serve without compensation and be governed 

in the transaction of their business by rules usually governing legislative bodies.

The immediate management of the affairs of the association should be vested in a 

board of. say, nine directors, and in such officers as the articles of the association or
NEWELL.] JUDGE KIBBEY'S PLAN. 139

the council may prescribe. The board should hold regularly designated meetings 

and special ones in a manner to be prescribed by the by-laws. The directors should 

be allowed a proper compensation, to be fixed by the council. There should be a 

president, with the usual executive powers of that office, who should also be the 

presiding officer of the council. There should also be a secretary and treasurer 

exercising, respectively, the usual functions pertaining to those offices, who should be 

required to execute a. proper bond in amount and with sureties prescribed by the 

council. Any proposition emanating from the directors that may involve an exp^nditure of more than $10,000 should be first approved by the council before it is submitted 

to the stockholders. The council may prescribe penalties for the infraction of 

by-laws and provide that those imposed, if not otherwise discharged, shall be added 

to the assessments against defaulting stockholders and collected as assessments are.

A discussion of the rights of water users here seems unnecessary. That there is a 

priority of right to use water must be conceded. Priority of appropriation is the 

fundamental rule of all property; the first right to it was its appropriation, and every 

right is traceable to it. As with any other species of property, so it is with the 

property in the right to use water. If there is enough for all to take indefinitely, 

and as it is wanted, the exercise of the right by one person conflicts with that of no 

other, and priority becomes a distinction of no practical importance.

If the reservoir is built and fulfills our expectations there will be no distinction in 

practice in the distribution of stored water and other water, whatever its source, by 

the general reservoir and canal system. If it can be obtained, there will be applications for water for the 1,000,000 or more acres susceptible of service. But there will 

not be enough, there can never be enough, to meet the demand.

Then how shall applicants be served? It is the most logical, the most natural, the 

most just, and the most practicable plan to meet the demands in the order of the 

existing appropriations until they are supplied, and if there be a surplus then it may 

be supplied to new lands acquired by homesteading under the provisions of the Newlands law.

Enough has been said to demonstrate the necessity of speedily and finally settling 

. the question of priority of rights of land owners within the territory proposed to be 

supplied by the Tonto reservoir. Two plans suggest themselves, the selection of one 

or the other much depending upon the readiness with which the proposed beneficiaries approve of either.

One plan requires the agreement of all the water users to submit the question of 

the date of appropriation, the extent of the appropriation, and manner of use to 

arbitrators selected under the statute for award with a provision that the award shall 

be final, without appeal, and that the award be made a decree of court.

The other plan is to institute a suit in the district court, having all the waters users 

parties plaintiff or defendant, with the incidental right of omitted parties to make 

themselves parties; then to have the case submitted to a referee to report to the 

court his conclusions as to time and extent of the appropriation of each party, and 

in due course of time to obtain a decree of the court thereon.

It should be made a condition precedent to the acceptance of a subscription to the 

capital stock of the proposed association heretofore outlined, that the subscriber shall 

have agreed to submit these questions for settlement as proposed, or that the extent 

and time of his appropriation shall have been determined by one or the other of 

these proceedings. After the determination of these rights the owners of them should 

be classified, each by the year of his appropriation.

When the Government is ready to issue rights under the reservoir, preference 

should be given to applicants therefor according to the class in which their appropriations are found, preference being given to the oldest, and thence in order of time to 

the newest.
140 FIBST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

-- Reasonable limitations of time should be fixed within which this preference may 

be exercised, imposing upon a delinquent the penalty of postponement to await his 

turn at the last.

It is of course contemplated that after the plan here proposed shall be in operation 

there will be no pecuniary benefits accruing to the stockholders by way of profit of 

operation, and that when the cost of maintenance and operation has been provided 

for there can and will be no further charge to the water user.

The association will have no interest-bearing debt to be charged up against the 

water users. The cost of management and administration can be reduced to the 

lowest possible limit by concentration and systemization. Taking these things into 

consideration it is conservative to say that the cost of water to the user ought not to 

exceed 75 cents per acre per year. And this cost can be still further reduced from 

various sources of income.

The water impounded in the reservoir will afford power at a cost of one-fourth of 

that now paid for power in this valley, and even then produce a handsome income.

The cities and towns in the valley will need a supply from which an important 

income can be derived. Power could be transmitted to pump water for the Pima 

Indians and the requirements for that purpose would hardly make an appreciable 

diminution of the whole amount developed, and would afford them a greater, more 

certain, more constant, and a more reliable supply of water than they ever had. The 

power could be used ta raise the water now stored and constantly renewed in the 

gravelly strata underlying the surface of the valley an amount of important 

magnitude.

There are dangers, too, some of them already realized, that we will be better equipped 

to confront. For more than fifteen years there has been a constant diminution of 

the water flowing into this valley. Aside from the unusual meterological conditions 

that have been prevalent for the last three or four years, this has been due to the 

constantly increasing diversion of water from the tributaries to our supply. And it 

is going on unchecked. It would be one of the most important functions of the proposed association to check this encroachment. That no attempt has heretofore been 

made to remedy this sufficiently suggests that while the present conditions of diversity 

and antagonism of interests continue in this valley it need not be expected. With 

unity of interest it may be hoped for. We can not console ourselves with the hope 

that matters with us can not grow worse than they now are. Simple inactivity will 

make them worse. Whether the Government builds or aids in building the Tonto 

reservoir or not, to stay our progress to a disastrous end there must be a unification 

of the interests of the water users of this valley.

The plans and suggestions here submitted are tentative. The attempt has not been 

made to work out every proposal in detail. The desired result has been anticipated 

in each instance, the general means to the end has been suggested, and the filling in 

has been left for later time and for more varied and thorough deliberation.

If the plans and suggestions do not, or some of them do and others do not, meet 

with approval, yet if they have the effect of pointing out other and better ones, this 

paper will have justified itself.

WORK OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

An executive committee of eleven having been appointed, of which 

B. A. Fowler, chairman of the Water Storage Conference Committee, 

was made chairman, a general plan for the organization of the landowners and irrigators of the valley into a cooperative water users' 

association was unanimously agreed upon and reported to a mass meeting held October 4, 1902, where subscription books were opened for
NEWELL.] ORGANIZING IN SALT RIVER VALLEY. 141

what was to be known as a "preliminary" subscription approval of 

the plan. This carried with it no financial obligation or legal responsibility whatever. Its purpose was solely to procure from landowners 

an expression of willingness to "sign up, 1 ' and by so doing to inaugurate a campaign of education which should reach every portion of the 

valley and thus bring about a better understanding of the whole proposition by the masses of the people.

The work of procuring "preliminary" subscriptions was pushed 

systematically and vigorously, until about 150,000 acres had been 

"signed up." Meanwhile the regular meetings of the executive 

committee were resumed, and Judge Kibbey was employed as legal 

adviser of the committee.

To Mr. Maxwell and Judge Kibbey is due much of the credit for the 

character and quality of the work finally embodied in the report of the 

executive committee. Each supplemented the other, and, to the finish, 

they worked in perfect harmony, safely guided by their sound sense, 

legal training, and wide experience in irrigation law.

Frequent meetings of the executive committee were held during 

November and December, 1902, and January, 1903. It was a comparatively simple proposition to reach a general outline agreement in 

October, but quite another to blaze a new trail to formulate, without 

precedent or guide, articles of incorporation which should be broad in 

scope, clear in statement, carefully worded and legally phrased, just to 

all interests, and adapted to existing conditions. Of course, among 

eleven men of strong individual characteristics and personalities there 

were radical differences of opinion, views held tenaciously, much discussion (rather heated at times), and great deliberation. But, to their 

everlasting credit be it said, there was no wrangling, no ill-tempered 

outbreaks, no attempt at sharp practice. The minority was of tough 

fiber, active, alert, everlastingly persistent and aggressive, but in the 

main fair, open to conviction, and amenable to just rulings, and at the 

last meeting of the committee joined in giving the chairman a unanimous vote of thanks for his fairness and unvarying courtesy, at times 

under very trying circumstances. The entire committee realized that 

only by "infinite patience and justice to all," as Mr. Maxwell put it 

at the first meeting, could success ever be attained and antagonistic 

interests be harmonized and unified an achievement declared by many 

in the earlier days of the movement to be utterly impossible.

The opposition of the minority was due, first, to a reluctance to abandon old and adopt new methods; second, to an unwillingness to accept 

the principle, laid down in the national irrigation act itself, that water 

should be appurtenant to the land; third, to a fear of jeopardizing capital invested in so-called "floating water rights," which, it was feared, 

would become valueless if water was attached to the land; fourth, to 

unwillingness on the part of owners of large holdings to subdivide, as
142 FIEST EECLAMATIOH SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

required by said act, who yet wanted to become beneficiaries under 

it; fifth, to fear of a merger of the canal systems into one association, 

and consequent loss of local control; sixth, to ignorance of the plan 

proposed and the benefits expected; seventh, to pure selfishness and 

personal interests. One large landowner contended persistently for 

what he called a " regulation right" (for which he was willing to pay 

in the same proportion as other landowners), claiming that if the 

flood waters which belonged to him could be held back in the Government reservoir and the flow " regulated," he would have all the water 

needed for his 7,000 acres. To have conceded this point would have 

been equivalent to a complete evasion of the provisions of the reclamation act, limiting the acreage on which a water right could be issued 

to 160 acres.

Naturally there was much discussion over the objects of the association; the power to be given to a centralized administration; the size of 

the reservoir district; the amount of capital stock, by whom it should 

be owned, how acquired, how canceled, and the rights incident thereto; 

the appurtenancy of water to land; the form of organization; the revenues, how raised; the expenditures, how safeguarded, etc.

The articles of incorporation, completed early in February, 1903, 

having been approved and adopted by the majority of the members of 

the executive committee, were submitted to the water-storage conference committee and by them approved and adopted, each one separately and then as a whole.

At once the articles were tiled in the county recorder's office and 

with the secretary of the Territory of Arizona, and duly published as 

required by law, and then the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association became a legal entity.

The next step was to provide for the creation of a lien on the land, 

so that the Government might be assured of ample security for the 

cost of the construction of the reservoir, as required under the law. 

Without delay the articles were reprinted in contract form for signature by those who thereby became members of the. association, and the 

work of procuring subscriptions to these formal contracts of membership was begun under the direction of a subscription committee, who 

divided the valley into districts and appointed in each district the best 

men to be had as solicitors, with instructions to see every landowner 

and urge early action in "signing up." These contracts called for the 

signature of the landowner, and wife if married, and a legal acknowledgment by each signer before a notary public.

The shares, when so subscribed for, became appurtenant to the land, 

one share, and no more, being allotted to each acre of land, under the 

articles of association, which also limited the voting right of any one 

landowner to 160 shares.
NEWELL.] REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 143

From time to time, in order to hold up and stimulate the general 

interest, public meetings were held in various sections of the valley.

Throughout the entire campaign the local press without exception 

did valiant work, not only in disseminating news of the progress made 

from day to day, but also by pointed and vigorous editorials clearly 

setting forth the situation, unqualifiedly indorsing the movement, and 

urging all landowners to "sign up" and become members of the association without unnecessary delay.

This work was continued with varying success, but persistently, 

hopefully, and without cessation from early in February to July 17, 

1903, when the books were closed with a total of about 200,000 acres 

subscribed.

A report was then made to the Government, embodying a brief; a 

complete list of subscribers, giving date of subscription, names, and 

acreage; a map in colors, showing at a glance what lands and how 

much each subscriber has signed up, and the grand total; a copy of 

the articles of association; and also a copy of the by-laws, so far as 

drawn (it being the policy of the association to draft only such by-laws 

as experience from time to time showed to be wise and needed). 

These having met with the general approval of the Secretary of the 

Interior, the preliminary work of construction was begun by the 

reclamation service in the fall of 1903, and the first large contract, for 

the construction of the power canal, was signed by the Secretary of 

the Interior in March, 1904, and thereafter the work was pushed energetically toward completion.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE WATER-STORAGE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.

PHOENIX, AKIZ., October 2, 1902.

The executive committee of the water-storage conference committee of the Salt 

River Valley respectfully submits to the general committee the following report:

We have given the most careful, exhaustive, deliberate, and impartial consideration to the problem of the formulation of a comprehensive general plan which would 

remove the obstacles to be overcome, and enable the landowners and water users of 

the Salt River Valley to unite their interests and influence in a combined and determined effort to secure the construction of the Salt River reservoir by the National 

Government.

We have unanimously agreed upon the general plan hereinafter set forth as one 

which will, in our judgment, if it is adopted and carried into effect by the people of 

the Salt River Valley, enable them to obtain for themselves the great benefits which 

water storage, would bring to this community and to every member of it.

We believe success in this movement depends wholly upon the people themselves. 

With a united community there is every assurance of success, and we urge upon 

every citizen of the Salt River Valley the imperative and urgent importance in this 

critical period in the history of our development of working shoulder to shoulder to 

carry out the plan suggested by this committee and set forth in this report.
144 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE COKFERElSrCE. [NO. 93.

The national irrigation act does not contemplate or authorize the construction of 

a reservoir by the National Government for the storage of water to be delivered to a 

canal company, and by that canal company carried and delivered to the water users, 

where the canal system is operated and controlled by neither the Government nor 

the water users. The water must be delivered and distributed to the land to which 

the right to its use has by the Government been made perpetually appurtenant, 

either through a Government canal or through a canal owned, operated, and "controlled by the owners of the lands entitled to the water.

It is for this reason necessary that such of the canal companies or systems in the 

Salt River Valley as will carry water from the reservoir to the lands on which the 

Government will locate reservoir rights shall be transformed into cooperative landowners' companies or merged into one such company, which shall undertake the 

duty of distributing the water from the reservoir so that every landowner holding a 

Government reservoir right shall be assured of a corresponding right to have his 

water carried to him from the reservoir to the land on which he may be entitled to 

use the water for irrigation. The storage of the water is not the only thing to be 

considered. Its distribution under a plan which will conform to the requirements 

and provisions of the national irrigation act is equally necessary and important, and 

must be arranged and provided for before we can secure the construction of the 

reservoir by the Government.

It is likewise necessary, in view of the existing local conditions in the Salt River 

Valley, that some plan should be adopted whereby the Government can deal with 

all the owners of lands to which reservoir rights are to be issued as a unit.

The Government would not and could not undertake to collect water rates from a 

large number of landowners for water delivered to them from the reservoir through 

canal systems over which the Government had no control, and we believe that no 

plan could now be devised or carried into effect under which the Government would 

assume control or acquire the ownership of the distributing systems in the Salt 

River Valley. It must be recognized that this is impossible.

A plan must be adopted which will guarantee and insure to the Government the 

prompt payment in full when due of each and every annual installment of the total 

cost of the reservoir in each of the years during which these installments will be 

due and payable to the Government. The Government must be assured that 

these payments will be made beyond any question, and that the Government will 

never be involved in any complications or entanglements. As to these matters, the 

position of the Government must be made absolutely safe and certain, and we can not 

expect it to act until that has been done.

We therefore recommend, as suggested in the plan proposed to the committee by 

Judge Joseph H. Kibbey, that we should first organize the association of water users 

contemplated by the national irrigation act itself. The shares in this association 

should be perpetually and inseparably appurtenant to the land on which they are 

originally issued.

This association, when formed, should embrace all landowners desiring to acquire 

rights to water from the reservoir, and should be the agency to receive the water 

from the Government and distribute it to the landowners entitled to its use, or to the 

respective canals controlled and operated by such landowners, to be by such canals 

carried to the lands to be irrigated, under such rules and regulations as may be 

established by the association of water users and the respective canal systems, and 

approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

This association of water users should also be the agency through which all collections from landowners of moneys due the Government should be made and through 

which the full amount of each annual installment due the Government each year 

should be paid all at one time in a single lump sum each and every year when the 

same is due.
NEWELL.] EEPOET OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 145

It should be borne in mind that the national irrigation act contains the following 

clause:

" That nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting or intended to affect or to 

in any way interfere with the laws of any State or Territory relating to the control, 

appropriation, use, or distribution of water used in irrigation, or any vested right 

acquired thereunder, and the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out the provisions 

of this act, shall proceed in conformity with such laws."

The foundation of the whole structure upon which the national reservoir and all 

rights to water from it and every detail of the plan of distribution of that water is 

that under no circumstances that can arise shall there ever be any interference in 

any way with any vested right to water from the Salt or Verde rivers. All such 

rights will be protected by the laws of the Territory and of the National Government, and the plan we propose does not contemplate any surrender or modification 

of any of those rights. They will continue to exist just as though no reservoir was 

contemplated or built. We think, however, that it would be desirable that all such 

rights should be adjudicated at as early a date as may be feasible or practicable. It 

is not necessary, however, in our judgment, that this should be done as a condition 

precedent to the construction of the reservoir or before its construction should be 

authorized and begun by the Government.

It must be further borne in mind, and the fact should never be lost sight of, 

that the national irrigation act further provides that 

"No right to the use of water for land in private ownership shall be sold for a tract 

exceeding 160 acres to any one landowner, and no such sale shall be made to any 

landowner unless he be an actual bona fide resident on such land or occupant 

thereof residing in the neighborhood of such land, and no such right shall permanently attach until all payments therefor are made."

No landowner will be able to acquire a grant of a reservoir right from the Government unless he shall, before the completion of the reservoir, have brought himself 

clearly within the letter and spirit of the act in these particulars, and this will necessitate the subdivision, before the completion of the reservoir, of much of the land in 

the valley into 160-acre tracts where now held in larger tracts.

After a full consideration of the matter we have decided that it will ,be for the best 

interests of the people of the Salt River Valley to recommend the construction of the 

reservoir with a capacity of 1,478,750 acre-feet, the approximate estimate of the cost 

of the same being $2,549,231.

With a view of carrying into effect the foregoing general plan the following resolutions were adopted by your committee:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this executive committee that a district should be 

created within Maricopa County, Ariz., composed of land under the present canals 

now distributing water within the following-described boundaries:

Commencing at a point on the right bank of Salt River at the mouth of the Vej*de 

River; thence in a southerly direction to the headgates of the Arizona canal; thence 

in a general westerly direction along the north line of the right of way of the Arizona 

canal to the end thereof, at or near the quarter corner between sections 5 and 6, 

township 3 north, range 1 east; thence west to the left bank of the Agua Fria 

River; thence in a southerly direction along the left bank of the Agua Fria River 

to a point in section 14, township 1 north, range 1 west, where the line of the St. 

Johns canal intersects the Agua Fria River; thence in a southeasterly direction 

along the north line of the right of way of the St. Johns canal to the north 

bank of the Salt River; thence across the Salt River to a point in section 35, 

township 1 north, range 1 east, where the east line of the Gila River Indian Reservation intersects the south bank of the Salt River; thence in a southerly direction along the east line of the said Gila River Indian Reservation to the township 

IRR 93 04 10
146 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

line between townships 1 and 2 south; thence following the boundary of the said 

Gila River Indian Reservation east along the said township line to the range line 

between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence south between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence east, 

between townships 2 and 3 south, to the east line of the right of way of the east 

branch of the Consolidated canal; thence north, following the east line of the right 

of way of the east branch of the Consolidated canal to the south line of section 2, 

township 2 south, range 5 east; thence east to the section corner common to sections 

5, 6, 7, and 8, township 2 south, range 6 east; thence north between sections 5 and 6 

east, township 2 south, range 6 east, to the east bank of the Highland canal; thence 

in a generally northern direction along the east bank of said Highland canal to the 

left bank of the Salt River; thence in a generally northerly direction along the left 

bank of Salt River to a point opposite the mouth of the Verde River, and thence 

across Salt River to the place of beginning.

It is further

Resolved, That a water-users' association should now be organized, and that subscriptions should be opened for shares of stock therein, each landowner within the above 

district to be entitled to subscribe for one share of stock for each acre of his land, 

each subscription for such share of stock to embody an application for and an agreement to take a reservoir right for the same acreage, or such portion thereof, as may be 

authorized by the Secretary of the Interior.

It is further

Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee that the lands now under cultivation should be given the first opportunity to secure reservoir rights, and that reservoir 

rights should be allotted only to holders of shares in the said water-users' association, 

and this committee believes that under a system of water storage, in view of the 

water-supply records of the Verde and Salt rivers as prepared by the United States 

Geological Survey, and the court water commissioner of Maricopa County, that it 

would be unwise to attempt to cultivate more than 200,000 acres with the entire 

known available water supply this supply including the natural appropriated flow 

of the Salt and Verde rivers, the flood waters to be stored, and the water to be 

pumped by the power developed at the Salt River reservoir, it being estimated that 

the amount so pumped will approximate a supply of not less than sufficient to irrigate 20,000 acres.

It is further

Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be presented to the Secretary of the Interior 

as the earnest recommendation of this committee.

It must be understood that all the recommendations contained in this report and 

embodied in the plan proposed are subject to any modification which should be 

advised by the Secretary of the Interior under the authority given him by the national 

irrigation act, and that we «an do no more than recommend to him what in our 

judgment is the best plan to be adopted.

It was further

Resolved, That the number of shares of the capital stock of the water-users' association should be limited to 250,000 shares, and that the flat price per acre, which would 

be the par value of said shares, be fixed at $12.50 per acre, payable in ten equal annual 

installments of $1.25 per acre per year each, commencing at whatever time shall be 

fixed by the Secretary of the Interior as the time when the first installment is due 

the Government upon the reservoir rights to be issued by it.

It was further

Resolved, That a subscription book be prepared containing the report of this executive committee, followed by a statement that the undersigned approve the foregoing 

plan, and will subscribe for the number of shares and acreage set opposite their 

respective names, subject to their approval of the articles of incorporation and by-laws 

of the merger association to be hereafter prepared, and that the said book be pre-
NEWELL.] ARTICLES. OF INCORPORATION. 147

sented to the general committee at its meeting on Thursday, October 2,1902, and that 

if the said report of this committee be adopted by the general committee the subscription list should be immediately opened, and that the members of the executive 

committee and general committee, and any other persons desiring to do so should 

have the privilege of signing the same.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.

Know all men by these articles of incorporation that we, the undersigned, have 

associated ourselves together under the laws of the Territory of Arizona as a body 

corporate.

ARTICLE I.

The name of the corporation shall be and is Salt Eiver Valley Water Users' 

Association.

ARTICLE II.

The names of the incorporators are: Frank T. Alkire, E. J. Bennitt, J. Wilfred 

Broomell, A. J. Chandler, Vernon L. Clark, O. H. Christy, William Christy, W. W. 

Dobson, W. S. Dorman, B. A. Fickas, B. A. Fowler, S. S. Green, C. R. Hakes, James 

G. Hammels, C. T. Hirst, H. A. Hughes, C. C. Hurley, P. T. Hurley, James Johnson, Emery Kays, W. J. Kingsbury, Wallace A. MacDonald, H. C. Mann, M. W. 

Messinger, Lin B. Orme, F. H. Parker, Thomas W. Pemberton, Alfred J. Peters, 

J. E. Price, L. J. Rice, L. D. Rousseau, H. Simkins, M. A. Stanford, C. S. Steward, 

J. A. Stewart, S. S. Stout, J. E. Sturgeon, Fred Tait, Walter Talbot, G. E. Tompkins, Howard L. Underbill, H. G. Van Fossen, A. P. Walbridge, W. H. Wallace, 

Henry E. Ware, J. C. Wasson, Sam F. Webb, E. W. Wilbur, W. A. Wilson, but 

others may become members of said association by subscribing to these articles of 

incorporation, or a copy thereof, or by the transfer of stock to them in the regular 

course of the administration of the affairs of the association.

ARTICLE III.

The principal place of transacting the business of the association shall be at the 

city of Phoenix, in the county of Maricopa, in the Territory of Arizona.

ARTICLE IV.

SECTION 1. The objects for which the association is organized and the general 

nature of the business to be transacted by it shall be and are:

To provide for and distribute and furnish to the lands of the holders of shares of 

said association to which said shares and the rights and interests represented thereby 

are appurtenant an adequate supply of water for the irrigation of said lands.

To divert water within the Territory of Arizona from the public sources of water 

supply, to impound water and develop sources of water, to pump water from underground sources, to carry and distribute water for the irrigation of the lands aforesaid, 

and to construct, purchase, lease, condemn, or otherwise in any way whatsoever 

acquire and own, hold, have, use, control, maintain, preserve, manage, operate, 

and conduct the means therefor and any and- all rights, reservoirs, dams, canals, 

ditches, flumes, head gates, pipes, machinery, wells, pumps, pumping plants, power 

houses, transmission lines, and property, both real and personal, of every nature 

and kind whatsoever necessary or appropriate for the accomplishment of any of 

the objects or purposes aforesaid.

To divert, impound, develop, pump, distribute, deliver, and use water for all beneficial uses and purposes from surface and subterranean sources by any means adapted
148 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

to any of the purposes aforesaid, and create, transmit, and use power for the accomplishment of any of the purposes or objects of the association as hereinbefore set forth.

To have and exercise all the powers, and do all and everything necessary, suitable, 

convenient, or proper for the accomplishment of any of the purposes or the attainment of any one or more of the objects herein enumerated or incidental to the powers 

herein named or which shall at any time appear conducive or expedient for the protection or benefit of the association or its members as shareholders therein.

SEC. 2. For the accomplishment or to aid in and promote the accomplishment of 

the aforesaid purposes or objects, or any of them, this association shall have power 

to enter into any contract or other arrangement or undertake in whatsoever manner 

and by whatsoever means may be deemed proper or convenient therefor, to secure 

action by or the aid of the United States Government in the construction, erection, 

or acquisition of any dams, reservoirs, canals, wells, or other works or property or 

appurtenances necessary thereunto for the storage, development, diversion, distribution, or delivery of water to the lands of the shareholders of this association, or to aid 

therein, and to enter into any agreement with said Government which may be 

approved by the Secretary of the Interior or any duly authorized official or representative of the Interior Department with reference to the collection and payment to 

the Government of any and all moneys which may be due the Government under 

or by reason of rights issued by the Government to members of this association for 

the use of water from any reservoir or irrigation works acquired or constructed by 

said Government, or in the acquisition or construction of which it may have aided, 

and to comply with any conditions, rules, or regulations prescribed by Congress or 

by any Executive Department or official of said Government lawfully authorized 

thereunto, concerning the storage, diversion, delivery, application, or use of any water 

so stored, developed, or delivered to the shareholders of this association from or by 

means of any works constructed or acquired by the Government or in the construction or acquisition of which the Government may have aided, or which it may hereafter construct or acquire, or in the construction or acquisition of which it may 

hereafter aid.

SEC. 3. The territory within which are the lands to be irrigated as aforesaid shall be 

known as the Salt River Eeservoir District, and shall include lands within the boundaries described as follows, that is to say: Commencing at a point on the right bank 

of Salt River at the mouth of the Verde River; thence in a southerly direction to the 

head gates of the Arizona Canal; thence in a general westerly direction along the north 

line of the right of way of the Arizona Canal to the end thereof, at or near the quarter 

corner between sections 5 and 6, township 3 north, range 1 east; thence west to the 

left bank of the Agua Fria River; thence in a southerly direction along the left bank 

of the Agua Fria River to a point in section 14, township 1 north, range 1 west, 

where the line of the St. Johns Canal intersects the Agua Fria River; thence in a 

southeasterly direction along the north line of the right of way of the St. Johns 

Canal to the north bank of the Salt River; thence across the Salt River to a point in 

section 35, township 1 north, range 1 east, where the east line of the Gila River 

Indian Reservation intersects the south bank of the Salt River; thence in a southerly 

direction along the east line of the said Gila River Indian Reservation to the township line between townships 1 and 2 south; thence following the boundary of the 

said Gila River Indian Reservation, east along the said township line to the range 

line between ranges 4 and 5 east; tbence south between ranges 4 and 5 east; thence 

east, between townships 2 and 3 south, to the east line of the right of way of the east 

branch of the Consolidated Canal; thence north, following the east line of the right 

of way of the east branch of the Consolidated Canal to the south line of section 2, 

township 2 south, range 5 east; thence east to the section corner common to sections 

5, 6, 7, and 8, township 2 south, range 6 east; thence north between sections 5 and 6 

east, township 2 south, range 6 east, to the east bank of the Highland Canal; thence
NEWELL.] ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 149

in a general northerly direction along the east bank of said Highland Canal to the 

left bank of Salt River; thence in a general northerly direction along the left bank 

of Salt River to a point opposite the mouth of the Verde River to the place of beginning; together with any public or other lands on which rights to the use of water 

from reservoir or irrigation works referred to in section 2 of this article shall be 

issued by the Secretary of the Interior.

ARTICLE V.

SECTION 1. The capital stock of the association shall be $3,750,000, and be divided 

into 250,000 shares of the par value of $15 per share.

SEC. 2. Those and those only who are owners of lands, or occupants of public lands 

having initiated a right to acquire the same, within the territory described in Article 

IV of these articles of incorporation, or within such extensions thereof as may be 

hereafter made from time to time under the powers herein conferred for that purpose, shall be the holders or owners of shares of the capital stock of this association. 

For each acre of such lands shareholders may become-the owner of one share of stock 

of this association and 110 more.

SEC. 3. As a condition of continued ownership of said shares of stock, and participation in any of the benefits thereof, each subscriber therefor, or transferee thereof 

in case of transfer, shall, as soon as the right or rights hereinafter referred to become 

subject to application and acquisition under the rules and regulations prescribed or 

to be prescribed for the purpose by Congress or any Executive Department of the 

Government, apply for, and in good faith comply promptly with all such rules and 

regulations for the acquisition of, a right to the use of water from any source of supply provided by the Government, or in the provision of which the Government has 

aided, for the irrigation of the lands to which said shares and rights represented 

thereby are appurtenant. Upon the failure of the subscriber, or holder otherwise, 

of any of the shares of the capital stock of this association to apply for such rights, or, 

having applied therefor, upon failure to promptly and in good faith comply with all 

rules and regulations prescribed or that may be prescribed by Congress or by any 

Executive Department of the Government relative thereto, then he shall forfeit to the 

association such shares of stock and all and every right in anywise theretofore or then 

incident thereto, or that might in anywise arise or accrue from or exist by virtue of 

such subscription or ownership, or that could by any means arise or be claimed therefrom, and such person, his heirs and assigns, shall thereafter have no right whatsoever as a member of this association by virtue thereof.

SEC. 4. Any shares of stock so forfeited shall at once be canceled and shall not 

again, under any circumstances, be renewed, revived, or reissued. Other stock in 

lieu thereof up to the limit of the total number of shares authorized by these articles 

may be subscribed for and issued, subject to all the conditions of these articles and 

to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 5. The ownership of each share of stock of this association shall carry, as 

incident thereto, a right to have delivered to the owner thereof water, by the association, for the irrigation of the lands to which such share is appurtenant.

SEC. 6. The amount of water so to be delivered to such owner shall be that proportionate part of all stored and developed water, the storage or development of 

which is or may be effected by this association, or by means of works under its control, management, or direction, or which may become available for distribution by 

this association from irrigation works built by the National Government, during any 

irrigating season, as the number of shares owned by him shall bear to the whole 

number of valid and subsisting shares of the association issued and then outstanding, 

to be delivered to and upon said lands at such times during such season as he may 

direct.
150 MEST EECLAMATION SERVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

SEC. 7. And there shall also be incident to such ownership of such shares the right 

to have delivered to the owner thereof, for the irrigation of said lands, as the association shall from time to time acquire means for that purpose, the water heretofore, 

and before the shareholder or his transferee became a member of this association, 

appropriated "by him or by his predecessors in interest, for the irrigation of said 

lands: Provided, however, that the whole amount of water actually delivered from 

all sources shall not exceed the amount necessary for the proper cultivation of said 

lands.

SEC. 8. The records of the association and each and every certificate or other evidence of ownership of shares of stock in the association, when issued, shall contain a 

description of the lands to be irrigated, and to which the aforesaid rights and shares 

shall be perpetually appurtenant, and thereafter all rights, whatever their source or 

whatever their manner of acquisition, to the use of water for the irrigation of said lands, 

shall forever be inseparably appurtenant to said lands, together with the said shares 

of stock, and all rights and interests represented thereby or existing or accruing 

by reason thereof, unless such rights shall become forfeited under the provisions of 

these articles of incorporation, or of by-laws adopted in pursuance thereof, or by 

operation of law, or by the voluntary abandonment thereof by deed, grant, or other 

instrument, or by nonuser for the term prescribed by law; but no such abandonment shall be for the benefit of any person designated by such shareholder, directly 

or indirectly, or to his use, nor confer any right whatsoever upon the holder of any 

grant, release, waiver, or declaration of abandonment of whatever kind of such right: 

Provided, however, that if for any reason it should at any time become impracticable to beneficially use water for the irrigation of the land to which the right to the 

use of the same is appurtenant on the said land, the said right may be severed from 

said land and simultaneously transferred and attached to other lands to which 

shares of stock in this association are or are thereby made appurtenant, if a petition 

for leave to make such transfer and showing the necessity therefor shall have first 

been approved by a two-thirds vote of the board of governors at a regular meeting 

and by the Secretary of the Interior; and all the provisions and agreements hereinbefore in this section contained shall be set forth in the aforesaid certificate or other 

evidence of the ownership of shares of stock in the association, and such certificate 

or other instrument shall be signed, executed, and acknowledged by the -president 

and secretary of the association, and by the person to whom it is issued in the manner required by law for the execution and acknowledgment of deeds for the conveyance of real estate, and the council shall pass by-laws prescribing the form of such 

certificate or other instrument not inconsistent with these articles.

SEC. 9. Every transfer of the title to any lands to which the said rights and stock 

are so appurtenant, whether by grant or by operation of law (except where the 

land may be subjected by grant or involuntarily under any law to an easement, 

the exercise of which does not interfere with the cultivation of the soil by the servient owner) shall operate, whether it be so expressed in the grant or other means of 

transfer or not, as a transfer of all rights to the use of water for the irrigation of said 

lands, and all rights arising from, or incident to, the ownership of such stock, and 

as well as the stock itself, to the grantee or successor in title of said lands; and upon 

presentation to this association of proof of any such transfer of land, to which such 

rights are appurtenant, the proper officer shall transfer such stock upon its books to 

the successor in title to said lands.

SBC. 10. Any transfer, or attempted transfer, of any of the shares of stock of this 

association, made or suffered by the owner thereof, unless simultaneously a transfer 

of the land to which it is appurtenant is made or suffered, shall be of no force or 

effect whatsoever for any purpose, and shall confer no rights of any kind whatsoever on the person or persons to whom such transfer may have been attempted to be 

made.
NEWELL.] ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 151

SEC. 11. No payments for the capital stock of this association shall be required 

except in the manner following:

Whenever it shall be announced or otherwise made known by the Government, or 

any of its proper agencies, to the subscribers to the shares of said capital stock that 

rights may be initiated to the use of water from any works acquired or constructed 

by it for the storage or development of water capable of being used on the lands of 

the subscribers for said shares of stock, or in the acquisition or construction of which 

works the Government shall have aided, then the said subscribers shall, under the 

rules and regulations prescribed by the Government therefor, within a reasonable 

time, apply to the proper agency for such rights at the rate of one acre for each 

share of stock so subscribed for, and upon proper proof to this association that such 

rights have been allotted to the subscriber and that he has complied with the Government rules and regulations up to that time, so as to entitle him to complete his 

ultimate acquisition thereof, then such subscriber shall be deemed to have paid on. 

his subscription of said stock the amount that he shall have then paid to or for the 

use of the Government for such right, and when all subsequent payments required 

by the Government for such rights shall have been paid by him, or by anyone for 

him, then such stock shall be deemed and held to have been fully paid up.

SEC. 12. If it should be determined by the Government that the amount of water 

that may safely be estimated to be capable of being stored, or developed by works, 

acquired or constructed or to be acquired or constructed by it, or by this association, 

in addition to the amount of water now appropriated out of Salt River and Verde 

River, for the irrigation of lands in said reservoir district, shall together be insufficient 

to properly irrigate 250,000 acres of land, then the number of shares of the capital 

stock of this association shall be reduced so that the number of such shares shall not 

exceed the number of acres estimated by the Government to be capable of irrigation 

from such combined sources of supply.

SEC. 13. If at the time of the determination by the Government of the number of 

acres capable of such irrigation there shall have been subscribed for a number of the 

shares equal to the number of acres so estimated to be capable of irrigation, then no 

subscription for more shares shall be taken. If the number so subscribed for, however, shall then exceed the estimated number of acres so capable of irrigation, then 

there shall be allotted to said subscribers that number of shares equal to the estimated 

. number of acres capable of irrigation. In such allotment cultivated lands shall have 

the preference; and any excess in the number of shares subscribed for over the number so allotted shall be canceled, and thereafter shall not be issued.

SEC. 14. In exercising the right of preference to allotment of shares, provided for 

in the foregoing section, the by-laws may prescribe reasonable times within which 

such preference shall be declared and the manner thereof.

ARTICLE VI.

SECTION 1. The exercise of the corporate powers of this association and the management of its affairs shall be vested in 

(1) A council;

(2) A board of governors;

(3) One or more local boards of water commissioners, and

(4) A president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and such other officers and 

agents as shall or may be, from time to time, created and established by the council.

SEC. 2. The council shall consist of 30 members, who shall hold their offices for 

three years. In the event of a vacancy occurring from death, resignation, ceasing to 

be a shareholder of this association, removal from the, reservoir district, or other 

cause, the unexpired term shall be filled at the annual election next after the vacancy 

shall have occurred. Shareholders of this association only shall be eligible to the 

office of member of the council.
152 FIRST KECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

SEC. 3. The annual election of the members of the council and of the other officers 

for whose election these articles provide shall be held on the first Tuesday of April 

in each year.

SEC. 4. For the purpose of electing members of the council the territory described 

in Article IV of these articles shall be divided by the council into ten districts, which 

districts shall severally consist of contiguous territory, and be as nearly uniform in 

shape, and contain as nearly an equal number of acres to which shares of stock in 

this association are appurtenant, as may be practicable.

SEC. 5. At each annual election, after 1904, there shall be elected one member of 

the council from each of said several districts by the electors thereof. Such member 

shall at the time of his election be the owner of lands situated within the district for 

which he is elected to which shares of stock of this association are appurtenant, and 

shall also be a resident of the reservoir district, and if he should, during his term of 

office, cease to be such owner, or a resident of such reservoir district, his office shall 

thereupon, and by reason thereof, become vacant.

SEC. 6. At the annual election to be held on the first Tuesday of April, 1904, there 

shall be elected three members of the council from each of said districts, one of whom 

shall be elected to serve for one, one for two, and the third for three years.

SEC. 7. The term of office of members of the council shall begin on the first Monday in May following their election.

SEC. 8.' Until the election of members of the council at the annual election in 1904, 

and until their qualification, the council shall consist of the following-named persons, 

that is to say: J. Wilfred Broomell, Vernon L. Clark, O. H. Christy, W. W. Dobson, 

B. A. Fickas, S. S. Green, C. R. Hakes, C. T. Hirst, P. T. Hurley, James Johnson, 

Emery Kays, W. J. Kingsbury, Wallace A. MacDonald, H. C. Mann, M. W. Messinger, Thomas W. Pemberton, Alfred J. Peters, J. E. Price, L. J. Rice, L. D. Rousseau, C. S. Steward, J. A. Stewart, J. E. Sturgeon, Fred Tait, G. E. Tompkins, Howard 

L. Underbill, H. G. Van Fossen, A. P. Walbridge, Henry E. Ware, W. A. Wilson.

SEC. 9. The council shall meet at least once in each year at the city of Phoenix, in 

Maricopa County, Ariz. This regular annual meeting of the council shall begin on 

the first Monday in May in each year and continue in session at its pleasure.

SEC. 10. Special meetings may be called and held in such manner and at such 

times and under such provisions as may be prescribed by the by-laws. The general 

object and nature of business to be transacted at any special meeting shall be made 

known by reasonable public notice, such notice to be that prescribed by the by-laws 

therefor.

SEC. 11. The members of the council shall serve as such without compensation, 

but may receive mileage one way at the rate of 10 cents per mile for each day of 

actual attendance.

SEC. 12. No member of the council shall be eligible to any office of this association 

to which there is attached any emolument or compensation, nor shall he be-so eligible until at least two years shall have elapsed after his term of office as councilman 

shall have expired; provided, that this inhibition shall not apply to any person by 

reason of his membership of the first council.

SEC. 13. The council shall have power to enact and adopt and provide for the 

enforcement thereof by-laws for the government of the members of this association 

and the management of its business, and the conduct of its affairs, and to repeal, 

modify, and amend the same from time to time. But the council shall not have 

power to adopt or to enforce any by-laws that in anywise conflict with any rule or 

regulation established by the Secretary of the Interior or other agency of the Government for the administration of water from any reservoir or other works acquired 

or constructed by the National Government, or in the acquisition or construction of 

which it shall have aided, and which may be used for supplying water to the lands 

of the shareholders of this association.
NEWELL.] ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 153

SEC. 14. No by-laws shall be passed or enforced which shall interfere with or affect 

any present existing vested right of any member of this association to the use of 

 water for irrigation.

SEC. 15. All by-laws shall be of general application so far as general laws can be 

made to apply.

ARTICLE VII.

SECTION 1. At all elections the electors shall possess the following qualifications:

(1) Shall be at the time of the election the owner of at least one share of the capital stock of this association, and shall have been the owner thereof, as shown by 

the books of the association, for at least twenty days before such election.

(2) Shall be of the age of 21 years or more and of sound mind.

SEC. 2. At all elections each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each 

share of stock owned by him, not, however, to exceed in the aggregate 160 votes, 

and no more.

SEC. 3. The votes shall be by written or printed ballot, and be voted only by the 

electors at the polls in person.

SEC. 4. The council may make reasonable by-laws for the registration of voters 

and the method of holding elections.

SEC. 5. At all elections the person receiving the highest number of votes for any 

office shall be deemed elected to such office.

AKTICLE VIII.

SECTION 1. The board of governors shall consist of the president, by virtue of his 

office, and ten other members. Each of said ten members shall be the owner of 

lands situated within the district for which he is elected, to which shares of stock 

of this association are appurtenant, and shall also be a resident of the reservoir district; and if he should, during his term of office, cease to be .such owner or a resident of such reservoir district, his office shall thereupon, and by reason thereof, 

become vacant.

SEC. 2. One member of said board shall be elected at the annual election to be 

held on the first Tuesday of April, 1904, and at each annual election thereafter from 

and by the electors of each of the districts into which the territory described in 

Article IV of these articles is or may be divided for the purpose of the election of 

members of the council.

SEC. 3. Until the election of members of the board of governors at the annual election in 1904, and until their qualification, the board of governors shall consist of the 

following-named persons, that is to say: Frank T. Alkire, A. J. Chandler, William 

Christy, B. A. Fowler, Lin B. Orme, F. H. Parker, H. Simkins, M. A. Stanford, 

W. H. Wallace, Sam F. Webb, E. W. Wilbur.

SEC. 4. If a member of the board of governors at any time during his term of office 

should cease to have any of the qualifications prescribed for that office, such office 

shall thereupon become vacant, and in the event of a vacancy from that cause or by 

reason of the death, removal from the reservoir district, or resignation of any member 

of said board of governors, the vacancy shall be filled by the council if it occurs more 

thah sixty days prior to a regular election.

SEC. 5. The board of governors shall meet in regular session at the office of the 

association on the first Monday of each month, unless it be a legal holiday, in which 

case the board shall meet on the following day.

SEC. 6. Special meetings of the board of governors may be called by the president, 

or by any six of the members of the board. Such call shall be in writing and signed 

by either the president or any six of the members, and shall state the time of such 

proposed meeting and the nature of the business-to be transacted thereat. Such 

written call shall be filed with the secretary, who shall thereupon immediately, and
154 FIBST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

at least five days before the time fixed for such meeting, mail, postpaid, to the president and each member of the board a copy of such call, and shall publish the same 

in some newspaper published and of general circulation in the territory described 

in Article IV of these articles on three consecutive days before and exclusive of the 

day fixed for such special meeting. If the secretary fail or refuse to publish such 

call or to mail copies thereof, as above provided, then either the president, if he 

issued the call, or any one of the members who issued the same, may make publication and mail copies of the call, with like effect as if done by the secretary. Special 

meetings of the board of governors shall be held at the office of the association.

SEC. 7. The members of the board of governors shall receive such compensation as 

shall be prescribed by the council by by-laws.

SEC. 8. The board of governors shall have the administration of the corporate 

affairs and business of the association, and shall manage and conduct the same subject to all the provisions of these articles and of the by-laws.

SEC. 9. It shall have the power to appoint, subject to removal by it at any time, a 

general superintendent, and prescribe his duties and powers, subject to all rules and 

regulations prescribed by the by-laws, and to employ an engineer or engineers and 

such other employees as may be proper and necessary to effect the purposes of this 

association, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the 

by-laws.

SEC. 10. It shall have the power to prosecute, defend, and compromise all lawsuits; to make all contracts, in the name of the association, necessary and proper for 

the conduct of the affairs and the carrying on of the business of the association, 

subject to all limitations and regulations prescribed by these articles or the by-laws.

SEC. 11. It shall have the power to estimate, make, and levy all assessments against 

the shareholders of this association to the extent and in the manner authorized by 

these articles and regulated and prescribed by the by-laws.

SEC. 12. It shall have the power to make, publish, and enforce rules and regulations concerning the distribution, use, and application of water for irrigation, subject 

at all times to and not inconsistent with these articles-or with the by-laws or with 

any rules or regulations established by the Secretary of the Interior or other agency 

of the National Government.

SEC. 13. It shall keep, or cause to be kept, a record of its transactions, which shall 

at all times remain in the office of the association, and shall, during office hours, be 

open to the inspection of the shareholders or their properly authorized agents.

SEC. 14. It shall hear and determine complaints of shareholders of nonservice or 

of improper service or distribution of water or of improper performance of duty by 

any employee of the association relative to the distribution of water.

ARTICLE IX.

SECTION I. The lands under each separate distributing canal system within the 

territory described in Article IV of these articles shall on the petition of the owners 

of two-thirds of the shares of the capital stock of this association appurtenant to the 

lands .in such proposed canal division be formed into a canal division, and the 

boundaries of such division be fixed by the council. On the petition of the holders 

of a majority of the shares in this association owning the lands affected thereby, or 

without such petition, whenever in the judgment of the council it will be beneficial, 

the council may change or modify the boundaries of any canal division.

SEC. 2. A board of water commissioners, to consist of three members, shall be 

appointed annually by the board of governors for each canal division. Such appointment shall be made in the month of May in each year, and no one shall be eligible 

for such office unless he be a resident within the canal division for which he may 

be appointed, and a qualified elector as provided in these articles.' The term of
NEWELL.] AKTICLES OF INCOEPOKATIOK. 155

office of the members of the boards of water commissioners shall be from the time 

of their appointment until the first.day of May in the following year, and until their 

successors shall have been appointed and have qualified, and they may be removed 

for cause by the board of governors, who may fill any vacancy in any board of water 

commissioners for the unexpired term.

SEC. 3. If a petition signed by shareholders in this association, constituting a 

majority of qualified electors, residing in any canal division, shall be presented to 

the board of governors at their first meeting, in May, naming three persons eligible 

for appointment as water commissioners, in said canal division, and asking for their 

appointment to such office, such persons shall be appointed as such water commissioners.

SEC. 4. In each canal division the board of water commissioners thereof shall have 

the control and management of the local affairs of the canal system therein, and of 

the distribution of water therefrom, subject to the provisions of these articles, and to 

the by-laws, and to the rules and regulations established by the council, or by the 

Secretary of the Interior, or any agency of the National Government.

SEC. 5. The board of water commissioners in each canal division may appoint a 

secretary of the board and employ a division superintendent, removable at their 

pleasure.

SEC. 6. The board of water commissioners may call a meeting at any time of all 

the landowners in their canal division who are shareholders in this association, to 

consider and determine whether an assessment or assessments for their special benefit 

should be levied on the shareholders in said division. At least ten days' notice of 

such meeting shall be given by the secretary of said board, by posting a notice 

thereof in three public places in said canal division, and mailing a copy of such 

notice, with postage prepaid, to each shareholder residing in said canal division.

SEC. 7. If a majority of such shareholders who are the holders of a majority of the 

shares of this association appurtenant to lands in said canal division shall at said 

meeting approve the levy of such special assessment or assessments and sign a petition to the board of governors that the same be levied on the shareholders in this 

association, owning lands in said division, and specifying the amount of said proposed assessment and the purpose for which it should be levied, and said board of 

water commissioners should recommend it in writing, indorsed on said petition, it 

shall be the duty of the board of governors to levy said special assessment on all the 

shareholders in this association owning lands in said canal division.

SEC. 8. When so levied the said assessment may when collected be disbursed by 

the board of water commissioners of said canal division for the purpose specified in 

its levy, and shall be paid out by the treasurer on warrants drawn on him by the 

said board of water commissioners; provided, however, that nothing in this article 

shall limit or abridge the right of the association to make, levy, and collect assessments, as elsewhere in these articles provided.

ARTICLE X.

SECTION 1. A president and a vice-president of the association shall be elected at the 

annual election to be held on the first Tuesday of April, 1904, and every two years 

thereafter, and shall serve two years from and after the first Monday of May following their election and until their successors are elected and qualified. Until the election of a president and vice-president, as above provided, B. A. Fowler shall be the 

president and E. W. "Wilbur shall be the vice-president of this association.

SEC. 2. A treasurer and a secretary of the association shall be appointed by the 

board of governors at its first regular meeting in each year, and shall serve for one 

year thereafter and until their successors have been appointed and have qualified.

SEC. 3. The treasurer and secretary shall give such bond as may be prescribed by
156 FIRST EECLAMATlOtf SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

the by-laws; provided that no member of the board of governors nor the secretary 

shall be accepted as a surety on the bond of the treasurer.

SEC. 4. The president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary shall perform such 

duties as are prescribed by these articles and by the by-laws, wherein such by-laws 

shall not be inconsistent with law or with these articles, and shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the by-laws, which compensation shall be neither 

increased nor diminished during their respective terms of office.

SEC. 5. In case of the absence, illness, or inability of the president to act from any 

cause, or in case of a vacancy in that office, the vice-president shall act in the place 

and stead of the president. In the event of a vacancy in the offices of both the 

president and vice-president, the council shall call a special election to fill the unexpired terms for both offices; provided, however, that such vacancies, if occurring 

within sixty days before the next annual election, shall be filled by appointment by 

the council.

SEC. 6. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the association, and 

shall have general supervision over all other officers of the association in the performance of their duties as such, and of the conduct of the business and affairs of the 

association. He shall preside at all meetings of the board of governors and shall be 

ex officio a member of that board, and perform such other duties as may be devolved 

upon him by the by-laws.

SEC. 7. All certificates or other evidences of the ownership of shares of stock in the 

association issued by the association shall be signed by the president and secretary 

of the association and shall have the seal of the association affixed thereto.

SEC. 8. All contracts and instruments in writing executed for or in behalf of the 

association shall be so executed in the name of the association by the president and 

secretary, and shall have the seal of the association affixed thereto.

SEC. 9. The treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all moneys and other 

funds of the association. No moneys shall be paid out by the treasurer unless upon 

warrants drawn on him by the president and secretary, except as provided in Article 

IX, section 8, of these articles. No warrants shall be drawn on the treasurer by the 

president and secretary except upon the order of the board of governors, recorded 

in the minutes of the board, and in a warrant record to be kept by the secretary.

SEC. 10. The treasurer shall keep a full, complete, and accurate account of all 

moneys of the association received and disbursed by him, in books belonging to 

the association, and shall present a report and account thereof for the last preceding 

month to the board of governors at every regular monthly meeting of said board, and 

shall, at the expiration of each quarter, prepare and publish, in such manner as the 

by-laws may prescribe, a quarterly statement to shareholders showing all such receipts 

and disbursements during the last preceding quarter; and the treasurer shall perform 

such other duties as may be devolved'upon him by the by-laws.

SEC. 11. The secretary shall act as the clerk of the board of governors, and keep a 

record of all their proceedings. He shall be the custodian of the seal of the association, and of all its books, papers, and records. He shall immediately upon their 

adoption and certification to him by the council, record in a book of by-laws to be 

kept by him in his office, all by-laws adopted by the council, and shall keep such 

book open to the inspection of any member of the association at all times during 

business hours. And the secretary shall perform such other duties as may be 

devolved upon him by the by-laws.

ARTICLE XI.

The council may create such other offices as may be necessary for the carrying on 

of the business and affairs of this association, and prescribe the manner of appointment, powers, duties, terms of office, eligibility, and compensation thereof by by-laws 

not inconsistent with these articles.
NEWELL.] ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 157

ARTICLE XII.

Upon proper complaint thereof by the board of governors, duly sustained, the 

council may remove from office the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, 

or the incumbent of any office created by the council, for incompetence, neglect of 

duty, misappropriation of funds of the association, or for violation of any of the 

provisions of these articles or of any by-law. The council shall prescribe by by-laws 

the procedure for such removal.

ARTICLE XIII.

SECTION 1. Revenues necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes of this 

association shall be raised by an assessment thereof, from time to time as required, 

upon and against the shareholders.

SEC. 2. The council shall have power to make and enforce necessary by-laws for 

the making, levying, collecting, and enforcing of such assessments.

SEC. 3. Assessments for the ordinary cost of operation, maintenance, and repair 

of the works of the association, or of those the maintenance and control of which 

are, or may be hereafter, lodged in the association, shall be equally assessed against 

all the shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by them, respectively.

SEC. 4. Assessments for the purpose of constructing or acquiring, or for the betterment, improvement, renewal, replacement, or preservation of any works, property, 

or rights of the association, or for the purpose of preserving, or increasing, or more 

efficiently or economically distributing the water supplies available for distribution 

by the association, or for the fulfillment of any obligation undertaken by the association in any contract, agreement, or other arrangement with the United States 

Government, or necessary for the accomplishment or carrying out of any of the 

purposes of the association, may be equally assessed against all the shareholders in 

proportion to the number of shares owned by them, respectively.

SEC. 5. Assessments for expenditures for purposes that are of benefit to a part only 

of the shareholders may be specially assessed in proportion to such benefits against 

such shareholders, but no expenditure to be provided for or covered by such special 

assessment shall be made, or obligation to expend the same incurred, except upon 

the petition of the holders of two-thirds of the shares to be so specially benefited 

thereby.

SEC. 6. Assessments shall become, from time to time as they are made and levied, 

and until they are paid or otherwise discharged shall be and remain a lien on the 

lands of the shareholder against which they are levied and upon the shares of stock 

appurtenant to said lands and all rights and interests represented by such shares. 

The manner of fixing the lien and enforcing the same shall be prescribed in the 

by-laws:

SEC. 7. Except for the ordinary operation, maintenance, and repair, no work shall 

be undertaken, purchase made, or indebtedness incurred or be authorized during any 

one year whereof the cost or amount thereof shall exceed $50,000 until it shall have 

first been ratified by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at an election to be called 

for that purpose. Special elections may be called and held for such purpose under 

such by-laws as the council may prescribe not inconsistent with these articles.

ARTICLE XIV.

Nothing in these articles of incorporation, or in the fact of becoming a member of 

this association, shall be construed as affecting, or intended to affect, or in anyway 

interfere with the present vested rights of any person to the prior use or delivery of 

the natural appropriated flow of the waters of the Salt and Verde rivers.
158 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ARTICLE XV.

The individual property of the shareholders shall be exempt from liability for 

incorporate indebtedness of this association.

ARTICLE XVI.

The incorporate indebtedness shall not exceed two-thirds of the amount of the 

capital stock.

ARTICLE XVII.

This corporation shall endure for the term of twenty-five years.

ARTICLE XVIII.

These articles of incorporation can only be amended by the shareholders at a regular annual election or at a special election called for that purpose. No proposed 

amendment shall be submitted to the shareholders until it shall have first received 

the approval of two-thirds of the members of the council at a regular or duly called 

session thereof, nor shall any such proposed amendment be so submitted until it 

shall have been published in full at least once in each week for four consecutive 

weeks in at least three newspapers published and of general circulation within the 

territory described in Article IV of these articles, the last of which such publications 

shall be not less than ten nor more than twenty days before any such election.

ARTICLE XIX.

This association may accept and avail itself of, or subject itself to, the provisions 

of any law or laws enacted or that may be enacted by Congress or the legislative 

assembly of the Territory or State, when it becomes a State, of Arizona, relative to 

corporations which may be applicable to corporations organized for like purposes as 

this association. Such acceptance or subjection shall be valid when ratified by at 

least two-thirds of the votes cast at any annual election, or at any special election 

called for the ratification thereof.

ARTICLE XX.

The seal of this association shall be a figure of two concentric circles, the outer 

being 2 inches and the inner 1J inches in diameter. In the space between the two 

shall be the words "Salt River Valley Water Users' Association," and bearing 

within the center space an unrolled scroll with the words and figures thereon, 

"Incorporated, 1903, Arizona."

Witness our hands hereto this 4th day of February, A. D. 1903.

RECLAMATION WORK IN CALIFORNIA.

By Hon. GEORGE C. PARDEE, Governor of California.

I am glad to have this opportunity to tell you that I am pleased 

to note the intelligent and scientific manner in which your department 

is taking up the development of irrigation in the arid West, particularly in California, where, of course, my interest centers. I realize 

that your work will be of the greatest benefit to my State, and hold 

myself in readiness, and the State of California is ready, now as in the 

past, to cooperate with you in every way to develop as soon as possible 

the irrigation water supply of California.
NEWELL.] RECLAMATION IN CALIFORNIA. 159

I believe this to be as proper Government work as is that of preserving the navigability of our rivers, and, in fact, that it will produce, 

at this stage of our national growth, greater results than will the promotion of navigation by the Government. To my mind the national 

work for irrigation in the West should take precedence over river 

and harbor improvements, and both should be, for many reasons, 

Government charges. What California needs, even when her rainfall 

amounts to 15 or 20 inches per annum, is the power to regulate the 

distribution of rainfall on the land at such times and,in such amounts 

as will best serve the needs of the crops to be produced, and the only 

way to do this is, of course, to irrigate. While irrigation is not so 

absolutely necessary in northern as in southern California, all sections 

of the State would be greatly benefited by its application. Inasmuch 

as your department has not yet filed a report of the progress of your 

work, which is being done in cooperation with the State of California, 

I can not judge accurately of its full scope, but from the reports that 

have been made from time to time by your engineers in the field and 

by the statements filed by the board of examiners I think a vast 

amount of good must come from the records being gathered by your 

department.

The measurement of streams and run-off from the different drainage 

areas being taken by your hydrographers is furnishing a fund of 

information that will be of very great service when irrigation is 

developed and water becomes of greater value in all parts of the State. 

I confess that I am getting eager to see the actual construction work 

begin in California. A conference with Messrs. Savage and Bien, of 

your department, after they had reviewed the proposed projects on 

Colorado River, on King River, and at Clear Lake, gives hope that 

such construction may be expected in the near future. In our efforts 

at cooperation, both in the hydrographic and topographic, as well as 

in the forestry departments, it has been the aim of myself and my 

administration to leave the United States Government absolutely 

unhampered, so as to get the very best for the whole State. So, in 

the reclamation service, whether you gentlemen, in your scientific 

wisdom, find it best to begin actual construction in the southern, central, or northern part of the State, we hope that the very best place 

.will be selected, and that the wisdom of the President's policy for 

national irrigation may be put in concrete form at an early date in 

California.

More and more am I impressed with the vastness of the resources 

of California and of its limitless possibilities when irrigation and cultivation are brought to that high state which will doubtless be attained. 

Therefore I regard your work in the Geological Survey as of the 

greatest importance to California.
160 FIE8T RECLAMATION 8EEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

WORK IN COLORADO. 

By A. L. FELLOWS.

PROJECTS CONSIDERED.

During the last year investigations made with a view to reclaiming 

arid lands in Colorado have been carried on at four localities. Three 

of these will be mentioned very briefly, but the fourth will be described 

in detail.

The first investigation made was in northeastern Colorado, on South 

Platte River, in the vicinity of Sterling. This project was not favor 

ably considered, and a report has been made adverse to construction on 

the ground that the water supply of the South Platte is insufficient.

Second, may be mentioned the investigations made in northwestern 

Colorado, which are still under way. These investigations have been 

carried on more particularly on Yampa and White rivers. Those on 

the Yampa have been merely reconnaissance surveys, while those on 

the White have been made in greater detail. I may say that I am 

favorably impressed with the possibilities in this locality, but it is too 

early to make detailed statements concerning these projects.

Third, I may mention the investigation on Grand River near Grand 

Junction, made with a view to reclaiming arid lands in that locality. 

It was hoped at first that it might be possible to take out the water of 

Grand River at an elevation sufficient to irrigate the plains in eastern 

Utah, but the investigation showed that this plan was not feasible. 

There seems, however, to be a possibility of developing a large tract 

of land about 60,000 acres in the vicinity of Grand Junction b}T a 

lower line. No detailed examination has been made of this low-line 

project, although the people of Grand Junction are desirous that it 

shall be investigated.

The project that will be of greatest interest to you, I believe, is that 

which is generally known as the Uncompahgre Valley project, which 

contemplates the taking of water from Gunnison River at a point in 

the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison about 16 miles northeast of the 

town of Montrose. Gunnison River rises in south-central Colorado 

and flows in a westerly and northwesterly direction to its junction 

with the Grand. For about 60 miles it flows through a valley which 

is usually narrow, but which at times broadens to such an extent that 

some irrigation is practiced on the bottom lands. For the last 20 miles 

of this course, however, it runs through what is known as the Black 

Canyon of the Gunnison, which ends at the mouth of Cimarron 

River where the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison commences. In this 

deep and rugged canyon, which is almost inaccessible to man, at a 

point about 20 miles below its head, it is intended that water shall be 

taken for the reclamation of the Uncompahgre Valley.
NEWELL.] THE UJSTCOMPAHGRE PBOJECT. 161

The Uncompahgre Valley is broad and level, although the surface of 

the ground is rolling in places. The discharge of the river varies from 

60 second-feet at low water to 1,000 second-feet at high water, an 

amount totally inadequate to irrigate successfully the entire valley, 

which comprises about 175,000 acres, of which 120,000 acres are in 

private ownership. The best lands of the valley have been settled upon 

for some time, but, owing to the inadequate water supply, have not 

been irrigated, the Uncompahgre furnishing at its normal stage only 

about enough water to irrigate 10,000 acres.

The present project contemplates the diversion of the waters of the 

Gunnison by means of a tunnel about 6 miles in length, with a crosssection 12 by 12 feet, capable of carrying approximately 1,200 secondfeet of water. This amount will be discharged into the Uncompahgre 

Valley at an elevation sufficiently high to irrigate the entire valley. 

The people there have formed a water-users' association similar to that 

organized in the Salt River Valley in Arizona, and have subscribed for 

about 70,000 acres of land. The amount for which it is necessary to 

subscribe, as informally stated, is 85,000 acres. The maximum amount 

to which stock may be assessed is $25 per share. This is a high rate, 

but the lands of the Uncompahgre Valley can well stand it from their 

adaptability to fruit raising and the value of its other crops. Good 

fruit lands are easily worth from $300 to $400 an acre, and in some 

places where there is a satisfactory water supply, their cost is much 

greater.

It is expected that the total cost of constructing the tunnel and distributing canals will be about $2,500,000.

DENVER OFFICE.

Owing to the fact that Denver is so admirably located with reference 

to the work of the reclamation service in the Rocky Mountain region, 

it was decided in the winter of 1902-3 that a permanent office should 

be established at that point. Until April 1, 1903, office room was 

obtained through the courtesy of the State engineer of Colorado, as 

had been the case for the last four years, and with his cooperation and 

that of his assistants great expense had been saved. Owing, however, 

to the fact that the work of the reclamation service was growing so 

rapidly, and that the quarters furnished by the State engineer, although 

as commodious as possible, were still too cramped to permit satisfactory results, it was decided that rooms should be rented elsewhere. 

Accordingly, on April 1, three rooms were rented in the Majestic 

Building, Denver, and these rooms were occupied by the engineers 

and assistants of the hydrographic branch until July 1, when it was 

again found necessary to move, for the same reasons that had prevailed 

in the former instance. More commodious quarters were then found in 

IKE 93 04 11
162 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO, 93.

the Chamber of Commerce building, at the corner of Fourteenth and 

Lawrence streets, and the office of the hydrographic branch was 

installed at that point, and there it has remained ever since.

These rooms have been supplied with the necessary furniture in the 

way of drawing tables, desks, and other equipment, and it is expected 

that this office will be made to some extent the center of the work of 

the reclamation service in the Rocky Mountain region, particularly in 

the winter time, in order to avoid such crowding in the headquarters 

at Washington as otherwise would be necessary.

The work at this point is under the immediate supervision of Mr. 

A. L. Fellows, district engineer. Messrs. H. A. Storrs, John E. Field, 

Raymond F. Walter, and M. C. Hinderlider, engineers, and a number 

of assistants have their headquarters at this point also.

TOPOGRAPHIC WORK IN THE GRAND CANYON OF THE

GUNNISON.

By I. W. McCoNNELL, C. E., Resident Engineer.

Under authority of the reclamation act of June 17, 1902, the engineers of the Geological Survey are preparing plans for the study of 

the problem of furnishing an additional supply of water to the 

Uncompahgre Valley in Colorado. The valley contains in its cultivable 

parts about 150,000 acres of highly fertile land. A large portion of 

this is under cultivation, and in many places splendid orchards and 

fields give unmistakable evidence of the richness of the soil. The 

water for the present cultivation comes from Uncompahgre River, 

which furnishes less than one-tenth the quantity that could be used. 

Many entries have been entirely abandoned and the land covered by 

them has been allowed to revert to desert conditions owing to lack of 

water. The productive capacity of all of the lands that are now under 

cultivation is curtailed from one-half to one-fourth on account of the 

shortage in the water supply during the late summer and early fall. 

To remedy this condition it is proposed to divert water from Gunnison 

River into the Uncompahgre Valley.

Gunnison River rises in central southern Colorado and flows westnorthwest into Grand River at Grand Junction, not far from the Utah 

border. It is a stream whose volume varies from 600 to 20,000 

second-feet or more, the minimum flow coming in the winter season. 

It is proposed to divert 1,200 second-feet into the Uncompahgre 

Valley. From Sapinero, Colo., to the State bridge in Delta County, 

a distance of about 60 miles, the Gunnison flows through a profound canyon, a chasm with almost vertical walls varying in depth 

from 1,000 feet to nearly 3,000 feet. The width is not great, being 

in some places only 1,700 feet, so that one standing on the rim has 

spread before him the great rent in the earth with its frightful crags
NEWELL.] GRAND CANYON OF THE GUNNISON. 163

and its wonderful spires, all so near that its grotesque details and its 

awful sublimity make a direct appeal to the eye. The Denver and Rio 

Grandc Railway follows the river in the canyon down to the mouth 

of the Cimarron. Here the obstacles become too great, and the railroad climbs out of the canyon and into the Uncompahgre Valley by 

way of Cerro Summit. From Cimarron to the State bridge the 

(ruunison flows through the deepest part of its canyon, which is difficult of access and is in a country unknown to any except adventurous 

hunters, range riders, and exploring engineers. In the depths of this 

canyon the Government engineers propose to locate controlling works 

for the diversion of the water that is to transform the Uncompahgre 

Valley. The diversion is to be made by a tunnel about 6 miles long, 

driven through the hills that separate the Gunnison from the Uncompahgre. To determine the 'details of topography necessary for the 

location of dams, head gates, and other controlling works, and to intelligently present the project to the executive officers of the Geological 

Survey, has been one of the problems confronting the engineers 

intrusted with the work.

The surveys and explorations now complete bring out the following 

facts:

First. The bottom of the main canyon is accessible at intervals by 

trails leading into it through cross canyons or rock slides.

Second. The bottom of the main canyon is covered with de*bris 

from the cliffs above, the fragments varying in size from pebbles to 

enormous bowlders containing 200 cubic yards or more. Bed rock is 

nowhere visible in the floor of the canyon, but the whole course of 

the stream is over bowlder beds.

Third. The river is confined at the bottom of the canyon to a channel which is never more than 300 feet wide from vertical wall to vertical wall, and which narrows up in places to a width of less than 50 

feet. Usually, where the space between vertical walls is more than 

100 feet the stream flows against the rock wall on one side, the other 

side being occupied by a talus slope. The river may be traversed at 

low water by working back and forth across the stream from talus 

slope to talus slope. A boat is useful only for crossing, the stretches 

of water where a boat may be used being very infrequent and very 

small.

Fourth. The fall of the river amounts to 800 feet in 4 miles. This 

fall is somewhat regularly distributed, considering the character of 

the stream. Vertical plunges of more than 10 or 12 feet are rare, the 

principal rapid being at Torrence Falls, where a drop of 96 feet is 

encountered in 1,100 feet of horizontal distance. The impression 

most strongly made upon the observer is that these falls or rapids 

are the result of enormous rock-falls from the cliffs above, which block 

the channel. In the course of time the pools so formed silt up and
164 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

the water tumbling over the lower edges of the bowlders produces the 

fall. In this way the entire bed of the river is formed. If bed rock 

be anywhere near the surface, it is so thoroughly concealed as to be 

nowhere visible.

Fifth. It is possible to traverse the stream only at low water. A 

very small increase in the flow makes crossing impossible, and since 

the torrent flows first against one cliff and then against the other, any 

progress along the stream bed is out of the question.

The information now in the hands of the engineers of the Geological 

Survey has been derived from the following sources:

First. Messrs. John E. Pelton, of Montrose, Colo., and J. A. Curtis, 

of Delta, Colo.,-conducted a party of five into the canyon in 1900. 

This party started from Cirnarron and traversed the canyon for about 

20 miles. At a point just above the dam site proposed in the present 

work they abandoned the trip, and sought a trail by which to escape 

from the canyon. They found a side gorge by which, after a whole 

day spent in arduous climbing, they reached the rim on the north side. 

Here they found themselves in an arid region without food or water, 

as they had found it impossible to carry anything out of the canyon. 

After a memorable struggle they reached some ranches, where their 

wants were supplied. This party carried an aneroid barometer, a 

pocket compass, and a surveyor's chain. Their measurements were 

only approximate, however, so the work can not be ranked as a survey. 

They started in with two boats, both of which were lost before the 

trip was ended. The results of this trip were valuable mainly in 

demonstrating the fact that the canyon was not totally inaccessible.

Second. In 1901 Mr. A. L. Fellows, now district engineer, U. S. 

Geological Survey, Denver, Colo., taking a single companion, Mr. 

William W. Torrence, who had been a member of the Pelton party, 

made an exploring trip from Cimarron to Red Rock Canyon. This 

trip, made under great difficulty and involving prodigious labor on 

the part of the explorers, covered practically all that part of the canyon 

not traversed by the Denver and Rio Grande Railway.

Third. Mr. Fellows, assisted by Messrs. W. P. Edwards and L. E. 

Foster, U. S. Geological Survey, with two rodmen, ran a traverse 

and level line from Beaver Camp to Red Rock Canyon. This was the 

first accurate survey made in the canyon. It covered about 4 miles. 

It is a striking comment upon the ability and fidelity of the men who 

made this survey that all the subsequent checks which have been 

applied to this line have failed to reveal any inaccuracy. When it is 

remembered that this line consisted of a closed circuit carried down 

a gulch dropping 2,000 feet in half a mile, thence down the river and 

out again over a similar gulch, the circuit being closed at the top, and 

that twenty-seven days were consumed in the task, some appreciation 

of the difficulties may be had. The traverse work was done with a
NEWELL.] TOPOGBAPHY OP THE GUNNISON". 165

No. 1 C Buff & Berber transit and a 500-foot tape. The leveling was 

done with a 15-inch and a 20-inch Gurley level, with Philadelphia and 

New York rods. A folding canoe was used for such boating as was 

possible. The major portion of the distance, however, was covered on 

foot by climbing steep slopes, scrambling over enormous bowlders, 

and wading the icy stream, all the while carrying heavy packs of camp 

equipment or instruments. During the trip one transit was lost by 

the overturning of the float on which it was being taken across the 

stream.

Fourth. During the month of July, 1903, the topography of the 

canyon above and below the dam site was surveyed by parties working 

under the immediate supervision of the writer. This work made 

necessary the projection into the canyon of the main triangulation 

controlling the valley and the establishment of such bases as were 

required for the sketching of details. The assistants on the work 

were Joseph A. Sargent, W. P. Edwards, and L. E. Foster, assistant 

engineers, U. S. Geological Survey. An ordinary transit, reading to 

twenty seconds, was used on the triangulation, the contours being 

taken by plane-table methods.

An inspection of the detail map (p. 166) will show that the river 

runs through a narrow cut only 40 feet wide at the proposed dam site. 

For the location of controlling works the topography was wanted both 

upstream and downstream from this point for a distance of 1,500 feet. 

Above the dam site talus slopes lie alternately, first on one side of the 

stream and then on the other, but so cut off from one another that a 

person standing on one talus slope is completely isolated from any 

other on the same side of the stream unless he climbs out of the canyon 

and descends to the other slope from the rim. This is sometimes a task 

equivalent to a day's work, and is possible at all only in those few 

instances where a rock slide leads from the rim of the canyon down 

to the slope. Slopes on the north side of the canyon could be reached 

from slopes on the south side only by making a detour of 150 miles 

and climbing into the canyon from the north rim, the stage of the 

water being such as to make crossing the stream on floats an impossibility.

In this survey it was necessary to make use of four trails leading 

into the canyon. Trail A leads into the canyon below the dam site 

from the south rim. It was discovered by Mr. Fellows in 1900. From 

the slopes at the foot of this trail all the topography below the dam 

site was taken. Trail B is a trail, discovered on July 4, leading into 

the canyon from the south rim about 1,000 feet above the dam site. 

This trail leads on to the main talus slope above the dam site on the 

south side of the river, and from it most of the topography above the 

dam site was sketched. Trail C is midway between trails A and B and 

leads on to an otherwise inaccessible talus slope or gravel bar imme-
166 FIEST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

diately above the dam site designated as Fosters Slide. It can be 

reached by descending trail A to the water's edge, going upstream to 

a rift, and climbing up this rift for about 1,000 feet of vertical distance 

until the shoulder above Fosters Slide is reached. From there the 

descent to the slope must be made by climbing down the vertical face of

FIG. 1. Diagram showing method of survey of Gumiison Canyon.

the cliff, the final 300 feefc being almost perpendicular, to be overcome 

by the aid of a rope anchored at the top. Trail D leads on to the main 

talus slope on the north side of the river. Trails A and B are not 

dangerous, requiring only a due amount of hard work and caution 

to traverse them. Trail C, as noted before, is a difficult trail, and can
NEWELL.] TOPOGRAPHY OF THE GUNNTSON. 167

be passed over by none but the best climbers, men strong of limb and 

of steady neryes. It would be an impossibility to carry instruments 

into the canyon over this trail. Trail D is also a difficult trail. In 

many places it must be traversed with extreme caution. Over 300 

feet of rope was left in this trail as an aid in scaling the vertical 

drops. Throughout almost the whole length an incautious step may 

send the climber rolling over precipices to certain destruction, or a 

careless move may loosen bowlders, to go crashing down upon the 

party below.

In very few places can the bottom of the canyon be seen from the 

rim on the south side, and triangulation stations were therefore established on the north side of the canyon. From these north side stations 

it was found possible to locate signals in the bottom which could be 

joined into the main triangulation scheme. Signals 69A and 69H are 

in the bottom of the canyon on the south side of the stream. Signal 

69C is in the bottom of the canyon on the north side of the stream. 

Signals 72, 73, and 7i are on the north rim of the canyon. All other 

signals are on the south rim of the canyon. The triangulation plan 

will show the observed angles and the computed distances.

In sketching contours, stations 69C, 69H, and 69A were located, and 

from these a secondary system of triangles was laid out in the canyon. 

Contours in inaccessible places were then located by means of intersections, in accessible places by means of direct, stadia readings, the 

work being plotted on the plane-table sheet as fast as taken. This 

detailed topography is on a scale of 50 feet to an inch, with a contour 

interval of 5 feet. The topography on Foster's Slide was taken by 

transit intersections from a base located on the main talus slope on 

the north side. In order to get the proper points on the. slide a party 

was sent down over trail C to set signals. Levels were carried into 

the canyon on the Fellows Traverse by leveling down trail A and by 

vertical angles.

On account of the excessive vertical angles and the somewhat dangerous nature of the work it was feared that the results might not be 

so accurate as would be desired. The topography was taken on. three 

different sheets, and when the sheets were assembled a most gratifying 

agreement was found. The traverse line, the triangulation, and the 

plane-table work checked each other closely. Triangulation angles 

were read and doubled, direct and reverse, the vernier reading to 20 

seconds. Instruments were not shaded from the sun. The largest 

error of closure in any triangle was 13 seconds. The levels checked 

by the various lines within 0.15 foot. Taking into account the short 

sights and the extreme vertical angles involved these results are considered fairly good. From stations 69H and 69C the vertical angles 

to stations on the rim were sometimes as great as 70 degrees, making 

the use of diagonal eyepieces necessary.
168 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

COLORADO RIVER.

By J. B. LIPPINCOTT.

The drainage basin of Colorado River, 2,000 miles in length, contains 225,000 square miles above Yuma, and includes portions of five 

States and two Territories. In area it is one-fifth that of the Nile 

Basin, and second in size among the rivers of arid America, the Missouri being first and the Columbia third. The upper two-thirds of the 

basin consists of high plateaus and snow-capped mountains, while the 

lower one-third includes the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and desert 

regions.

In the lower course of the river there is a series of canyon-like valleys 

from 5 to 15 miles in width, which annually are inundated by the high 

water of the summer floods. The grade of the river from Needles to 

Yuma is 1.4 feet per mile. Below Yuma the river has built up a delta, 

and by its great deposits of silt has cut off a northern arm of the Gulf 

of California, which is now dry land below the sea level, and is known 

as the Salton Sink.

The river was discovered by Alarcon, a Spanish explorer, in 1540, 

who sailed up the stream from the gulf for fifteen days, probably reaching the present site of Ehrenberg, Ariz. The first Americans who 

appeared on the lower Colorado were trappers in 1825, and the first 

scientific account of its lower courses was given by Maj. J. W. Powell, 

in 1869.

WATER SUPPLY.

- The annual variations of the river have a marked constancy, The 

spring rise, caused by the melting of the snow in the high northern 

mountains, appears in the lower Colorado about March 15, culminates in 

June, and reaches a minimum stage in midwinter, when the northern 

portion of the basin is largely frozen up. The river thus furnishes 

the greater flow when it is most needed. In January the low-water 

flow is about 3,000 cubic feet per second, but during the June rise the 

discharge will probabl}r average about 40,000 cubic feet per second. 

The river is believed to have been about normal during 1902, the estimated flow being 7,960,000 acre-feet, whereas the discharge for 1903 

was 11,329,132 acre-feet, these being the only two years of complete 

record. It is estimated that the duty of water on the lower Colorado 

is 1 second-foot to 91 acres in July and 1 second-foot to 147 acres in 

September, though it is claimed that larger quantities are being used. 

September is the controlling month of the year, as the supply is then 

low and the duty high. The total depth for the year is taken at 5.5 

feet. In September, 1902, with the above duty, there would have 

been sufficient water to have irrigated 561,000 acres. 

There are 400,000 acres of irrigable land along the lower Colorado
NEWELL.] THE COLOEADO EIVEE. 169

Valley in the United States, requiring a continuous supply of 2,720 

second-feet of water in September. In addition it is estimated that 

there is as much more irrigable land in the Salton sink or Imperial 

country. About 300,000 acres of the valley lands are above Yuma and 

seepage water returning therefrom will be available for the Yuma and 

Imperial projects. If we assume 50 per cent of the water applied as 

returning in a continuous flow these 300,000 acres would yield 1,150 

square feet and irrigate in September 169,000 acres in addition to the 

561,000 acres given above, or 730,000 acres in all. The seepage basis 

in the short canals for the valleys being less and the return waters 

therefrom being great they should be first supplied. On this basis 

there would be available for the lands near Imperial water for 330,000 

acres, less such seepage losses as may occur, which may be as great as 

one-third to one-half. This indicates an urgent necessity for storage, 

ultimately, to meet the late summer drouth. This water will not have 

to be held for a greater period than one hundred days subsequent to 

the June floods. The amount of water required to be stored in order 

that all the lands may be irrigated will be about 500,000 acre-feet for 

August and September uses.

Two storage reservoir sites were surveyed by the reclamation service during last season. At one point a dam 75 feet high will impound 

400,000 acre-feet of water. At another a dam 75 feet high will store 

1,300,000 acre-feet, making 1,700,000 acre-feet for the two, and, if 

they are built, all the irrigable lands in the United States along the 

Colorado River may be reclaimed. Explorations made at these points 

to date indicate that the bed-rock conditions are not satisfactory. 

These are not the only reservoir sites known to exist along the Colorado. Other sites are situated higher up the stream, but are not yet 

surveyed. As the Colorado River carries a high percentage of silt, the 

life of these reservoirs would not be long, but the last-mentioned site 

would hold all the silt that the river carries in forty years. These 

reservoirs are situated where the valleys are broken and where the 

land is not well adapted to agriculture.

NAVIGATION.

Prior to the construction of railroads to the lower Colorado, the 

river afforded the only feasible means of entrance into the desert 

regions of southeastern California and western Arizona, and therefore great efforts were made to navigate it. Subsequently, however, 

navigation on the river practically ceased. The shifting, shallow 

character of the bed of the stream prevents the maintenance of a permanent channel, particularly during periods of high water and when 

the river is falling. The improvement of the river for navigation 

has been considered on several occasions by army engineers, and has 

always been condemned.
170 FIKST .RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

CLIMATE.

The temperature on the lower Colorado is popularly supposed to 

be almost unendurable in summer time, but our best authority on the 

climatic conditions of the arid regions, Prof. Willis L. Moore, Chief 

of the Weather Bureau, in a most interesting communication which 

he presented at the fifth annual session of the National Irrigation Congress, held in Phoenix in 1896, demonstrates that as far as the effect 

of summer heat on the human system is concerned, Yuma is more 

favorably situated than Topeka, Cincinnati, Washington, Baltimore, 

Philadelphia, New York, or localities south thereof. He reaches this 

conclusion by showing that the true effect of temperature on the human 

system is measured by the wet bulb rather than the standard thermometer, and that the rapid rate of evaporation in this desert region 

reduces, by cooling, the effect of heat upon the bodies of animals. 

During eight months of the year this desert climate is very pleasant. 

The rainfall at Yuma is about 5 inches, the average annual temperature with dry bulb thermometer is 72 degrees, and the humidity is 

43 per cent.

SILT.

Prof. R. H. Forbes, of the Tucson Experiment Station, Arizona, is 

the best authority on the character and value of the silt and minerals 

in the waters of Colorado River. The United States Geological Survey is now cooperating with him in these observations. He finds that 

the silt comes from the lower third of the drainage basin, and ranges 

from 62 parts per 100,000 in January to 374 parts to each 100,000 

during the summer floods. The maximum amount of silt occurs in 

the water that enters the river after the summer thunderstorms of 

Arizona, the amount reaching 2 per cent dry weight.

Professor Forbes estimates that with a duty of water of 4 feet in 

depth annually there will be deposited one-tenth of an inch of solid 

soil each year, and that in one year the river discharges enough silt to 

cover 53 square miles 1 foot deep. The fertilizing values in the sediment are largely nitrogen, estimated to be worth as fertilizer $1 per 

acre-foot of water. The soils of the lower Colorado valleys are practically all composed of these river silts. There is also rolled down 

along the bottom of the river a continuous procession of sand. Consequently the river, in shifting its channel from one point to another, 

leaves numerous deposits of sand throughout the finer silts. These 

sands will assist in draining the bottom lands when they are irrigated 

in the future.

There is about one-third as much silt in the upper stratum of the 

water of the flowing river as in the lower, indicating that diversions 

into canals should be by a skimming process from the surface of the
NEWELL.] THE COLORADO RIVER. 171

river, aided by flushing the deposits that occur in basins at the head 

of the canal. The silt problem is a difficult one, and will have to be 

met, but it is believed that it should result in a benefit rather than an 

injury. The slit is exceedingly fine, plastering the sides of the canal 

as smoothly as could be done with cement, and offering as little resistance to flow.

SALT CONTENT.

The amount of mineral matter held in solution in the river is relatively high in the low stage and low in the high stage. During the 

winter the salt will reach 100 parts in 100,000, and in the summer 

flood stage 32 parts in 100,000. At no time does the river contain an 

excess of sodium carbonate (black alkali), but it does contain extensive 

quantities of calcium sulphate, which is beneficial to the land, and a 

neutralize!' of the carbonates. Both the sediment in suspension and 

the salts in solution in Colorado River are pronounced beneficial for 

irrigating purposes, and it is believed that they will relieve alkaline 

conditions rather than aggravate them in lands bordering the river.

IRRIGABLE LANDS.

Along Colorado River and below the mesas it is estimated that there 

are 400,000 acres of irrigable lands. There are at present, in addition, 

approximately 500,000 acres commanded by the Imperial Canal 

System, making within the United States at least 900,000 acres of 

land that may be reclaimed by this great river. In Egypt there 

are 6,250,000 acres of irrigable lands in the valley and delta of the Nile.

CROP VALUES.

Under the Imperial Canal, which covers the Salton Sink from the 

lower Colorado, a first charge of $30 per acre is made for a water 

right, and an additional $2' per acre annually. A charge of at least 

50 cents per acre is made for lands under the canal for which a water 

right has been purchased in case the water is not used. In the district 

below Yuma a start has been made in irrigating some of the river 

bottom land, which yields seven crops of alfalfa in a year, averaging 

1£ tons per acre for each crop, worth annually $50 per acre. With 

grain it is customary to grow a crop of barley during the spring 

months and follow this on the same land with a crop of maize or corn 

the same year. Millet, kaffir corn, and alfalfa are particularly suitable to this locality. Stock raising is probably the best natural method 

of disposing of standard crops. J^periments are being made with 

cotton, date palms, and other semitropical crops. On the mesa lands 

the soil and climatic conditions are fitted for vegetable and fruit growing, including citrus varieties, which ripen approximately six weeks
172 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

earlier than like crops on the coast near Los Angeles. It is believed 

that with a substantial irrigating system these lands should become 

worth $100 an acre within a short period of time.

WORK OF RECLAMATION SERVICE.

The first irrigation investigation along this river for the Government was made by the writer in the winter of 1901 and 1902, and surveys were begun with vigor in the fall of 1902. Mr. E. T. Perkins is 

engineer in immediate charge. Triangulation and precise levels have 

been extended from the Mexican line to the canyon, a distance of 400 

miles. Topographic maps upon the scale of 2 inches to the mile and 

with a 10-foot contour interval have been made for this entire distance. 

These surveys show relative elevations, reservoir sites, irrigable lands, 

and overflow conditions. Diamond-core-drill work has been done at 

four of the reservoir sites. The flow of the river has been measured 

continuously at Yuma, and records have been kept of the amounts 

diverted by canals. Evaporation has been observed, and silt values 

have been determined.

An effort has been made to study this river as a whole and to so plan 

the work thereon that each project may be in harmony with a complete 

scheme for its utilization. The public lands along this river were 

withdrawn upon the passage of the reclamation act, pending these surveys, to the extent of 3,000,000acres. There have also been withdrawn 

for reservoir sites 350,000 acres.

CONDITIONS IN IDAHO.

By Governor JOHN T. MORRISON, of Idaho.

Idaho, the State which I represent, is deeply concerned in the matter 

of irrigation, and is especially interested in the work of the reclamation 

service. I realize fully the importance of the work of this bureau of 

the Government, and shall, as far as possible, cooperate with the engineers of the service engaged upon the work in my State, i To that end 

I invite a greater comity. The State engineering and land departments, 

in the discharge of their respective duties under our laws, are daily 

confronted with problems which have close relationship to the work of 

the Government. Their action, in many instances, should be, and I 

am sure would be, guided in important particulars were a knowledge 

of the Government's plans available. In many instances to act without such comity will lead to future embarrassment and will curtail the 

useful possibilities of the bureau. You will appreciate that Idaho is a 

new State and that there are many problems coming up to the departments for original settlement. Very many of these are related to the 

problem of irrigation.
NEWELL.] CONDITIONS IN IDA.HO. 173

I realize that the future agricultural development of a very large 

part of Idaho depends upon the development of irrigation in the State 

and that with these matters your bureau is directly concerned. The 

action which your bureau may or may not take in connection with any 

particular enterprise, looking to the development of a section of the 

State from an irrigation standpoint, has a direct bearing and influence 

upon the action which the State through its departments may or may 

not take in connection with enterprises directly related to yours. We 

know that your work will be of inestimable value to the State and are 

therefore very much interested in its progress.

The reclaimable area in Idaho is, I believe, larger than that in any 

other State in the arid belt, and we have an abundant water supply, if 

properly conserved, to meet the requirements. I believe Idaho is the 

best watered State in the arid belt. The field is a most inviting one 

from an engineering point of view, and I am glad to congratulate those 

who are employed in the service in Idaho upon the splendid opportunities for marked achievement.

There is one point which I would emphasize. We need the help of 

the Government in those sections where the human element of the 

problem is conspicuous. That is, where the State departments meet 

with embarrassment and where the greatest good can be accomplished. 

We have beautiful valleys, where climate and soil conspire to make 

ideal homes for men. Naturally these valleys have attracted settlement, and to some extent, under present conditions, the population is 

already congested. Large investments have been made and splendid 

properties have been developed. These valleys are susceptible of 

wider cultivation, and the promise of profit is most inviting. There 

is one drawback the available water supply is limited in comparison to 

the opportunities for its use. In consequence annoyance and friction 

has arisen in some communities, and our courts and departments of 

State are embarrassed by this. This is where we need help. Keen force 

our water supply for those communities where homes are established 

and property interests are involved. I believe this to be more important 

than any other phase of the work under consideration by your bureau, 

and certainly the interests of the people whose property rights are 

involved claim attention rather than new enterprises in territory not 

yet settled. I do not doubt the splendid opportunities in the new fields 

nor discredit the investigations being made. They look to future 

development, and quite properly. I ask help for the pioneer who is 

struggling with the developed problem of the present.

In conclusion, let me say we have the keenest interest in your work, 

and look with ever-increasing hope upon all you do. I invite you to 

Idaho, and assure you of a sincere disposition on the part of our people 

to cooperate with you. I thank you for the courtesy extended in asking 

a word from me.
174 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CON TERENCE. [NO. 03.

INVESTIGATIONS IN IDAHO.

By D. W. Ross.

Idaho has an area of about 84,000 square miles, of which about 65 

per cent, or 35,000,000 acres, the southern portion, is arid. With 

the exception of a small area lying in the Salt Lake Basin, this arid 

portion is within the drainage basin of Snake River, so the future of 

agriculture in this part of Idaho in fact, the future of the State itself 

is linked with the possibility of irrigation development in the Snake 

River Valley.

The area drained directly by this stream is about 13,000 square miles. 

Several large areas are drained by streams that were evidently at one 

time tributaries of the Snake, but the courses of these are intercepted 

by the great lava flow, which fills and levels up the valley over an area 

of nearly 12,000 square miles. All of the run-oft' that is not used for 

irrigation in the upper valley of these streams sinks below the surface 

near the outer edge of the lava fields, disappearing completely, but 

reappears again in the form of great springs which break out from 

the sides of the canyons of the Snake River more than 100 miles below. 

Thousands of acres of this vast plain have a most fertile soil of great 

depth, and could be easily irrigated if water could be brought to them.

Snake River, rises in western Wyoming, and flows in a westerly 

direction through this valley, having cut its channel into the great floor 

of lava to a depth in places of nearly 1,000 feet, its work being marked 

by canyons and waterfalls, all on the most magnificent scale imaginable. 

The work of developing the agricultural resources of this valley is in 

some places extremely simple, in others very difficult. Up to the present time development has moved along lines of least resistance, but 

practically all has been accomplished that can be done by communities 

acting through the methods usually employed, and everything that 

can be safely left to the efforts of private capital, actuated by the hopes 

of large profits, has also been done. The former agency has about 

reached its limits, on account of the magnitude of the undertakings 

themselves; the latter for the reason that sound public policy demands 

the carrying out of plans broad enough to provide for the needs of vast 

interests in addition to, but widely separated from, the projects directly 

involved, in order that serious conflicts between communities having 

interests in common may be obviated, and the endless complications 

which follow in the wake of irrigation extension by this agency may 

be prevented. So the chance of enlisting the assistance of the Government in the work of further development of this State comes at a most 

opportune time.

The largest bodies of irrigable public lauds in Idaho are situated in 

the eastern, central, and western portions of Snake River Valley.
NEWELL.] SNAKE RIVEK VALLEY. 175

The reclamation of these lands requires solution of serious engineering problems involved in the construction of the necessary works, 

besides necessitating the almost complete control of the discharge of 

Snake River and nearly all of its principal tributaries. The area of 

these tracts and of those already partly reclaimed is so large that the 

storage facilities of this great drainage system will be taxed to its 

limits, while the consummation of all the plans will require the expenditure of many millions of dollars.

Investigations made with a view to the reclamation of public lands 

have been in progress under the provisions of the reclamation act for 

more than a year. More than 1,600 miles of preliminary surveys for 

canals and reservoirs have been made during this time, and work is now 

being energetically pushed forward. The surveys made to-day show 

the entire feasibility of reclaiming about 600,000 acres of desert land, 

400,000 of which are public, and of controlling the flood discharge of 

nearly all the principal streams used for irrigation. Estimates of the 

cost of constructing the necessary works are being prepared as rapidly 

as possible and will all be submitted to the Department before the close 

of the year.

The economic benefits that may result from the reclamation of arid 

lands depend very largely upon the location and area of the tracts 

to be reclaimed; that is, whether a dense population will some day 

be sustained and centers of wealth and influence be established, or 

whether scattered and sparsely settled and small communities only 

will result. Idaho, from the standpoint of an arid country, is remarkably fortunate in the nature of her irrigation possibilities. Practically 

all the reclaimable land is situated at an altitude where farming is 

extremely profitable and where the value of land, based upon its 

products alone, is already very high. The climatic conditions, the 

extreme fertility of the soil, and the splendid water supply promise a 

dense population over all the large areas to be reclaimed.

The upper Snake River Valley contains more than 700,000 acres of 

irrigable land, more than 240,000 of which has been reclaimed since 

1890. This land is in one solid body, all of excellent quality, and all 

easily irrigable. In order that this figure may not appear mean and 

small to those who, during the past few years, have been feasting 

their imaginations on reclamation projects involving nothing less than 

millions of acres each, I will state that the area mentioned is equal 

to one-half of all the land now irrigated in the State of California, 

to nearly one-half the amount irrigated in Colorado, and more than 

is now irrigated in any of the other States and Territories except 

Montana. The Boise, Payette, and Weiser valleys, contiguous districts in Idaho, contain over 450,000 acres of irrigable land a larger 

area than is now irrigated in many of the arid States. The central 

portion of the Snake River Valley contains about 400,000 acres of
176 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

irrigable land lying practically in one body, and there are other large 

tracts well situated that are full of promise for the future so far as 

population and wealth are concerned.

In this brief outline of the conditions surrounding irrigation in 

Idaho and of the work which is being done for its extension under the 

provisions of the reclamation act, it is not possible to state definitely 

the amount of land that may be gained for agriculture by irrigation. 

On a conservative estimate it is very great. There are not, however, 

15,000,000 acres of irrigable land in the Snake River Valley, as many 

of our citizens are in the habit of stating. It will perhaps never be 

practicable to irrigate more than 3,000,000 acres, as the amount of 

water available will not supply more than that area. But there are 

probably more large bodies of first-class irrigable land in Idaho than 

in any other State in the West, and when it is all reclaimed, and its 

great resources are properly developed, there is no reason why Idaho 

should not, in a very few years, stand in the first rank of the western 

States in population and wealth.

LIMITS OF AN IRRIGATION PROJECT. 

By D. W. Boss.

Shall the flood or low-water discharge of a stream determine the capacity of a 

canal and limit the dimensions of an irrigation project?

Normal development of {irrigation. Like all undertakings prompted 

by selfish interests, irrigation development in most of the arid States 

has moved along lines of least resistance. The pioneer settlers, who 

were few in number, usually occupied lands along the first bottoms of 

streams, and diverted the water for irrigation, in many cases by constructing simple brush dams, suificient to raise it nearly to the level 

of their lands, to which it was usually conducted by a ditch built at 

trifling coat. Other settlers, who followed, reclaimed small tracts by 

means of the same simple works, until all the land that could be 

reached in this inexpensive way was placed under cultivation.

But still other settlers continued to arrive, demanding homes, and 

willing to overcome greater obstacles than those met by the pioneers. 

Canals were constructed that led the waters out onto the lower bench 

lands, and these were gradually enlarged and extended. But there 

still remained, in many cases, the broad acres of the upper benches, 

to reach which required the expenditure of vast sums of money to pay 

for blasting channels through solid rock or constructing, in many 

places, miles of expensive flumes along steep canyon walls. The individual, and in most cases the community, lacked suificient strength to 

overcome these or other natural difficulties and, as a result, irrigation 

development came to a standstill in the locality.
NEWELL.] LIMITATIONS ON PROJECTS. 177

Questions to 1)6 considered In/ the engineers of the Government. While 

the irrigation development already accomplished by individual effort, 

especially by the landowners, really furnished the foundation of civilization in the West, it is the execution of the greater projects the 

ones beyond the means of the agencies mentioned that is regarded 

as of greatest importance to the community, and these are the undertakings which in most of the arid States and Territories the Government is expected to take up and carry to completion. It is the problems connected with these enterprises that the engineers of the 

reclamation service are now required to consider. These problems 

are as varied in nature as the variable combinations of the physical 

features of the enterprises themselves, ranging from the adjudication 

of the rights of a water user to the utilization of a storage site. In 

fact, the legal and economic questions are likely to be much more 

important in many cases in determining the feasibility of a project than 

are the engineering problems. In no case would it be safe to decide 

as to the feasibility of any undertaking without first ascertaining what 

relation it will bear when completed to all other enterprises of a like 

nature in the locality.

Practically all the questions which have to be considered in connection with undertakings of this kind are raised when the subject of 

water supply is considered, and two of these questions the ones 

most intimately connected with all others, botb economic and engineering, namely, the capacity of the canal and the magnitude of the 

undertaking form the subject of this discussion.

The conditions under which these questions will be considered are 

the average conditions existing in connection with many of the projects 

now under consideration by the Government, especially in the Northwestern States, and are as follows:

(1) A stream of great flood flow; (2) an area of desert land that may 

be put under canal out of all proportion to the water supply available 

during the latter part of the irrigation season; and (3) storage facilities, if they exist at all, entirely inadequate for the purpose of controlling the natural flow. Under such conditions the question is, What 

other factors must be considered, and what weight shall be given to 

each in fixing the capacity of the canal? Which means, in the end, 

fixing the limit of the undertaking.

Climate and range of products. Knowing the nature of the available water supply, we should next consider the climate, the length of 

the growing season, the kinds of crops grown, the average date of 

harvest, the number of cuttings of hay that can be made during each 

season, and the part of the growing season in which occurs the flood 

discharge of the stream whose waters are to be used. It happens that 

the flood waters of the streams of most of the States and Territories

IKE 93 04 12
178 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

can be utilized for irrigation during some period of the growing 

season, generally at the beginning. In altitudes so high that but one 

cutting of hay can be grown, this flood discharge is usually available 

during the maturing of both hay and grain. When two or more cuttings can be made, it is generally available for the first and second, 

and for the irrigation of all kinds of grain crops, but may not be 

available for the third cutting of hay nor for the irrigation of a large 

acreage of orchard land.

In places where the climatic conditions admit of but one cutting of 

hay the problem is very simple. The irrigating season would begin 

early and be short, all or nearly all of the waters being used during a 

period of perhaps sixty days. In such cases, however, water must be 

used generously, and since practically all the land would require irrigation at the same time, the capacity of the canal must be very large. 

Assuming that the area of irrigable land is greater than the stream 

can serve, the average discharge of the stream during the period mentioned provided it is regular in its habits is the volume that should 

be diverted, and this factor will fix the limits of the undertaking, both 

as to the size of the canals and the area to be reclaimed. The exact 

capacity of the canal will depend upon the average depth of water 

required each day on the land to be reclaimed during the period of 

greatest use.

Value of flood water. When two or more cuttings of hay can be 

made from the land, and when there is a great disproportion between 

high and low water, both stages occurring during the growing season, 

and when the storage facilities are entirely inadequate the question 

becomes complex. A water right in most cases is understood to be 

the right to use water during the entire growing season of crops, and 

land values will be found to be based upon this kind of a right. The 

question to be decided in fixing the capacity of the canal under such 

conditions is, in reality, What kind of a water right shall be given to 

the land? Shall it be given a "full season's right" or shall it be a 

"flood right"? which means: Shall we limit the area of land to be 

developed to the unused portion of the low-water discharge of the 

stream or shall it bear a certain relation to the flood discharge ?

A great many people have an idea that by some means or other the 

Government will be able to increase the water supply; and that they 

may settle any lands under irrigation with the certainty of being supplied. It is contended, therefore, that it is not good policy to invite 

settlement unless the water is adequate throughout the entire irrigating 

season; in other words, it is contended that no more land should be 

put under canal than can be supplied during the entire season. This 

sounds very safe and conservative, but I do not believe it is a broad 

view to take of the possibilities of irrigation under the reclamation
NEWELL.] CAPACITY OF CANALS. 179

act. The question to be considered is, not what is the most conservative plan for to-day, but what policy will lead to the development of 

each locality to the full extent of its possibilities. In undertakings 

proposed to be carried out by the Government the line of least resistance will not be found in the "conservative" plan referred to, but 

will be found in the scheme that is so broad and comprehensive that 

future generations will not think of supplementing it.

One important factor in determining the limit to be placed on the 

magnitude of undertakings of this kind is the value of the land after 

it has been put under irrigation. Will the land, after its irrigation, 

be worth the expense of its reclamation ? The consideration of this 

question leads us to inquire as to the kinds and quantity of crops that 

can be produced on the land during the different periods of the growing season, and finally resolves itself into a question relating to the 

value of the crops produced rather than to the length of the irrigating season.

If the value of the crops that can be produced by early irrigation, 

for example, the first and second cuttings of hay, or a crop of grain, 

gives a value to the land greater than the cost of its reclamation, the 

project should be regarded as feasible, though other lands in the same 

locality may happen to have a water right which makes possible three 

or four cuttings of hay or renders the adjacent highways impassable 

by mud during the month of August.

If we must decide as to the capacity of a canal under the conditions 

stated, and have nothing more on which to base our judgment than the 

fact that with certain climatic conditions we would be enabled to 

mature by a certain date a full crop of grain and one or two crops of 

hay, the magnitude of the project would be measured by the supply 

of water that would be available up to the last irrigation of such 

crops, and no attention whatever need be paid to the available 

supply of late water. For example, if the climatic conditions render it possible to make four .cuttings of hay during the season on 

lands irrigated from a certain stream (the first and second cuttings as 

well as the harvesting of grain occurring before August 15) then, if 

the mean flow of the stream up to July 20, say, is 2,000 second-feet 

and the available supply during the months of August and September 

is 500 second-feet, the computation of possibilities of land reclamation 

from this stream should be based upon the former and not the latter 

amount, and the capacity of the canal in this case should be 2,000 

second-feet, the number of acres to be irrigated being determined by 

the average quantity of water required by each acre during the period 

when most water is needed. If it is found that it will be necessary to 

apply water to an average depth of 1 foot during a -period of thirty 

days over all the land to be irrigated the canal should have a capacity
180 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

of 1 second-foot for each 60 acres. The water supply would then be 

sufficient for the irrigation of 120,000 acres and the project should, 

under these conditions, be limited to that acreage.

Value of low-water supply based upon the utilization of the fiood 

waters. Making use of the foregoing example we will inquire into 

the efficiency of the late water, or the supply of 500 second-feet available for use during August and September. Of this tract of 120,000 

acres fully 30 per cent, under the conditions referred to, would be cultivated to grain; about 50 per cent to meadow, and the remainder, 20 

per cent, would be planted to orchards and gardens. The grain land, 

or 30 per cent of the total area, would not require irrigation after, say, 

July 20, which would leave 70 per cent, or 84,000 acres, to be provided for during August and September. With a canal of generous 

capacity, such as has been provided, the entire acreage could be thoroughly irrigated, and would be in the best possible condition at the 

beginning of the dry season. In fact, the most favorable conditions 

imaginable would exist for giving the small supply of 500 second-feet 

a high duty. This small supply would be prorated among the irrigators, each landowner having 25 per cent of his flood head, which 

must now do for the irrigation of 70 per cent of his land, or a duty 

of about 170 acres must be given for each second-foot. This extreme 

duty would probably not be attained in all cases, but if the land and 

crops were in good condition at the beginning of the dry season and 

every landowner had the same-interests at stake there is no doubt that 

a very high duty could be reached in a few years' time, and that finally 

every acre of the 70 per cent would be producing a full crop up to the 

end of the growing season.

Results following the use of low water alone. Now, what would be 

the results following a more "conservative" plan, one in which the 

area to be developed is based on the supply of 500 second-feet available during the low stage of the stream ? Under this plan the area to 

be developed would probably not exceed 50,000 acres, which would 

require a canal having a capacity of 1 second-foot for, say, each 100 

acres of land. With this small capacity per acre, if the principal crops 

were hay and grain, the greatest economy would have to be practiced 

from the very beginning of the irrigation season, and it is not likely 

that during the period of greatest use enough water could be delivered 

to insure the best results. It is extremely doubtful whether the average yield per acre would be as great as if a canal with greater capacity 

had been provided. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the results of a 

full season's irrigation under these conditions would be as profitable, 

acre for acre, as those obtained by early irrigation alone under the 

plan first considered. One thing is quite certain, neither the soil nor 

crops would be in as good condition at the beginning of the dry season. 

The temptation under this plan is to arbitrarily fix the duty of water
NEWELL. J CAPACITY OF CANALS. 181

by limiting the size of the canal. The effect of this plan is usually just 

the opposite of what is expected. I have never known nor heard of a 

canal with a capacity too great, but hundreds of them have been built 

too small for the lands dependent upon them. Nothing is more exasperating to the irrigator than to be restricted in the use of water at a 

time when oceans of it is wasting down a stream from which his canal 

is diverted. If the mistake is his own, he remedies the defect by 

enlarging his ditch. If the canal belongs to a company, he has been 

known to construct one of his own according to his o wn ideas.

Conclusion In conclusion, a word might be said regarding the 

breadth or comprehensiveness of these plans. The difference between 

the two plans outlined is this: The first provides for the irrigation of 

the maximum acreage upon which it is possible to produce one full 

crop each and every season, which is more than can be counted on for 

a certainty on 90 per cent of the agricultural land of the United 

States. We provide a canal with large capacity for the irrigation of 

this land, because the irrigation season will be short and every acre 

must be supplied during this period. This provision insures the 

largest possible returns from grain crops and the first cutting of hay, 

and produces a favorable condition of soil at the approach of the dry 

season, thus minimizing the possibility of loss during that period. 

The same quantity of water will be available during the latter part of 

the season under this plan as under the other, but all the land will be 

in first-class condition at the beginning of the period of low water and 

the highest possible duty of water can be attained; which means that 

while more than double the area will be irrigated during the early 

part of the season, a much greater area will be served during the 

period of low water. The first plan is the plan for all time. All will 

have been accomplished that will ever be possible under the natural 

conditions which exist and which can not be changed.

Under the second plan we dedicate the use of the low-water supply 

to a limited area, just as the early settlers have done in every valley 

throughout the West. This will become a vested right, and the use 

of this limited supply of water will not, as a result, be extended to 

other lands. It is true these lands will have a "first-class water 

right," but a much larger area under the first plan would have as 

good a right with as much more in addition thereto rescued from the 

desert, capable of producing one full crop every season, an area which 

under the last plan would likely be condemned to everlasting sterility.

One good crop a year is far more than the average returns from the 

labor of the agriculturist, taking the world over. This, in my opinion, 

would be a very conservative basis upon which to estimate the possibilities of a reclamation project and should fix the limits of our plans 

and expectations. With these limits fixed, the flood waters should 

be utilized first, and upon the wealth thus created we should levy
182 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

for the construction of storage works, if the proper facilities exist. 

If such facilities do not exist, then we shall have fully utilized the 

resources at hand and left no complications or problems to be solved 

by the next generation.

INVESTIGATIONS IN MONTANA. 

By CYRUS C. BABB.

MILK RIVER PROJECTS. 

NATURAL CONDITIONS.

In the northern part of Montana, close to the international boundary, is a section of mountainous country unsurpassed for its scenic 

beauties. Here are peaks covered with snow the year round, and a 

Jittle lower down there are glaciers, the largest in the United States. 

Numerous streams, receiving a plenteous supply from the heavy 

winter snowfall in this basin, descend the slopes of these mountains 

and their waters are collected in St. Mary Lakes, which are drained 

northward by the river of the same name into the Saskatchewan, and 

are finally lost in Hudson Bay.

Milk River, heading in the low, rolling country lying immediately 

east of this basin, runs in a general northeasterly direction, the principal branches, North Fork and South Fork, uniting after crossing 

the Canadian line. The stream thus formed flows eastward for 150 

miles or more, when it bends southward and again enters Montana, 

finally emptying into Missouri River. The broad Milk River Valley 

in Montana consists of gently rolling country, well adapted to irrigation. The water supply from Milk River, however, is deficient, owing 

to lack of high mountain catchment area at its head.

The Milk River or St. Mary project is designed to store flood water 

in the St. Mary Lakes and conduct it eastward by a canal cutting 

through gravelly ridges to the head of Milk River, so as to connect 

a mountain catchment area with that stream.

In 1900 a reconnaissance of the St. Mary country was made, and has 

been followed, during the last three years, by more detailed surveys. 

The investigation has brought out four projects for consideration:

1. Carry water from the St. Mary Lakes to the North or South Fork 

of Milk River, and allow it to run through Canada to the lower Milk 

River Valley in Montana.

2. Carry the St. Mary Lakes water in a long canal across country, 

keeping it in the United States for the entire distance, to Sage Creek, 

a tributary of lower Milk River.

3. Make the project a more local one; that is, irrigate the lands ol 

the eastern portion of the Blackfoot Indian Reservation and those 

immediately adjacent eastward.
NEWELL.] MILK BIVEE PEOJECTS. 183

4. Carry water from St. Maiy Lakes across both the North and 

South Fork of Milk River to Cutbank Creek, down which it will flow 

for 50 miles or more to Marias River, and then divert the latter and 

carry water in an artificial channel again to Big Sandy Creek, a tributary of lower Milk River.

DESCRIPTION OF WORKS.

Under the first project, it is proposed to build a low earthen storage 

dam at a point about three-fourths of a mile below the present outlet of lower St. Mary Lake. This dam will have a maximum elevation 

of 55 feet above the bottom of the river, and will form a reservoir 

having a capacity of 250,000 acre-feet.

During the year 1902 an examination was made at the dam site to 

determine the depth at bed rock and the character of the rock. Sandstone rock outcrops at the surface at the eastern end of the dam, 

whence it drops rapidly to 138 feet below the surface at 1,600 feet from 

the eastern end. Borings this year show a depth of 187 feet at one 

point.

The top of the earthen dam will be at an elevation of 4,513 feet 

above sea level; the total length of the earth embankment will be 

2,650 feet; both inner and outer slopes will be 3 to 1. It is the intention to use the hydraulic-fill method of dam construction. Most of 

the material will come from the hill west of the dam, as the water to 

wash it down can be easily obtained from Swiftcurrent Creek by 

means of a short diversion canal. A concrete-core wall will extend 

from the east abutment of the dam across the river for a distance of 

475 feet, where the present depth of bed rock below the surface of 

the ground is 33 feet. From this point to the western end of the dam 

a puddle trench will be first excavated and sheet piling driven as far 

as practicable. This trench will then be filled with selected material 

by the hydraulic method, and the earth to form the remainder of the 

dam will be deposited on both sides. The lower toe of the dam will 

be of riprap in order to prevent the sliding of the material due to any 

percolation of water under the dam. The upper face will be riprapped as a protection against wave action.

From the reservoir thus formed water will be diverted through an 

open cut in rock around the eastern end of the dam. The head gates 

of the reservoir outlet will be located opposite the end of the dam and 

connected with the concrete core wall. These head gates consist of a 

curved wall of 30 feet radius placed on four concrete piers. In this 

wall there will be two series of circular openings; an upper series, 

consisting of three openings 20 feet below the top, and a lower series, 

consisting of four openings 30 feet below the top, each opening being 

4 feet in diameter. There will be five additional openings, each 5 feet
184 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

wide by 9 feet high, at the bottom or between the piers. Water passing through all the openings will be controlled by cast-iron sluice gates 

operated by proper gearing.

In the canal, 850 feet beyond these reservoir gates, there is to be a 

concrete spillway for discharging the waste water back into the river 

by suitable regulating gates.

DESCRIPTION OF CANAL.

The canal proper will begin immediately below the head-gates. The 

grade was assumed at two one-hundredths of 1 per cent, or a fall of 1.056 

feet to the mile. It is proposed to make the bottom width 30 feet, 

with a 10-foot depth of water, and with side slopes of 1 to 1. It is 

assumed that in a canal of these dimensions the mean discharge at the 

head will be 1,350 second-feet. From the dam the canal will continue 

down the east bank of the river for a distance of 7 miles, then turn 

eastward and pass through a gap known as Spider Lake Gap.- 

Thence it will continue in a general northeasterly direction for a distance of 27.4 miles, or to the North Fork of Milk River. The last 

step in the construction of the canal to reach the North Fork of Milk 

River will be the dropping of the water 180 feet to the level of the 

creek.

The following table gives the estimated cost of construction of this 

portion of the line, the water to be dropped into the North Fork as 

described:

Cost of St. Mary dam and canal from head to North Fork.

Earthen dam, outlet canal, and head-gates. ...............^............. $250,000

Head to Spider Lake .................................................. 245,100

Spider Lake to drop at North Fork of Milk River........................ 288,400

Drop at North Fork ................................................... 16,040

Two sets of waste gates on line ......................................... 4,000

Engineering and contingencies ......................................... 120,530

Total........................................................... 924,070

LOWER MILK RIVER.

Milk River crosses the international boundary, flows for about 150 

miles in Canada, and comes back into the United States at an elevation 

of 2,680 feet. It continues in a southeasterly direction for about 60 

miles, whence it bends eastward, which general course it holds to 

about Hinsdale, where it again bends southward until it reaches the 

Missouri. At Havre the elevation of the river is 2,467 feet, showing 

a fall from the international line of 213 feet in the distance of 60 miles, 

or a fall of 3.7 feet to the mile. This portion of the stream is in a 

deep valley, ranging from 1 to 2 miles in width, with bluffs on either
NEWELL.] MILK RIVER PROJECTS. 185

side about 200 feet high. A canal taken out at the "international 

boundary at the grade of the river would continue down for about 60 

miles until Havre was reached, and then would not be out of the 

bluffs. Throughout nearly all of this distance it would be carried 

along sidehill, and in view of this fact and the great length of the 

canal the proposition is hardly feasible. Ten miles below Havre the 

valley widens and here the first diversion of Milk River can be accomplished.

At the present time (1903) a survey is being made for a canal heading 

at Yantic, on the north side of the river, and continuing downstream 

for 60 miles. This will cover about 50,000 acres, a portion of which is 

at present irrigated from private ditches taken from Milk River. This 

canal will be a later development of the one described below, and no 

estimates of cost have yet been made.

MALTA PROJECT.

The original plans for the St. Mary Canal, made at the end of the 

field season of 1901, contemplated a system of storage in the lower 

Milk River Valley, and investigations were made here in 1902 with 

this object in view.

Eight miles east of Malta there is an alkaline body of water, known 

as Lake Bowdoin, having an area of 6.8 square miles. The lake lies 

in a depression that is surrounded by hills. A survey was made here 

with the idea of using the lake site as a possible reservoir. The plan 

contemplates a diversion of Milk River from its south side at a point 23 

miles aboye Malta, whence the water will be carried to the reservoir.

The feed canal will be 34 miles long and is estimated to carry 2,000 

second-feet of water. It will have a bottom width of 50 feet, a depth 

of 12 feet, a slope of 1.5 to 1, and a grade of 0.0001, or about 6 inches 

to the mile.

Between Malta and the reservoir there is a divide 50 feet above the 

lake. At this point a drop of 25 feet is made to the top surface of the 

reservoir, as only 25 feet of water is to be stored, but from this drop 

a high-line lateral will be carried southward around Beaver Creek, 

and irrigation lands in the valley of this stream.

For a storage depth of 25 feet, the capacity of the reservoir will be 

298,900 acre-feet, and the surface area will be 15,000 acres.

In order to create Lake Bowdoin reservoir, it will be necessary to 

build a series of earth embankments across various gaps eight in all. 

The total length will be 19,050 feet and the total quantity of excavation will be 599,961 cubic yards. The top width of the canal will be 10 

feet, the slope on water face will be 2.5 to 1, and on lower face 2 to 

1. Water will be drawn from this reservoir and served to the lands 

lying eastward, both north and south of the river.
186 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Engineering surveys are being prosecuted and will be practically 

completed on this project this season. Topographical surveys are also 

being made on two different scales, one the regular field scale of the 

survey, that is 1: 45,000 or 1 inch to 3,750 feet, and a larger one, 1 

inch to 2,000 feet, that will show all the agricultural lands that can 

be covered by the project, which is now estimated at 250,000 acres.

CONSTRUCTION IN NEYADA.

By L. H. TAYLOK.

In Nevada the work of the reclamation law has advanced to a point 

where construction has already been begun. The preliminary work has 

been described in the First Annual Report of the Reclamation Service, 

so that it is unnecessary to go into details in this matter. It is, however, of interest to all-to know the conditions under which the work is 

being done, and for this reason special attention is called to the specifications and bids for construction of the Truckee canal, taking water 

from Truckee River to the lower Carson reservoir site.

There is presented here .a copy of the original advertisement, the 

specifications, abstract of the bids, and copy of the agreement made 

with one of the firms of contractors. The work was advertised in 

three divisions, the successful bidders for the first and second divisions 

being C. A. Warren & Co., and for the third division the E. B. & 

A. L. Stone Company.

ADVERTISEMENT.

DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C., May 15, 1903.

Sealed proposals will be received at this Department until 2 o'clock p. m. July 15, 

1903, for the construction of about 15 miles of canals, with diverting dam, headworks, spillways, and tunnels, for the diversion and conveyance of 1,400 cubic feet of 

water per second from the Truckee River, between Clarks Station and Wadsworth, 

Nev., to irrigable lands in the Truckee and Carson valleys. Plans and specifications 

will be open for inspection, and blank forms upon which all bids must be made can 

be procured at the office of the Geological Survey, in Washington, D. C., and Reno, 

Nev., on and after June 20, 1903. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified 

check for 2 per cent of the amount of the bid, as a guaranty that the bidder will 

enter into a written contract with.the Secretary of the Interior within ten days after 

the award is made, and furnish bond in the sum of 50 per cent of the contract price 

for the faithful performance of the work. The Secretary of the Interior reserves the 

right to reject any and all bids. Detailed information can be obtained on the ground 

from L. H. Taylor, resident engineer, Reno, Nev. Proposals should be addressed 

to the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C., and endorsed on envelope 

"Proposals for Irrigation Work, Truckee River, Nevada."

E. A. HITCHCOCK, Secretary.
NEWELL.] CONSTRUCTION IN NEVADA. 187

FORM OF PROPOSAL.

RECLAMATION SERVICE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, TRUCKEE PROJECT NEVADA.

Proposal for excavating main canal, and building headworks, spillways, sluice 

and wasteways, reduction chambers, tunnels, and highway bridge.

NOTE. Bids will be received on one or more divisions or on all the work. Bidders desiring to bid on one division only will fill out their figures on printed schedule 

opposite that division only. Those desiring to bid on all the work will fill out the 

figures opposite all the divisions.

To SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C.

SIR: The undersigned propose to do all the work, and furnish all the material, 

except the cement, in accordance with the printed form of general specifications, 

a copy of which is herewith annexed, and bind , on the acceptance of this proposal, to enter into and execute a contract, with necessary bond, of 

which the inclosed general specifications shall be made a part, for the execution of 

said work at the prices named in the schedule below.

 furthermore agree, that in case of default in executing such contract, 

with necessary bond, the check accompanying this bid, and the money payable 

thereon, shall be, and remain the property of the United States.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS.

1. Purpose of work.

The completed work has for its purpose the conveyance of fourteen hundred (1400) 

second-feet of water from Truckee River to the head of Pyramid Branch, a distance 

of about six (6) miles; thence the conveyance of twelve hundred (1200) second-feet 

of water to the lower Carson River reservoir, a farther distance of about twenty-four 

(24) miles.

2. Plan of work.

The general plan of the work requires the construction of a concrete weir and 

headworks and earth embankment, also temporary dam and diversion channel on 

Truckee River about four (4) miles below Clarka station on the Central Pacific Railroad; two or more spillways or overflow weirs, one or more sluice and waste ways, 

headworks for Pyramid Branch, six or more reduction chambers, and one small 

bridge to carry highway across the canal, and excavating and completing the main 

canal, including the construction and completion of three or more tunnels, in accordance with the accompanying plans, which show general type of each structure.

3. Plans and drawings.

The plans which accompany and which are made a part of these specifications are 

numbered and named as follows:

Drawing No. 1. Cross-section of main canal and tunnel. 

Drawing No. 2. General plan for combined sluice and waste way. 

Drawing No. 3. Details of gates for head works and waste ways, wrought iron. 

Drawing No. 3a. Details of gates for head works and waste ways, cast iron. 

Drawing No. 4. Plan for head works for Pyramid Branch. 

Drawing No. 5. General plan for spillways in main canal. 

Drawing No. 6. General plan for reducing chambers, canal to tunnel. 

Drawing No. 7. Plan for head works for main canal.
188 FIRST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Drawing No. 8. Plan showing location of head works and diversion of river during 

construction.

Drawing No. 9. Design for highway bridge crossing canal. 

Drawing No. 10. Profile of final location of canal. 

Drawing No. 11. Plan showing general location of canal; small scale.

4- Special and general specifications.

Special specifications will be furnished the contractor for each structure as the 

work proceeds.

The general specifications shall apply to all work done or materials furnished, and 

shall control the special specifications where they are silent. In case of conflict 

between the general specifications and the special specifications the latter shall control in the particular work to which they apply.

5. Manner of doing work.

All work shall be done in a thorough and workman-like manner, notwithstanding 

any omission from the drawings or specifications, and anything mentioned in the 

specifications and not shown in the drawings, or shown in the drawings and not 

mentioned in the specifications, must be done as though shown or mentioned in both.

G. Engineer and contractor.

Where the word " engineer" is used in the general or special specifications or in 

the contract it shall be and is mutually understood to refer to the chief engineer of 

the reclamation service, United States Geological Survey, or any of his authorized 

assistants or inspectors, limited by the particular duties entrusted to them.

Wherever the word "contractor" is used in the general or special specifications 

or in the contract it shall be and is mutually understood to refer to the party or 

parties contracting to perform the work to be done under this contract or to their 

legal representatives.

7. Time of commencement, and prosecution and completion of work.

On the acceptance of the proposal the chief engineer will give written notice 

thereof to the party or parties proposing personally or by letter or wire to their 

stated address; and in ten days from the date of such notice the contractor shall 

execute his contract, and bond by a surety company, and the work shall be begun 

promptly, with adequate force, according to the terms of the contract. The work 

shall be prosecuted continuously and vigorously, with such force and in such manner 

as to secure its completion within fourteen months of date of signing the contract. 

If at any time the work is not progressing satisfactorily the attention of the contractor shall be called in writing by the engineer to the fact that the progress being 

made is not such as to enable the contractor to finish the work in the specified time. 

On receipt of such notice the contractor must put on more force and make such 

showing as will satisfy the engineer that the work can be finished in the specified 

time. The amount of work done at the end of any month, except the first, must 

bear at least the same proportion to the total work to be done that one month does 

to the number of months fixed for the completion of the work.

8. Putting on more force.

If the contractor, in a reasonable time after receiving such notice from the engineer, does not put on additional force, the chief engineer shall have the right to 

declare the contract null and void or to hire such force and buy such tools, at the 

contractor's expense, as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the work and 

for finishing it in the time agreed upon.
NEWELL.] SPECIFICATIONS FOE TEUOKEE CANAL. 189

9. Character of workm en.

The contractor shall discharge from his service, when required by the engineer, 

any disorderly, dangerous, insubordinate, or incompetent person. None but skilled 

foremen shall be employed on the tunnels and concrete work. As required by law, 

no Mongolian labor shall be employed on construction work.

10. Methods and appliances.

The methods and appliances adopted by the contractor must be such as will secure 

a satisfactory quality of work and enable him to complete the work in the time 

agreed upon. If at any time such methods and appliances appear inadequate the 

engineer may order the contractor to improve their character or increase their efficiency, and the contractor must conform to such order; but the failure of the engineer to order such improvement of methods or increase of efficiency will not relieve 

the contractor from his obligations to perform good work or finish it in the time 

agreed upon.

11. Measurements, estimates, and payments.

At the end of each calendar month the engineer shall make an approximate 

measurement of all the work done up to that date and an estimate of the value of 

the same at the prices agreed upon in the contract. A deduction of twenty-five (25) 

per cent shall be made from this estimated amount, and from the balance shall be 

deducted the amount of all previous payments. The remainder shall be paid to the 

contractor upon the presentation of proper vouchers endorsed and approved by the 

chief engineer. The twenty-five per cent deducted shall be retained by the Government until the work shall have been completed to the entire satisfaction of the 

chief engineer.

12. Engineers' authority, and appeals, etc.

The engineer in charge shall decide as to the meaning and intent of any portion 

of the plans and specifications. He shall have the right to correct any errors or 

omissions therein where such errors or omissions might cause a misunderstanding of 

the meaning and intent of said plans or specifications. The Secretary of the Interior 

reserves the right, at any time during the progress of the work, to change the alignment, grades, and width of the canal, or any portion thereof, or to alter the character, vary the dimensions, or change the location of structures, or substitute one kind 

of material for another, or to omit entirely, where found necessary, or require to be 

built where not now contemplated; and the contractor shall carry into effect all such 

alterations, at the unit prices mentioned in the contract. Should such change, 

however, be made after the commencement of any particular piece of work, and 

result thereby in any extra cost to the contractor, the engineer in charge shall certify 

to the amount to be allowed therefor which he shall consider as fair and equitable 

between the parties, and his decision, when approved by the chief engineer, shall 

be final and conclusive.

13. Inspection of work.

The engineers and inspectors appointed by the Secretary of the Interior shall at 

all times have the right to inspect the work and materials. The contractor shall 

furnish such persons reasonable facilities for obtaining such information as they 

desire respecting the progress and manner of the work and the character of the 

material.

14. Quantities, approximate in schedule.

The quantities of the work presented in the schedule are only approximate, and 

the information given on maps and profiles as to summary of material is according to 

the best present knowledge.
190 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

15. Removal of defective ivork.

The contractor shall remove at his own expense all material which is condemned 

by the engineer or his inspectors, and shall remove and rebuild at his own expense 

any part of the work which has been improperly executed, even though such work 

should have been already allowed for in the monthly estimates. The engineer shall 

give notice in writing to the contractor of such defective work, when found. If the 

contractor refuses or neglects to replace such defective work it may be replaced by 

the Secretary of the Interior at the contractor's expense.

16. Protection of finished work.

The contractor will be held responsible for the material furnished to him, and for 

the care of the finished work until final completion of the same, and will be required 

to make good, at his own cost, any damage or injury it may sustain from any cause. 

He shall take all risks from floods and from casualities of every description, and 

make no charge for detention from such causes. He may, however, be allowed a 

reasonable extension of time on account of such detention.

17. Damage and trespass.

The contractor will be held responsible for all damages to persons or property 

which may result from his acts or neglect, or that of his agents, employees, or workmen. He will not allow any of his agents, employees, or workmen to trespass upon 

the premises or lands of persons in the vicinity of the works, and will discharge, at 

the request of the engineer, anyone in his employment who may be guilty of committing damage in this respect.

18. Delays.

The contractor shall not be entitled to any compensation for delays or hindrances 

to the work from any cause whatever. If such delay or hindrance is caused by failure to provide material sufficient to carry on the work, or failure to give such instructions as may be necessary for the same, on the part of the Secretary of the Interior 

or his engineers, then such delay will entitle the contractor to an extension of time 

equivalent to the time lost by such delay. The engineer must receive from the contractor notice, in writing, of such delay before allowing any extension of time.

19. Responsibility.

The contractor will not assign or sublet the work, or any part thereof, without the 

written consent of the chief engineer, indorsed upon his contract. No subcontract 

shall, under any circumstances, relieve the con tractor of his liabilities and obligations 

under the contract, and should the subcontractor fail to perform the work to the 

satisfaction of the engineer the contractor will be held responsible, and if lie fails or 

refuses to make satisfactory the work done by the subcontractor the Secretary of the 

Interior may, at his option, end and terminate his contract.

20. Extra, work.

No claim for extra work or work unprovided for in the contract shall be considered or allowed unless previously ordered in writing by the engineer. If such extra 

work is ordered, payment will be made only upon the certificate of the engineer that 

such work has been satisfactorily performed, and demand for this payment must 

be accompanied by such certificate and made at the time of the next monthly payment after the extra work has been finished.
NEWELL.] SPECIFICATIONS FOE TEUCKEE CANAL. 191

21. Foreman and copy of plans, etc.

The contractor shall keep at all times upon the work a copy of the plans and specifications, so that reference may be made thereto by the engineer, in case of misunderstanding or misconstruction. Instructions given to the contractors, foremen, or 

agents on the work by the engineer shall be considered as having been given to the 

contractor himself.

22. Roads and fences.

All roads crossing the canal must be kept open until proper bridges or crossings 

are provided, and all fences crossing the canal must be kept up by the contractor 

until the work is finished.

23. Bench marks, stakes, etc.

All bench marks and side slope stakes must be carefully preserved by the contractor, and in case of their willful or careless destruction or removal by him, or any 

of his employees, such stakes shall be replaced by the engineer at the contractor's 

expense.

24. Classification of material.

The classification of the material excavated shall be made by the engineer in 

charge, and his judgment will be final and conclusive in such matter, as well as in the 

inspection of material used in the structures.

25. Right of way.

The right of way for the land necessary for the canal and for all borrow pits, channels, spoil banks, ditches, roads, etc., will be provided by the Secretary of the 

Interior.

26. Maps and plans.

The engineer will stake out all the work for the contractor and furnish him, from 

time to time, with such detail drawings, plans, profiles, and special specifications as 

may be necessary to enable him to complete the work in a satisfactory "manner. All 

such plans, profiles, maps, and drawings must be returned to the engineer on completion of the work.

27. Unpaid claims.

The contractor shall pay all workmen employed on the work punctually, at least 

once a month, and also pay regularly for all material furnished under his contract. 

He will furnish the Secretary of the Interior with satisfactory evidence that all persons who have done work or furnished material and who shall have filed claims for 

the same with the Secretary of the Interior have been fully paid or are not entitled 

to any lien under the laws of the State of Nevada. In case such evidence is not furnished such amount as the Secretary of the Interior may consider necessary to meet 

the lawful claims of such persons shall be deducted from the money due the contractor and held until the liabilities shall have been fully discharged and evidence of 

the same furnished the Secretary of the Interior, and if such evidence is not furnished before the final payment under this contract falls due, the Secretary of the 

Interior may pay such claims, and charge the amount thus paid to the contractor, 

who shall accept the same as payment, to the amount of the claims on his contract.

28. Failure to complete work in time agreed upon.

In case the contractor should fail to complete the work in the time agreed upon in 

the contract, or in such extra time as may have been allowed for reasonable delays
192 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

incident to the work, the engineer shall compute and appraise the direct damages for 

the loss sustained by the Secretary of the Interior on account of further employment 

of engineers, inspectors, and other employees, including all disbursements on the 

engineering account properly chargeable to the work. The amount so appraised and 

computed shall be deducted from any money due the contractor under his contract. 

The decision of the chief engineer as to the appraisal of such damages shall be final 

and binding on both parties.

29. Slopes and batters.

Whenever, in these specifications and plans, the word "slope" or "batter" is used 

they will be understood to mean the ratio of horizontal to vertical. Thus a slope of 

three to one would mean three horizontal to one vertical, or a batter of 2 inches to 1 

foot, 2 inches horizontal to 1 foot vertical.

30. Bidders to examine ground before bidding.

Bidders must satisfy themselves of the nature of the material and of all local conditions affecting the work, and no information derived from the maps, plans, specifications, profiles, or drawings, or from the engineer or his assistants, will in any way 

relieve the contractor from all risks, or from fulfilling all the terms of his contract.

31. Use and sale of liquor.

The use or sale of intoxicating liquor will be absolutely prohibited on the work 

except under the direct supervision of the contractor or his agent; and, if possible, such 

arrangements will be made with the local authorities as will prevent the issue of 

license to sell intoxicating liquors to anyone else than the contractor, at any point 

within 5 miles of the work where liquor is not now sold.

32. General conditions.

The above general conditions shall apply to every part of the work to be done 

under these specifications.

33. Grading.

Under this head \Vill be included clearing and grubbing where required; all excavations and embankments required for the completion of the main canal or any of its 

branches, for all temporary work, and for permanent dam at th*e head works; all 

excavations for ditches or drains necessary for cross drainage; excavations for all 

foundations for bridges, culverts, or walls, and all excavations and embankments 

for road crossings, where they have been interfered with in the construction of the 

canal. All material moved in grading shall be measured in excavation only, and estimated by the cubic yard under the following classes. (Excepted herefroni is the 

excavation in water, at the head works, which is specially provided for in schedule.)

Class 1. All material that can be ploughed by an average eight-mule team, each 

animal weighing not less than twelve hundred (1,200) pounds, attached to a suitable 

ten-inch breaking plough; all well handled, by at least four men. Also all loose 

material that can, without ploughing, be loaded into a scraper by two men.

Class 2. Indurated material of all kinds, which cannot be ploughed as in class 1, 

but which requires loosening by powder, and can then be removed by scraper.

Class 3. All detached masses of rock, more than two, and less than ten cubic feet 

in volume, and all slate or other rocks, soft or loose enough to be removed without 

blasting.

Class 4. All rock, not included in the above classes, which requires drilling and 

blasting.

The canal will be excavated accurately to sections and forms similar to those shown 

in drawing No. 1, and to the lines, grades, and slope stakes, as established every 50 feet
NEWELL.] SPECIFICATIONS FOE TEUCKEE CANAL. 193

by the engineer. The side slopes may be varied to suit the material, but in all cases 

will be staked out by the engineer. All material taken from the excavation will be 

deposited, when the canal is on sloping ground, on the lower side of the canal, 

unless otherwise directed by the engineer. When t'he canal is on level ground, the 

material from the excavation will be deposited on both sides, to form the upper portion of the waterway. If there is an excess of material in excavation on sloping 

ground, over and above that which is necessary to 'complete the waterway to the 

level given by the engineer, it will be deposited on the lower side of the finished 

bank, and on the same level with the top of the bank of waterway, and if there is 

an excess of material in excavation on level, or nearly level ground, it will be used 

to widen the banks on each side, as may be directed. All suitable material taken 

from the excavations must be placed where directed by the engineer, within a limit 

of average haul of 600 linear feet. All haul over 600 linear feet will be paid for at 

the rate agreed upon in the contract. Wherever banks are made on the side of the 

canal, to form part of the waterway, the ground under such banks must be entirely 

stripped of all brush and vegetable matter of every kind, and, if necessary, the roots 

grubbed out and burned with the other material removed. All work of this nature 

shall be included in the price paid for excavation. All banks, where required for 

forming part of the waterway, shall be built in layers of about 1 foot in depth, and 

to the elevations given by the engineer to allow for settlement. Where there is not 

sufficient material for banks inside the lines of the canal, the engineer will designate 

the place where such material is to be procured and will measure and allow for such 

material in .excavation only, with allowance for overhaul, if any. Where any 

material suitable for use in structures, such as sand, gravel, or stone, is found in the 

excavations, it will be laid aside in some convenient place, if so ordered by the 

engineer. No extra allowance will be made for this work, if the material is deposited 

within 600 feet of the place where it is excavated. All embankments at or near 

structures shall be made at such times, in such manner, and of such materials as the 

engineer may direct. No banks intended to hold water shall be made in freezing 

weather.

The excavations and embankments shall be finished in a careful and workmanlike 

manner, true to line and grade as given by the engineer's finishing stakes. The 

bottom and side slopes must be made even and regular, fit fof the passage of water, 

and any blasting in soft material which would injure .the slopes or bottom will not 

be permitted. If the slopes or bottom are shattered or broken up by careless blasting, 

such soft places must be excavated to firm material and the holes thus made filled 

up to grade and line with concrete composed of one part of cement to three parts of 

sand and five parts of gravel or broken rock, all at the expense of the contractor. 

In hard material, where excavation is lined with concrete or plastered with mortar, 

all such holes must be filled up to the neat line of the back of lining, as specified, all 

excess over the specified thickness of lining being at the contractor's expense.

34- Puddling.

Where the nature of the material in the banks is such as to require puddling by 

hand, the engineer will decide upon the depth of puddled material required on the 

face of the bank and stake out the foot of the bank at the proper distance from the 

edge of the excavation, to allow of the puddled material being placed afterward. 

The excavation in all cases to be made complete and the material required for puddling 

piled upon the bank ready for use, when a little water can be let into the canal.

35. Tunnels.

There will be at least three tunnels on this work, one of 400, one of 900, and one 

of 1,400 feet in length, approximately. As the material encountered is variable, three 

methods of lining are proposed, as shown in the cross sections on drawing No. 1. 

IRB 93 04 13
194 FIKST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

1. Where the material requires temporary timbering during excavation and permanent lining with concrete afterwards, the timbers remaining in the concrete.

2. Where the material is of such nature as to stand until lined, or to allow of the 

timbers being moved when the lining of concrete is put in.

3. When the material is hard rock, and can be plastered with a coat of cement 

plaster.

Any or all of these methods may be used in any one tunnel, or in all of the tunnels, 

as the varying nature of the material may require.

The object to be attained is the completion of a smoothly plastered chamber of 

concrete, 12 by 13 feet in section, in all the tunnels, to be made safe and secure 

against falls or "caves," and in order to effect this object, the use of any one of these 

methods may be insisted on by the engineer.

Any excess of excavation over the neat lines of excavation as shown on the drawings must be filled up with timber or concrete, as the engineer may direct. All 

caves or falls in the roof or sides must be supported by temporary timbering immediately after they occur, and the engineer will positively not allow the work to proceed 

until such places are made perfectly safe and secure. If more timber or concrete 

than is provided for in the drawings is required to make the work absolutely safe 

and secure, in the opinion of the engineer, such extra material shall be furnished by 

the contractor and allowed for by the engineer, at the rate of $30 per thousand feet, 

board measure, of lumber, and $12 per cubic yard of concrete, both measured in 

place; but no allowance shall be made for extra material used -in the tunnel unless 

the engineer shall have previously given a written order for the use of the same. 

The frames, as shown in the drawings, are of 8 by 8 timber throughout, and set 3 

feet apart from center to center. The lagging is of 2 by 6 inch timber. The concrete 

lining on sides and arch is 12 inches thick between timber frames, and 4 inches 

thick inside of frames. The concrete lining on the bottom is 4 inches thick. The 

concrete lining, where timbering is unnecessary, is 8 inches thick on an average, and 

the plastering on hard rock an average of 2 inches thick.

The contractor shall be fully responsible for the safety and good condition of the 

tunnels until the completion of his contract as a whole. None but skilled tunnel 

men shall be employed as foremen or carpenters, and of this the engineer must have 

satisfactory evidence beforehand. All losses resulting from damage or injury to 

person or property, through carelessness, neglect, or want of due precaution on the 

part of the contractor or any of his agents or employees, must be borne by him, and 

under no circumstances shall compensation for such losses be allowed to the contractor by the Secretary of the Interior.

36. Explosives.

The use of explosives is positively prohibited in any of the tunnels, except where 

hard rock occurs, and in that case the blasting must be done in such a way as not to 

shatter the roof or sides unnecessarily.

37. Centering.

The centering must be strong and solidly braced, and conform to the true outline 

of the tunnels as shown on the plans. It will be subject to the approval of the engineer, who may at any time prohibit the use of centering which, in hia opinion, is not 

strong enough, or which may have deteriorated from use, or shown by actual trial 

that it is not fit for the purpose intended. The faces of the boards used on centering, 

for the sides of the tunnel, must be surfaced and laid true to line so as to give a plane, 

even surface of concrete for the plastering.
SEWELL.] SPECIFICATIONS FOB TRUCKEE CANAL. 195

38. Plastering.

When the concrete lining in any'of the tunnels is completed, and the centering 

removed, the floor for the full width and the walls and arch for a height of 13 feet 

above the finished floor, shall be covered with a coat of plaster composed of sand, 

?ement, and lime paste in the proportion of 3J cubic feet of sand to 1 cubic foot of 

loose cement and half a cubic foot of lime paste, which has been cooled for at least 

twenty-four hours. The average thickness of this plaster will be half an inch, for 

which due allowance will be made in setting the forms for the concrete; and it must 

be troweled down on floor and sides to a perfectly smooth and true surface. The 

walls and floor must be thoroughly washed clean of all loose or friable material due 

to contact with centering boards, and then wet again to receive the plaster.

39. Concrete.

The cement will be furnished by the Secretary of the Interior. The concrete to 

be used on all the structures and tunnels on this canal will be composed of Portland 

cement, sand, and gravel or broken stone, in the proportion of .1 barrel of cement, 

in the packed condition in which it is sold, to 7 full barrels of the same size of the 

aggregates when mixed together. To facilitate the work experiments will be made 

by the contractor with the carriers, whether wheelbarrows, boxes, or cars, used by 

him, so that this proportion of cement to aggregates may be maintained as nearly as 

possible, and the engineer will supervise these experiments and fix said proportion 

for the kind of carrier used at each piece of work. He will also make experiments 

with the aggregates themselves so as to get the most compact mass that can be made 

from them, and for such experiments no extra allowance will be made to the contractor. If the cement comes in sacks, then 380 pounds net of cement will constitute 

a barrel, and any ordinary cement barrel open at one end, containing not more than 

B.7 cubic feet, will be used for measuring the aggregates. If broken stone is used, it 

must be hard and compact and satisfactory to the engineer. The entire product of 

the crusher will be taken, provided there is not more than 10 per cent of the volume 

composed of dust or screenings. All of the rock must be of such sizes as will pass 

through a screen with 2-inch square mesh. If gravel is used, it must be clean, hard, 

and heavy, having at least a specific gravity of 2, and screened into three different 

sizes. None of the gravel is to exceed 2 inches in diameter. The mixture of such 

sizes will be made in the proportion fixed by the engineer. A promiscuous mixture 

Df sand and gravel will not be accepted. The sand must be clean and sharp and free 

from any clayey matter.

The mixing of the concrete, if hand labor is used, will be done in the following 

manner: A tight floor of either planks or sheet iron will be used for the mixing in all 

cases. The sand, which must be dry, will first be piled on the floor with the cement, 

in the proper proportions; the mass will then be shoveled over as many times as are 

necessary to make a thorough mixture of sand and cement; sufficient water will then 

be added to make a stiff mortar, and the mass shoveled over twice or more, as may 

be necessary. The stone or gravel, which should be well wet, will then be added, 

and the entire mass shoveled over twice or more before shoveling into the carriers. 

This mixing must be done to the satisfaction of the inspector. If the mixing is done 

by machine, the latter will be subject to approval by the engineer. If at any time 

the machine fails to perform the mixing in a manner satisfactory to the engineer, it 

must be made satisfactory or removed and another machine substituted, or mixing 

by hand be resorted to.

The water used for mixing must be clean and free from vegetable matter. The 

amount of water used, both in the mixing and in seasoning the concrete after it is 

placed in the work, must be satisfactory to the engineer.
196 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

The cement will be delivered to the contractor on board the cars at the nearest 

station to the work. The contractor will be responsible for demurrage to the railroad 

company, and will haul the cement from the depot to the work. He will furnish 

suitable warehouses or sheds for storing the same until used, and will be held 

responsible for any loss of cement after its delivery at the railroad station. The contractor must give the engineer at least thirty days' notice as to when and where he 

wants the cement delivered, and will state the amount required, which must be 

expressed in even carloads.

In all concrete walls over 2 feet thick hard bowlders or fragments of hard, sound 

rock not exceeding 1 foot or less than 6 inches in any dimension may be placed by 

hand in the soft concrete, provided no such stone comes nearer than 6 inches to the 

exterior surface of the wall or to any other bowlder or stone so placed. Under no 

circumstances is concrete to be laid in water or in a muddy foundation, and it must 

always be mixed and laid in the presence of an inspector and to his satisfaction. All 

concrete must be placed in the work as soon as possible after being mixed, and any 

portion of a batch which may remain in the place of mixing longer than the time 

required by the cement for initial set must not be remixed or placed in the work. 

All concrete shall be well tamped if put in dry, with heavy tamping bars, till moisture 

appears on the surface; and if wet, with suitable bars and shovels, so that porosity and 

rough surfaces may be avoided. Whether concrete will be used "wet" or "dry" 

will depend to a great extent on the nature of the cement, and this can be determined 

by experiment before work is commenced.

The wooden forms for concrete must be surfaced on the insides, so that all concrete 

structures may be smooth and true on their exposed surfaces when finished. If necessary, special flat shovels shall be furnished and used by the contractor to effect this 

purpose.

40. Headworks.

The excavation and embankment involved in the temporary work necessary to 

divert the river during the construction of the head works and the embankment for 

the permanent dam, will be paid for at the unit prices mentioned in the contract. 

The price bid on lumber for lining temporary channel will include all labor of laying 

and calking. As soon as the river is diverted, as shown on drawing No. 8, the excavation for the foundation of the headworks may proceed. A line of sheet piling, as 

shown 011 drawing No. 8, located about 2 feet from upper line of foundation, will be 

driven when the trench is excavated to the depth shown on said drawing. If it is 

found impossible to drive the sheet piling to the full depth required, it will be allowed 

to project into the concrete, but every effort shall be made to drive the piling so that 

not more than 1 foot of the piles may project into the concrete. No piling is to 

be driven deeper .than this unless by written order of the engineer for extra piling, 

for which due allowance will be made to the contractor.

On the first layer of concrete, which shall be about 9 inches thick, in the foundation there shall be laid across stream seven lines, each 150 feet long, at equal intervals, of railroad iron, weighing not less than 50 pounds per yard, then a layer of 

concrete, which shall be well tamped around and level with the top of these rails. 

On the surface thus made shall be laid downstream 31 lines, each 30 feet long, of the 

same kind of rails, and then a layer of concrete around and level with the top of 

these rails. Between the rails will be laid, by hand, in the soft concrete, bowlders 

or large fragments of hard rock, as specified under the head of "concrete," to act as 

binders between the finished layers, and such bowlders or large fragments of hard 

rock will be required on the surface of each layer of concrete in the headworks, which 

is left to set before another layer is laid down. The layers of concrete should be not 

less than 9 inches nor more than 1 foot in depth.
NEWELL.] SPECIFICATIONS FOE TRUCKEE CANAL. 197

On the downstream side of the foundation the old channel of the river will be 

excavated, if necessary, and filled with large rocks, paved on the surface, for a distance 

of 20 feet downstream and the full width of the river bed, as shown on drawing No. 7.

41. Timber.

All timber must be of good quality, free from sap, shakes, loose or rotten knots, or 

other defects that would impair its strength or durability.

42. Cast iron.

Th'e cast iron should be of best quality of soft gray iron, free from cinders, blowholes or other imperfections, and castings must be true to shape and dimensions, as 

shown on drawings. No plugging of holes will be allowed.

43. Structures on line of canal.

All the structures on the line of the canal will be subject to these specifications, 

and where necessary special plans and specifications will be furnished by the engineer 

to the contractor.

44- Highway bridge.

The bridge will consist of one 60-foot Pratt truss combination span with concrete 

abutments and of the dimensions shown on drawing No. 9.

The steel used in the bridge shall be open-hearth, with an ultimate tensile strength 

of at least 60,000 pounds per square inch. The chord links and main ties shall be die 

forged without welds, and of dimensions shown. The beam hangers shall be yoke 

shaped and bent around pin, one at each end of floor beam; pins to be tiirned to 

a perfect size and one-thirty-second of an inch less than the holes in chord bars and 

ties. The cast iron and timber should be in accordance with general specifications.

45. Workmanship.

All workmanship shall be first class, and no bars of steel having an error of over 

one-sixty-fourth of an inch in length between pinholes shall be accepted.

46. Chamber.

The bridge shall have a chamber of 2 inches in center, and the framing of the 

timber must be done by an experienced bridge carpenter.

47. Paint.

All iron and steel is to have one good coat of metallic paint before leaving the 

factory, and the whole structure, except flooring and joists, is to have two good coats 

of paint coznposed of linseed oil and white lead.

The bridge must be built and completed according to plans and specifications, and 

to the entire satisfaction of the engineer.
Schedule of work for Truckee project, with amounts of 

DIVISION 1.

Character of work.

Canal excavation and structure:

Gates and guides, complete, in place, cast iron .......................

Amount.

2,000 cubic yards .....

200 linear feet ........

24.... ................

104....................

100,000 feet B.M......

5,000 feet B. M ........

600,000 cubic yards . . .

60,000 cubic yards ....

60,000 cubic yards ....

84,000 pounds......... 

21.....................

63.....................

9,000 pounds ..........

Cub

.....d

.....d

M. f

.....d

.....d

.....d

.....d

Pou

.....d

M. f
DIVISION 2.

Character of work.

Steel channels for pedestal support, in place ..............................

Tunnels, 400 feet, 900 feet, and 1,400 feet, approximately:

Third method..........................................................

Amount.

600, 000 cubic yards. . .

40, 000 cubic yards. . . .

40, 000 pounds ........

10.....................

so......:..............

5, 000 pounds .........

1,500 linear feet ......

600 linear feet ........

...

...

...

...

P

M 

...

...

DIVISION 3.

800,000 cubic yards. . . .

20,000 cu bic vard s. .... ...

...

a Based on 3,000 cubic yards of concrete, which is the correct amount. 

Stone Company's total in order to make the bids comparable.

Therefore, subtract 27,0
200 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. [NO. 93:

CONTRACT. a

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this third day of September, one thousand nine hundred and three, by and between the United States of America, acting 

in this behalf by E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior, party of the first part, 

and C. A. Warren and Company, a corporation duly organized and existing in the 

State of California, party of the second part, its successors and assigns;

WITNESSETH : That the said parties have covenanted and agreed, and by these presents do covenant and agree, to and with each other as follows:

ARTICLE 1. That the said C. A. Warren and Company shall construct and complete divisions 1 and 2 of the main canal and structures of the Truckee project in 

Nevada, division 1 being approximately 6 miles from the headworks of said canal, 

and division 2 being a section of 7 miles, approximately, in continuation of division 

1, in accordance with the terms of the attached advertisement, proposal, and specifications, the same being made a part of this contract.

ARTICLE 2. The work herein provided for shall be commenced within thirty days 

from the date of the signing of this contract, and shall be completed, in full compliance with all the conditions and stipulations hereof, to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior, within fourteen (14) months from said date.

ARTICLE 3. The contractor agrees to comply with the provisions of the acts of Congress approved August 1, 1892 (Stat. L., vol. 27, p. 340), and June 17, 1902 (Stat. L., 

vol. 32, p. 388), concerning the limitation of a day's labor to eight hours; and of the 

acts of February 26, 1885, and February 23, 1887 (Stat. L., vol. 23, p. 332,' and p. 

414) concerning the importation of foreigners or aliens under contract or agreement 

to perform labor in the United States.

ARTICLE 4. The contractors agree to save, keep, bear harmless, and fully indemnify 

the United States and any of its officers or agents from all damages or claims for 

damages, costs, or expenses in law or equity that may at any time arise or be set up 

for any infringement of the patent rights of any person or persons in consequence of 

use by the Department of the Interior, or by any of its officers or agents, of articles 

supplied under this proposal, and of which the contractor is not the patentee or 

assignee or lawfully entitled to sell the same.

ARTICLE 5. Should any question arise, at any time during-the progress of the work, 

as to whether or not the contractor is properly carrying out the provisions of this 

contract in their true intent and meaning, or should the contractor fail to prosecute 

the work in such manner as to insure its completion within the time limit, notice 

thereof shall be served upon him, and upon his neglect or refusal to provide means 

for a more energetic and satisfactory prosecution of the work the Secretary of the 

Interior shall have the power to suspend the operation of the contract and employ 

other parties to complete the work at the contractor's expense, and any excess of 

cost arising therefrom over and above the contract price will be charged against the 

contractor and his sureties, who will be held liable therefor. If, by circumstances 

beyond the control of the contractor, and through no fault of his, he be prevented 

from completing the work within the specified time, such additional time may be 

allowed in writing, upon application therefor, as in the judgment of the Secretary of 

the Interior may be deemed just and reasonable.

ARTICLE 6. It is agreed that paragraph 27 of the specifications entitled "Unpaid 

claims," shall not apply to this contract, but in lieu thereof the contractor agrees to 

make promptly all payments to parties furnishing him with labor and material in 

the prosecution of the work, and that in pursuance of the act of Congress approved 

August 13, 1894 (Stat. L., vol. 28, p. 278), the bond executed in connection herewith 

shall contain a condition to that effect.

ARTICLE 7. If at any time during the continuance of the contract, the sureties or 

either of them shall die or become irresponsible, the Secretary of the Interior shall

a A general form of contract is given on pp. 110-112.
NEWELL.] CONTRACT FOR TRUCKEE PROJECT. 201

have the right to acquire additional and sufficient sureties, which the contractor 

shall furnish to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior within ten days 

after notice, and in default thereof the contract may be annulled.

ARTICLE 8. That for and in consideration of the faithful performance of the stipulations of this contract, the party of the second part shall be paid by the disbursing 

officer of the reclamation service, on the presentation of proper receipts or vouchers 

in duplicate duly approved by the chief engineer upon the terms and conditions of 

this contract.

ARTICLE 9. That in case of the failure of the said party of the second part to comply with the stipulations of this contract according to the true intent and meaning 

thereof, then the party of the first part shall have the power to suspend said contract and complete the work at the contractor's expense, and any excess of cost 

arising therefrom over and above the contract price will be charged against the 

contractor and his sureties, who will be held liable therefor. The Secretary of the 

Interior alone shall determine what constitutes a failure or default hereunder, and 

such decision as he may reach in the matter will be final and conclusive.

ARTICLE 10. It is understood and agreed that the quantities of material and _the 

classifications thereof in the specifications are approximate, and that payment shall 

be made for the actual quantities and classifications, whether more or less than 

those scheduled in the specifications. Any changes made in the details of the work 

ghall be paid for at the unit prices of the proposal.

ARTICLE 11. The contractor agrees to furnish to the engineer such information as 

shall afford an accurate account of the number of men employed, their pay, and the 

time during which they worked on the various classes of construction.

ARTICLE 12. It is further understood and agreed that the corrections of typographical errors in paragraphs 8, 19, 28, and 36 of the specifications, as marked in the margins thereof, are accepted by both parties hereto.

ARTICLE 13. That it is expressly understood by the party of the second part that, 

in conformity to the requirements of section 3737 of the Eevised Statutes, neither 

this contract nor any interest therein shall be transferred to any other party or 

parties, and that any such transfer shall cause the annulment of the contract so far 

as the United States are concerned; all rights of action, however, for any breach of 

this contract by the contracting parties being reserved to the United States.

ARTICLE 14. That it is further expressly agreed and understood that no member of 

or delegate to Congress, officer, agent, or employee of the Government is or shall be 

admitted to any share or part in this contract, or to any benefits which may arise 

therefrom, and the provisions of sections 3739, 3740, and 3741 of the Revised Statutes 

of the United States, relating to contracts, enter into and form a part of this agreement so far as the same may be applicable.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto subscribed their names and 

affixed their seals the day and date first above written.

E. A. HITCHCOCK, [SEAL.] 

Secretary of the Interior for and on behalf of the 

United States of America, Party of the First Part.

C. H. WARREN AND COMPANY, 

By A. E. BUCKMAN, Vice-President, 

A. J. KAISCH, Secretary, [SEAL.]

Party of the Second Part.

Two witnesses to each signature:

P. 0. address, ..............

PAUL M. NEPPERT,

P. 0. address, San Francisco.

A. HAMMOND,

P. 0. address, San Francisco, Cal.
202 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEEWCE. [NO. 93. 

CEMENT FOR TRUCKEE CANAL.

In the foregoing contract the Secretary of the Interior agrees to 

furnish the necessary cement. To procure this, advertisements were 

duly inserted in the usual papers calling for bids to be opened on September 25,1903. The advertisement and specifications are as follows:

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS.

Sealed proposals, in duplicate, will be received at the office of the United States 

Geological Survey at Reno, Nev., until 2 o'clock p. m., September 25, 1903, and 

there publicly opened, for furnishing about 30,000 barrels of Portland cement for use 

in the construction of the Lower Truckee canal, and to be delivered f. o. b. at stations between Clarks, Nev., and Massey, Nev. Specifications and full information 

can be obtained from L. H. Taylor, resident engineer, Reno, Nev.

Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, made payable to the Secretary 

of the Interior, for 3 per cent of the amount of the bid, as a guaranty that the bidder 

will enter into a written contract with the Secretary of the Interior within ten days 

after the award is made, and furnish bond in the sum of 50 per cent of the contract 

price for the faithful performance of the contract.

The Secretary of the Interior reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Bidders are invited to be present at the opening of bids. Proposals should be 

addressed to L. H. Taylor, resident engineer, United States Geological Survey, 

Reno, Nev., and indorsed on envelope, '' Proposals for furnishing cement.''

CEMENT SPECIFICATIONS.

[Prepared by E. Duryee.]

1. Kind of cement required. The cement shall be a Portland cement. By the term 

Portland cement is to be understood the material obtained by finely pulverizing 

clinker produced by burning to semifusion an intimate artificial mixture of finely 

ground calcareous and argillaceous materials, this mixture consisting approximately 

of three parts of lime carbonate to one part of silica, alumina, and iron.

2. Bidders and brands. Tenders shall be received only from manufacturers or their 

authorized agents, and the name of the brand offered shall in all cases be stated in 

the bid.

3. Weight. The average weight per barrel shall not be less than 375 pounds net. 

Four sacks shall contain 1 barrel of cement. If the weight, as determined by test 

weighings, is found to be below 375 pounds per barrel, the contractor may be 

required to supply, free of cost to the United States, an additional amount of cement 

equal to the shortage.

4. Packages. If the cement is delivered in barrels, the barrels shall be strong and 

lined with paper, and the cement shall be free from lumps. Any package broken or 

containing damaged cement may be rejected by the United States agent in local 

charge.

5. Samples for testing. Samples of cement are to be taken from the interior of the 

barrels or sacks with a suitable instrument. Samples are to be taken from every 

tenth barrel; they are to be numbered, and the packages from which they are taken 

are to be sealed and the numbers attached for future identification. The quantities 

taken are to be kept separate and tested separately.

6. Aeration and testing. No cement shall be shipped until at least sixty days after 

its manufacture, and a longer period may be required by the Government engineer. 

The engineer shall give notice in writing to the contractor of the approximate amounts 

required for cement shipments and of dates for sampling. The contractor shall keep
NEWELL.] CEMENT SPECIFICATIONS. 203

in storage, in sacks or barrels, free of expense to the United States, for sampling and 

testing during a period of twenty-eight days, such stocks of cement as the engineer 

shall require.

7. Factory inspection. The cement expert of the Government, or his authorized 

agent, shall at all times have liberty to inspect the materials, process of manufacture, 

and daily laboratory records of analyses and tests at the cement works. Whenever 

possible, unsatisfactory cement shall be rejected before shipment from the cement 

works.

8. Chemical composition. The cement must be a Portland cement of regular and 

normal composition. It must contain at least 1.7 times as much lime as silica, alumina, 

and iron oxide together. The, presence of over 3 per cent of magnesia, or 2 per cent 

of sulphuric anhydride, shall be considered sufficient ground for the rejection of the 

cement. Adulteration of the cement by the addition of any material to the cement 

after burning, with the exception of not over 2J per cent of gypsum or plaster, will 

cause its rejection. The question of such adulteration may be determined either by 

chemical analyses or by inspection of the process at the factory.

9. Fineness. Ninety-five per cent, by weight, must pass through a No. 100 sieve 

having 10,000 meshes per square inch, the wire to be No. 40 Stubb's wire gauge, and 

75 per cent by weight must pass through a No. 200 sieve having 40,000 meshes .per 

square inch, the wire to be No. 48 Stubb's wire gauge.

Specific gravity. The specific gravity of the cement shall not be less than 3.

10. Soundness. Pats are to be made of neat mortar of normal consistency, as determined by the Vicat needle. The pats are to be molded on glass plates. They are 

to be circular in shape, 3 inches in diameter, one-half inch thick in the center, and 

drawn to a thin edge at their circumferences. The pats are to be kept under a wet 

cloth until finally set. One pat is then to be put in water, which will be raised to the 

boiling point for six hours. If the pat softens, cracks, or disintegrates, the cement 

is unsound.

11. Time of setting. The cement shall not acquire its initial set in less than fortyfive minutes, and must acquire its final set within twelve hours. The pats made to 

test the soundness may be used to determine the time of setting. The cement is 

considered to have acquired its initial set when the pat will bear, without being appreciably indented, a wire one-twelfth inch in diameter loaded to weigh one-fourth 

pound, or when the 1-pound Gilmore needle fails to penetrate completely through 

the pat. The final set has been acquired when the pat will bear, without being 

appreciably indented, the 1-pound Gilmore needle.

Making briquettes. In making briquettes, neat cement mortar of normal consistency, 

as determined by the Vicat needle, will be used. The mortar will be thoroughly 

mixed with a trowel and kneaded into molds with the thumbs, a blunt stick, or a 

plunger. Six briquettes will be made from each sample. In making sand briquettes 

the proportions shall be one part by weight of cement to three parts of standard 

crushed quartz sand and about half as much water as is used for neat briquettes. 

Six briquettes will be made from each sample.

12. Tensile strength. The neat briquettes, prepared as specified above, shall stand

a minimum tensile strain per square inch without breaking as follows:

Pounds.

For one day in air and six days in water..................................... 450

For one day in air and twenty-seven days in water ........................... 550

The sand mortar briquettes, prepared as specified above, shall stand a minimum

strain per square inch, without breaking, as follows:

Pounds.

After one day in air and six days in water ................................... 175

After one day in air and twenty-seven days in water.......................... 225

The above are to be considered the minimum requirements. The tests of the neat 

cement briquettes are to be considered of less value than the tests of those made of
204 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

sand and cement. The twenty-eight-day tests must always be higher than the sevenday tests.

A cement that 'fails to meet any one of the above requirements may be rejected.

13. Bags. If the cement is delivered in bags, the empty bags shall be returned to 

the contractor's agent at some railroad point convenient to the works of the Truokee 

project, and the sum of 10 cents shall be paid to the contractor for each bag not 

returned in serviceable condition, it being understood that all bags not torn nor with 

holes in them shall be considered serviceable.

INVESTIGATIONS IN PECOS VALLEY.

By W. M. REED.

It has been publicly stated that irrigation in New Mexico is on the 

decline. This may be true for the Rio Grande Valley, but there is a 

section in the southeastern part of New Mexico, well known over the 

continent as the Pecos Valley, where the opposite condition exists. It 

is of this region that I wish to speak a few words.

This section has passed through the various stages of development 

common to many Western districts. First known as a portion of the 

great American desert, then as the home of the buffalo, next as the 

disputed territory and battleground of the Comanche and Apache, and 

later as the El Dorado of the cattleman, it is now the home of the 

advanced and prosperous American citizen. The Forty-niner, in his 

mad rush for gold, passed through one section of this valley, over the 

Butterfield trail, without even dreaming that here was to arise an 

empire rivaling in wealth the gold fields of the Farther West.

It was left for citizens of Utah first to discover the possibilities of 

its wealth and to begin its development by the construction of small 

canals and the production of crops by means of irrigation. The very 

beginning was marked by success, for although many minor failures 

were made, as is the case in almost every new country, the high prices 

paid for agricultural products by the cattlemen made it possible for 

the farmer to continue his experiments until he thoroughly understood 

the conditions and was able to obtain most wonderful yields and to 

reap large financial returns.

In a comparatively few years the normal summer flow of the rivers 

had been appropriated, and further progress, except by more intense cultivation, was practically at an end. About this time a leader came out 

of the wilderness, a keen, alert cattleman, who saw the possibilities of 

storage of the flood waters. A great irrigation system was planned, 

and most of the original projects have been finished. There are now, 

as a part of this system, .two large reservoirs foi impounding storm 

waters. One has a maximum height of 48 feet and a length of 1,380 

feet, submerges an area of 1,980 acres, and has a storage capacity of 

6,300 acre-feet. The othei has a maximum height of 52 feet and a 

length of 1,686 feet, submerges an areL of 8,331 acres, and has a storage 

capacity of 83,000 acre-feet.
NEWELI,] THE PECO8 VALLEY. 205

These dams are of the rock-fill earth-apron type, and, barring an 

accident in 1893, due to lack of spillway facilities, have proved to be 

perfectly safe and satisfactory.

There are 60 miles, of main canals and hundreds of miles of laterals 

supplied from these reservoirs. One of these canals crosses Pecos 

River. This crossing was made by means of a timber flume, but during the last year this was replaced by a modern arched concrete flume, 

strengthened and bonded by steel rails. Thousands of acres are now 

under cultivation. Fruit is shipped out not only by carloads, but by 

trainloads, and always commands the top market prices. Land that 

was once considered worthless is now producing abundantly, and areas 

that were mesquite and catclaw jungles are now veritable gardens.

Several hard problems have been met. Alkali and silt has given the 

usual scare, moss has choked the canals and laterals, and, worst of all, 

discouragement has sometimes attacked the farmers. All of these 

troubles have been met squarely and mostly overcome, and the future 

of this part of the Pecos Valley, Eddy County, dependent almost 

wholly upon the principle "Store the floods,'' looks bright and 

hopeful.

Farther up the valley, in Chaves County, with Roswell as a center, 

artificial storage has not yet been undertaken. Here three-rivers 

formed by large springs have furnished most of the water used in 

irrigation, and no water from the Pecos River proper is used in this 

section. As these springs, which altogether have a flow of nearly 200 

second-feet, discharge in a comparatively level country, the work of 

diverting and applying the water has been easy, and here some of 

the older and most improved places can be found. As yet there are 

no artificial reservoirs in this vicinity, but nature has provided one. 

More than one hundred wells, ranging in diameter from 2 to 8 inches, 

and varying in depth from 135 to 1,000 feet, have been bored down to 

this reservoir. The flow from thes,e wells ranges from a few gallons 

to 1,500 gallons per minute, and no decrease has yet been perceptible. 

From these wells alone large tracts of land have been brought under 

cultivation, and the area is being increased.

The Pecos Valley is now passing through the driest season known 

there, yet, with the science and skill now acquired, it is standing the 

ordeal well, and is prosperous. Like other sections in the arid West, 

it is looking and hoping for Government aid in the construction of 

reservoirs for storing flood waters.

Since the passage of the reclamation act the engineers of the service 

have been doing considerable preliminary work in this section of New 

Mexico. Pecos River and its tributaries, from the point where the 

main stream enters Texas on the south to old Fort Surnner on the 

north, have been examined with considerable care and several projects 

have been surveyed in detail. Some of these have been temporarily 

passed by, not being considered feasible at the present time, but two,
206 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

known as the Hondo andUrton Lake projects, seem feasible, both from 

an engineering and financial standpoint.

Hondo River rises in the White Mountains and joins the Pecos at 

a point east of Roswell. The low-water flow has been appropriated 

and flood-water storage alone can increase the area under cultivation. 

About 12 miles west of Roswell is a reservoir site that presents very 

few engineering difficulties. There are no high or difficult dams to 

build, only light earthwork dams protected with riprap and inlet and 

outlet canals. The land under this project is very fertile, has all 

been filed upon, and is now in the hands of people who desire to cultivate it. It is estimated that by this project from 12,000 to 16,000 

acres will be reclaimed, every acre of which will be farmed as soon as 

water is provided. The overflow population from the rich section 

about Roswell furnishes men who are ready to go to work at once, 

and the land will be as good as the adjacent land which now commands 

from $100 to $300 an acre. It is estimated that the initial cost for 

irrigating the land under this project will be about $20 an acre.

The area under the Urton Lake project is all Government land 

except a few claims bordering the river. This land is underlain by a 

very porous red sandstone, which will probably afford good subdrainage 

and prevent trouble from alkali. The reservoir site is a natural depression, well adapted to water storage, and will hold 190,000 acre-feet 

without any expense except for the outlet works, which will be of red 

sandstone.

The works contemplated in this project are: A dam and headworks 

on Pecos River, about 10 miles above Fort Sumner; about 36 miles of 

canal, to carry 1,500 second-feet in times of flood; three structures at 

crossings of creeks; the necessary outlet works, including a tunnel 

7,000 feet long, and about 30 miles of distributing canals on the lands 

to be irrigated. A rough estimate of cost of this project is $1,020,050, 

or $17 per acre. There is little doubt that this land would all be 

settled on rapidly, as it is within 20 miles of the Pecos Valley and 

Northeastern Railroad, which line would undoubtedly build a branch 

to this section.

There are, however, some uncertainties in connection with the 

project which will have to be considered, one being the possibility that 

the reservoir will not be filled for some years. The data relating to 

stream measurements are not complete, and it will be necessary to 

continue the records of the run-off of Pecos River during the time the 

surveys of the canal and of the irrigable lands are being made and 

during the construction until the works are finished. It appears from 

the best information obtainable that the reservoir could be filled every 

ordinary }7 ear, but occasionally a dry year, such as 1903, creates a 

doubt as to the possibility of always filling the reservoir. It is probable that the seepage from the irrigated lands considered under these
NEWELL.] EXAMINATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA. 207

projects would eventually more than make up for any apparent loss 

below them occasioned by the proposed disposal of the water from the 

Pecos River, and that no difficulties would arise with the Pecos Irrigation Compan}^ which holds some water rights 150 miles farther south. 

Investigations are nowT being carried forward on both of the lastnamed projects and a later report will give more definite and detailed 

information.

EXAMINATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA.

By CHARLES H. FITCH.

An effort was made early in the present field season to locate a 

possible project for the reclamation of land in the State of North 

Dakota. To Mr. F. E. Weymouth, assistant engineer, assisted by Mr. 

John N. Kerr, assistant engineer, was assigned the duty of making a 

reconnaissance of the entire western half of the State. In the course 

of his investigations Mr. Weymouth visited every important stream 

in this region, making measurements of many of them, following watercourse after watercourse, and finally determined, with one exception, 

that there was no possible reclamation project which appeared to be in 

any way feasible.

This single exception is a small body of land close to the western 

boundary of North Dakota, near the mouth of Yellowstone River. 

There is very little irrigation from the Yellowstone along its course in 

Montana. It rises in the Yellowstone National Park5 in Wyoming, its 

source being in Yellowstone Lake, from which it flows in a general 

northerly direction. Entering Montana it flows eastward nearly to 

the eastern edge of the State, when it turns abruptly, flowing a little 

east of north. At the turn of the river the Northern Pacific Railroad 

leaves it, and it empties into the Missouri just beyond the line of 

North Dakota, near the Great Northern Railroad. The distance 

between the railroads by river is about 90 miles.

It was decided to investigate the possibility of diverting the Yellowstone, and Mr. Weymouth organized a field party for this purpose. 

As this project would, if feasible, irrigate lands in Montana as well, 

it was desirable to cover as much land as possible without regard to 

State boundaries, particularly as the water supply is undoubtedly 

abundant for all lands that might come under it. The first line for 

diversion was started on the left bank of the river about 40 miles above 

Glendive, Mont. After running to Glendive it was found that this 

line failed to reach the bench land near Glendive, and that the line 

would be not only very expensive but that it could not reach any considerable body of land, the river here being very narrow and hemmed 

in by rough and broken hills.

Another attempt was then made about H miles above Glendive,
208 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

also starting on the left bank. This line will undoubtedly cover the 

lower valley of the Yellowstone, which,- about 45 miles below the 

diverting point, widens considerably, embracing from the bench land 

to the river a strip varying from 1 mile to about 5 miles in width. 

This means that about 45 miles of canal must be constructed before 

covering any land, and that the amount which can be irrigated is still 

unknown. The North Dakota land under this project will all probably be bottom land or valley land next to the river, and, estimating 

from the State map, will amount to about 20,000 acres.

IRRIGATION IN NORTH DAKOTA BY PUMPING.

By F. A. WILDER.

The purpose of this paper is to state briefly some of the conclusions 

reached as a result of work carried on during two summers in the 

western part of North Dakota, undertaken jointly for the State geological survey and the United States Geological Survey.

Work was begun during the summer of 1902, with the assistance of 

Mr. L. H. Wood, of the University of Chicago, and during the last 

summer was continued by two parties that operated along the Missouri 

and its tributaries in North Dakota.

The average rainfall in the western half of the State is about 18 

inches, and is very often so distributed through the growing months 

as to yield, in connection with the naturally fertile soil, magnificent 

harvests. Farming conditions, however, are rendered somewhat uncertain by a fluctuation in rainfall.

The Great Plains of North America, and at least portions of the 

Mississippi Valley, seem to pass through cycles, or periods of years, of 

abundant rainfall, which alternate with periods when rainfall is more 

restricted. At present, and for three years past, taking the area as a 

whole, there has been an abundance of moisture, and for some States 

an oversupply. The sloughs of Iowa, which many predicted would 

never be filled again, are overflowing, and floods have occurred during spring, summer, and fall. During this period of excess, western 

Nftrth Dakota has enjoyed rainfall sufficient to bring to harvest abundant crops. When the sloughs of Iowa diy out again, as they surely 

will, those who farm in western North Dakota must irrigate or be 

content with limited returns.

With even a small fraction of the western part of the State under 

irrigation, the productiveness of the whole region will be immensely 

increased. Every river valley contains some land that may be artificially watered. With a few acres under perfect control, and abundant 

range for cattle in the rolling or broken land back of the valley, 10 

men, combining farming with the raising of cattle, will prosper where 

one finds a living now.
NHWELL.] IRRIGATION IN NORTH DAKOTA. 209

During the last two summers over 200.,000 acres along the Missouri 

and its tributaries, the Little Missouri, Heart, Knife, Cannon Ball, 

Yellowstone, and smaller streams flowing in from the north and-east 

and standing 20, 40, 60, and 80 feet above water level, have been 

studied. Five or six large tracts, where from 5,000 to 15,000 acres 

can be controlled by a single enterprise, have been reported upon as 

possible for development. Most of the land, however, is in tracts of 

from 100 to 2,000 acres, and its development will depend upon private 

enterprise.

Perhaps 7,000 acres in the western part of the State are irrigated to 

some extent at present, operations being most active in Williams 

County. Coulees and creeks which empty into the larger rivers have 

been dammed, and their water has been diverted to the creek benches 

and river flats. Operations are generally confined to spring flooding. 

Heavy crops of oats and hay are taken from land saturated with water 

by flooding in the spring, and there is no record of failure where this 

plan has been followed, though in some localities operations extend 

back to dry years when the nonflooded land about was barren. 

Gumbo flats treated to water in this way have changed their vegetation from cactus and sage brush to a rich growth of blue-joint grass, 

which makes the best of native hay and compares well with timothy 

in value as fodder.

Irrigation by means of reservoirs in smaller tributaries which render 

it possible to water the flats of the larger streams, can be carried much 

further than it is at present, and is to be recommended wherever 

practicable. The difficulty which the plan presents is found in putting 

in dams of sufficient strength without too great an outlay of money. 

On account of the low gradient of the larger streams, the common 

practice of diverting water for irrigation by lateral ditches will prove 

practical only in rare instances in North Dakota. The presence of 

vast quantities of lignite, however, along all of the streams in the 

western part of the State, renders worthy of consideration the plan of 

pumping water from the streams up to the flats. The lift of course, 

must be moderate, but many of the flats do not lie high above water 

level in the streams. *>

Lignite is very abundant along the Missouri as far south as-Bismarck, and below this city is found at a number of points, though the 

beds are generally thin. Outcrops occur every few miles along the 

river above Bismarck, and prospecting will doubtless reveal beds not 

now exposed. On the Missouri over sixty exposures more than 4 feet 

thick were measured during the past summer, many of the beds 

reaching a thickness of 12 or 15 feet, and showing for long distances.

On the Little Missouri and its tributaries, coal is nearly continuous 

in outcrop and reaches a maximum thickness of 40 feet on Sand Creek, 

IRR 93 04 14
210 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

a tributary southwest of Yule post-office. Similar conditions hold for 

the Heart, Knife, Upper Cannon Ball, and Cedar rivers. Lignite is 

scarce on the lower Cannon Ball and thick beds are nearly absent for 

100 miles from its mouth.

In but two instances is water now pumped for irrigation in North 

Dakota, lignite furnishing the motive power. These plants are on too 

small a scale to demonstrate the highest possible value of the method, 

though their proprietors are well satisfied with the profits obtained. 

On Green River, north of Dickinson, Fischer Brothers irrigate about 

80 acres annually, the crops raised being oats, millet, potatoes, and 

garden products. A farm-engine drives a rotary pump which raises 

1,500 gallons a minute 15 feet, an elevation sufficient to distribute 

water over large areas on Green River and similar streams in the State. 

The cost of the pump was $250, delivered. Mr. Fischer estimated that 

his equipment irrigates 200 acres even in a dry year. Two dollars' 

worth of coal was burned each day, lignite costing 50 cents a ton at a 

neighboring bank. Mr. A. F. Riley, on Little Heart River, near 

Gladstone, in the summer of 1902 was preparing to irrigate 60 acres in 

the same way, using lignite from his own bank.

On the smaller streams that do not flow constantly temporary dams 

can be thrown across the stream bed, and these will retain water for 

irrigating the adjacent flats. The pump and engine can be moved 

from place to place, and the cost of ditching be thus greatly reduced.

Estimates are now being made as'to the cost of lifting water sufficient 

even in dry years to irrigate these river flats with elevations taken at 

20, 40, 60, and 80 feet, and lignite costing from 50 cents to $2 a ton. 

The results are not, however, ready for publication.

Away from the streams it may be practicable to use lignite for 

pumping from wells, for water is abundant at moderate depths throughout the lignite area. Where the area to be irrigated is small, not 

exceeding 100 acres, and cheap assistants to care for an engine are not 

available, it may be practicable to pump with gasoline, which may be a 

cheaper fuel than lignite. Two landowners in Williams County are 

now irrigating in this manner, and are fully satisfied with the results.

CONDITIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

By CHAELES H. FITCH.

Work by the reclamation service in western South Dakota was commenced in May last by Mr. R. F. Walter, engineer, who was instructed 

to make a general reconnaissance, particularly in the Black Hills and 

the country adjacent, and to establish gaging stations on all of the 

important streams.

The Black Hills, noted especially as a mining region, are situated at 

the western edge of the State, and are encircled by two streams that 

head near together in Wyoming and flow in opposite directions, one
NEWELL.] SOUTH DAKOTA PROJECTS. 211

north and the other south. The first is the north fork of Cheyenne 

River, or Belle Fourche River; the second is the south fork of the 

Cheyenne. These streams, after completely circling the hills, join 

nearly east of Deadwood, 60 or 70 miles away, forming Cheyenne 

River, a tributary of the Missouri. All of the streams flowing out of 

the Hills are tributaries of one of the forks of the Cheyenne.

On the south fork of the Cheyenne it is possible that a storage 

reservoir may be constructed, but the project involves a high dam 

across the river, and it is doubtful if enough land could be reclaimed 

to warrant the expense; yet the scheme deserves further investigation. North of the point considered there are sites for a number of 

lesser projects which may be developed from smaller streams. One 

of these involves the storage of water on Box Elder Creek, including 

the water of that stream and Rapid Creek as well, though it is not 

positively known that Rapid Creek can be diverted as suggested. 

The Belle Fourche is a flood-flow stream that is, it carries ordinarily 

about 100 second-feet, which in extreme low water drops to 50 secondfeet, but it always has considerable flow after the melting of snow 

in the spring, and several floods usually occur during the summer 

months, when the flow sometimes amounts to 5,000 second-feet for 

several days at a time. During the present season there have been an 

unusual number of floods. Just at the town of Belle Fourche, Red 

Water Creek empties into the Belle Fourche. It is also a flood-water 

stream, but receives from Spearfish Creek a regular-flow of considerable amount. Some of this stream is diverted and used for irrigation, 

but about 100 second-feet flows continually into the Belle Fourche.

As a large body of fine land lies on the north side of the Belle 

Fourche, and there are several sites for storage at a distance from the 

river, a feasible project seemed here to present itself.

The details of the survey now in progress and the problems that 

have arisen will be stated by Mr. Walter, the engineer in charge.

SOUTH DAKOTA INVESTIGATIONS.

By RAYMOND F. WALTER.

Work was begun in South Dakota in May, 1903, by a preliminary 

examination of the situation. Various streams were examined, reservoirs thougkt suitable for survey were reported upon, and gage rods 

were set, and rating stations established on each stream, so that the 

available flow and length of- the flood period, as well as the monthly 

run-off, could be determined. The principal streams studied were as 

follows:

Cheyenne River, from the Wyoming line to a point 30 miles below 

the mouth of Cascade Creek, with a gaging station at Edgemont, 

S. Dak. A large reservoir site was found below the mouth of Cas-
212 FIEST KECLAMATION SEKVICE CONFEKETSTCE. [NO. 93.

cade Creek, from which a ditch 35 miles long would water about 

35,000 acres of private land known as the W. G. flats.

Beaver Creek at Buffalo Gap. The summer flow of Beaver Creek 

is all used for irrigation, and the unused flow is not considered large 

enough for extensive reclamation, although if stored it would probably help out largely for lands now farmed which are short of water.

French Creek. This stream has little or no available flow developed 

so far, and the lands under it are poor and rough.

Battle Creek. There is a gaging station established at Hermosa, on 

Battle Creek. Along this creek there are some fair reservoir sites, 

with some good land.

Spring Creek. About 9 miles south of Rapid City there is a site 

for a reservoir on Spring Creek, with some good lands under it, but 

the supply is doubtful unless, upon further investigation, it is found 

feasible to prevent loss from the bed of the creek as it flows through 

the foothills. It is estimated that this loss amounts to from 50 to 100 

per cent in about 4 miles.

Box Elder and Elk creeks. These streams furnish reservoir sites 

north of Rapid City, where water, together with the available flow 

from Rapid Creek, might be stored to irrigate 30,000 to 50,000 acres 

of first-class land situated on the divides between Elk Creek and Rapid 

Creek. This is known as the Box Elder project, as the reservoir 

selected is situated on Box Elder Creek. This project will be investigated and the available water supply determined.

The Belle Fourche project, on which surveys are now in progress, 

is situated at the northern extremity of the Black Hills, the water 

supply being from Belle Fourche River and its main tributary, Red 

Water Creek. The project is located in Butte County, and its headworks are at the town of Belle Fourche, below the mouth of Red 

Water Creek. The flow of Belle Fourche River ranges from 50 cubic 

feet per second during low-water stage to 5,000 cubic feet per second 

during flood season. The drainage area is large, as it circles the western and northern part of the Black Hills, heading in Wyoming, and 

as th.e flow is precipitous and the soil rather impervious, the run-off 

is large and floods occur at any time during the summer months, 

caused by rain storms in the hills. The Red Water has a steady supply, fluctuating but little during the year. In this drainage area there 

is but one important ditch, which is diverted from Red JVater Creek 

and irrigates 6,000 or 8,000 acres lying on the east side of the Red 

Water and the south side of the Belle Fourche. There are, however, 

a number of small private ditches from Spearfish Creek, a branch of 

Red Water Creek, but as the lands they irrigate all lie directly adjacent to the streams, much of the water is available as return seepage 

on lower Spearfish and Red Water above the head of the proposed 

canal.
HEWBLLO THE BELLE FOtJBCHE "PROJECT. 213

The first reservoir contemplated under this project is on Dry Creek 

and is to be formed by an embankment about 3,600 feet long, to be of 

earth riprapped with brick, if it is found by further investigation and 

tests that bricks can be burned of sufficient hardness from the material 

at hand at a sufficiently low cost. All permanent works on canal and 

reservoirs are to be of concrete, as unlimited quantities of shattered 

rock for this purpose are obtainable by a short haul. The inlet to this 

reservoir will be 8 miles long, and is surveyed, located, and staked, 

as well as the outlet canal and the extension of the main line, for 70 

miles, covering about 130,000 acres, nearly 80 per cent of which is 

vacant public land. The percentage of irrigable lands can not be 

determined until topographic surveys have been completed and the 

lands classified.

The outlet from the Dry Creek reservoir is located and staked for 

about 30 miles, covering all but about 15,000 acres of the abovementioned lands, and when estimates are made it may be found to be 

cheaper to construct on this line for the main canal than on the upper 

line, which is much rougher and longer, and the cost of irrigation of 

lands between them may be found to be comparatively too great.

One other site has been selected and is being surveyed. This, 

known as the Wilson reservoir, is located 18 or 20 miles east of the 

Dry Creek reservoir, and is intended to furnish a water supply for the 

lower lands. The upper reservoir will cover about 1,500 acres at 

high-water contour, with greatest depth of 45 feet. It will be possible to convey water across the river from this reservoir, where about 

15,000 acres of first-class land on the south side of the Belle Fourche 

can be irrigated.

The general elevation of the lands to be irrigated is about 3,000 feet 

above sea level. The soil ranges from a heavy clay to a rich black 

loam, but tends to become sticky " gumbo" when wet, and will be best 

adapted to hay, grain, and some fruits, although sugar beets, it is 

believed, can be grown profitably. The water in the river carries considerable silt during floods, which, if deposited in the reservoirs, would 

require further investigation as to the method of clearing them.

INVESTIGATIONS IN OREGON. 

By JOHN T. WHISTLER.

There is a general impression, particularly in the East, that Oregon 

is a land where the sun rarely shines and where the people are "webfooted." For the purpose of correcting this wrong impression it is 

necessary to call attention to a few facts concerning Oregon before 

speaking of its future irrigation possibilities and of what the reclamation service is doing in the State.

The Cascade Mountains divide the State into two parts, which prob-
214 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ably have a greater diversity of interests and climate than can be 

found in any other State in the Union, not excepting California at 

least the line is more clearly drawn. Over two-thirds of the State, an 

area nearly as large as the State of Washington, the average annual 

rainfall is estimated to be less than 12 inches. Over the western 

third of the State the rainfall is certainly five times as great.

It is from the climatic conditions prevailing in this western part of 

the.State that the popular impression of the State has been derived. 

Leaving out of consideration certain valleys in the Blue Mountains, 

we may say that there is as much difference between these two parts 

of Oregon as there is between northern California and Nevada; in 

fact, the central third of the State is a continuation of the Great 

American Desert, where routes of travel are determined by the few 

watering places.

The famous wheat lands of northeastern Oregon have but about 15 

inches of rainfall, and 50 to 60 bushels of wheat to the acre are often 

raised where the land has to lie fallow for one year in order to obtain 

moisture enough for one crop.

To nine Easterners out of ten the idea of building irrigation works 

in Oregon, the home of the " webfooter," is like carrying coals to Newcastle, and yet two-thirds of the State averages less than a foot of 

rainfall in the year.

The condition of eastern Oregon, and more especially central Oregon, 

can in no way be better impressed on one's mind than by the knowledge of the fact that the point in the United States most remote from 

a railroad is in central Oregon. Three-fourths of this part of the 

State, or nearly half the entire State, is still vacant land, subject to 

entry.

Of a population of less than half a million, over 80 per cent is west 

of the Cascades, and a majority of the people in eastern Oregon have 

come, in the last decade, from "the valley" meaning Willamette 

Valley.

About one-quarter of the area of the State is occupied by the Blue 

Mountains and the surrounding valleys. It is in this region and along 

thv3 eastern foot of the Cascades that the possibilities for irrigation lie.

The Deschutes River drains the northern two-thirds of the eastern 

slope of the Cascades, and the Klamath River the southern third. 

The approximate run-off east of the Cascades is, roughly, 12,000,000 

acre-feet, which is about 30 per cent of the estimated precipitation. 

This is sufficient to irrigate possibly 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 acres of 

land, and represents the extreme limit of irrigation in the State, assuming that the entire run-off could be utilized. From the present limited 

investigation it seems improbable that more than 50 per cent of this 

can ever be realized.
NEWELL.] OBEGON PROJECTS. 215

The immense summer range for stock which lies back of all irrigation possibilities, and which will unquestionably be increased by 

proper regulation of the forest reserves and future legislation regulating grazing on public lands, precludes any possibility that the supply of alfalfa will ever equal the demand.

The reclamation service is making surveys and other investigations, 

preparatory to preliminary and comparative estimates at the close of 

the season, on three projects, viz:

(1) The Umatilla project involves diversion and storage of about 

200,000 acre-feet of water from Umatilla River and the reclamation 

of not less than 50,000 acres of land, which raises 40 to 60 bushels of 

wheat to the acre where it lies high enough to receive 15 inches of 

rain during the year. - Looking forward to this project years before 

the reclamation act was suggested, the division of hydrography of the 

United States Geological Survey has had measurements of the discharge of Umatilla River made, covering a period of eight years. 

The discharge varies from 300,000 to 600,000 acre-feet per year. A 

weak point in the project is the lack of natural storage basins.

(2) The Malheur project contemplates the storage of the spring floods 

of Malheur River and the diversion of this water onto about 40,000 or 

50,000 acres of land lying just across the Snake River from the famous 

Weiser and Payette tracts in Idaho. One of the best examples of 

irrigation now to be seen in the State is the famous "K. S. & D." 

ranch, the lands of which are owned largely by Mr. Fred Kiesel, 

of Ogden, chairman of the executive committee of this congress. 

Measurements made of Malheur River by the United States Geological Survey covering parts of five years indicate a discharge of from 

200,000 to 400,000 acre-feet per annum. Good reservoir sites are 

found for this project. Long and costly canal construction is the 

drawback to the enterprise.

(3) The Harney project consists of storing the spring flood water of 

Silvies River and diverting in onto lands in Harney Valley, a beautiful valley comprising over 600 square miles, lying at an altitude of 

over 4,000 feet. The high altitude and the long distance from transportation facilities are, of course, features of the project that must be 

considered. Notwithstanding the usual Fourth of July snowstorm, 

two crops of alfalfa can be matured, and some excellent gardens and 

orchards of hardy fruits are now seen. Measurements for determining the amount of water available are being now carried on, and will 

be continued until construction is either decided upon or definitely 

abandoned.

The reclamation service is practically barred from investigation 

looking to construction in Deschutes River basin, owing to three 

Carey act projects, one of which has been approved by the Department; and the Klamath region has not yet been investigated.
216 FIKST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. I . 93.

The feeling is very strong in eastern Oregon that that portion of 

the reclamation fund derived from the sale of public lands in the 

State should be spent in the State, regardless of beneficial results. It 

is a very common belief that under the law it can not be spent elsewhere. It is remembered that it was in deference to the wishes of 

the late Congressman Tongue, of this State, that the clause which 

provides that the major portion of the funds derived from the sale of 

lands in any State should be spent in that State in ten years was 

inserted in the act.

The laws of the State regarding water rights are very primitive, 

and the earlier court decisions, given in cases arising in the Willamette 

Valley, to the effect, practically, that the less water a man has the 

better off he is, have established precedents which will make it difficult to adjudicate water rights in the arid portion of the State, where 

beneficial use must ultimately determine the right to control. It is in 

the Oregon statutes that one finds that the notice of an appropriation 

of water must state among other things how many "cubic inches of 

water, measured as miner's inches under 6 inches pressure," etc., it is 

desired to appropriate, and this has stood on the statutes since 1891.

The last legislature provided for the appointment of an irrigation 

commission, to consist of two attorneys, two practical irrigators, and 

one civil engineer, familiar with irrigation projects of the State, to 

report a bill to the next legislature, convening in 1905, repealing present laws and enacting new ones, but provision was not made for 

defraying the expenses of the commission.

I:NT UTAH:.

By GEOKGE L. SWENDSEN.

BEAR RIVER.

Though Bear River is one of the largest and most important streams 

in the Great Basin drainage area, nothing has yet been done to effect 

the storage of its flood waters. And each year, from the end of the 

irrigation season in September to the beginning in May, and even after 

the opening of the season, a very large volume, sometimes as great as 

5,000 second-feet, of the water of the Bear goes to make up the amount 

annually evaporated from Great Salt Lake.

The Bear has its source in the Uinta Forest Reserve, about 60 miles 

southeast of Ogden. The height of the range of mountains forming 

the watershed may be made apparent by mentioning the altitudes: Bald 

Mountain, 12,250 feet; Mount Agassiz, 13,000 feet; Mount Wilson, 

13,000 feet, and Burro, 12,800 feet, scattered in an east and west 

line along the summit. The river in its winding course passes first
WORK rff UTAH. 217

through a section of Wyoming, flowing nearly due north, touches the 

borders of Utah for a short distance, and turns northwestward into 

Idaho, reaching the northernmost part of its course in the vicinity of 

Soda Springs, whence it turns southwestward and discharges into 

Great Salt Lake, about 12 miles northwest of Ogden. Among the 

important streams that flow into the Bear in its course are Rock Creek 

and Smiths Fork, in Wyoming; Thomas Pork, Montpelier, Soda, 

Cottonwood, and Mink creeks, in Idaho; Cub and Logan rivers, in 

Utah.

Not far from the southeastern border of Idaho, Bear River enters the 

north end of Bear Lake Valley, a long, narrow valley lying at an 

elevation of about 6,000 feet and covered, in the main, by Bear Lake. 

At its entrance to Bear Lake Valley the river is considerably above 

the level of Be,ar Lake; 15 miles farther down its course it is considerably below the lake level.

Bear Lake is very deep, its area is a little more than 100 square 

miles, and its shores for the most part are precipitous, so that a change 

of level of the water in the lake within reasonable limits will have but 

little effect upon surrounding lands.

The difficulties that may be encountered in the construction of 

channels from the river to the lake are scarcely worthy of mention.

At the present stage of the investigation it is impossible to state 

definitely the volume of unappropriated water available in Bear River 

at its entrance to Bear Lake Valley, but the measurements of the last 

year indicate that it will approximate 200,000 acre-feet a year.

By the combined flow of the small streams the volume of water 

available for storage in the lake would be increased considerably 

beyond this amount, perhaps to 250,000 acre-feet. The possibility of 

more fully utilizing Bear River for irrigation has been long understood by a number of prominent citizens of southern Idaho and northern Utah, but I know of no plan that promises general and complete 

results. With such a plan in view the examinations made are proceeding on a broad basis, no point of probable interest being left out of the 

investigation. The work done indicates that there will be greater 

engineering difficulties encountered in constructing the canal systems 

necessary to properly utilize the river than will be met in the work of 

converting Bear Lake into a reservoir to store the water, and a great 

amount of investigation will be necessary to determine the most feasible plan. The areas that may be benefited by the scheme are varied 

and extensive. The elevation of the river with relation^ to some of 

the large areas of vacant land in southeastern Idaho is such as to 

make it apparently the natural source of supply of the water needed 

to develop these sections, and already, by private enterprise, it is supplying portions of the vast area in the vicinity of Bancroft, Idaho. 

In that district a very large area of arid land can be reclaimed from
218 FIKST KECLAM^TION 8EEVICE CONFEKENCE. [NO. 93.

Bear River. The drainage from this area would go into Portneuf 

Creek, a small stream of the Snake River drainage basin. This drainage can be intercepted and utilized on vacant lands in the western part 

of Bannock County, along the Oregon Short Line Eailroad, and it is 

probable that the canal system, when fully extended, will reach into 

the southwestern part of the county, and return a portion of the water 

to the Bear River drainage.

As Bear Eiver approaches the northern boundary of Utah further 

opportunities are aiforded for its utilization. By preliminary investigations it has been found that the shortage of water in the northern 

part of Cache Valley in Utah may be supplied from the Bear to 

increase the possibilities of irrigation in that very fertile district. 

Partially developed private enterprises also indicate that much of the 

land in .the southern part of Oneida County, Idaho, and the western 

part of Cache, and the eastern part of Boxelder counties, in Utah, now 

irrigated in part, may be reached by canals from the Bear. As we 

reach the Utah section questions become much more complicated and 

will require careful consideration. The drainage from Cache Valley, 

one of the oldest irrigated sections, forms an important factor, and 

storage on the more important streams of that section will necessarily 

receive attention. The flood waters of that valley are entirely unappropriated, and definite information relative to their volume is already 

available in the records of the United States Geological Survey. The 

volume represented in the vested rights is also well determined and 

this item will need careful consideration.

The vested rights of the canals already taking water from the Bear 

in this section and those of the canals now in process of development 

are also of vital importance. However, a thorough investigation of 

the question from all points of view will certainly reveal a plan 

whereby the great volume of water which passes all the head gates of 

canals and reaches Salt Lake may be utilized. Though we may store 

all the unappropriated waters of the Bear that can be taken into Bear 

Lake, the Logan, with a. flood discharge of more than 1,000 secondfeet, the Cub with 500, Mink Creek with 400, the smaller creeks with 

an aggregate of more than 300, will all be lost in the Great Salt Lake. 

Therefore, while the use of Bear Lake is a leading feature in the 

utilization of Bear River, that is by no means the only point at which 

the question of storage should be considered.

I am fully aware that a complete knowledge of the situation will 

involve the investigation of the river above Bear Lake Valley and 

even to the headwaters of the streams, but the natural point at which 

to begin seemed to be Bear Lake, and we are working from that point 

toward the mouth of the stream.

In conclusion I shall venture one more suggestion in connection with 

Bear River and its relation to the plan for a more complete supply of
NEWELL.] UTAH LAKE. 219

water for the populous part of Utah. Already a canal is partly 

built (though once practically abandoned, it recently obtained new 

life) to carry water from Bear River into Ogden. I am not familiar 

with the details of the plan and its contemplated scope, but in attempting to determine the best use of Bear River and at the same time 

keeping in mind the great necessity for more water in Weber, Davis, 

and Salt Lake counties, it has seemed to me that Bear River should be 

considered in connection with the latter question. Certainly natural 

conditions are such that engineering difficulties do not stand in the 

way of a combination of the Bear, Weber, and Ogden rivers irrigation interests. I have no detailed information in the matter, but my 

general information leads me to this conclusion. And though there 

may be difficulties which prohibit such a combination or exchange of 

interests as this, it seems to me that the feasibility of using Bear 

River water in the portion of Utah referred to may be properly considered, in connection with the Bear River enterprise under the 

Federal reclamation law.

UTAH LAKE.

Utah Lake is a bod}? of water lying in the north-central portion of 

Utah, and covering an area of about 140 square miles. It occupies 

a prominent place in the irrigation systems of the most populous 

part of the State, and has afforded a field for extended investigations in almost every line relating to irrigation. The main drainage 

to the lake is from the mountains lying east and southwest of the lake 

valley, the principal streams being Provo and Spanish Fork rivers, 

comparatively small streams, though with watersheds of considerable 

elevation and extent.

The only outlet from the lake is through Jordan River, which drains 

into Great Salt Lake. All streams entering the lake have been 

developed for irrigation to the full capacity of the flow during the 

irrigation season, yet much of the area apparently dependent upon 

this source of supply is but scantily supplied with water. This condition has suggested the idea of providing storage for flood waters 

and otherwise increasing the available water supply. The matter was 

brought to the attention of the reclamation service by the Utah arid 

land commission, provided for by action of the State legislature of 

1902, and it was urged by this commission that this be made the 

Federal project to receive first attention in Utah.

Investigations were begun early in May of this year and the entire 

situation is being carefully examined. The plan of investigation 

involves a thorough and complete study of the present use of water in 

the district, as well as a determination of the possibility of storing 

and utilizing the flood waters.

The investigations have not progressed far enough to draw general
220 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

conclusions, and the problem will necessitate extended and thorough 

examination of the watershed, the streams, the present canals, the 

lands, and all other features which could in any way affect the project.

The element of evaporation is important, and the inquiry will consider the possibility of partially checking this serious loss. This may 

involve a reduction of the area of the lake by some means, or the 

storage of the water in the mountains, the lake being eliminated from 

the system. Examinations of the lake basin show that it is very shallow, and that there is no natural outflow during the summer months.

The following table gives a summary of the conditions of inflow to 

Utah Lake and losses by evaporation from the lake. It also shows the 

rise of the water due to the excess of inflow over evaporation and the 

fall (indicated by a minus sign) in the months from April to October, 

inclusive. The last column of the table shows the amount of water 

utilized. By comparing the column headed "Evaporation'1 with that 

headed "Utilized" it will be seen that only a small proportion of the 

water of Utah Lake is put to beneficial use. The evaporation is estimated at over 420,000 acre-feet and the amount utilized at less than 

86,000 acre-feet; that is, less than 28 per cent of the amount evaporated 

is put to beneficial use.

Summary of conditions at Utah Lake.

Month.

April........................

July.........................

Inflow.

Secondfeet.

207 

247 

307 

343

477 

550

9 

116 

200 

200

255

Acrefeet.

12, 834 

13, 832 

19, 034 

20, 580 

29, 562 

33, 000

540 

7,192 

12,000 

12, 400

160, 974

Evaporation.

Secondfeet.

123 

25 

228 

587 

792 

1,136 

1,176 

955 

1,011 

501 

208 

138

576

Acrefeet.

7,626 

1,395 

14,136 

35, 247 

49, 104 

68, 169 

72, 912 

59, 241 

60, 636 

31,062 

12, 462 

8,556

420, 546

Rise or fall.

Secondfeet.

434

538 

622

-161 

-604 

-1,071

817

-581 

-308 

252 

375

Acrefeet.

26, 908 

30, 132 

38, 595

-10,010 

36, 255

-66,387 

-50,652 

-34,875 

-19,065 

15, 112 

25, 250

Utilized.

Second - 

feet.

117 

257 

272 

206 

200 

162 

187 

15

236

Acrefeet.

7,011 

15, 916 

16,333 

13, 452 

12, 184 

a9,968 

11, 149 

1 921

86, 936

a The utilized result stated in this case is probably too low.

WATER LAWS OF UTAH.

By F. S. RICHARDS.

At the last session of the Utah legislature a board of commissioners, 

consisting of five members, known as the Arid Land Reclamation 

Fund Commission, was created, and in March, 1903, the governor 

appointed Abraham F. Doremus, Joseph A. West, Hardin Bennion, 

William E. White, and L. R. Anderson members of said board. The 

law makes it the duty of the commission to take such measures as may 

be necessary to secure the construction by the United States Govern-
NEWELL.] WATEK LAWS OF UTAH. 221

ment of such reservoirs and irrigation works in this State as are contemplated by the national irrigation law, and to insure the expenditure therefor of such proportion of the reclamation fund provided by 

said act as should properly be expended in this State; and the commission is authorized to employ assistants and incur such expense as 

may be necessary to enable it to carry out the purposes of the State 

law, an appropriation of $6,000 being made for this purpose.

Soon after the commissioners were appointed, the board met and 

considered the various irrigation and reservoir propositions within 

the State which had been suggested as worthy of Government attention, and, after careful deliberation, following the action of the State 

Irrigation Congress, it selected the Utah Lake project, and employed 

me to go to Washington, and present the matter to the Department of 

the Interior, which I did in May last, filing with the Secretary a statement showing the claims of parties who had vested rights in the lake 

as a reservoir, and asking to have the Government commence work 

immediately for the purpose of determining the feasibility of the 

project from an engineering standpoint. The request met with favorable action, and the preliminary work is now in progress.

It is the purpose of the commission to do all in its power to facilitate the Government work and, when the project is found to be feasible, to assist in 'effecting such an arrangement as will be satisfactory 

to the Department of the Interior and the parties interested and will 

insure the early completion of the work.

The legislature also passed a new irrigation law for the State, which, 

it is believed, will greatly promote the interests of irrigation. It is 

designed to permanently settle titles to the use of water and to provide 

for recording and transferring the same, so that there will be a complete 

record of such titles; also to provide for the apportionment and distribution of water and for subsequent appropriations thereof.

The State engineer is authorized to make a complete hydrographic 

survey and map of each river system and water source of the State 

and to collect such facts as will, in his judgment, aid in ascertaining 

the existing rights to the use of water and in determining the volume 

of surplus or unappropriated water, if any, in each of such streams or 

sources. To him is also given th"e general supervision of surplus or 

unappropriated water.

When the State engineer has completed the Ivydrographic survey of 

any river system or water source he must file a written statement with 

the clerk of the district court of the county in which the same is 

situated; or, if the sj'stem extends into more than one county, the 

statement may be filed in any county that embraces any part of the 

system that the engineer shall select as most convenient for the water 

users. The statement shall set forth the completion of the survey, the 

names and post-office addresses of all persons using the water of the
222 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

system, so far as the same are known to the State engineer, and such 

other facts and information as he may deem necessary, and, on the 

filing of such statement, the district court in the county where the 

same is filed, shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine all water 

rights on that river system or water source, in accordance with the 

provisions of the law.

Within thirty days after the filing of the statement by the State 

engineer the clerk of the court must give public notice that all persons 

claiming the right to the use of any of the water of that river system 

or water source must file a written statement with the clerk of the 

court within six months after the first publicatian of the notice, setting 

forth their respective claims to the use of such water. This notice is 

to be published in a newspaper having a general circulation, and to 

be mailed, by registered letter, to each of the persons whose names 

and addresses are given in the statement filed by the State engineer.

Each person claiming the right to use any of the water of the river 

system or water sourcej is required, within six months after the first 

publication of the notice, to file in the office of the clerk of the court 

giving the notice, a statement in writing, which must be signed and 

verified by the oath of the claimant, setting forth, in detail, the facts 

concerning his claim and appropriation, the details of which are specified in the law, and any person failing to make and deliver such statement within said time is forever barred from subsequently asserting 

any right theretofore acquired to the use of the water of the river 

system or water source in question.

At the expiration of six months after the first publication of the 

notice the district court in which the statements of claim have been 

filed may appoint a referee or referees to take testimony and determine 

the rights of the claimants to the use of the water. The statements 

stand in the place of pleadings, and the map made by the State engineer is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein or delineated 

thereon. It is made the duty of the referee to take testimony, after 

fifteen days' notice to the claimants, at such times and places within 

the boundaries of the river system or water source as may be convenient to the respective claimants interested, and to determine the rights 

of the claimants. Contests are also provided for.

On the completion of the evidence the referee is required to state, 

in writing, the facts found by him as to each claim submitted, and the 

conclusion of law in relation thereto, and to report the same, with a 

form of decree, to the court, which may review the report and enter 

the decree thereon, or set aside, alter, or modify the same, and enter 

the decree as modified. The decree must determine and establish the 

 rights of the several claimants to the use of the water, set forth the 

name and post-office address of the claimant, the flow (per second) 

of water entitled to be used, the purpose for which the water is to be
NEWELL.] WATEE LAWS OF UTAH. 223

used, the time during which it is to be used each year, the name of the 

stream or other source from which the water is diverted, the place 

on the stream or other source where the water is diverted, the priority 

number of the right and the date of the right, and such other matters 

as will fully and completely define the right.

Appeals to the supreme court are provided for from decrees of the 

district court, and if no appeal is taken within six months after the 

decree has been entered it becomes final, and the clerk issues a certificate in duplicate, attested under the seal of the court, setting forth 

the substance of the decree. One copy of the certificate is transmitted in person or by registered mail to the appropriate!' and recorded 

in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the water 

is diverted from its natural channel, and the other is delivered to the 

State engineer and filed in his office.

The State engineer is empowered to divide the State into water divisions and subdivide the same into districts, which shall be so constituted as to secure the best protection to the water users and the most 

economical supervision on the part of the State. A superintendent is 

provided for each water division, who is to be appointed by the State 

engineer, with the consent of the governor. The superintendent appoints a supervisor for each water district in his division, who must 

be confirmed by the board of county commissioners. The superintendent has control of the district supervisors and of the apportionment of the water in the several districts in his division, under the 

direction of the State engineer. The supervisor apportions the water 

in the natural streams of his district among the several ditches taking 

water therefrom, according to their respective rights, under the direction of the superintendent of his division. Any person may appeal 

from, the action of any division superintendent or district supervisor 

to the State engineer, who will hear and decide the case. 

 Any person wishing in the future to acquire the right to the use of 

any of the public water in the State must, before commencing the 

construction, enlargement, or extension of any ditch or other works 

for the purpose, make an application in writing to the State engineer 

(upon a blank to be furnished), which shall include a map, profile, 

and drawings. Thereupon the State engineer, at the expense of the 

applicant, will publish a notice for thirty days in some newspaper of 

general circulation within the boundaries of the river s}rstem or water 

source in which the appropriation is to be made, showing by whom 

the application is made, the quantity of water sought to be appropriated, the stream from which the appropriation is to be made and 

at what point on the stream, and the use for which it is to be appropriated and by what means.

Any person interested may, within thirty days after the completion 

of the publication of the notice, file with the State engineer, a written
224 FIEST KECLAMATION SEKVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

protest against the granting of the application, stating the reasons 

therefor, which will be considered by the engineer, who will approve 

all applications made in proper form, where the proposed use will not 

impair the value of existing rights, or be otherwise detrimental to the 

public welfare. Where there is no unappropriated water in the proposed source of supply, or where the proposed use will conflict with 

existing rights, or threatens to prove detrimental to the public interest, the State engineer must reject the application. An appeal to the 

courts is allowed from such rejection.

The State engineer must require that actual construction work shall 

begin within ninety days from the date of approval, and that the construction of the proposed irrigation works shall be completed within a 

period of five years from the date of such approval. When it appears 

to his satisfaction that any appropriation has been perfected in accordance with the application therefor, he must issue a certificate, in 

duplicate, to the party making the same, setting forth the name and 

post-office address of the person by whom the water is to be used, the 

flow of water per second to ^be used, the purpose for which the water 

is to be used, the time during which the water is to be used each year, 

the name of the stream or source from which the water is diverted, 

the place on the stream or source where the water is to be diverted, 

the priority number of the right, the date of the appropriation, and 

such other matter as will fully and completely define the right of the 

person to the use of the water. One copy of the certificate is to be 

filed in the office of the State engineer and the other delivered to the 

appropriator and recorded in the office of the recorder of the county 

where the water is diverted from the natural stream or source.

The law declares that the water of all streams and other sources in 

the State, whether flowing above or under ground, in known or defined 

channels, is the property of the public, subject to all existing rights 

to the use thereof; that the discharge of 1 cubic foot per second of 

time, which is known as the "second-foot," shall be the unit of measurement of flowing water, and that the "acre-foot" shall be the unit of 

measurement of quantity; and that "beneficial use" shall be the basis, 

the measure, and the limit of all rights to the use of water in the State.

The law also provides that water rights shall be transferred by 

deed in substantially the same manner as real estate, except when represented by shares of stock in a corporation, and the deed shall be 

recorded in the office of the recorder of the county where the place of 

diversion of the water from its natural channel is situated, and that 

every deed of water right so recorded shall, from the time of filing 

the same with the recorder for record, impart notice to all persons of 

the contents thereof; and subsequent purchasers, mortgagees, and 

lien holders shall be deemed to purchase and take with notice; that 

every deed of water right which shall not be so recorded shall be void
NEWELL.] NORTH PLATTE PROJECTS. 225

as against any subsequent purchaser, in good faith and for a valuable 

consideration, of the same water right or any portion thereof, where 

his own deed shall be first recorded.

This is merely a brief outline, showing the general scope of the 

law, which contains many details and miscellaneous provisions that I 

have not enumerated.

WORK ON NORTH PLATTE RIVER IN WYOMING.

By JOHN E. FIELD.

The North Platte rises in northern Colorado and flows northward to 

about the center of Wyoming, where it turns and flows a little south 

of east into Nebraska. The waters of the main stream are used very 

little in Wyoming, the principal sources of supply being the tributaries, which have a much greater fall per mile, and the diversion of 

whose waters is much more easily accomplished. During the irrigating season, except at time of floods, almost no water reaches the main 

stream from them.

Considerable irrigation farming is done in the North Platte Valley 

in Nebraska with water from that river, so that, as the water comes 

from Colorado, flows through Wyoming, and is used there and in 

Nebraska, we may expect some interesting developments of an interstate character as to water rights along the North Platte.

As far as. the projects contemplated under the reclamation law are 

concerned, however, there appears to be no danger of complications as 

regards priority of rights. One reservoir now being surveyed has a 

capacity sufficient to control all the flood waters in an ordinary season, 

giving almost absolute control of the flow of the stream and permitting 

the construction of ditches at any point with an assured supply. Should 

a canal be constructed above the reservoir the entire flow of the river 

could be diverted, and ditches lower down could be supplied from the 

stored water. For the Government canals constructed below the 

reservoir the stored water could be drawn off as desired.

The reason of the nonuse of the water of North Plate River is apparent after a brief examination of the district: First, the fall of the river 

is but 5 or 6 feet per mile; second, the land bordering the stream lies 

at a considerable elevation, making it necessary that a canal to cover 

any considerable area should be about 200 feet above the river; third, 

the zone between the mesa and the narrow river bottoms is very 

rough, and cut by gulches and arroyos, which will make any canal 

very crooked and construction very expensive.

The first work done consisted of running a preliminary canal line 

from Guernsey, in the eastern part of the State, into the Goshen Hole, 

to ascertain the probable cost and the area that could be irrigated.

IRE 9c
226 FIKST KECLAMATKXN 8EKVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

The canal starts at a point about 1 mile above Guernsey, at the Narrows, so called on account of the river being contracted at that point 

by a reef of crystalline limestone, through which the water has cut an 

excellent location for a diversion dam. The line was started 70 feet 

above low water, and later increased to 85 feet, and was carried at that 

elevation into the Hole, the total length of the canal being 140 miles, 

covering about 200,000 acres, 150,000 of which are probably irrigable.

To reach a point about 17 miles below the Narrows by the river, on 

the south side, it was found that 33 miles of canal was required, 6 miles 

of which was tunnel or equally expensive cuts, and as much more of 

side-hill work through rock. The cost of this piece of canal appeared 

to be prohibitive, and a line was run on the north side. Work on this 

is not yet complete, but the indications are that about 4 miles of tunnel 

and as much more of heavy side-hill work will be eliminated, making 

the canal about 8 miles shorter. Under this plan, however, an inverted 

siphon must be built, with a capacity of at least 1,000 second-feet, and 

preferably of 1,500 second-feet. It must be 2^ miles in length, and 

under a pressure at the lowest point of 190 feet head.

The second piece of work taken up was at Devils Gate, on Sweetwater River, a short distance above its junction with North Platte 

River. Capt. Hiram N. Chittenden, of the Corps of Engineers, 

United States Army, had made a report on the site. During the fall 

of 1902 drilling was begun for the purpose of testing the foundations 

for the proposed dam. The water supply, however, was found to be 

very small, the maximum flow being about 400 second-feet and the 

minimum 5 second-feet, mostly seepage. This was very disappointing, as it showed that the construction of a large storage reservoir was 

not possible, on account of the small supply.

Below Devils Gate, however, is a tract of land which it was 

thought might be reclaimed by building a dam 50 feet high instead of 

90 feet, as at first contemplated, which would impound sufficient water 

to irrigate probably 20,000 acres. The land is rough in places, with 

many alkali lakes and beds scattered over it. A topographic survey 

was therefore made of the area under the canal. This survey has 

been completed, but the classification of the land is not yet made. It 

is doubtful if enough good land will be covered to justify the cost of 

the dam, rights of way, and canals.

The third piece of work undertaken was the examination and survey of a reservoir site on North Platte River, at the mouth of the 

Sweetwater, about 20 miles below Devils Gate. The dam site is in a 

box canyon, but 80 feet wide at low-water mark, and 160 feet wide at 

a point 157 feet higher. The diamond drill has shown that bed rock is 

but 10 feet below low water and that it is solid granite, as are also 

the walls of the canyon. The dam as contemplated will have a total
NEWELL.] WYOMING PBOJECTS. 227

height of 190 feet, the cubical contents being about 75,000 yards. 

The capacity of the reservoir is probably at least 750,000 acre-feet, 

possibly 1,000,000 acre-feet. The topographic survey of the reservoir 

has not yet been completed. These figures will show that the cost 

per acre-foot is remarkably small. Drilling, as stated, has been done 

at both the Devils Gate and North Platte sites with very satisfactory 

results.

The problem of obtaining a suitable body of land on which to use 

the water remains unsolved. At present a canal line is being run 

from Alcova, some eight miles below the reservoir, to ascertain the 

possibility of covering the mesas north and west of Casper. Should 

this be impracticable, surveys will be made lower down to find smaller 

tracts that can be irrigated by the construction of several smaller 

canals on each side of the river, some of which will probably extend 

into Nebraska.

INVESTIGATIONS IN WYOMING.

By JEBEMIAH AHERN.

PROJECTS CONSIDERED.

In northern Wyoming two projects are under consideration the 

Lake De Smet project, in Johnson County, and the Shoshone project, 

in the vicinity of Cody, in Bighorn County.

The Lake De Smet project was examined and favorably reported 

upon a few years ago by Capt. Hiram N. Chittenden of the Corps of 

Engineers, United States Army.

Soon after the enactment of the reclamation law, in June, 1902, 

surveys and investigations looking to the storage in general of the 

surplus water from the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains, and 

more particularly the storage of some of this water in the Lake De 

Smet basin, were begun and carried on during the season of 1902. 

During the winter months following preliminary plans and estimates 

of the probable cost of the project were made.

LAKE DE SMET PROJECT.

Lake De Smet lies in the comparatively low rolling country east of 

the Bighorn Mountains, being about 8 miles from their base. Its 

drainage basin is only a few square miles in extent, a large part of its 

water supply apparently being seepage water from irrigating ditches. 

It has no visible outlet. The lake is formed by a natural basin, the 

present surface of the water being about 3 miles in length, and having 

an average width of a little more than three-fourths of a mile, comprising an area of 1,500 acres. The lowest point of the rim of the 

lake basin is 30 feet above the present surface of the water, and if its
228 FIRST RECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

water surface should be raised to this point the lake would have a 

storage capacity of about 54,000 acre-feet. It is proposed to divert 

the surplus water of Piney Creek into this lake for storage.

Piney Creek drains a portion of the eastern slope of the Bighorn 

Mountains, some of its tributaries having their sources north of and 

some south of Cloud Peak. This peak is the highest point in the Bighorn Mountains, its elevation being somewhat over 13,000 feet. Owing 

to the high elevation of a large part of the drainage basin of Piney 

Creek, the precipitation and consequently the run-off is comparatively 

large, the maximum discharge of the creek being about 1,200 cubic 

feet per second. After leaving the mountains Piney Creek flows 

through a rolling country, there being no large area of bench lands that 

could be irrigated by its water. All of the irrigable land is along the 

stream and its tributaries, which are for the most part long, narrow 

valleys, and nearly all of it is in private ownership.

A canal necessary to divert the water of Piney Creek into Lake De 

Smet would be about 4 miles long, and most of it would be on ground 

where the cost of construction would not be high. At the present 

time the only uncertainty about the project is the water supply.

In August, 1902, a gaging station was established near the proposed 

point of diversion, so that at the end of the present season the first 

definite knowledge about the water supply will be recorded.

The stored water would be used for irrigating land along Piney and 

Clear creeks and possibly along Prairie Dog Creek in the vicinity of 

Sheridan. Practically all of the land along Piney Creek and about 

one-half of that along Clear and Prairie Dog creeks are in private 

ownership. All of this land lies at a comparatively low elevation for 

Wyoming, between 3,700 and 4,000 feet.

SHOSHONE PROJECT.

The Shoshone project contemplates the diversion of Shoshone River 

in the canyon about 6 miles above the town of Cody, and the storage 

of a portion of the surplus flow above the canyon. At the upper end 

of the canyon is a good dam site, the canyon at this point being about 

80 feet wide with nearly vertical walls of sold granite. It has been 

determined that a dam 200 feet high would store 336,000 acre-feet.

The North Fork of Shoshone River rises just east of Yellowstone 

National Park, some of its tributaries having their sources within the 

park. It then flows in a general easterly direction to its junction 

with the South Fork, coming from the southwest and having its 

source southeast of the park. Shoshone River then enters a canyon 

about 3 miles in length, about 1,000 feet deep, and 65 feet wide in its 

narrowest place. A considerable portion of this canyon is through 

solid granite, with nearly vertical walls in many places. Near its 

lower end are deposits from extinct geysers and hot springs and at
NEWELL.] SHOSHONE PROJECT. 229

a few places along the north side are large areas covered with slide 

rock. The discharge of Shoshone River during 1903 was more than 

one million acre-feet.

It is proposed to take the water out near the head of the canyon, 

on the north side, at such an elevation as will bring it on the high 

bench at the mouth of the canyon. The water will be conveyed along 

the side of the canyon in a suitable conduit, consisting in part of 

tunnels and canals. After leaving the canyon there are several wide 

draws or ravines that cross the irrigable land at right angles to the 

general direction of the canal, the crossing of which will add considerable to the cost. It is probable that the most economical way 

of crossing these draws will be by means of inverted siphons, constructed possibly of steel or concrete pipes.

The land that would be reclaimed by this project extends along the 

north or left bank of Shoshone River for a distance of about 40 miles, 

and comprises somewhat over 100,000 acres, nearly all of which is 

irrigable. This land lies at an elevation of from 4,100 to 5,100 feet. 

The Cody branch of the Burlington Railroad passes through it for a 

distance of 35 miles, the town of Cody being on the opposite side of 

the river, and near its upper end. The town of Garland is on the 

lower portion of this land. With the exception of four or five small 

ranches nearly all of this land has been segregated by the State under 

the provisions of the Gary law, but owing to the magnitude of the 

enterprise its promoters have been unable to obtain the necessary 

capital for construction. It is understood that if the Government 

shall undertake the construction of this project, the land will be 

released to the Secretary of the Interior, and that the water right will 

go with it.

It is not expected that there will be any complications over water 

rights or any difficulties to overcome in reaching an agreement with 

landowners. All of the public land under the project not segregated 

by the State has been withdrawn from entry other than homestead.

A topographic survey by plane-table methods was made of a strip 

along the north side of the canyon, the distance between its limiting 

contours being 140 feet in vertical height. The length of this strip 

is about 3^ miles, and its area covers all feasible locations for conduit lines. The scale of this map is 100 feet to an inch, the contour 

interval 5 feet. On this map the most feasible location will be made 

and from it all of the preliminary plans and estimates. For the primary horizontal control of this map a base line 7,170 feet in length 

was located on the bench below the mouth of the canyon and measured 

with a 300-foot steel tape. From this base a triangulation was carried 

into the canyon by locating stations on both sides of the canyon, so as 

to form well-conditioned quadrilaterals. All of the angles were then 

measured with a transit and the sides of the triangles were computed.
230 FIEST BECLAMATION SEEVIOE CONFEBENOE. [NO. 93.

The stations were plotted on the plane table sheets by taking any one 

triangle and laying off one of its sides on the sheet in approximately 

its proper position. This, of course, gave two points of the triangle. 

Calling this line the base of the triangle, the third point was plotted 

by laying off at its proper place the altitude of the triangle. In this 

particular survey this method was found more convenient than computing the rectangular coordinates of each station referred to a common origin. The sheets were joined by using a line common to two 

sheets.

For vertical control a line of levels was carried up the canyon 

approximately along the top contour and then down the canyon along 

the lower portion of the area, thus forming a closed circuit.

SURVEY OF IRRIGABLE LAND.

The irrigable land is being mapped on a scale of 1,000 feet to an 

inch. The contour interval is 10 feet. The horizontal control of this 

survey depends on the primary triangulation carried across northern 

Wyoming by the topographic branch during the years 1896-1898. 

One of the azimuth stations of this triangulation Corbett is on the 

left bank of Shoshone River, and about 10 miles below the upper end 

of the irrigable land.

A point from which three of the primary stations Hart Mountain, 

McCulloch, and Cedar Mountain are visible was selected, 3^ miles 

northwest of the azimuth station, and the angles at this point subtended by the three primary stations were measured with a transit 

reading to 30 seconds. These angles, together with the known positions of the primary stations, gave data for computing the length of 

the line to the azimuth station. This line was then used for a base 

for developing the triangulation over the area under survey. Stations 

were selected from 3 to 7 miles apart, and so located that well-conditioned quadrilaterals would be formed. The angles of each quadrilateral were measured with a transit reading to 30 seconds. The angles 

of each triangle were arbitrarily adjusted and the sides computed, also 

the rectangular coordinates of each station, the axes of coordinates 

being a meridian through the azimuth station and a line perpendicular 

to it. Owing to the comparatively small area, about 200 square miles, 

reductions taking into account the curvature of the earth were not 

deemed necessary. As a check on the work a side of a quadrilateral 

near the lower end of the work was measured roughly with a 300-foot 

steel tape. A connection also was made with the base line used for 

the canyon triangulation.

The stations were plotted on detail paper, from which they were 

transferred to the plane-table sheets by pricking through, the two 

scales being the same.
CONDITIONS IN WASHINGTON. 231

The vertical control depends on a line of primary levels of the topographic branch that crosses the area.

With the exception of the triangulation and leveling the plane table 

was used in all topographic work. Wherever land-office corners were 

found, connections with them were made.

WOKK IN WASHINGTON. 

By T. A. NOBLE.

The State of Washington may be divided into two sections which 

are wholly different in climate, soil, flora, and fauna. The western 

section, including the Puget Sound region, is humid, heavily timbered, very irregular in topography, and has numerous small streams 

flowing from the mountains into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. 

The mean annual rainfall is somewhat over 50 inches.

The eastern, section, which is the part of the State that is susceptible of improvement by irrigation, includes the great plains of the 

Columbia River Valley and the valleys of a number of tributaries, and 

is arid and semiarid. The higher portion of this section is mountainous, and bears a sparse growth of pine. It is drained entirely by 

Columbia River and its tributaries. The mean annual rainfall is about 

16 inches.

The line between these two sections is sharply defined by the summits of the Cascade Mountains, which extend in an irregular line from 

the Canadian boundary southward to Columbia River, near the one 

hundred and twenty-first meridian.

In the central-southern portion of the eastern section are the great 

plains of Columbia River, known as the Big Bend country, the surface 

of which is an enormous lava overflow, lying between the Rocky and 

Cascade mountains on the east and the west, respectively, and a low 

range of mountains on the north, near the Canadian boundary. This 

plain, in its northern and eastern parts, lies at an elevation of from 

2,300 to 2,800 feet above sea level and gradually slopes toward the 

south and east to the }unction of Snake and Columbia rivers. Through 

this plain Columbia River has cut an irregular channel, reaching in 

places a depth of 2,000 feet. The Columbia, where it crosses the Canadian boundary, is about 1,300 feet above sea level. The lowest portion of this land is at the junction of Snake and Columbia rivers, where 

it is about 300 feet above sea level. The area lying below 1,000 feet 

is relatively small, so that it is physically impossible to utilize the 

Columbia to irrigate any large part of this land, for it would require 

a canal 200 miles long to take water from the Columbia River.

On the upper levels of this plain that part lying above an elevation of 

2,000 feet is the famous wheat land of eastern Washington, comprising
232 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

about 8 000,000 acres. That portion of the plain lying below 2,000 

feet is arid, for the maximum rainfall is not over 12 inches. This 

portion of the plain constitutes about 4,000,000 acres. To irrigate 

such parts of this land as are suitable for cultivation is the problem 

that the reclamation service has to solve in the State of Washington. 

The possibilities are so great that no pains or expense will be spared 

to determine any practicable method of getting water on this land. 

Fortunately there is flowing in the northwestern borders of the State 

and in northwestern Idaho an abundant supply of water lying above 

this elevation, in Pend Oreille, Priest, and. Spokane rivers. It is 

roughly estimated that these rivers and the natural storage reservoirs 

tributary to then) will supply at least 5,000,000 acre-feet of water. It 

will thus be seen that two of the necessary elements of irrigation are 

assured an abundant suppry of water and a vast area of land suitable 

for cultivation. The third element whether or not the water can be 

brought upon the land at such a price per acre as will interest the 

farmer and irrigator to settle and successfully raise crops is the question to be determined. It will require a number of years to fully 

investigate this question, and it is also certain that should the project 

prove to be advisable the money required for its construction will be 

beyond the limits of the present irrigation fund.

RELATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS TO 

IRRIGATION.

By MOKRIS BIEN.

As a result of our form of government, we have in the arid region, 

as in other sections, a condition which, if not so familiar, would be 

regarded as very remarkable, namely, that of two distinct sovereignties operating in the same jurisdiction; the government of a State and 

the Government of the United States dealing independently with different subjects in the same locality, and likewise with the same subject 

in more or less distinct spheres of action. This condition must be considered in dealing with irrigation law. Nearly all the lands of the 

arid region were originally under the sole jurisdiction of the United 

States, but a considerable portion has now become subject to the laws 

and regulations of the State governments. In each State or Territory 

we find two separate sets of laws governing water rights and irrigation the Federal laws few and general in application, and the local 

laws, in some cases voluminous and complicated, dealing with the 

details of the subject.

The Federal laws comprise the following:

First. The principle of priority of appropriation of water as distinguished from the common law of riparian rights. In 1866 a Congress

a Rev. Stat., sees. 2339 and 2340.
NEWELI,.] FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. 233

recognized the doctrine of appropriation of water as then applied. In 

the desert-land act of 1877 a the waters from all sources of supply on 

the public domain, except navigable waters, were open to appropriation and use for irrigation, mining, and manufacturing purposes.

Second. The principle that the water used, for irrigation should be 

appurtenant to the land upon which it is used, while not distinctly 

announced in the desert-land act of 1877, is at least implied in its provisions, inasmuch-as the reclamation by irrigation of the lands entered 

is the main requirement for obtaining a patent thereunder. This principle was, however, definitely announced by Congress in section 8 of 

the reclamation act of June 17, 1902,6 in the following terms: "That 

the right to use the water acquired under the provisions of this act shall 

be appurtenant to the land irrigated, and beneficial use shall be the 

basis, the measure, and the limit of the right."

These two principles are substantially the whole of the Federal 

irrigation law as enacted by Congress. The same principles form the 

basis of the irrigation legislation of the various States and Territories 

in the arid region.

Two general systems of State irrigation law have been developed 

one, as in California, providing merely for the filing and recording of 

claims to water, the rights of the claimants depending in general on 

priority of appropriation, all matters of regulatioh and adjudication 

being left to the courts; the other, as in Wyoming, providing for 

regulation, control, and adjudication by a State board, with a final 

review by the courts. Between these two extremes we find the power 

of regulation, control, and adjudication in the first instance given in 

varying degree to a State engineer or other officer acting in a similar 

capacity. In some of the States, where only part of the area is arid, 

the common-law doctrine of the rights of riparian owners and the doctrine of prior appropriation are applied to the same stream, producing 

a conflict of interests which has given the courts much difficulty. 

Under such conditions the rights to the use of water are insecure, and 

irrigation development proceeds under a serious disadvantage.

A plain statement of existing conditions of State legislation is found 

in the message of President Roosevelt of December, 1901, where he 

says:

The security and value of the homes created depend largely on the stability of 

titles to water, but the majority of these rest on the uncertain foundation of court 

decisions rendered in ordinary suits at law. With a few creditable exceptions, the 

arid States have failed to provide for the certain and just division of streams in times 

of scarcity. Lax and uncertain laws have made it possible to establish rights to 

water in excess of actual uses or necessities, and many streams have already passed 

into private ownership, or a control equivalent to ownership.

Whoever controls a stream practically controls the land it renders productive, and 

the doctrine of private ownership of water apart from land can not prevail without

a Act March 3,1877, 19 Stat. L., p. 397. 632 Stat. L., p. 388.
234 FIEST BECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

causing enduring wrong. The recognition of such ownership, which has been permitted to grow up in the arid regions, should give way to a more enlightened and 

larger recognition of the rights of the public-in the control and disposal of the public 

water supplies. Lawn founded upon conditions obtaining in humid regions, where 

water is too abundant to justify hoarding it, have no proper application in a dry 

country.

In the arid States the .only right to water which should be recognized is that of use. 

In irrigation this right should attach to the land reclaimed and be inseparable therefrom. Granting perpetual water rights to others than users, without compensation 

to the public, is open to all the objections which apply to giving away perpetual 

franchises to the public utilities of cities. A few of the Western States have already 

recognized this, and have incorporated in their constitutions the doctrine of perpetual 

State ownership of water.

At the session following this message the reclamation act was passed, 

and the operations thereunder will bring about a situation emphasizing 

the necessity for proper State irrigation legislation so strongly urged 

by the President.

The control of the Federal Government over the public lands and the 

nonnavigable waters is that of a proprietor, and the irrigation laws 

enacted by Congress prior to the reclamation act have not been intended 

to impress conditions of ownership upon the lands after they had passed 

from its control. Accordingly, those laws have not been held operative 

after the issuance of patent transferring title to the individual, at 

which time the State laws became applicable. Consequently, there 

has hitherto been no conflict of laws relating to this subject. Under 

the reclamation act, however, the right to the use of water is dependent upon conditions existing before as well as after the United States 

has divested itself of the title. In some of the States there is no conflict on this point, because their laws and the decisions of their courts 

are in harmony with the principles announced in the Federal legislation. In other States the local laws and decisions are not in harmony 

with these principles, but no difficulty is to be apprehended, because 

the conditions on which the right to the use of the water is acquired 

are plainly defined by the Federal law providing for the grant of the 

water right.

The operations of the reclamation service are national in scope, and 

are carried on with a view to the best ultimate development of the 

available water supply, so that State boundaries must necessarily be disregarded. We are here confronted with a question in which the jurisdictions of three or more sovereignties may be involved. This matter 

has not }^et received much attention from the courts, but we have had 

a declaration of the basic principles involved in a few cases. In the 

case of United States v. Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company, 

decided by the Supreme Court of the United States (174 U. S., 690- 

703), the general proposition of the relation of the Federal Government to the waters of the public domain was thus discussed:
NEWELL,] FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS. 235

Athough this power of changing the common-law rule as to streams within its dominion undoubtedly belongs to each State, yet two limitations must be recognized: 

First, that in the absence of specific authority from Congress a State can not by its 

legislation destroy the right of the United States, as the owner of lands bordering on 

a stream, to the continued flow of its waters, so far, at least, as may be necessary 

for the beneficial uses of the government property; second, that it is limited by the 

superior power of the General Government to secure the uninterrupted navigability 

of all navigable streams within the limits of the United States. In other words, the 

jurisdiction of the General Government over interstate commerce and its natural 

highways vests in that Government the right to take all needed measures to preserve 

the navigability of the navigable water courses of the country, even against any State 

action. It is true there have been frequent decisions recognizing the power of the 

State, in the absence of Congressional legislation, to assume control of even navigable 

water within its limits to the extent of creating dams, booms, bridges, and other matters which operate as obstructions to navigability. The power of the State to thus 

legislate for the interests of its own citizens is conceded; and, until in some way 

Congress asserts its superior power, and the necessity of preserving the general interests of the people of all the States, it is assumed that State action, although involving 

temporarily an obstruction to the free navigability of a stream, is not subject to 

challenge. (174 U. 8., 703.)«

In the case of Ho well v. Johnson (89 Fed. Rep., 556), involving water 

rights on the Sage Creek, which flows from Montana into Wyoming, 

the United States circuit court said:

The National Government is the proprietor and owner of all the land in Wyoming 

and Montana which it has not sold or granted to some one competent to take and hold 

the same. Being the owner of these lands, it has the power to sell or dispose of any 

estate therein or any part thereof. The water in an innavigable stream flowing over 

the public domain is a part thereof, and the National Government can sell or grant 

the same, or the use thereof separate from the rest of the estate, under such conditions as may seem to it proper. * * *

The Federal Government is not restrained in the disposal of its lands by State laws or 

State lines. Its laws upon this subject apply to the lands in one State as well as another. 

It has made grants of land extending through several States. The State governments 

can not restrict it in the primary disposal of its lands. If it may sell and dispose of 

its land as it may deem proper there is no reason why it may not sell a part thereof 

as an incident thereto, such as the use of water flowing over the same. That it has 

the same right as any real-estate proprietor would be self-evident. It is apparent, 

then, according to the allegations of the bill, that plaintiff acquired rights by appropriation in Sage Creek to which all who have acquired land upon the same, or water 

rights therein, subsequent to his appropriation, must be subordinate. His rights 

have the sanction of the National Government.

It is urged that in some way the State of Montana has some right in these waters 

in Sage Creek or some control over the same. It never purchased them. It never 

owned them. In support of this view the court is cited to a great many decisions 

which pertain to navigable rivers and lakes and tide waters. Here we approach a 

different subject. There is no claim that Sage Creek is a navigable stream; * * * 

it was not held * * * in any of the cases cited * * * that the rights of the 

owner of the land through which any innavigable stream flowed, within the boundaries of any State, depended - upon the laws of such State, or that the said owners' 

rights to such waters depended upon such laws, as against one who claimed a right to

«See also the case of Gutierres ». Albuquerque Land Co. (188U. S., 545.)
236 FIE8T RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

the same under the laws of Congress. To so hold would uphold the view that a 

State might interfere with the primary disposal of the land of the National Government. When a party has obtained title to property from the National Government, 

the State Government has no right to destroy that title except under the power of 

eminent domain. The State of Montana can not step in and say, "The right to the 

water of Sage Creek, which the plaintiff acquired under the laws of Congress, you 

can not exercise in this State." This would be the taking of plaintiff's property 

from him without due process of law.

In the case of Willey v. Decker (73 Pac. Eep., 210), decided August 

3, 1903, the supreme court of the State of Wyoming, considering the 

case of an interstate stream, held that the doctrine of priority of appropriation would apply to such streams without regard to State lines.

Referring to the decision in the case of Howell 11. Johnson, the 

court said:

It is not necessary that we agree with all the reasons given by the court for the 

conclusion announced, nor that we assent to all the views expressed in the opinion. 

We think there can be little question but that it was rightly held that the plaintiff 

in the case had secured a right by appropriation to the waters of the stream as 

against a subsequent appropriates in the other State, which might be protected in the 

courts of such State against injury by acts occurring therein.

The court then continues:

We find nothing, therefore, in the fundamental principle of the doctrine of prior 

appropriation that he who is first in time is first in right, nor in the reasons that led 

to the establishment of the doctrine, which is opposed to the acquirement of a water 

right for the irrigation of lands in one State by the diversion of the water at a point 

in another State from a stream flowing in both States. (73 Pac. Eep., 210-221.)

It is not probable that any serious difficulties will arise in the development of the water supply and the application of the water to the 

reclamation of lands in cases where interstate waters are concerned, 

for the reason that the aim in all cases will be to make the best possible use of the waters from both an engineering and an economic 

standpoint,. while the legal principles involved are capable of easy 

solution.

The operations of the reclamation service will involve a careful comparison and analysis of the irrigation laws of the various States and 

Territories in their application to actual jconditions, and we may therefore expect a showing as to the advantages and defects of the different 

systems. One result to be anticipated from the experience of the reclamation service is that a method of dealing with these matters will 

ultimately be evolved that will afford a solution for many of the difficult problems confronting legislators in dealing with this subject and 

produce a code of irrigation law adaptable to the varying conditions, 

and that will amply protect the individual irrigator in his rights and 

open the way for the development of irrigation interests on a substantial basis.

The ideal of attainment in the minds of most writers and thoughtful 

students of the subject is the establishment of a community system of
NEWELL.] POWER FROM STORAGE RESERVOIRS. 237

management and operation under the control of the water user, 

with a guarantee of a reliable water supply, an indefeasible water right, 

and an interest in the entire irrigation system, with the opportunity to 

work out the highest agricultural development of the community. 

Something has been attempted in this direction by the various district 

irrigation laws, with comparatively small results.

The reclamation act, however, offers an opportunity for. an advance 

toward this ideal under the auspices of the Government, with a promise 

of good business management and an assurance of justice and fair 

treatment for all. It therefore behooves all who have the best interests 

of irrigated America at heart, to work in harmony with the Government along the lines of operation of the reclamation act, so carefully 

modeled on past experience toward the attainment of this high standard of irrigation development.

ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OF POWER FOR PUMPING.

By H. A. STORKS.

Our interest in the electrical transmission of power arises chiefly 

from the following conditions: (1) In connection with the storage or 

diversion of the water of streams in arid regions for irrigation purposes, it is frequently found possible to develop power without greatly 

increasing the cost of the dam, headworks, or other parts of the canal 

system; (2) power so obtained may often be advantageously used for 

pumping water from wells, or from one canal to another at a higher 

level; (3) electricity is conceded to be the most suitable agent for 

transmitting this power from the generating station to the pumps.

As this paper must be brief, only a few of the interesting questions 

involved in transmitting power electrically can be mentioned.

Since a consideration of the loss of power likely to occur in a powertransmission system is of first importance I will briefly state the case 

for the electrical method:

Power delivered by the water wheel to the electric generator will 

suffer a loss during the conversion from mechanical power to electrical power of from 5 to 10 per cent; a loss during transformation 

from a low to a high voltage of 2 to 3 per cent; a loss during transmittal from power plant to pumping station of 5 to 10 per cent; a loss 

during transformation from a high to a low voltage of 2 to 5 per cent; 

and a loss during conversion, by the electric motor, from electrical 

to mechanical power of 5 to 15 per cent a total loss chargeable to 

the electric system of about 18 per cent under favorable conditions 

and, perhaps, 35 to 40 per cent where the conditions are somewhat 

unfavorable. Assuming the total loss to be ordinarily 25 per cent, 

and assuming an average efficiency of 75 per cent for the water wheel 

and 70 per cent for the pump, we find that a net efficiency of about
238 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. fNO- 93-

40 per cent may be expected under ordinary operating conditions; 

although 50 per cent efficiency may often be obtained in an electricaltransmission system properly designed and operated at or near full 

load.

The elements involved in determining the proper design for the 

electrical system vary greatly with local conditions, but the following 

considerations cover some of the important points:

Regarding the choice of size and number of generating units to be 

installed in the power house, it may be observed that large units have 

the advantage of slightly higher efficiency at full load over small 

units, and that they cost less per kilowatt to purchase and install; but, 

since their efficiency falls from 3 to 5 per cent for partial loads, provision should be made by installing at least one generator of about 

one-half the size of the larger units, for keeping full load and on as 

many of the units as have to be operated.

This consideration of diminished efficiency at partial loads applies 

even more forcibly to most types of water wheels than to electric generators. In general, the fewest possible number of generating units 

should be installed, taking into account an economical design for the 

water wheels under the head of water available, and not forgetting 

that if but few units are installed the breaking down of one of them 

may seriously curtail the output of the system at a critical time.

Regarding the choice of line voltage for the system, it may be said 

that the length of line will practically determine this within certain 

limits; present practice would seem to favor about 50,000 or 60,000 

volts for lines over 60 or 80 miles long, and approximately 1,000 volts 

per mile for shorter distances.

The generator voltage will usually not be over 2,500 volts, the 

higher voltages for use in transmission being produced in the step-up 

transformers; but for distances less than 15 to 20 miles a suitable line 

voltage of 10,000 to 15,000 volts may be generated directly in the 

stationery windings of the generator, thus dispensing with step-up 

transformers, thereby saving perhaps 20 per cent in first cost of power 

plant, besides raising the plant efficiency 2 to 5 per cent. At the 

pumping plant, also, transformers might often be omitted with 

these voltages, effecting a similar saving; but, probably, for motors 

smaller than 200 horsepower, the extra precautions required for the 

protection of life and property would lead to the use of step-down 

transformers, unless the line voltage was as low as 5,000 or 6,000 volts.

As regards the transmission line, it may be noted that the higher 

voltages permit the use of smaller wires, but increase the cost of pole 

fixtures. As is well known, the loss on a given line transmitting a 

given amount of power varies inversely as the square of the voltage, 

so that if the loss be 16 per cent for a line voltage of 10,000 volts it 

will be only about 4 per cent for 20,000 volts and about 1 per cent for
NEWELL.] ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION OF POWER. 239

40,000 volts, or for the same percentage of loss the weight of the wires 

would be similarly diminished; but the additional precautions required 

with higher voltages and the increased danger of interruptions partly 

offset the apparent advantages.

The choice of frequency lies practically between 25 and 60 cycles per 

second, for the reason that all the prominent makers of power-transmission apparatus in this country have perfected designs for these frequencies. For lighting, as well as motor service, a frequency of 40 

is best suited. A score of frequencies, however, ranging from 15 to 135, 

are now in commercial use; the lower are used solely for motor service, and those above 60 are rapidly going out of use. The lower frequencies have the disadvantage of increasing the first cost of transformers, but this is more than offset by the more favorable speeds 

attainable in motors and the diminished inductive effects on transmission lines. For pumping purposes a frequency of 25 is well suited, 

and is preferable to any higher frequency, besides affording some hope 

of obtaining competitive prices on standard apparatus among leading 

manufacturers.

Regarding the proper size, number, and arrangement of line wires, 

the selection must be a compromise among conflicting advantageous 

features. The choice of size is usually so made as to give a loss in 

transmission of between 5 and 10 per cent of the delivered power at 

full load at normal power factor. Frequently, however, it is difficult 

to decide whether to figure on the present full load or the future full 

load; that is, whether, in view of the fact that inside of three or five 

years the demand for power will greatly increase, thus requiring additional generators to be installed, it is best to provide at the start for 

this probable future increase or to design the line solely with reference to the probable conditions during the first year or two of its use, 

leaving future increase to be provided for by additional wires whenever required. If the latter course be chosen the question arises, Is it 

best to design the poles and cross arms with the expectation of placing 

the additional wires thereon, or to count on erecting an additional 

pole line when more wires are required? If provision for future 

extension be attempted at the start, there is the difficulty of arranging 

the wires symmetrically for both three and six wires on a pole. But 

for the increase in first cost it would be preferable to have two distinct pole lines, since by this arrangement inductive troubles between 

circuits would be diminished; moreover, accidents occurring on one 

line would probably not affect the other, and repairs could be made on 

one line while the other was in use, which would not usually be possible 

if all the wires were on one set of poles. To arrange the wires of the 

three-phase system symmetrically, in an electrical sense, requires that 

they be located at the apexes of an equilateral triangle; but in view of 

the numerous transpositions required on multiple-circuit lines, the
240 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

wires might about as well be placed all in the same plane, or in any other 

convenient position. Various ways may be adopted to secure mechanical symmetry that is, to distribute the weights evenly on the 

two sides of the pole. On the whole, taking all considerations into 

account, a very good scheme would be to plan for the final erection of 

two distinct pole lines, but to erect only one pole line for use while the 

system was young and the other whenever the increased demand for 

power seemed to require it. The two pole lines would be placed 50 or 

more feet apart, and the three wires on each pole would be placed in 

the form of an equilateral triangle, with one wire on the top of the 

pole and the other two at opposite ends of a single cross-arm. The 

placing of one line wire on the pole top has the possible objection of 

preventing the placing of a grounded wire in this position for protection 

against lightning, but the need or value of such a grounded wire seems 

not well established, or, at Jeast, to depend largely on local climatic 

conditions.

Finally, a few words about the switching devices, this general term 

covering all the apparatus by means of which the human agent controls the operation of the power-transmission system. Step by step, 

to meet the demands for higher and higher voltages, invention and 

development have multiplied and perfected ingenious switching devices 

in the endeavor to keep pace with the improvements in transformer 

insulation and the production of pole line insulators capable of withstanding the ever-increasing electric stresses imposed, upon them, until 

now it appears that oil-break switches, capable of handling line voltages of 50,000 to 60,000 volts, are, or soon will be, placed upon the 

market and guaranteed by reliable makers. But it is not to be supposed that progress will stop here. On the contrary, another period of 

six years may see a doubling of line voltages similar to that which has 

occurred in the last six years, and with 100,000 volts power may perhaps be transmitted as cheaply and safely a distance of 200 miles as it 

is now transmitted a distance of 75 miles. In view of such possibilities, 

water powers, now apparently worthless because of their remoteness 

from localities where electric power might be utilized for pumping, 

will be brought within the scope of national works for the development of irrigation.

CORRECT DESIGN AND STABILITY OF HIGH MASONRY

DAMS.

By GEORGE Y. WISNEE, Consulting Engineer.

The developments of projects for the storage of flood waters for the 

purpose of irrigating arid lands in the Western States will require the 

designing of dams of unprecedented heights, and in view of the failure 

of similar structures which were considered safe by the engineers who
NEWELL.] HIGH MASONKY BAMS. 241

designed them, it is imperative that the plans be based upon accurate 

data and upon a correct determination of the nature of the stresses to 

which they will be subjected. If such information does not exist there 

should be no excuse for its not being obtained before final plans are 

adopted for all works where failure will result in the loss of either 

life or property.

With a correct knowledge of the weight, strength, modulus of elasticity, and coefficient of expansion of the materials of construction, the 

relation of the stresses in the horizontal arch of a dam to those in the 

vertical sections under varying water pressures and temperature 

strains, can be determined within reasonable limits, and the parts of 

the structure so designed that its safety will be beyond question. 

With the facilities that are at the disposal of the engineer for determining the strength, elasticity, and expansion of materials for the 

construction of large structures, it would be criminal negligence on the 

part of the designer not to make such determinations.

In the development of the theory of the laws that govern the action 

of forces in large dams most of the older investigators, as well as 

many engineers of the present time, have assumed that a dam is a 

rigid homogeneous monolith, and that the foundations, though more 

rigid than the structure, are still perfectly elastic. In the design of 

some recent structures the reverse of these assumptions has been 

adopted, viz, that the materials of which the structure is formed are 

homogeneous and perfectly elastic. Both of these assumptions certainly can not be correct, and as similar conclusions are derived in 

each case it hardly seems good policy to base the design of large 

structures on such precedents.

In regard to the elasticity of the completed dam it may be stated 

that the materials of which it is constructed are far from being perfectly, elastic and homogeneous, and even if they were, the method of 

construction makes the dam a practically rigid structure. The faces of 

the dam are usually of cut-stone masonry with thin joints, having a 

modulus of elasticity of from two to five times that of the concrete or 

rubble filling of which the interior of the dam is composed, thus practically forming a triangular truss having- a height of about one and 

one-third its span, which for stresses up to point of rupture through 

the toe of the dam may be regarded as rigid. The natural rock on 

which the structure should be founded is under heavy compression 

and is held firmly in place by the compressive forces in the earth's 

surface, so that elastic movement under load will be so small that the 

structure may be regarded as resting on a rigid base. Hence, conclusions based upon assumptions that the dam is a perfectly elastic 

structure, or a rigid structure resting upon an elastic foundation, will 

not hold true.

IKK 93 04 16
242 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Under either of these assumptions the conclusion reached, which 

forms the basis of analysis of stresses, is that if the resultant due to the 

water pressure and the weight of the dam falls outside of the middle 

third of the base, tensile strains will be developed in the upper face of 

the dam. a condition which, as dams are generally constructed, is not 

likely to occur before the toe ruptures and the dam slides on its base.

The conclusion that tensile strains will develop in the face of a dam 

when the resultant passes beyond the middle third requires that the 

dam acts as a flexible beam bending about its central line as a neutral 

axis, and that with the reservoir empty there will be no pressure on 

the foundation at the toe and a maximum pressure at the heel, and 

with the reservoir full there will be no pressure at the heel and a 

maximum at the toe. Under the usual form of construction of dams 

the tendency to movement under change of water pressure is about 

the toe, instead of at the center of the base, and as a result the greatest stress in the structure from horizontal water pressures on the face 

will be parallel to and near the back face of the dam, and the pressure 

on the heel of the dam will not become negative when the resultant 

passes the middle third and probably not until the toe ruptures, which 

result materially modifies the actual distribution of pressure on the 

base from what it would be under the assumption of perfect elasticity 

of structure.

The fact is that there is far greater danger of failure from shearing, 

or sliding on the base, than from tensile strains in the upper face or 

from overturning of the structure. The force tending to produce shearing or sliding increases with the square of the depth of the water, and 

in straight dams, where the tensile stresses from changes of temperature may exceed the strength of the masonry, this source of danger is 

a serious one, and practically limits the safe height of the structure.

While it is true that dams depending upon a gravity section for 

safety may require such dimensions that the line of maximum pressure 

in the structure will fall inside the middle third, the reasons for such 

sections should be based as nearly as possible upon the factors that 

control the action of the stresses generated in the structure by the 

loads to which it is subjected.

If a proper batter be given to the upstream face of a dam the maximum 

pressure on the foundation will be some distance from the face, and the 

masonry subjected to such pressures will be so situated as to withstand 

greater stresses than that on the surface of the structure.

In the construction of a concrete or masonry dani, the material as 

deposited in the structure is so pliable that for a depth of 20 to 30 

feet above the foundation the pressure on all parts of the base will 

practically vary with the depth of material, but as the mortar sets and 

hardens, this foundation course acts as a beam resting on material 

which will yield only slightly under heavy loads, and partly distributes
NEWELL.] TEMPERATURE EXPANSIONS IN DAMS. 243

throughout the foundation, the pressure arising from the weight of 

the upper portions of the dam.

The maximum pressure on any part of the foundation will vary with 

the elasticity and compressibility of the masonry and foundation, but 

under average conditions it should not exceed three-fourths of the 

weight of a column of masonry of the same height as the dam.

In short dams having ends firmly anchored in the side walls the 

structure acts as a horizontal beam, and the pressures developed on 

the base are far different from those determined by the usual method 

of considering the water pressure and the weight of the structure to 

act as a couple.

In high dams where the length near the base does not exceed 200 

feet the width is so great that with the ends firmly anchored in the 

side walls the lower portion of the dam acts to a great degree as a 

horizontal beam of such magnitude that very little deformation is possible from water pressures, and consequently only a small portion of 

the stresses from the water pressure are transmitted to the foundation. 

The upper portion of the structure being longer and of less width, 

distortion will take place, and the stresses arising from such movement 

will be distributed through the base of the dam to the foundation and 

to the side walls, according to the design of the dam.

The strains arising from changes of temperature in straight dams 

are sometimes enormous, and unless provided for with large coefficients of safety may endanger the structure. The base of a dam, 

being massive and generally submerged in water, has much less range 

of temperature than the upper portions of the structure, which in 

many cases may exceed 100° F. The expansion of sandstone for 100° 

change of temperature is about 1 inch in 100 feet, of limestone about 1 

inch in 125 feet, and of granite about 1 inch in 170 feet. The expansion of masonry and concrete will vary with the material of which 

composed, but will probably average about 1 inch in 125 feet for 100° 

change of temperature.

A dam 500 feet long, in passing through a change of 100° temperature, will expand or contract about 4: inches in its entire length if not 

prevented by the side walls, and will subject the upper portion of the 

wall to greater strains than those due to water pressure and weight 

of the dam, which the structure was designed to withstand. Internal 

stresses in the masonry from this cause probably have had much to d0 

with the failure of some of the dams. A drop of 20° in temperature 

at the crest of the- dam may cause a tensile strain of 4:0 tons per square 

foot, and unless the dam should be supported by arch construction it 

would be left with only its resistance to shearing and sliding to withstand the water pressure.

In constructing a dam to safely withstand the pressure of a given 

head of water against its face, the structure may either be made suffi-
244 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ciently massive to resist shearing, overturning, and sliding, from the 

water pressure, or, if not too long a span, may be built as'an arch and 

the stresses developed by the water pressure resisted by the side walls 

against which the ends of the arch abut.

It has been stated by high authorities that the masonry of a dam is so 

rigid and nonelastic that it can not act as an arch "for the reason that if 

the profile is sufficient to stand the water pressure by its own gravity the 

mass will not yield under pressure, and if it does not yield, no pressure 

can be transmitted to the sides through the curve." If this assumption 

is correct, is it not equally true that if the mass does not yield under the 

applied pressure no pressure would be transmitted in a vertical plane 

to the toe of the dam ? The transmission of pressure to the base of the 

dam from horizontal water pressures on the face presupposes deformation of the structure, and if the crest be supported by an arch abutting 

against the side walls a portion of the pressure will be taken up by the 

resistance of the arch.

Since the same principle of the transmission of force is involved, 

whether the pressure is transmitted through the arch to the side walls 

or in a vertical plane to the toe of the dam, it is safe to assume that 

in an arch dam under normal conditions a portion of the pressure will 

be transmitted to the side walls and the balance to the toe of the dam, 

the amount of which will vary with the tensile or compressive strains 

in the arch arising from changes of temperature.

If the upper portion of the dam be constructed during a period of 

warm weather the arch will be under tension during the cooler portions of the year, and a large part of the pressure from the water will 

be transmitted to the toe of the dam; whereas if the walls be constructed in cool weather the arch will be under compression most of 

the time, and the water pressure will be transmitted directly to the 

side walls by the arch. It is therefore desirable that the tipper portion of arch dams should be constructed during the season of the year 

when the temperature will average below the mean for the locality of 

the structure.

Assuming that the nature of the masonry in a dam will permit it to 

act as an arch to only a limited extent, the structure becomes practically an arch beam supported at each end, and, without regard to 

weight, will be safe as long as the shearing stress produced by the 

horizontal pressure of the water is not sufficient to produce rupture 

of the dam section at the side walls.

In most cases, for arch dams of less than 500 feet length on the 

crest, the cross section of the structure necessary to keep the pressure 

on the foundation within safe limits is ample to withstand the shearing 

stress from the water pressure, making the arch type of dam, for the 

same stability, much more economical than one of gravity section.

In some experiments made during the construction of the St. Louis
NEWELL.] INTERNAL STRESSES IN MASONRY. 245

bridge it was found that the magnesian limestone used in the piers 

had practically the same modulus of elasticity as that of wrought iron, 

vizj 15,000,000 to 20,000,000, and although no determination has yet 

been made of the elasticity of the sandstone at the site of the Salt 

River dam, it is probable that the modulus will be at least 10,000,000.

In a dam of 25 feet or less thickness at the top, and having elasticity equal to that of ordinary rock or concrete, a large per cent of the 

pressure of the water against the face of the dam will be transmitted 

directly to the side walls by the arch, and any such dam with sufficient cross section to stand the shearing stress from water pressure on 

the face will be absolutely safe, without taking into consideration the 

weight of the dam on the foundation. In other words, if such a dam 

was supposed to be supported entirely by water pressure from under 

the foundation, the structure would still be secure.

The best construction for an arch dam is probably a wall having 

faces of first-class masonry with center filling of concrete and large 

rock. An arch dam of such construction will consist practically of 

two concentric arches capable of withstanding heavy pressures, connected Tby a water-tight concrete core, or web, having a much lower 

modulus of elasticity a condition well adapted to meet all of the 

requirements of the problem and at the same time eliminate the 

necessity of molds and false works in placing the concrete in the 

structure. In cases of high dams of considerable length the use of 

railroad iron in the upper portion of the structure may be necessary to 

prevent temperature cracks.

The internal stresses in a large body of masonry arising from inequalities of its elasticity in its different parts, from unequal distribution 

of its own weight on its foundation, from compressive and tensile 

forces developed by changes of temperature in different parts of the 

structure, and from resistance to external pressures from wind, water, 

and shocks, can not be absolutely determined; but with a correct 

knowledge of the weight, strength, elasticity, and expansion of the 

materials with which constructed, the movement of the crest of the 

dam, for changes of temperature and water pressure, can be stated 

sufficiently near for determining thickness of the dam and the radius 

of the horizontal section best adapted for distributing the stresses 

between the base of the dam and the side walls against which the 

structure abuts. In any arch dam the thrust in any horizontal section 

is equal to the pressure on a unit of surface multiplied by the length 

of the radius, and the compression which takes place in the arch is 

equal to two times the deflection at the center into the tangent of onefourth of the arc covered by the section considered.

The mid-channel section of the dam may be regarded as a vertical 

cantilever beam supported rigidly at its base and composed of material 

of which the weight and modulus of elasticity are known.
246 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

The application of pressure to the upstream edge of the section will 

cause a deformation of the structure and a slight movement of the 

crest downstream, which, from the known nature of materials and 

design of construction, can be computed within reasonable limits.

This movement of the crest corresponds with the deflection in the 

horizontal arch, and the section instead of being a vertical cantilever 

beam becomes a beam rigidly fixed at the base with its free end supported by an arch having a slight elasticity, and if the radius of the 

arch be properly proportioned with regard to the height of the dam, 

the length of the crest, and the modulus of elasticity of the materials 

of construction, the stresses from the water pressure will be transmitted to both the base of the dam and the side walls, practically giving the structure more than twice the stability of a gravity section 

dam of the same dimensions.

The height at which a dam may safely be built at any given location 

does not depend so much on the water pressure to which it will be 

subjected as upon the nature of the material of which constructed and 

the changes of temperature which will occur in the masonry. In a 

dam 250 feet high, and 500 feet long on the crest, the tensile and 

compressive strains due to the ordinary range of temperature may be 

more than four times those arising from the water pressure with the 

reservoir full. In a straight dam they are liable to open the joints of 

the masonry, and in an arch dam will cause compressive stresses in 

the masonry at the base and side walls as great as is safe to place on 

ordinary materials of construction.

In the analysis of a recent structure it is stated that precedents are 

of greater importance than theoretical analysis of the stresses in determining the safety of the dam. The fact that a dam has not failed is 

by no means a safe indication that it has been correctly designed, and 

to follow such methods of construction without original investigation 

of all the conditions involved in each case is liable to bring the engineer 

to grief.

While it is true that the earlier investigators in their endeavors to 

determine the laws governing the action of stresses in dams were 

obliged to make certain assumptions, the facilities afforded the engineer 

of the present time for determining the strength and physical characteristics of all materials of construction largely eliminates such necessity. In case any problem should arise where certain general assumptions are necessary it may be stated as a general principle that the 

nearer such assumptions are made to the true conditions and facts the 

more nearly will the results obtained conform to those which would 

result from an absolutely accurate determination of all the factors 

involved.
NEWELL.] PAPERS BEAD AT THE CONFERENCE. 247

RECONNAISSANCE AND PLANS.

i 

By GEORGE Y. WISNEE, Consulting Engineer.

In the course of my work as consulting engineer I have made trips 

of inspection to the sites of proposed projects in Arizona, Colorado, 

California, Montana, Nevada, and New Mexico. In now reviewing the 

work seen certain critical suggestions as to methods and supervision 

of work occur to me which I wish to present for consideration, but 

without intent to criticise unduly.

Reconnaissance. In some of the projects examined I noted that the 

preliminary field surveys have been, what seems to me, unnecessarily 

elaborate where the feasibility was uncertain, and in my opinion it 

would have been possible to determine the feasibility of the various 

undertakings with less outlay of time and money. Of course it must 

be recognized that in all Government work care must be taken, and 

no excuse can be offered for hasty or imperfect conclusions, and that 

if either extreme is to be reached, it is better to be too careful than 

too hasty. Again, as many of the preliminary investigations result in 

the condemnation of popular illusions, it is necessary to obtain absolute and incontestable facts in order to show that the statements madeby others have been based upon misapprehension of the facts. Nevertheless, some care should, in my opinion, be given to planning preliminary surveys on a scale not requiring a great deal of time or money.

In making these preliminary examinations the district engineer or a 

competent man familiar with the requirements of the project should 

do the work. It should not be intrusted to younger men or persons 

of immature judgment, as at every step experience and quickness of 

perception are needed in such work. If dependence is placed upon 

instrumental methods, less personal judgment is required.

The general feasibility of nearly all of these projects can be determined by a careful study of the amount of precipitation on the drainage areas, and the run-off of the streams, in connection with a proper 

barometric reconnaissance of the streams, reservoir sites, and lands to 

be irrigated. By the use of three aneroid barometers on a reconnaissance, the variation in level can be determined rapidly over wide areas 

within limits of less than 10 feet of range in elevation, or sufficiently 

near to determine the general feasibility of the project from both an 

engineering and financial point of view. The cost of this work is 

small compared to that necessary for making instrumental surveys, 

and the investigations can be made without annoyance and antagonism 

as to the purposes in view.

When a project has been determined to be feasible and instrumental surveys are ordered, the investigation should be made exhaust-
248 FIRST RECLAMETION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ive, both as to methods and cost of putting- water upon the lands to be 

irrigated, and as to plans and expense of properly underdraining them. 

The irrigation of large tracts without proper drainage from the start 

is almost certain to result in disappointment on the part of purchasers 

of homes.

Data for plans. Some of the structures required for the projects 

of the service will be of unprecedented dimensions; and to be absolutely 

certain of their permanency, the strength and physical characteristics 

of the materials of construction should be carefully determined, and 

the nature of foundations on which they are to be based should be 

ascertained beyond any possible question. While such thorough 

investigations may not change the plans to be adopted in one case in 

ten, yet that tenth case might be disastrous.

Relations of consulting and district engineers. The success of the 

reclamation service and the value of its work will depend largely upon 

harmonious relations and effort among the entire personnel, in all 

the divisions. To produce such a desired state of affairs will require 

perfect confidence on the part of the district engineers in the ability 

of their advisers, and upon the general confidence that the credit due 

to each man in developing the data on which to base plans shall be 

 fully recognized in making the designs of the works.

The reputation of the consulting engineer is generally so well established that the credit of having made certain designs will be of little 

value to him, while to the young engineer in charge of the development of an important project, it may be of great importance to him 

whether he makes the designs and plans with the advice of the consulting engineers, or whether the data which he has collected be placed 

in other bands for making designs of structures, thereby indirectly 

implying a lack of confidence in his ability on the part of the Survey.

It is my opinion that the position of consulting engineer should be 

solely that of adviser, so far as the district engineers are concerned, and 

that in all cases the latter should be allowed the privilege and credit 

of developing the designs of the works under their charge, acting with 

the advice and guidance of their advisers.

With such a mutual understanding, the relations will always be 

pleasant and harmonious, while, if otherwise, more or less jealousy 

will be engendered. It is true that the time of the district engineer is 

often so taken up with other duties that the natural tendency would be 

to relieve him from the additional work of making plans, but when the 

credit of such work is necessary to building up his professional reputation, it should not be taken from him, for the reason that, outside of 

justice to the individual, his actual value to the service depends largely 

on his personal interest and enthusiasm in his work, to maintain which 

there must be personal credit and advancement to look forward to. 

The trouble that arose during the construction of the Austin dam fur-
NEWELL.] EEPOETS AND STATEMENTS. 249

nishes probably one of the best examples on record to show how not to 

conduct work, the disastrous results being a costly object lesson of the 

danger that may arise from lack of confidence and harmony between 

the consulting engineer and the engineer in charge.

Economy of water. An excessive use of water on irrigated lands is 

often more injurious than an insufficient supply during occasional dry 

seasons; and since, where large tracts are to be colonized, the settlers 

will be generally ignorant of the requirements for success, it seems 

important that a careful study be made, under the different climatic 

conditions of the arid States, to determine the quantity and frequency 

of application of water best adapted to different crops and localities, 

the results of the investigations to be widely published by the Government for the benefit of settlers. In many localities the amount of land 

suitable for irrigation is largely in excess of that for which a sufficient 

volume of water is available, and therefore, from the point of view of 

developing the country, it becomes important to determine the minimum quantity of water that will produce the proper results at different locations and under different conditions of precipitation and climate.

REPORTS AND STATEMENTS.

By H. N. SAVAGE, Consulting Engineer.

During the last month I have had an opportunity of visiting a number of projects in the States of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. I have been impressed with the importance of making rapid 

yet accurate preliminary reconnaissance examinations to determine the 

general feasibility and controlling factors of a project before expensive 

field survey parties are put to work, and particularly with the necessity 

of keeping the district and supervising engineers fully informed as to 

the exact character, progress, and results of the work being carried 

on by each chief of party or each individual working separately.

For the best results, monthly statements are, in my judgment, not 

sufficiently frequent, and I would suggest that a concise report, to 

consist of a few paragraphs, be compiled at the end of each calendar 

week and promptly sent in. Brief recommendations as to the future 

conduct of work should also be invited and encouraged from those 

reporting. Such frequent reports would aid the district engineers in 

formulating and perfecting the plans for the works under their charge, 

and at the same time would develop and indicate the engineering comprehension and efficiency of the engineers and others reporting.

I also want to call attention to the unusually complete and valuable 

opportunity for young engineers to fully acquaint themselves with 

the engineering work of the reclamation service and at the same time 

to acquire training and experience of the highest order. The policy 

already in force in the field enables every engineer to become fully
250 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

conversant with the data, its method of acquisition, and its development into plans, and if the offices of the district engineers are located 

near the projects, as I trust they may be, it will be feasible for all 

those employed to gain also a complete knowledge of construction, 

embracing all details of contracts, supervision, and results, as well as 

costs. In my judgment too much can not be said nor done looking 

toward mutual cooperation and mutual development in our engineer

corps.

METHODS AND REPORTS.

By J. B. LIPPINCOTT.

In connection with reports and the importance of having these 

promptly, I wish to present the scheme that I have prepared for use 

in California. This is embodied in the following paragraphs. It is 

more or less experimental in character, but is intended to cover existing conditions. a

MEMORANDUM FOR REPORTS TO SUPERVISING ENGINEER.

All reports relating to work done in California (including Colorado River work) 

by members of the hydrographic branch of the United States Geological Survey, 

including the reclamation service, should be addressed to Mr. J. B. Lippincott, 

Supervising Engineer, 408 Byrne Building, Los Angeles, Cal. All accounts and correspondence addressed to the chief engineer should pass through the office of the 

supervising engineer.

The following reports should be rendered:

1. A weekly time report, showing where each employee has worked and what he 

has done.

2. A monthly time report, made up from the weekly time report.

3. A weekly progress report, stating results, recommendations, etc.

4. A monthly progress report.

5. A monthly report of expenditures.

1. Weekly time report. Each chief of party must make a weekly time report of the 

services rendered by his party. Each individual working independently must also 

make a similar weekly report of services. These reports must be made on the filing 

cards furnished. They must be approved by the chief of party and mailed to the 

supervising engineer promptly. This report should show concisely the manner in 

which the person was occupied and will constitute his personal record of work in the 

offices of the supervising engineer and of the chief engineer at Washington. The 

card should show by dates the kind of occupation for each day of the week. The 

instructions on the back of the monthly report (Form 9-245) should be followed in 

filling out these cards. If a field party or an individual is employed on more than 

one project during the week, a separate card must be made out for each project.

2. Monthly time report. Before sending the weekly time report to the supervising engineer each individual working independently should fill out from it that 

portion of the monthly report (Form 9-245) covering the week, so that the monthly 

report will be an exact copy of the several time reports covering the month. At the 

end of the calendar month the monthly report should be forwarded to the supervising engineer, accompanied by a monthly progress report and a diagram showing 

where the work was done, as will be described below.

a See also pp. 45-50.
NEWELL.] WEEKLY AND MONTHLY REPORTS. 251

A chief of party need not fill out a monthly report (Form 9-245) for each man in 

his party, but should send in one for himself and the party. It should be headed, 

'' Report of services rendered by j......... and party during the month of...........

1904." (Use Form 9-245.)

3. Weekly report to supervising engineer. The engineer in the field should keep himself thoroughly informed as to the details and progress of the work in hand. To 

maintain the greatest possible efficiency the supervising engineer should be fully 

informed as to the progress, results, needs, and cost of each project, and in order 

that he may obtain this information it is desired that a short report be rendered 

once a week. It will be well to forward this report with the weekly time-report 

cards.

This report should be made by each chief of party, or by each individual working 

independently in the field, and should state concisely, in a few paragraphs, what has 

been accomplished since the last report was made. If work has not progressed satisfactorily for any cause, the reason for and extent of the delay should be stated.

Recommendations concerning the work in hand, the completeness of the surveys, 

additional investigations required or suggested, or other matters affecting the value 

of the work should be made when necessary. Estimates should be made of the 

time necessary to complete the work under way, when it is nearing completion, in 

order that arrangements may be made for transferring men and material to other 

places. Recommendations and suggestions are particularly desired.

A general rule regarding these weekly reports is that they should relate principally 

to the progress of the work which comes directly under the care of the supervising 

engineer. Anything concerning purchases, vouchers, instruments, the detailing of 

work to assistants, and the general administrative work should not be embodied in 

these reports.

Nothing in these instructions is to be construed as interfering with correspondence with the supervising engineer at any time during the week. Much of the 

detail office work regarding supplies, instruments, etc., is attended to by his assistants. The correspondence of the office is so large that it is desired to separate the 

reports from the mere detail work of the office. Concise accounts of work done will 

greatly assist in this matter.

3, Monthly progress report. A monthly progress report, accompanied by the 

monthly time report and a sketch map (base for which will be furnished), should 

be rendered to the supervising engineer at the end of each month by each chief of 

party and each individual working independently in the field. After they have been 

inspected by the supervising engineer these reports will be forwarded to Washington 

for the information of the chief engineer.

The monthly progress report must be concise, comprising but a few paragraphs, 

and must refer strictly to the progress of the work and the results accomplished 

since the last monthly progress report was made, all statements of details being 

reserved for the weekly reports, as noted above. If work has been prosecuted on 

more than one project, a separate report will be required on each, and the amount 

of work done on each must be clearly set forth.

In case of surveys for reservoir sites the report should state approximately the 

number of square mijes surveyed, scale of map, contour interval, character of 

country (as rough, broken, wooded), etc. In reporting on leveling, the number of 

miles run and number of bench marks established, etc., should be stated. In 

reporting on canal surveys, the number of miles run, whether location or preliminary, the number of miles contoured, the character of country, whether rough, 

wooded, etc., should be stated. In reporting on drilling for bed rock at a dam site, 

the number of holes sunk, the aggregate number of feet driven, and the number of 

feet of diamond drilling should be stated, and a general statement should be added
252 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

as to the suitability of the location as a dam site so far as developed. In reporting 

stream-gaging trips the routes traversed should be stated, and the number of gagings 

made and where they were made. In reconnaissance work a general account should 

be given of the route traversed, the localities visited, and the conclusions drawn. 

Recommendations for the abandonment of old gaging stations or establishing of 

new ones are desired.

Each chief of party or man working independently will be supplied with a sketch 

map of the locality in which he is working, on which he should indicate the areas 

surveyed, the routes traveled, etc. The monthly progress report, map, and monthly 

time report (Form 9-245) should be pinned or bound together and forwarded 

promptly to the supervising engineer. Exception to this rule will be made only 

when men are engaged in extensive reconnaissance or in stream-gaging trips.

4. Monthly report of expenditures and cost of work. At the end of the month each 

chief of party or individual working independently in the field, in charge of 

work, such as topography, leveling, canal surveys, borings at dam sites, etc., shall 

submit to the supervising engineer an estimate of the amount of work done and the 

total expenses incurred for such work during the month. He shall also estimate as 

closely as possible the cost per unit for the work, as per square mile for topography, 

per foot for borings, per mile for canal surveys, etc. At the completion of the survey 

detailed estimates of the total cost and unit cost of work will be required from each 

chief of party.

In case several projects are under way at the same time and are paid for out of a 

general fund, the chief of party will apportion the cost among the different projects as 

closely as possible. It is realized that this is not precisely accurate, but it will 

closely approximate the actual cost.

IRRIGATION SURVEYS AND THE USE OF THE PLANE

TABLE.

By J. B. LIPPINCOTT.

It is the purpose in this discussion to give a brief account of some 

work done with the plane table several years ago for the Bear Valley 

Irrigation Company in San Bernardino County, Cal. It is not claimed 

that the methods described are new, except in a few instances, but 

because so much topographic work is done by methods that seem to 

those who understand the plane table as being painfully crude, this 

discussion may be interesting and perhaps useful.

The Bear Valley Irrigation Company surveyed, and in part constructed, a canal from Santa Ana Canyon to the town of Alessandro, a 

distance of about 40 miles. The canal was to be a cemented channel, 

designed to carry about 240 cubic feet per second. The plan adopted 

for these surveys was to tirst run a preliminary transit angle line for 

the control of a topographic map on which the location was to be 

plotted. Three methods of topographic mapping were tried:

1. Contours were located in a few instances with slope board and 

rod, the party consisting by this method of three men. The most 

ground was covered in this way, but the least accuracy was obtained.

2. Rodmen were located on given contours at right angles to the 

stations by a level man, using a hand level and obtaining his eleva-
NEWELT,] USE OP PLANE TABLE. 253

tions from the stations. Measurements were then made to the rods 

from center, and all notes were recorded by the topographer in his 

notebook. The party in this case consisted of a topographer, level 

man, two rodmen, and one or two tape men. The notes were sent to 

the office, where a draftsman compiled the map.

3. The plane table was used. The preliminary line had been run 

and the line plotted and all elevations recorded on the plane-table sheet. 

The board was set up over a convenient stake or hub, the level man 

carried his elevation from the bench marks, giving- a check on these 

as he went, the rods were placed on contours and sighted with the 

alidade, sights being taken with care and not allowed to be over 300 

feet long. Philadelphia rods were used.

In a country where the slope is somewhat even and about 2 horizontal to 1 vertical with canyons from 30 to 70 feet deep every 300 to 

500 feet and with no brush, the speed with a party of five (topographer, level man, two rodmen, and a general helper for umbrella man) 

will be from 2,500 to 4,000 feet a day, actually locating four 10-foot 

contours and sketching five or six more, and interpolating the 5-foot 

contours. In the same country the speed with method No. 2, locating 

the same number of contours, will be about the same, reading being 

taken at each station. With the slope board the speed will be doubled, 

with readings at every station. There will, however, be a marked 

difference in the quality of work.

Suppose we have the preliminary line running up to and crossing 

canyons 50 or 60 feet deep and say 200 feet wide. There may be the 

opportunity of selecting a crossing from two or three different points 

or of running approximately around on the contour. The plane table 

has a 600-foot range before leaving the center line. By a traverse the 

plane table may occupy a series of new points at any distance from the 

line, giving new points of observation, from which may be made a 

detail survey of the canyon quickly and closely. By the use of the 

vertical angle the scope of the work is greatly increased. As for the 

slope board, in a case of this sort it is helpless. Its range is only 15 

or 20 feet and the topographer can make only a rough sketch by the 

eye of remaining portions.

With the second method the conditions are improved by the use of a 

hand compass, and the tape traverse line may be carried up a canyon, 

and the elevations taken along with the hand level, but the work will 

be of the crudest nature. There are no stadia wires to take readings 

across the canyons and no vertical arc to assist in extending the information desired, and most of all, the great advantage of skilled and 

intelligent sketching directly on the sheet at the time of observation, 

assisted by numerous located points is lost.

It has been the verdict of topographers on the United States Geological Survey that the only way to get an expressive and accurate
254 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

topographic map is to plot and sketch it in the field. Where field 

notes are turned over to an office man, or even where the notes are 

recorded and subsequently developed by the same man, it is believed 

that numerous errors are unavoidable, and that nearly all the expression is lost.

The same argument pertains with especial force to places where 

a tunnel is proposed. The possibilities of several positions can be 

studied on the plane-table sheets, including in many cases, the length 

of line around the point, a condition that could, with difficulty, if at 

all, be covered by either of the other two methods of procedure. 

Some may argue that all these conditions ought to be shown by additional preliminary lines-. This may be true and frequently the work, 

is done in this way, but it takes nearly as long and a larger party to 

run the preliminary line as to run four or five 10-foot contours, and 

the information from the bare line is not nearly so complete. I might 

state that it has been my experience that a line of this nature may be 

run by plane-table traverse around a canyon or point a distance of 

from 2,000 to 4,000 feet and may close on the board within from 1 to 

3 feet, the work being on a scale of 50 feet to 1 inch.

When the country is open and smooth, without canyons, from 5,000 

to 6,000 feet a day can be made, locating, say, about 6 contours of 

5-foot interval and sketching the 2-foot intervals.

In running through a very broken mesa country, and usually across 

drainage lines, the slopes being about 1 to 1, with everything covered 

by a dense growth of brush, an average speed of about 1,700 feet a 

day was maintained, and at this time, as at others, a careful map was 

made, frequently from 500 to 1,000 feet on each side of the line, in 

order to give information concerning several routes.

Unfortunately, location lines were plotted only on the topographic 

sketch that was drawn on the plane table, so that an absolute comparison of accuracy between the different methods can not be given at 

present. However, the plane-table work has stood severe tests. The 

average error of the contour map is about 6 inches. These errors 

came in principally on crossing canyons, and are on the steep slopes; 

on the benches and uniform slopes the average error is about 3 inches.

With a map of this nature a very detailed study can be made of 

various grades, and from the slopes shown an accurate estimate of the 

cost of the work can be had. The cost of this plane-table work is 

about $18.50 for each working day. In country such as was first 

described, with a speed of 3,500 feet a day, this will amount to say $28 

a mile; in smooth, open country, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet a day, we have 

a cost of say $18 a mile; and in the country last described, where all 

the conditions are about as bad as possible, the cost will be about 

$57.50 a mile.
NEWELL.] ALKALINE WATER IN IRRIGATION. 255

The cost of taking topography by the second method, i. e., with hand 

level, when we consider the increased expense of office work, is just 

about the same, and the results are much less satisfactory than with 

the plane table. A portion of the survey for the Santa Ana canal is 

along the face of a box canyon, which is practically a vertical rock wall. 

In cases of this kind topographic work had to be done largely by the 

use of vertical angles, the rods being taken wherever they could be 

held and as many points as possible located by intersection, the topog- 

. raphy being in the nature of a general sketch. In this locality the 

preliminary line was run as near to an assumed grade as possible, but 

triangulation was frequently resorted to.

On the general topographic map a grade line was plotted and men 

were put to work to clear out a trail as near this line as possible. This 

line was then run out and plotted on plane-table sheets of uniform 

size on a scale of 30 feet to 1 inch. The sheets were put on a board 

without a tripod and taken on the line. The rods were placed on contour with hand level and measurements taken to them, the points being 

plotted on the board and sketching done at the same time. Measurements of this nature were taken at short intervals, and the topography 

was put in with precision. The final location was then plotted on these 

sheets. This method gives very good satisfaction in country of this 

nature.

In undulating rough or side hill country a plane table survey in detail 

as described above is believed to be justifiable, but for a flat or uniform 

plain probably satisfactory results can be obtained at less cost by eliminating the contour map and trusting to angle lines alone.

THE USE OF ALKALINE WATEKS FOK IRRIGATION.®

By THOMAS H. MEANS,

In charge of alkali reclamation work for the Bureau of Soils of the 

Department of Agriculture.

During the summer of 1902 a representative of the Bureau of Soils 

visited the oases of the Oued Rihr country in the Desert of Sahara, in 

eastern Algeria. In these oases artesian waters carrying very large 

quantities of soluble matter are used successfully for irrigation. From 

the information gathered there, and from experience in this country, 

it seems that the amount of soluble matter allowable in an irrigation 

water has been greatly underestimated by American writers, and that 

many sources of water which have been condemned can be used with 

safety and success, provided the proper precautions are taken to prevent the accumulation of the salts. As the precautions are those 

which should be taken by every irrigator, even if pure water is used,

a Extract from Circular No. 10 of the Bureau of Soils, July 1,1903.
256 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

it seems an important matter to bring before the American people the 

methods in use in the Sahara.

The staple crop grown by the Arabs in the oasis country, is the date, 

the fruit of a palm tree known to be one of the plants most resistant 

to alkaline or saline conditions of the soil, but in addition to this considerable quantities of deciduous fruits, garden vegetables, and alfalfa 

are produced for home consumption.

Some of the vegetables successfully grown are those considered 

sensitive to alkali, and yet they are irrigated with water containing in 

some instances as much as 800 parts of soluble salts to 100,000 parts 

of water, sometimes as high as 50 per cent of tlie salts being sodium 

chloride.

The limit of concentration for irrigation water in the United States, 

even where only the most resistant field crops are to be grown, lias 

been placed by some authorities at 30 parts sodium chloride (common 

salt) or sodium carbonate (black alkali), and at from 170 to 300 parts 

of the less harmful salts, per 100,000 of water. The Bureau of Soils, 

however, several years ago insisted that water of a somewhat higher 

salt content might be used if the soil had good natural drainage, or 

artificial drainage were supplied, and the methods of irrigation were 

modified to suit the different conditions. Thus in 1899 a the following 

statements were made after a study of soils and alkali conditions in 

the Pecos Valley, New Mexico:

Next to the ownership of the land and the labor questions the most important 

cause of the trouble in the larger portion of the Pecos Valley is the high salt content 

of the irrigation water, especially in certain seasons.

At Roswell the principal water supply contains about 76 parts of soluble matter in 

100,000 parts of water. At Hagerman this is increased to about 200 parts, at Carlsbad 

to 240 parts, at Florence to 280 parts, at Red Bluff to 316 parts, at Pecos City, Tex., to 

400 parts, and below Pecos City to over 500 parts. Five hundred parts of soluble 

matter may be taken as the extreme limit of endurance for plants, while 250 or 300 

parts mark the danger point at which the results of the use of the water are very 

uncertain.

******* 

The limit of endurance for most cultivated plants in a water solution is about 1 per 

cent, or 1,000 parts of the readily soluble salts in 100,000 parts of water, but it must 

be remembered that in field culture the water is applied to soils already containing 

more or less of these salts, and also that evaporation and consequent concentration 

immediately set in after the application of water. It was found at Carlsbad that 

about 300 parts of soluble matter per 100,000 parts of water marked the extreme 

limit 

*******

of safety of the use of water at that place.

One thing should be said in connection with the Carlsbad area, which seems 

rather anomalous in view of the statements of other investigators, namely, that with 

a water supply so near the limit of crop endurance as this becomes at times and in 

those areas in which there is already a large accumulation of salts, economy in the 

use of irrigation water, which is generally recommended in alkali regions, is one of

a Kept. 64, Field Operations, Division of Soils, 1899.
NEWELL.] ALKALINE WATERS IN THE SAHARA. "257

the worst methods which can be practiced. Where the soil contains a relatively 

large amount of salt and but little water containing much salt is frequently applied, 

the ordinary evaporation will increase the salt content of the soil to such an extent 

that crops can no longer survive; whereas if adequate drainage is provided, and a 

large amount of water is used, the excess of salt resulting from the evaporation of 

previous applications of water may be removed, and the soil moisture be maintained 

at nearly the same concentration as the water supply.

The fact that the Arabs in Algerian oases are actually growing sensitive plants by the aid of irrigation waters containing from 400 to 800 

parts of soluble salts, in some instances 50 per cent sodium chloride, 

shows that the Bureau has been on the conservative side in its estimates, and should encourage a more hopeful feeling among people 

occupying areas where only alkali water is available for irrigation.

The prerequisite to the use of water of high salt content in irrigation 

is the knowledge that the methods employed are opposed to the teachings of most American writers on the subject. Those who place, low 

the limit of safety for alkaline irrigation waters have taught that 

where water was badly alkaline irrigation should be sparing. They 

have not insisted on thorough drainage, and they have warned irrigators against too frequent irrigation. With such practices the limit of 

concentration which they set is probably high enough, and even then 

all except the most sandy soils or those with exceptionally good 

natural drainage would ultimately be damaged.

The methods in the oases are quite different. The Arab gardens are 

divided into small plots about 20 feet square, between which run drainage ditches dug to a depth of about 3 feet. The soils being very light 

and sandy, this ditching at short intervals insures the most rapid and 

thorough drainage. Irrigation is by the check method, and application 

is made at least once a week, though often two wettings a week are 

deemed necessary. A large quantity of water is used at each irrigation. Thus a continuous movement of the water downward is maintained, there is little opportunity for the soil water to become more 

concentrated than the water as applied, and the interval between 

irrigations being so short but little accumulation of salt from evaporation at the surface takes place. What concentration or accumulation 

does occur is quickly corrected by the succeeding irrigation.

The native gardens are situated in the date palm groves and the 

vegetables and fruit are grown in the partial shade cast by these trees. 

The natives not only have the question of very saline irrigation waters 

to contend with, but the soils originally are often very alkaline. In 

three years they reclaim land too salty to grow the minor crops, using 

the saline water for that purpose, following the same plan of drainage 

and weekly irrigation as where crops are growing. One garden situated 

on the side of a salt flat and originally very saline was visited. Here 

alfalfa was in very good condition, and fig, pomegranate, melon, tomato, 

IRK 93 04 17
258 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.]

cabbage, pepper, and other plants were growing luxuriantly. The 

reclamation of this plat l>j irrigation twice a week had taken three 

years.

The native gardeners exercise great judgment in adapting their crops 

to the soil conditions. Where most alkaline the date palm alone is 

found; in other parts of the grove are grown the fig and pomegranate, 

and in other parts the vegetables less resistant to alkali. The amount 

of salt in the soil sufficient to injure the palm was not determined, but 

the French were unsuccessful in an attempt to establish a grove, the 

water used in irrigation being taken from a salt pond and containing, 

according to field determinations, 3 parts sodium carbonate, 5 parts 

sodium bicarbonate, and 1,036 parts sodium chloride in 100,000 parts.

The irrigation water is all drawn from artesian wells. Field tests 

showed as high as 816 parts to 100,000 water in actual use on soils 

growing vegetables.

Enough has been written to show that much more can be done with 

alkaline irrigation water than has hitherto been generally thought 

possible, and while the intensive culture of the Algerian gardeners is 

not suited to our western conditions, there is believed to be no 

reason why their methods can not be adapted, even with an improvement in point of economy, to more extensive cropping of the soil.

The soils in the Pecos Valley are not unlike, those of the oases, and 

the general conditions in the two places are somewhat similar, although 

the irrigation water, even at the lowest stage of the Pecos River, is 

not as alkaline as the artesian water of the desert, nor are the soils 

naturally as alkaline. Employing the Algerian method of frequent 

irrigation with generous amounts of water on land well drained by 

open ditches or tile-drains, large areas now out of cultivation might 

be used to grow alfalfa, truck, and other crops.

It is believed that a comprehension of these facts will be of great 

value to the people of this country residing in regions affected with 

alkali, and that it will result ultimately in bringing into cultivation 

much land that has hitherto been thought worthless because of the 

character of the water available for irrigation.
ACCOMPANYING PAPERS.

THE RECLAMATION LAW.

The full text of the reclamation law dated June 17, 1902, a is as 

follows:

AN ACT Appropriating the receipts from the sale and disposal of public lands in certain States and 

Territories to the construction of irrigation works for the relamation of arid lands.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 

in Congress assembled, That all moneys received from the sale and disposal of public 

lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, 

New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, 

and Wyoming, beginning with the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and one, including the surplus of fees and commissions in excess of allowances 

to registers and receivers, and excepting the five per centum of the proceeds of the 

sales of public lands in the above States set aside by law for educational and other 

purposes, shall be, and the same are hereby, reserved, set aside, and appropriated as 

a special fund in the Treasury to be known as the "reclamation fund," to be used in 

the examination and survey for and the construction and maintenance of irrigation 

works for the storage, diversion, and development of waters for the reclamation of 

arid and semiarid lands in the said States and Territories, and for the payment of all 

other expenditures provided for in this Act: Provided, That in case the receipts from 

the sale and disposal of public lands other than those realized from the sale and disposal of lands referred to in this section are insufficient to meet the requirements for 

the support of agricultural colleges in the several States and Territories, under the 

Act of August thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, entitled ' 'An Act to apply a 

portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and 

support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, estab-, 

lished under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved July second, eighteen 

hundred and sixty-two," the deficiency, if any, in the sum necessary for the support 

of the said colleges shall be provided for from any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 2. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to 

make examinations and surveys for, and to locate and construct, as herein provided, 

irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and development of waters, including 

artesian wells, and to report to Congress at the beginning of each regular session as 

to the results of such examinations and surveys, giving estimates of cost of all contemplated works, the quantity and location of the lands which can be irrigated 

therefrom, and all facts relative to the practicability of each irrigation project; also 

the cost of works in process of construction as well as of those which have been 

completed.

SEC. 3. That the Secretary of the Interior shall, before giving the public notice 

provided for in section four of this Act, withdraw from public entry the lands required 

for any irrigation works contemplated under the provisions of this Act, and shall

aStat. L., vol. 32, p. 388.

259
260 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

restore to public entry any of the lands so withdrawn when, in his judgment, such 

lands are not required for the purposes of this Act; and the Secretary of the Interior 

is hereby authorized, at or immediately prior to the time of beginning the surveys 

for any contemplated irrigation works, to withdraw from entry, except under the 

homestead laws, any public lands believed to be susceptible of irrigation from said 

works: Provided, That all lands entered and entries made under the homestead laws 

within areas so withdrawn during such withdrawal shall be subject to all the provisions, limitations, charges, terms, and conditions of this Act; that said surveys 

shall be prosecuted diligently to completion, and upon the completion thereof, 

and of the necessary maps, plans, and estimates of cost, the Secretary of the Interior 

shall determine whether or not said project is practicable and advisable, and if 

determined to be impracticable or unadvisable he shall thereupon restore said lands 

to entry; that public lands which it is proposed to irrigate by means of any contemplated works shall be subject to entry only under the provisions of the homestead 

laws in tracts of not less than forty nor more than one hundred and sixty acres, and 

shall be subject to the limitations, charges, terms, and conditions herein provided: 

Provided, That the commutation provisions of the homestead laws shall not apply 

to entries made under this Act.

SEC. 4. That upon the determination by the Secretary of the Interior that any irrigation project is practicable, he may cause to be let contracts for the construction of 

the same, in such portions or sections as it may be practicable to construct and complete as parts of the whole project, providing the necessary funds for such portions 

or sections are available in the reclamation fund, and thereupon he shall give public 

notice of the lands irrigable under such project, and limit of area per entry, which 

limit shall represent the acreage which, in the opinion of the Secretary, may be 

reasonably required for the support of a family upon the lands in question; also of 

the charges which shall be made per acre upon the said entries, and upon lands in 

private ownership which may be irrigated by the w'aters of the said irrigation project, and the number of annual installments, not exceeding ten, in which such charges 

shall be paid and the time when such payments shall commence. The said charges 

shall be determined with a view of returning to the reclamation fund the estimated 

cost of construction of the project, and shall be apportioned equitably: Provided, 

That in all construction work eight hours shall constitute a day's work, and no 

Mongolian labor shall be employed thereon.

SEC. 5. That the entryman upon lands to be irrigated by such works shall, in addition to compliance with the homestead laws, reclaim at least one-half of the total 

irrigable area of his entry for agricultural purposes, and before receiving patent for 

the lands covered by his entry shall pay to the Government the charges apportioned 

against such tract, as provided in section four. No right to the use of water for land 

in private ownership shall be sold for a tract exceeding one hundred and sixty acres 

to any one landowner, and no such sale shall be made to any landowner unless he 

be an actual bona fide resident on such land, or occupant thereof residing in the 

neighborhood of said land, and no such right shall permanently attach until all payments therefor are made. The annual installments shall be paid to the receiver of 

the local land office of the district in which the land is situated, and a failure to make 

any two payments when due shall render the entry subject to cancellation, with the 

forfeiture of all rights under this Act, as well as of any moneys already paid thereon. 

All moneys received from the above sources shall be paid into the reclamation fund. 

Registers and receivers shall be allowed the usual commissions on all moneys paid 

for lands entered under this Act.

SEC. 6. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to use 

the reclamation fund for the operation and maintenance of all reservoirs and irrigation works constructed under the provisions of this Act: Provided, That when the 

payments required by this Act are made for the major portion of the lands irrigated
NEWELL.] THE BECLAMATION LAW. 261

from the waters of any of the works herein provided for, then the management and 

operation of such irrigation works shall pass to the owners of the lands irrigated 

thereby, to be maintained at their expense under such form of organization and 

under such rules and regulations as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior: Provided, That the title to and the management and operation of the reservoirs 

and the works necessary for their protection and operation shall remain in the 

Government until otherwise provided by Congress.

SEC. 7. That where in carrying out the provisions of this Act it becomes necessary 

to acquire any rights or property, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized 

to acquire the same for the United States by purchase or by condemnation under 

judicial process, and to pay from the reclamation fund the sums which may be 

needed for that purpose, and it shall be the duty of the Attorney-General of the 

United States upon every application of the Secretary of the Interior, under this act, 

to cause proceedings to be commenced for condemnation within thirty days from the 

receipt of the application at the Department of Justice.

SEC. 8. That nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting or intended to 

affect or to in any way interfere with the laws of any State or Territory relating to 

the control, appropriation, use, or distribution of water used in irrigation, or any 

vested right acquired thereunder, and the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out 

the provisions of this act, shall proceed in conformity with such laws, and nothing 

herein shall in any way affect any right of any State or of the Federal Government 

or of any landowner, appropriator, or user of water in, to, or from any interstate 

stream or the waters thereof: Provided, That the right to the use of water acquired 

under the provisions of this act shall be appurtenant to the land irrigated, and 

beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure, and the limit of the right.

SEC. 9. That it is hereby declared to be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior 

in carrying out the provisions of this act, so far as the same may be practicable and 

subject to tie existence of feasible irrigation projects, to expend the major portion 

of the funds arising from the sale of public lands within each State and Territory 

hereinbefore named for the benefit of arid and semiarid lands within the limits, of 

such State or Territory: Provided, That the Secretary may temporarily use such portion of said funds for the benefit of arid or semiarid lands in any particular State or 

Territory hereinbefore named as he may deem advisable, but when so used the 

excess shall be restored to the fund as soon as practicable, to the end that ultimately, 

and in any event, within each ten-year period after the passage of this act, the 

expenditures for the benefit of the said States and Territories shall be equalized

according t< 

feasibility a

the proportions and subject to the conditions as to practicability and 

oresaid.

SEC. 10. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to perform any 

and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper 

for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this act into full force and effect.

SCOPE OF RECLAMATION LAW.

The first step in any action taken under the law is a request from 

the engineers of the reclamation service, made through the head of 

the organization, the Director of the Geological Survey, to the Secretary of the Interior, for the withdrawal from entry of certain 

specified Jands with a view to their examination in the field, in order to 

determine the practicability of constructing irrigation works for reclaiming them. When this request is approved by the Secretary of the

Interior, the proper steps are taken, by the General Land Office, for
262 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

the withdrawal of the lands through the local land office for the district in which they are located. Thereafter no entries will be allowed, 

except under the provisions of the homestead law, as modified by the 

limitations and conditions of the act. In accordance therewith they 

may be limited to an area as small as 40 acres, and will not be subject 

to the commutation provisions of the homestead law. The entryman 

may, therefore, be required to reduce the area of his entry to such 

limit as in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior may be reasonably required for the support of a family, and will be called upon to 

pay the charges per acre which may be determined on in not more 

than ten annual installments.

As soon as possible after such withdrawal, engineers are instructed 

to make the survey of the lands and of proposed canals and reservoirs; 

also to conduct necessary engineering investigations concerning the 

water supply and the conditions under which the construction will be 

carried on. Upon the completion of this work the results are to be 

summarized and submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, with such 

recommendations as may be deemed advisable by the Director of the 

Geological Survey, together with maps, plans, and estimates of cost.

It will then be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to determine 

whether or not such project is practicable and advisable. If determined to be impracticable or inadvisable, he will restore to the public 

domain the lands withdrawn, and they will become subject to the 

public-land laws, as if such withdrawal had never been made. If the 

project is approved by the Secretary of the Interior, he may cause 

contracts to be let for the construction of the proposed works, either 

as a whole or for such portion or section as will constitute a complete 

system, if it should be deemed best not to undertake the entire project 

at that time. He will thereupon give public notice of the land which 

may be reclaimed thereunder, and of the particular limitations contemplated by the law as to area, cost, number of installments, date of 

payments, etc.

As soon as it shall be possible to furnish water .for the irrigation of 

any particular portion of the lands involved, the entrymen thereon 

will be allowed to take the water; and as construction progresses 

additional lands will be supplied from time to time.

When payments have been made in full for the major portion of the 

lands irrigable under any system, the management and operation of 

the irrigation works will pass to the owners of the land irrigated 

therefrom, to be maintained at their expense, under such form of 

organization and under such rules and regulations as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior; it is provided, however, that 

the title to the reservoirs and the works necessary for their protection 

and operation shall remain in the Government, and that they shall continue under the control and management of the Government unless 

otherwise provided by Congress.
NOVELL.} MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

MEASUREMENT OF FLOW OF STREAMS.

263

By E. C. MURPHY.

The minimum yearly flow of streams for periods -of about a week is 

very important, and resident hydrographers should make special effort 

to obtain it on all important streams. It is not the smallest quantity 

that flows past the station per year that is desired, but the average 

natural flow for about a week when the flow is least.

On nearly all important streams a part of the natural flow is held 

back in ponds for a few hours a day and on the smaller streams, in 

some cases, for two or more days at a time and then allowed to flow 

through water wheels in a comparatively short time. Ordinarily, the 

pond is drawn down below the crest of the dam during the day and 

fills up again during part of the night. The proper time to make a 

measurement of the flow in a case of this kind is early in the morning, 

before the water wheels are put into use and while the water is still 

flowing over the crest of the dam.

The gage reader should read the gage carefully to hundredths of a 

foot twice a day, once when the wheels are running and once when 

they are not running. He should also keep a record of the number of 

hours a c ay that the wheels are in use.

The low-water conditions at each gaging station on which the accuracy of the work depends should be carefully described, such as number of channels, depth, width, velocity, and roughness of each channel, 

as well a;3 the effect of dams, canals, etc., on the flow.

No ga ing station should be established without the written consent

of the chief engineer. A request for a station should be addressed to 

the director of the Geological Survey and sent to the resident hydrographer, who will examine the need therefor, the proposed site, and 

report to the chief engineer with recommendations. The selection of 

gaging stations is the most important part of the resident hydrographer's work, and should not be entrusted to an assistant.

The first and most important question to settle at a proposed station 

is, will the results obtained be of a reasonable degree of accuracy for 

all river stages. If not, the station must not be established at this 

place.

Ordinary flow and minimum flow results are, as a rule, of more 

economic value than those for high water; hence the low-water conditions at a proposed station determine whether it is a good one or 

not. It follows also that the proper time to seek new gaging stations 

on a stream is during low water. A station may appear to be a good 

one at high water but prove to be a very poor one at low water, on 

account of sluggish flow.

No discharge measurements should be made where the mean velocity 

is less than half a foot per second in 85 per cent of the cross section.
264 FIKST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONTERElSrCE. [NO. 93.

When it is found that the mean velocity is less than half a foot per 

second in 85 per cent of the cross section, the station must be abandoned unless a section having a velocity of one foot per second or more 

can be found within a reasonable distance from the station that can be 

used as a measuring station during low water.

A station should not be in the influence of backwater from another 

stream or lake, and should not be in the influence of a pond that may 

be drawn down below the level of its spillway.

A station should not be located at a bend in a stream nor at a bridge 

that crosses the stream obliquely, unless the piers of the bridge are 

parallel with the trend of the stream.

The stream bed at a proposed station should be fairly regular in 

shape and the velocity well distributed through the cross section. No 

station should be established unless at least one discharge measurement 

has been made and it is seen that the shape of the cross section and the 

distribution of velocity are satisfactory.

Resident hydrographers should remember that records of flow for 

short periods, except minimum flow records, are of comparatively 

little value. The records should cover a period sufficiently long to 

include the extremes of run-off. The stations should therefore be 

selected and equipped so. that little or no change in them will be 

necessary for a period of several years.

The resident hydrographer must keep in mind also the cost of maintaining the station and the economic value of the results obtained, as 

well as the accuracy of the results. The cost of equipping a station is, 

on an average, about $25, and the cost of maintenance for one year is 

about $110, making a total for the first year of about $135. The cost 

of maintenance being large, the number of important streams of large 

size being great, and the funds at disposal being limited, the Survey 

can not maintain stations on small streams, the data from which are only 

of small and local value. In the case of a small stream the data desired 

is the flow for a week or month per year when the flow is least. This 

data can be obtained at small expense without establishing a station in 

cooperation with the party desiring the information.

Experience lias shown that the wire gage is too inaccurate and temporary to be longer used by this Survey. Those now in use should 

be replaced as soon as possible by wooden ones if the conditions at 

the station will permit. If a wooden gage can not be used, then a 

chain one should be used. It is desirable that all these chain gages 

should be alike. To this end application should be made to the office 

of the chief engineer for all the necessary hardware, including weight, 

chain, pulle3r, lock, and key.

There should be two bench marks at each station one on the bridge, 

from which the elevation of the water surface can be obtained with a 

steel tape; the other on the shore (preferably a copper bolt in rock),
NEWELL.] INSTRUMENTS AND GAMP EQUIPMENT. 265

above high water. The length of the chain gage should be measured 

at each visit to the station; also the distance from the bench mark to 

the water, and if the chain length is found to have changed, it should 

be corrected by the adjusting device at the upper end of the weight. 

Whenever a new gage is installed, care should be taken to have its 0 

(zero) exactly at the elevation of the 0 of the old one, so that a correction to the gage heights will not be necessary.

The length of chain, elevation of each bench mark, elevation of 

water surface corresponding to gage reading when gage was installed, 

and all data necessary for checking the gage reading from the measurement of surface elevation with the steel tape should be written on 

the underside of the cover of the gage box with an indelible pencil, 

so that g'age chain can be adjusted, if necessary, before measuring 

discharge.

The standard United States Geological Survey lock should be used 

on the gage box, so that no time will be lost in finding a key when 

the gage is visited.

INSTRUMENTS ANT) CAMP EQUIPMENT. 

By E. M. DOUGLAS.

In order to anticipate the needs of the average field party, and to 

provide a guide for district engineer and chiefs of field parties, correspondence has been had with a number of field men, and various 

persons have been consulted regarding the articles needed for the 

work.

There has been brought together an abstract list of instruments, 

giving the sizes, extras, names of makers, etc., which seemed best 

adapted for the work of the Survey in general. In this list is included 

every instrument thought necessary for work now in hand. There is 

also given a descriptive list of camp equipment. In preparing these 

lists suggestions have been received from Messrs. A. P. Davis, C. H. 

Fitch, J. B. Lippincott, A. L. Fellows, John T. Whistler, S. A. Aplin, 

E. G. Paul, and others.

INSTRUMENTS.

Transits. Made by Berger & Sons, catalogue number, Ic. Has 2J-inch compass 

needle, 6j-inch horizontal circle, two double verniers, reading to 30 seconds; double 

set of figures reading from 0 to 360 in opposite directions, 5-inch vertical circle, graduated to minutes, all graduations being on solid silver; 4-inch level on telescope, object 

glass 6j-inch clear aperture, erecting eyepiece; stadia wires set to read 5 feet on rod 

500 feet distant. Magnifying power, 24 diameters.

Telescopic alidades. Made by Fauth & Co.; 18-inch ruler, beveled on left edge, no 

graduations; 4-inch aluminum column, telescope 12-inch focal length; object glass 

If-inch clear aperture; inverting eyepiece, with prism if requested; stadia wires set 

to cover 5 feet on rod 500 feet distant; vertical arc, 2f-inch radius, facing eyepiece 

end; flush vernier, reading to minutes; reversible striding level, each division repre-
266 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

senting one minute of arc; box compass, 4-inch needle, attached to alidade ruler. 

(Circular level, 1-inch diameter, for leveling plane table, etc., separate.)

Box compasses. For attaching to plane-table boards, or for use separately, 4-inch 

needle, one-half-inch arc.

Wye levels. Telescope 20 inches in length over all, made by W. & L. E. Gurley; 

level bubbles, 10 seconds of arc for each division; stadia wires reading 3 feet on rod 

300 feet distant.

Wye levels for running short lines and setting gages, made by W. & L. E. Gurley; 

length of telescope, 15 inches; stadia wires, 3 to 300 feet.

Mountain transits. Made by W. & L. E. Gurley; 4-inch needle; horizontal circle, 

5J inches in diameter, graduated on silver to single minutes, figured in both directions, 0° to 360°; vertical circle, 4J inches in diameter, graduated to single minutes; 

level on telescope; packed in leather case with carrying straps; extension tripod or 

stiff-leg tripod, as desired.

Aneroids. Diameter, 2f inches, pocket style; heights, 3,000, 5,000, 8,000, 10,000, 

and 15,000 feet; the 3,000 feet reads altitudes to 10 feet, the 5,000 to 20 feet, and the 

others to 50 feet.

Field glasses. "Lemaire" make; jointed frames; 5 inches long when closed; 

If-inch objective.

Price current meter. Made by W. & L. E. Gurley, in two sizes. Small size, total 

length, 15 inches; outside diameter of revolving cup wheel, 5 inches.' Large size, 

extreme length, 23 inches; diameter of revolving cup wheel, 6 inches. All meters 

equipped with 50 feet of double-conductor insulated wire and supplied with electric buzzer, battery and chemicals for replenishing same, and lead weights.

Bell odometers. Eegistering miles and hundredths. In ordering, size of wagon 

wheel must be given.

Plane-table boards. Size, 24 by 31 inches, 18 by 24 inches, and 15 by 15 inches, the 

latter having compass attached if desired. Waterproof wooden or leather cases 

furnished for large-sized boards; leather or canvas case for 15 by 15 inch boards.

Plane-table tripods. Fitted with Johnson style heads; made by W. & L. E. Gurley; 

48-inch split legs. All boards mentioned above supplied with plates to fit this tripod.

Rain gages. Weather Bureau standards.

Leveling rods. New York pattern; made by W. & L. E. Gurley; reading by verniers to thousandths of feet, each tenth figured; graduated on side for stadia reading; furnished with canvas covers and detached plumbing levels. These rods should 

be used for all primary leveling. Philadelphia pattern; to be used for secondary 

leveling; made by W. & L. E. Gurley; self-reading to hundredths of a foot; reading 

by verniers to thousandths of a foot; without plumbing level.

Tapes, steel. From Lufkin Rule Company; length, 300 feet, 100 feet, 50 feet, and 

6 feet; 300-foot tape to be used with spring balance and thermometer, latter to be 

standard make; tape graduated entire length in feet; last foot at each end subdivided into tenths. One-hundred-foot tape one-fourth inch in width; detachable 

handles; graduated entire length in feet, tenths, and hundredths. Fifty-foot tape, 

graduated on one side to feet, tenths, and hundredths; graduated on reverse side to 

links. Six-foot tape, graduated to inches and sixteenths; graduated on reverse side 

to millimeters.

Tapes, metallic,. Length, 50 feet and 25 feet; graduated in feet, tenths, and hundredths.

Traverse plane tables, etc. Board 15 by 15 inches, with compass attached; used 

with light tripods, and folding sight alidade 6 inches in length.

Drawing instruments. Furnished on contract from Interior Department supplies 

Specify kinds and sizes desired. Sets not iurnished.

Bench-mark tablets. Standard, aluminum.
NEWELL.] CAMP EQUIPMENT. 267

Bench-mark posts. Standard, iron, 4J feet long, with brass caps.

Drawing paper. Double-mounted for plane-table sheets; single-mounted paragon 

paper for traverse work and general drawing.

Scales, 1:45000, 1:90000, and special flat boxwood, with celluloid edges.

flagpoles. Round iron pipe, three-fourths inch in diameter, with steel shoes, 6 feet 

in length.

Locke hand levels. Standard size.

Abney hand or slope level. Arc reads to five minutes.

CAMP EQUIPMENT.

Book bags, of heavy ducking, leather bound, will be furnished from this office on 

requisition.

Water barrels. Wine or whisky barrels are generally the only ones obtainable. 

These should be of a size proportionate to the needs of the camp.

Saddle or pack blankets. Purchase the ordinary grade of coarse blankets; not bed 

blankets.

Mess boxes. These should be made by a carpenter. The length should be equal 

to the width of the wagon box inside. They should have double covers, so that 

when the top cover is turned back the two covers will make a table. In size they 

should be in proportion to the camp, but not so large that when packed with supplies 

they will be unreasonably heavy to lift into the wagon.

Stationery boxes. These may be made by a carpenter, or steamer trunks may be 

purchased. A stationery box designed by John T. Whistler is recommended.

Riding bridles. These and similar articles should be plain, of good quality, but 

not with fancy fittings.

Buckets or pails should always be of galvanized iron; never of granite iron.

Canteens. Covered, 3-pint army canteens will be supplied by the office on requisition. Larger canteens, of galvanized iron or tin, and holding from one-half to 1 

gallon, may be purchased if necessary.

Chairs should be folding, all wood, with slats for seats (not perforated).

Stools should be folding, with heavy canvas seats.

Table cloths should be of oilcloth, cotton, or medium grade linen, white or colored.

Cups. Cups and all dishes for use on table should be of white enameled ware, 

preferably with white outside. China, earthenware, glass, or tin should not be 

bought for use on camp tables. Gray granite ironware may be purchased if the 

white enameled ware is not available.

Flags. A standard flag, 3 by 5 feet in size, and also the regular survey flag, should 

be displayed over every camp during working hours. These will be furnished from 

the office on requisition.

Tent floors. Worn-out tents may be cut up and the canvas used for floors, or 

12 or 14 ounce canvas may be purchased for the purpose. Wood floor of matched 

boards is preferred for a permanent camp. Floors should be provided for all sleeping and office tents.

Table forks, teaspoons, and tablespoons should be silver-plated 011 white metal.

Table knives should be silver-plated on steel.

Harness should be of good quality, but not fancy. Heavy styles, with collars, 

preferred.

Harness blinds should bear nickel-plated letters, II. S.

Branding irons for branding animals and numbers for hoof brands will be furnished 

from the office on requisition.

Kettles. Cooking kettles should be of sheet iron or sheet steel and of different, 

sizes, so that when packed they will nest one in the other.
268 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Lamps. Kerosene-oil hanging lamps should be provided for the cook's tent, and 

table or hanging Rochester lamps for each office tent; smaller sizes for each sleeping 

tent. '' Electrolite'' acetylene lamps may be purchased for use where transportation 

is by pack train.

Napkins, cotton or linen, white or colored, should be provided.

Bread and dish pans should be of tin only; never of granite iron.

Stewpans, stew basins, and similar dishes for use on the stove should be of granite 

iron.

Riding saddles should be plain, substantial, and without elaborate ornamental 

fittings.

Saws should be of medium length, with neither coarse nor fine teeth.

Stoves. Cooking stoves should be of sheet or cast iron, or Donavin ranges may be 

used. Heating stoves may be of the Sibley style, but sheet iron or small east-iron 

box stoves are preferred.

Tables should be of size proportionate to the number of men in camp, to be made 

by a carpenter, and should be folding or with detachable legs. The '' Johnson'' 

style is recommended. For a party of six or eight men a good size table is 6 feet 

long, 3 feet wide, 28 or 30 inches high. For the office tent a rolling table may 

be purchased if preferred to those made by the carpenter.

Tents. Wall tents, 7 by 8, 9 by 9, or 14 by 14 feet, all but the first with flies, with 

or without poles or pins, can be procured 011 requisition from United States quartermaster, either in drab or khaki color. For office tents, white canvas is preferable 

and may be purchased from dealers. The 10 by 12 and 12 by 16 tents designed by 

A. L. Fellows are recommended in preference to the army tents. They may be 

secured from the Denver contractor through Mr. Fellows.

Wagons. For small parties 2J-iiich steel skein fitudebaker wagons, and for larger 

parties one or more 3-inch steel skein Studebaker mountain wagons are recommended, of proper gage for the field of work. The 3-inch wagon should have high 

seat, and both sizes should have bows and canvas cover. Each should have on the 

brake side a box fitted for carrying a 5-gallon kerosene oil can. On the opposite side 

should be a stand for water barrel, above which iron .hooks should be provided on 

which to carry tent poles and stovepipe. On the rear a rack, braced by a chain or 

rod, may be placed if desired, for carrying baled hay, stoves, etc.; a tool or "jockey 

box'' should be in front. For light wagons to be used in transporting men and 

instruments, l^-inch spring wagons of standard make are preferred.

SURVEYS IN OKLAHOMA.

By GERARD H. MATTHES.

On August 6, 1901, there was opened to settlement the southwest 

portion of Oklahoma Territory, previously held in reserve by the 

Federal Government for the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Indians. 

Three counties came thus simultaneously into existence, called Kiowa, 

Caddo, and Comanche counties, with county seats at Hobart, Anadarko, and Lawton, respectively. The lots in the town sites of these 

now so-called cities were sold by the Government to the highest bidder, 

the proceeds of the sales aggregating a sum of nearly three-quarters of 

a million dollars, and on these lands, in the incredibly short period of 

fourteen months, there arose cities with populations ranging from 

3,800 to 8,000 inhabitants. Though at first mere agglomerations of 

hastily erected tents, these " rag towns," built out on the open prairie,
NEWELL.] OPENING OF OKLAHOMA. 269

soon underwent complete metamorphoses, and in the course of two 

years assumed the aspects of towns. In keeping with the mushroomlike growth of these cities the adjacent country was rapidly taken up, 

and as claim after claim was fenced in the once boundless prairie was 

made to bristle with fence posts and barbed wire.

The act of March 3, 1901 (Stat. L., vol. 31, p. 1094), which opened 

the new country to settlement, provided, among other things, that the 

proceeds of the town-lot sales should be set aside for the construction 

of public improvements in the three counties and their county seats. 

The following paragraph is an extract from this law:

The receipts from the sale of these lots in the respective county seats, shall, after 

deducting the expenses incident to the surveying, subdividing, platting, and selling 

of the same, be disposed of under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior in the 

following manner: A court-house shall be erected therewith at such county seat, at 

a cost of not exceeding ten thousand dollars, and the residue shall be applied to the 

construction of bridges, roads, and such other public improvements as the Secretary 

of the Interior shall deem appropriate, including the payment of all expenses actually necessary to the maintenance of the county government until the time for collecting county taxes in the calendar year next succeeding the time of the opening. 

No indebtedness of any character shall be contracted or incurred by any of said 

counties prior to the time for collecting county taxes in the calendar year next succeeding the opening, excepting where the same shall have been authorized by the 

Secretary of the Interior.

The act was amended on June 30, 1902 (Stat. L., vol. 32, pt. 1, p. 

506), the amendment reading:

Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he nereby is, authorized, out of the proceeds of the sale of town lots in the towns of Lawton, Comanche 

County; Anadarko, Caddo County; and Hobart, Kiowa County, in the Territory of 

Oklahoma, heretofore had pursuant to the authority of the act aforesaid, to cause to be 

expended, subject to his control and supervision and upon the recommendation of the 

legally constituted authorities of each of said towns, for the construction of public 

waterworks, schoolhouses, and such other municipal improvements as may be advisable and advantageous to the inhabitants of said towns, the following additional 

sums, to wit:

For the town of Lawton, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the town 

of Anadarko, sixty thousand dollars, and for the town of Hobart, fifty thousand 

dollars: Provided further, that the sum of ten thousand dollars, provided in the act 

whereof this is amendatory for the construction of a county court-house, in each of 

the towns aforesaid, shall be and hereby is increased to the sum of thirty thousand 

dollars each for the construction of such court-house in each town.

It is to be noted that this latter act requires a recommendation by 

the legally constituted authorities of each of the towns in the matter 

of waterworks, schoolhouses, and other municipal improvements. 

This is not, however, requisite in the case of county works.

Among the first public improvements to be made, bridges figure 

conspicuously. Efforts were also made by the various local authorities 

to provide for court-houses, jails, schools, and waterworks, but at this 

stage of the proceedings the Department in Washington found it neces-.
270 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

sary to reject a number of plans and to annul contracts on account of 

the inefficiency and inadequacy of the improvements contemplated; 

and on account also of irregular and unbusinesslike proceedings on the 

part of the city and county officials. The failure of these officials to 

deal successfully with public matters of such paramount importance, 

and the serious apprehensions entertained by numerous citizens in the 

three counties, who realized that the large expenditure involved in the 

construction of these public works offered unusual opportunities for 

theft, resulted in a number of requests being directed to the Secretary 

of the Interior, asking that the Federal Government detail competent men to superintend the letting of contracts and to inspect their 

construction.

When, in March, 1903, engineers of the Geological Survey were 

detailed for this purpose, they were confronted with a condition of 

affairs which well-nigh baffle description. Months of careful investigation were required to straighten out the tangles and difficulties in 

which matters relating to public improvements had been allowed to 

become involved. It was found that such work as had been accomplished had in no instance been done in full compliance with the provisions of the Session Laws of Oklahoma or with such regulations as 

had been promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior relating to the 

manner of appropriating money for public improvements, to be paid 

for out of the town-lot fund.

In one county innumerable small bridges and culverts had been constructed without proper authority from the Secretary of the Interior. 

Examination of the claims submitted for the building of some of these 

bridges and culverts showed that not only had exorbitant prices been 

charged for lumber, but that more material had been charged for than 

was actually used. It also became known that bridge lumber had been 

purloined and used for private purpos.es for building dancing platforms 

and hay racks. Several bridge contracts had been let for steel structures without providing for proper approaches, so that the bridges, 

although built, remained inaccessible for travel for a long period. As 

one local critic expressed himself, " It required a balloon to get up on 

one end of some of these bridges, and a parachute to get down off the 

other end."

In a number of cases the bridges contracted for were too short to 

properly span the streams, and are, therefore, of doubtful or limited 

value, since they do not afford safe crossing at times of high water. 

In one instance the local authorities realized the fact that a bridge was 

too short for use at a chosen place and had it erected at a different 

point on the stream, overlooking the fact that the new site selected was 

on an Indian allotment and not on a public highway. The Indian agent, 

in order to stop travel over the Indian lands, had the approaches 

destroyed, and the bridge remains unused and unpaid for to this day,
CONDITIONS IN OKLAHOMA.

and has gone down in the history of Comanche County as the "Lost 

bridge."

In Kiowa County contracts were let for the construction of auumber 

of masonry bridge piers that were designed to support steel structures. 

It was found upon examination that in no instance had suitable 

foundations been provided; and, besides, the masonry was so poor 

that it had to be condemned as unfit for the purpose. Among the 

claims submitted to the Department for this work were found three 

claims for structures that had never been built. This county, which 

covers about 1,150 square miles, is still without highway bridges, 

except small wooden bridges and culverts. The Secretary ordered 

an investigation of the matter, and a number of indictments have been 

brought against county commissioners and contractors. In the city 

of Hobart the construction of a court-house was stopped, it being 

found that the foundations were worthless. The mortar used was so 

far from strong that it lacked even the quality of being adhesive.

It has been the duty of the engineers of the Geological Survey not 

only to investigate the conditions above described and to furnish to 

the United States attorney the evidence necessary for the prosecution 

of the guilty parties, but also to investigate the sources of water supply for the three county seats, to provide plans, specifications, and 

forms of contract, and to advertise for proposals for the construction 

of the various public works mentioned. In doing this work they are 

confronted almost daily with the difficulty of having to advise and 

confer with local officials, who in a majority of cases appear to have no 

conception of the duties that pertain to their respective offices. These 

officers are not disposed to cooperate with the Department, and it is 

difficult to get them to make proper recommendations to the Secretary 

for the construction of works that will be adequate for the purposes 

for which they are needed and reasonable in cost. After this difficulty 

is overcome, it is necessary finally to secure the sanction of the Secretary for the construction of the improvements desired; and where so 

many authorities have to be consulted much time is necessarily 

required, and progress under such conditions becomes slow. To 

further complicate matters, the amounts set aside from the town-lot 

funds are in many instances insufficient for the purposes for which 

they are intended, and the towns are required to supply the deficiencies 

by voting bonds.

During the summer season of 1903 an irrigation reconnaissance was 

carried on by members of the reclamation service in the western and 

northwestern counties of Oklahoma Territory, which are situated on 

the western edge of the semiarid belt, with a view to ascertaining the 

possibilities of constructing storage works and canals for irrigation. 

But two feasible reservoir schemes have been surveyed, though canaJ 

lines now cover large sections of land, mostly in Kiowa and Comanche
272 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

counties. The reconnaissance in the northwestern counties, which 

extended into the extreme western portion of Beaver County, resulted 

in the discovery of no irrigation prospects worthy of note. The soil 

in the neighborhood of large rivers is sandy, and any diversion of 

water from them will involve considerable loss by seepage.

The rivers of western Oklahoma, though they carry large amounts 

of water during the spring season, nearly all dry up in summer, and 

do not contain much water during the remainder of the year. Reservoirs can therefore be filled but once a year, and will be subject to great 

losses by evaporation, which it will not be possible to offset. In this 

part of the country irrigation is not absolutely essential to successful 

agriculture, but may be urgently needed once every two or three years. 

Fair crops were grown this year without the aid of irrigation.

Briefly, the outlook for irrigation enterprises in Oklahoma is not 

favorable. There are no vacant public lands under either of the reservoir sites surveyed, nor are there practical irrigators in that part of 

Oklahoma. Farmers here and there say they desire to have irrigation 

works built by the Government, but most of them seem to regard irrigation as a matter of experiment, and it is doubtful whether in the end 

they will be willing to pay for the costly storage works contemplated.

COLORADO RIVER RECLAMATION PROJECTS. 

By E. T. PERKINS.

A consideration of the results of the investigation made in the winter 

of 1902-3 along Colorado River, from latitude 35° 12' north to the 

Mexican line has convinced the engineers in charge that the following 

projects are either feasible or worthy of further examination. In order 

of their importance and urgent need of investigation the projects are 

ranked as follows:

First. A dam at the Yuma dam site, with canals from this point to 

lands in California and lands in Arizona.

Second. A diversion at the proposed headworks of the Blythe Estate 

canal in California.

(A strong argument for these two propositions is that California 

will thereby obtain its rights under the reclamation act.)

Third. A diversion at Head Gate Rock, above Parker, Ariz., with 

canal covering the Colorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona.

Fourth. A dam at Williams for storage purposes.

Fifth. A diversion at Bulls Head, Ariz., with canal leading to the 

lands of the Mohave Valley, Arizona. Also a further investigation 

for bed rock at Bulls Head for a high dam for storage purposes.

It is believed that storage sites exist at points above Bulls Head, 

but they have not been investigated.

Commencing at the upper project, at Bulls Head, and proceeding 

downstream, the various schemes under consideration present the f ol-
NEWELL.] COLOEADO RIVEE PROJECTS. 273

lowing- salient features. In an investigation for the Bulls Head dam, 

the first site proposed was abandoned. Back of the rocky, river hills 

there was exposed a contact point of clay and sand at an elevation sufficiently low to jeopardize, the plan for a 100-foot dam at this place. 

Such a structure here would create a reservoir with a capacity of 

815,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 16,750 acres. While the conditions were unfavorable for a dam so high, there is a possibility that 

a dam to be carried 60 or 70 feet above low water may be constructed, 

provided bed rock is sufficiently close to the surface. A dam 70 

feet high would form a reservoir having a capacity of 392,000 acrefeet and a surface area of 13,600 acres. In consideration of this fact 

it is deemed necessary to continue the investigations here during the 

coming season. The capacity and surface acreage are computed only 

to latitude 35° 12'. We have no topographic maps beyond this latitude, but the river here enters a canyon, and it is not believed that 

much additional capacity exists above this.

DIVERSION AT BULLS HEAD.

Though no suitable place for a high dam has yet been found at 

Bulls Head it is feasible to construct here a diverting weir about 28 

feet high above low water. From this weir could be carried a canal, 

which would cover 47,000 acres of land in Arizona between Bulls 

Head and Mellon. It is also possible, by diverting the river to a 

former course, to transfer to the Arizona side 10,600 acres which are 

now in California and Nevada, making a total acreage of 57,600 acres 

gross under the proposed canal. Of this area 36,000 acres were classified by surveying parties of the reclamation service as first and second 

class farming lands.

DAM AT WILLIAMS.

The topographic maps show that a 75-foot dam at the Williams dam 

site would create a reservoir with a capacity of 1,300,000 acre-feet 

and a surface acreage of 50,873 acres. Such a dam would not flood the 

town of Needles, nor would it compel the raising of much of the track 

of the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad, but it would probably necessitate the 

raising of the Red Rock Bridge at Mellon about 10 feet. This reservoir would probably be the largest of its class in the world, and would 

serve a good purpose in regulating the river and in silting the bottom 

land of the lower Mohave Valley. This proposition should be further 

investigated during the coming season.

DIVERSION AT HEAD GATE ROCK.

Below Head Gate Rock, on the Arizona side of the river, lie the low 

lands of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, comprising 129,000 

IKK 93 04 18
274 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE COFFEEENCE. [NO. 93.

acres. Two propositions for reclaiming this land present themselves. 

A canal might possibly be constructed from the Williams dam. 

Should this prove too expensive, a diversion may be made at Head 

Gate Rock. Previously such a diversion was attempted by the Indian 

Bureau, but bad engineering resulted in a failure. Such a canal would 

cover 129,000 acres above Ehrenberg, and probably about 100,000 

acres below. Topographic maps of the region below Ehrenberg have 

not been completed and we can not compute accurately this lower 

acreage. Almost this entire area is in Government possession. The 

length of canal from Williams dam to Head Gate Rock would be 15 

miles. A high-line canal at this point would not reclaim materially 

more valuable land than would be reclaimed by a low-line canal.

DIVERSION AT BLYTHE ESTATE.

On the California side, 10 or 12 miles above Ehrenberg, Ariz., is a 

possible diversion point. A canal from this point would cover the 

Blythe estate (40,000 acres) and adjacent lands, in all about 95,000 

acres. It is possible that this canal could also be extended to cover 

Milpetas Valley, reclaiming altogether, as estimated by Mr. Marvin, 

supervisor of Yurna County, Ariz., 150,000 acres. This project is 

worthy of prompt consideration, as it is one of the very few large 

ones now known in California that seem worthy of serious consideration under the reclamation act.

PICACHO DAM SITE (OR GOLDEN DREAM DAM SITE).

At one time the construction of a dam at the Golden Dream dam 

site, for storage purposes, was favorably considered, but the present 

belief of the engineers in charge is that such a reservoir would injure 

more good land above the dam than could be additionally reclaimed 

below. For the present, therefore, the site is abandoned pending 

investigations below.

YUM A DAM SITE.

At a point 22 miles above Yimia, Ariz., the Colorado River passes 

through its last rocky gorge, the walls of which are about 1,500 feet 

apart. The topographic maps show that the construction here of a 

diversion dam 60 feet in height would enable the reclamation of 155,000 

acres in Arizona and 23,000 acres in California in the river bottom, with 

a possibility of so extending the California canal as to cover all the 

lands of the Salton Sink, where it is roughly estimated there are about 

300,000 acres of good land not now under ditch. This project is the 

only one so far discovered in which a high-line canal is considered
NEWELL.] COLORADO RIVER PROJECTS. 275

advisable. Of the Arizona acreage, 65,000 acres are mesa lands, which 

could be devoted to citrus fruits, the remaining 90,000 acres being 

bottom lands, suitable for general agricultural products.

The general plan for the reclamation of lands adjoining Colorado 

River, as proposed by Mr. A. P. Davis, supervising engineer of the 

reclamation service, provides that the project farthest down the river 

shall be first taken in hand, diversions to be made and reservoirs 

formed as needed, the dams being of such heights as to permit the silting of low bottoms which could afterwards be made agricultural lands 

by diverting water from lower outlets in the dam. The building of 

the Yuma dam would be in harmony with such a plan, and that project 

would also have independent intrinsic merit of the highest order. The 

extreme upper waters of the reservoir would cover the low lands lying 

between Picacho and Ehrenberg, but would not "drown" any large 

amount of land at present suited for agriculture. The desirability of 

extending the work in the way proposed by Mr. Davis, or in some 

similar way, would depend upon further study. The building of this 

dam is dependent upon the finding of bed rock at the dam site within 

reasonable depths.

This project is conveniently located for transportation facilities and 

would reclaim lands that now have a growing market for their produce. 

Furthermore, the construction of the system here proposed would aid 

a most deserving number of citizens of the United States, the farmers 

below Yuma, who are now struggling with defective irrigation and 

reclamation systems. These men lately obtained the titles to their 

land by brave and unwearying effort in the courts in conflict with 

claimants under a Spanish grant. They are pioneers in the settlement of a great region, and are undergoing all the deprivations and 

hardships which fall to such a lot. They are most worthy of aid at 

the hand of the Federal Government.

CONCLUSION.

The merits of the various propositions having been carefully 

weighed, with due regard to a general scheme of reclamation along 

the entire river, after consultation with the consulting engineers of 

the reclamation service it has been decided that all possible effort be 

made to push the Yuma dam site project to successful completion.

SUMMARY.

The following gross amounts of land would be reclaimed by the 

various propositions:

Acres. 

Diversion at Bulls Head ................................................ 58, 000

Diversion at Parker .................................................... 230,000

Diversion at Blythe estate ,,,......,....,.......................,,..»,., 150,000
276 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO, 93.

Diversion at Yuma: . Acres. Acres.

In Arizona......-..._.........._..............--..-.--..... 155,000

In California............................................... 23,000

In Salton Sink, approximately .............................. 300,000

 478,000

Total............................................................ 916,000

RECLAMATION AND WATER STORAGE IN NEBRASKA. 

By O. V. P. STOUT.

AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.

The position of Nebraska, as an irrigation State is unique. The 

eastern part lies well within the region where the normal precipitation, in amount and in seasonal distribution, is favorable to liberal 

yields of general crops. The western part of the State, on the other 

hand, is favored with sufficient rainfall for successful agriculture in 

occasional years only, or in short series of years. The change from 

the one condition to the other, as we pass over the intervening territory, is gradual. For more than 200 miles west of Missouri River 

lands are cultivated by men who have risen from poverty to affluence 

through the practice of agriculture without irrigation, and until we go 

still farther west we tind that the burden rests too heavily upon irrigation enterprises to justify their existence and to repay the money which 

has been invested in them. Even in the extreme western part of the 

State, where to attain even reasonably uniform success in raising crops 

the aid of irrigation must be invoked, the first advocates and promoters of irrigation met with determined resistance on the part of 

those whose real or fancied interest lay in opposition to the conception of that country as an arid or semiarid region. Since about 1890, 

however, irrigation development has enlisted the eager attention and 

active effort of practically all persons whose homes or investments 

lay in that locality.

A very large proportion of the area of Nebraska consists of tillable 

land. The only deduction of consequence to be made is the sand-hill 

region of the northwest-central portion of the State. Thus it is that 

while it may be possible to irrigate in Nebraska a percentage of the 

total area approaching that which obtains in the States which have 

extensive mountain areas, it is frequently made to seem smaller 

through comparison with the tillable areas instead of the total areas 

of the States.

Practically nothing has yet been done to conserve the surplus and 

unseasonable water supply, and much remains to be done to perfect 

methods of conveyance, distribution, and use, to the end that the 

greatest possible area may be served by the available water.
NEWELL.] - CONDITIONS IN NEBRASKA. 277

The period of irrigation development thus far has been also a period 

of general readjustment in the portions of the State which are most 

directly affected. The high dry plains, at one time cultivated, have 

reverted to a large extent to grazing. Irrigation has been introduced 

in the valleys. Alfalfa has become a leading crop. The corn crop, 

once preeminent, has partly given way to small grain. It has been 

demonstrated that sugar beets make a successful crop in many localities. The value and adaptability of kaffir corn has been discovered. 

Some of the most experienced fruit growers claim to have demonstrated that certain localities in the semiarid country are especially 

adapted to their industry. The winter feeding of range stock has 

become general, and this and other demands of the stockman furnish 

a large market close at hand for the surplus products of the irrigated 

land.

The present tendencies are toward continued irrigation development, in the nature of better use of the facilities which have been 

provided and the further provision of facilities for the conservation 

and use of the water which now runs to waste. More attention will 

be given to markets, with a view to supplying their demands. The 

prospective industrial development of Colorado and Wyoming will 

create new markets which irrigated Nebraska will have a share in 

supplying.

NORTH PLATTE RIVER.

The principal source of water supply for irrigation in Nebraska is 

North Platte River. Although the greatest number of canals, the 

largest canals, and the greatest irrigated acreage in the State are in 

this valley, only a relatively small portion of the water which the 

stream carries is used. It is true that the season of low water, from 

late July into September, is frequently a time of apprehension on the 

part of irrigators, but the very large excess of the flood volume, and 

practically the entire winter flow of several thousand cubic feet per 

second, run to waste.

The drainage area contributing to the flow at Mitchell, Nebr., about 

15 miles east of the Wyoming line, is 24,400 square miles, which 

includes all of the mountainous portion of the drainage area.

The United States Geological Survey has maintained gaging stations 

at various points on the river since 1895. A study of the resulting 

records has been made with a view to determining the proportion of 

the total supply which different volumes of storage would make available. In the absence of definite figures on a number of the points 

involved, it has been found necessary to assume figures which seem 

reasonable and probable. It has been found impracticable to obtain 

continuous winter records'of the flow of the stream without resort to 

unusual and unduly expensive methods. Consequently the discharges
278 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

for the months which were lacking in the record were interpolated. 

The demand was assumed to cover all use and all losses from canals and 

reservoirs. Two separate assumptions were made in respect to this 

demand. In the first, designated as demand A, it was assumed that 

November, December, January, February, and March would each 

require 10 per cent of the amount required for June; April and September would each require 50 per cent; May, 80 per cent; July, 100 

percent; August, 85 per cent, and October, 25 percent. For demand 

B, the demand for the months of the year in succession were respectively 5, 5, 5, 20, 80, 100, 110, 90, 30, 15, 5, and 5. Then calculations 

were made as to the amount of storage necessary to make available 

different percentages of the total supply, ranging from 60 to 100 per 

cent. It was assumed that stored water would be drawn upon only 

when the flow in the stream was unequal to the demand. The years 

1895 to 1902 were embraced in the investigation. The following table 

sets forth the supplying capacity of the river, as ascertained and 

estimated from the records:

Discharge of North Platte River in thousands of acre-feet.

Year.

1895.......................

1896.......................

1897.......................

1898.......................

1899..........!............

1900.......................

1901.......................

1Q(V>

Jan.

123

123

100

123

185

164

123

92

Feb.

139

115

111

111

167

139

111

Mar.

185

123

1'>C(

123

308

91 ^

145

1 3Q

Apr.

203

168

121

97

396

143

QFL

May

433

273

859

630

640

472

June

644

377

827

418

954

581

447

July

193

95

125

100

752

145

80

Aug.

28

57

65

16

174

30

25

13

Sept.

14

56

29

7

64

17

19

.4

Oct.

49

62

30

15

84

23

24

18

Nov.

81

89

128

62

108

30

29

34

Dec.

92

92

123

184

197

92

92

62

From Table I, page 280, based on the above mean monthly flow of 

the river near the Wyoming-Nebraska State line, the storage necessary 

each month and year to utilize 60 per cent of the total supply on the 

basis of demand B may be ascertained. All the quantities except those 

in the first line, "Demand in per cent," are given in thousand acre-feet. 

The minus sign indicates a deficiency of water flowing in the river, 

the flow is not sufficient to satisfy the demand, and hence storage is 

necessary. All the other numbers signify an excess of water after the 

monthly demand is satisfied.

These numbers are obtained as follows: The total supply for the 

eight years is 17,437,4:00 acre-feet. The average annual supply is oneeighth of this amount, which equals 2,179,675 acre-feet. Sixty per 

cent of this equals 1,307,805 acre-feet. The demand for the year, 

expressed in per cent, is 470 per cent of the June demand, as seen 

from the first line of the table. The June demand in acre-feet is 

1,307,805 -+ 4.70 = 278.26 thousand acre-feet. The monthly demand 

for each of the other months is given in the second line of this table 

and is found by multiplying the June demand by the per cent for that 

month. The difference between the monthly flow and the monthly
NEWELL.] STORAGE NEEDED ON THE NOETH PLATTE. 279

demand is the excess or deficiency for that month, according as the 

flow is greater or less than the demand. Take for example the year 

1896. There is a deficiency in July of 211.10 thousand acre-feet and 

storage of this volume must be provided for this month. There is 

also a deficiency in August and September of this year amounting to 

193.43 and 27.48 thousand acre-feet, respectively. The total deficiency 

for the year is 432.01 thousand acre-feet, and since the period of deficiency is continuous this is the volume of storage necessary for the 

year. The excess between the first of the year and the beginning of 

the period of deficiency is 437.62 thousand acre-feet, and being larger 

than the deficiency it would not be necessary to store any water until 

the first of the year. In 1902, however, it is seen that the deficiency 

is greater than the accumulated excess since the close of the period of 

deficiency in 1901, and consequently storage equal in amount to 11.33 

thousand acre-feet must be carried over from June of 1901.

Table II sets forth the corresponding figures when it is assumed that 

the entire supply will be utilized on the basis of demand A. It is seen 

that the greatest deficiency for any one year, considered by itself, 

occurs in 1902, and amounts to 1,218.81 thousand acre-feet. To find 

the volume of storage necessary in order that there may be a sufficient 

amount of water at all times to meet the demand, and at the same time 

no water shall be permitted to run to waste, the monthly excesses and 

deficiencies must be combined by months throughout the entire period 

of eight years. This has been done in the third of the following tables, 

in which each tabular quantity is the algebraic sum of all corresponding* 

quantities in the second table, together with the addition throughout 

of 1,000 thousand acre-feet, in order to avoid negative quantities. The 

addition of this 1,000 thousand acre-feet is equivalent to assuming that 

stored water to the extent of that amount was available at the beginning 

of the period under consideration. It is found that the lowest stage of 

the stored water occurs in October, 1898, and the highest in June, 1900. 

The range between these two extremes is 3,164.23 124.08=3,040.15 

thousand acre-feet, and this is the capacity of the reservoir or reservoirs which will fulfill the conditions which have been imposed, namely: 

No waste and no unsatisfied deficiency.

From the first of the following tables it appears that on the basis of 

demand B, using 60 per cent of the total supply and permitting 40 per 

cent to be wasted, storage to the extent of 570,350 acre-feet would be 

required. If reservoir area equal to one township be assumed, these 

figures correspond to an average depth of 22 feet. Similarly, to 

utilize the entire supply, averaging 2,179,675 acre-feet yearly, reservoir capacities equivalent to about 132 feet in depth over a township 

would be required. The capacit}^ of such reservoirs would be sufficient to hold nearly 50 per cent more than the average discharge for 

one year.
280 HECLAMATiOtf SE&VICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

TABLE I. Monthly increment of excess or deficiency, assuming the utilization -of 60 per cent 

of the entire supply from. 1895 to 1902, on the basis of demand B.

Year.

Demand in per cent a 

Demand, acre-feet. .

1895.................

1896.................

1897.................

1898..... ......... ...

1899.................

IQftft

1901.................

1902

Total .........

Year.

Demandinpercenta 

Demand, acre-feet .

1895................

1896................

lOft*?

1898................

1899

1900

IQfil

1902................

Total.........

January.

5 

13.91

109.09 

109.09 

109. 09 

109.09 

171. 09 

140. 09 

109.09 

78. 09

934. 72

August.

90 

250. 43

- 222. 43 

- 193. 43 

185. 43

- 234. 43

7fi d'3

- 220. 43

OO£ 4.Q

- 237.43

-1, 595. 44

February.

5 

13.91

125.09 

101. 09 

97.09 

97.09 

153. 09 

159. 09 

125.09 

97.09

954. 72

September.

30

83.48

- 69.48

- 27.48 r*A 4ft

- 76.48 

- 19.48 

66 48

- 64.48 

- 83.08

-461. 44

March.

5 

13.91

171. 09 

109.09 

109.09 

109.09 

294. 09 

201. 09 

131.09 

125.09

1, 249. 72

October.

15 

41.74

+ 7.26 

+20. 26

-26. 74 

+42. 26 

18 74

-17. 74 

-23. 74

-28. 92

April.

20 

55.65

147. 35 

112.35 

65.35 

41.35 

340.35 

266. 35 

87.35 

39 35

1, 099. 80

Novem- 

' ber.

5 

13.91

67.09 

75.09 

114. 09 

48.09 

94.09 

16.09 

15.09 

20.09

449. 72

May.

80 

222.60

210. 40 

50.40 

636. 40 

51.40 

407.40 

417. 40 

249. 40 

44.40

2, 067. 20

December.

5 

13.91

78.09 

78.09 

109. 09 

170. 09 

183.09 

78.09 

78.09 

48.09

822. 72

June.

100 

278. 26

365. 74 

98.74 

648. 74 

139. 74 

675. 74 

302. 74 

168. 74 

13.74

2,313.92

Total 

yearly 

excess.

1, 281. 20 

754.20 

1,788.94 

765. 94 

2, 807. 10 

1,580.94 

963. 94 

465. 94

10, 408. 20

July.

110 

306.10

-113. 10 

-211.10 

-181. 10 

-206. 10

+445.90 

-179. 10 

-161.10 

-226. 10

-831.80

Total 

yearly deficiency.

405. 01 

432. 01 

432. 75 

543. 75 

95.91 

484. 75 

468. 75 

570. 35

3, 433. 18

Available for additional 

storage.

+ 876. 19 

+ 322.19 

+1,356.19 

+ 222. 19 

+2,711.19 

+1,096.19 

+ 495. 19 

- 104.41

+6, 974. 92

TABLE II. Monthly increments of excess or deficiency, assuming the utilization of the entire 

supply from 1895 to 1902, on the basis of demand A.

Year.

Demand inper cent" 

Demand, acre-feet . .

1895.................

1896.................

1897

1898.................

1899.................

1900.................

1901.................

IQflO

Total .........

Year.

Demandin percent" 

Demand, acre-feet.

1895................

1896.................

1897................

1898................

1899................

1900................ 

1901 ................

1902................

Total.........

January.

10 

40.36

82. 63 

82.63 

82.63 

82.63 

144.63 

113.63 

82.63 

. 51.63

723.04

August.

85 

343.10

SIP; in

OCA in

- 278. 10 

- 327.10 

- 169. 10 

- 313. 10 

- 318.10 

330.10

 2,336.80

February.

10 

40.36

98.64 

74.64 

70.64 

70.64 

126. 64 

132. 64 

98.64 

70.64

743. 12

September.

50 

201. 82

- 187. 82

- 172. 82 

- 194.82 

- 137.82 

- 184. 82 

- 182. 82 

- 201.42

-1, 408. 16

March.

10 

40.36

144. 64 

82.64 

82.64 

82.64 

267. 64 

174. 64 

104.64 

98.64

1, 038. 12

October.

25 

100.91

51 91

- 38.91 

- 70.91 

85.91

- 16.91 

77 91

76.91

82 ' 9]

-502.28

April.

50 

201.82

+ 1. 

- 33. 

- 80. 

-104. 

194. 

120. 

- 58. 

106

18 

82 

82 

82 

18 

18 

82 

82

- 69.56

November.

10 

40.36

40.64 

48.64 

87.64 

21.64 

67.64 

- 10.36 

- 11.36 

- 6.36

+238. 12

May.

80 

322. 92

11

- 4 

53

_ 4

30 

31 

14 

5

0.08 

9.92 

6.08 

8.92 

7.08 

7.08 

9.08 

5.92

+1,264.64

December.

10 

40.36

51.64 

51.64 

82. 64 

143.64 

156.64 

51.64 

51.64 

21.64

+611. 12

June.

100 

403. 64

240.36 

- 26. 64 

423.36 

14.36 

550.36 

177.36 

43.36 

- 111. 64

+1,310.88

Total 

yearly 

excess.

769. 81 

340.19 

1, 365. 63 

415.55 

2, 163. 17 

1,087.17 

529.99 

242.55

6, 914. 06

July.

100 

403.64

- 210.64 

308.64

- 278.64

- 303.64 

+ 348. 36 

- 276. 64 

- 258.64

000 f\A

-1,612.12

Total 

yearly deficiency.

765. 47 

889. 85 

881.29 

1,065.21 

323.83 

862.83 

906.65 

1, 218. 81

6, 913. 94

Available for additional 

storage.

All other figures are in thousand acre-feet.
NEWELL.] STORAGE NEEDED ON THE NORTH PLATTE. 281

TABLE III. Amount of water in reservoirs at end of each month, assuming that 1,000 

acre-feet are stored at the beginning of the period considered (Demand A, entire supply 

utilized}.

Year.

1895 ..........................

1896 ..........................

1897..........................

1898..........................

1899..........................

1900 ..........................

1901..........................

1902..........................

Year.

1895..........................

1896 ..........................

1897..........................

1898..........................

1899..........................

1901..........................

1902..........................

January.

1, 082. 63

1,086.97

537. 31

1,021.65

433.99

2, 242. 33

2, 435. 67

2, 028. 01

July.

1, 466. 89

1 °90 57

731. 91

2, 228. 25

2,513.93

1, 599. 27

February.

1,181.27

1,161.61

607 93

1 092 29

560. 63

2,374.97

2, 09S. 65

August.

1, 151. 79

539.13

404.81

2, 059. 15

2 p»74 JQ

2, 195. 83

1, 269. 17

March.

1, 325. 91

1, 244. 25

fion P»Q

828. 27

2, 549. 61

o ggy 9^

9 197 29

September.

963. 97

393. 31

209. 99

1, 921. 33

2, 013. 01

1, 067. 75

April.

1, 327. 09

1, 210. 43

1, 070. 11

1, 022. 45

2, 669. 79

2,580.13

2, 090. 47

October.

912. 06

354. 40

768. 74

124. 08

1, 904. 42

1, 936. 10

984. 84

May.

1, 437. 17

1,160.51

1, 145. 85

1,021.19

1,329.53

2, 986. 87

2, 729. 2]

2, 034. 55

November.

952. 70

403. 04

856.38

145. 72

1, 972. 06

2,301.40

1,924.74

978.48

June.

1, 677. 53

1, 133. 87

1, 569. 21

1, 035. 55

1, 879. 89

8, 164. 23

2, 772. 57

1, 922. 91

December.

1,004.34

454. 68

939. 02

289. 36

2, 128. 70

, 2, 353. 04

1,976.38

1,000.12

Estimates and computations, of which the foregoing are examples, 

have resulted in the figures set forth in the following table:

Estimated necessary storage of waters of North Platte River entering Nebraska. 

[Unit of volume of storage is 1,000 acre-feet.]

Percentage of supply utilized.

60..........................................................................

70..........................................................................

80..........................................................................

90..........................................................................

95..........................................................................

100.........................................................................

Demand A.

518. 00

817.00

1,100.00

1,615.00

2, 333. 69

3, 040. 15

Demand B.

570.35

885.00

1,152.40

1,662.34

2, 416. 00

3, 126. 60

According to the best estimates now obtainable relating to the duty 

of water in Nebraska, the total flow of the river, if made available, 

would suffice for the complete irrigation of 1,000,000 acres. The State 

engineer of Nebraska reports that 560,000 acres are now under ditch 

in the Platte and North Platte valleys. It is known, however, that not 

nearly all of this is irrigated.

No reservoir sites of significant magnitude, presenting favorable 

conditions for construction, and situated to serve for the storage of the 

waters of the North Platte River, have as yet been discovered in 

Nebraska. Examination of the topographical maps published by the 

United States Geological Survey indicates that sites suitably situated 

and in other respects fairly favorable to the service of Nebraska land, 

may be found in Wyoming. A reconnaissance by the State engineer 

of Nebraska has verified these indications to a considerable extent. 

The work necessary to take advantage of these sites would be of great 

magnitude and would cost a vast sum of money. Since the largest
282 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

reservoir sites lie at considerable heights above the river the large 

feeder canals would have great length. It has been suggested that the 

complete utilization of North Platte waters can be most successfully 

accomplished by diverting the entire flow at all times into a canal which 

will lie at a greater elevation than the reservoir sites which may be 

determined upon as available, and will serve as a feeder to all of 

the reservoirs. As a part of this scheme it is contemplated that all 

present or future canals shall derive their supply from this main canal 

or from the reservoirs which are fed by it. A necessary and economical modification of the scheme is to the effect that a portion, at least, 

of the waters of maximum floods should be diverted from the river 

into the minor canals, as it would be extravagant to construct the main 

canal of size to carry the entire volume of these maximum floods. A 

canal constructed of such size would be utilized to its full capacity only 

in the most exceptional years. It is doubtful if it would be wise to 

approach this size of main canal so nearly that the excess of maximum 

floods would all be taken from the river by the minor canals. In other 

words, until water has a value for irrigation considerably in excess of 

what may be expected in this generation in the North Platte Valley it 

will not be advisable to undertake to make available the entire discharge 

of the stream and to prevent all of the waste which ensues from the 

passage of the water down the river.

The considerable reservoir sites in Wyoming in which water may 

be stored for Nebraska lands lie on the north side of the' river, so far 

as they have come to the attention of the writer. When we come to 

consider the high lands that is, the lands higher than first and second 

bottom it is found that a vastly larger acreage is susceptible of irrigation on the south side of the river than on the north. The advantages and disadvantages of each site as they shall be brought to light 

by surveys and other investigations should be carefully considered, in 

order to decide on which side of the river the large development shall 

be undertaken or whether the large potential supply of water shall be 

divided between the two sides.

OTHER RIVERS.

On the upper part of Republican River, and on its tributary, Frenchman River, agriculture without irrigation is an occupation yielding 

uncertain results. At the same time agriculture with irrigation meets 

with satisfactoiy returns. Hence the irrigation ditches which have 

been constructed are used regularly to the extent of the supply of 

water available from the streams, and better and better results are 

obtained by the irrigators from year to year. The problem of storing 

and utilizing the supply, which under present conditions is not available, is now an important one in the minds of the users of water, and
NEWELL.] . RECLAMATION IN NEBKASKA. 283

it is safe to assume that some attention will be given to it by the engineers of the reclamation service in the near future. The conditions 

are such that little can be done toward the solution of the problem 

until it has been taken up on the ground in detail. Since no part of 

the drainage area is mountainous, the floods are due entirely to rainfall, which is mainly of irregular occurrence in point of time and of 

uncertain magnitude.

The unseasonable discharge which at present runs to waste would 

be the principal and most definite item to be considered. It may be 

estimated roughly that if this could be conserved the irrigating 

capacity of the streams would be doubled. This would be possible 

only in case sites suitable for the storage of 75,000 to 100,000 acre-feet 

can be found. No surveys or examinations other than the most casual 

have been made to determine if such sites can be located.

Reckoned on the basis of total discharge, Loup River is second to the 

North Platte. The seasonal distribution of its discharge is, however, 

markedly different. The discharge arises mainly from the precipitation 

in the sand-hill region, which is of such a character that even the 

heaviest rains sink at once and almost entirely into the soil and the 

water reaches the streams in the form of springs, resulting in a flow 

which is subject to only relatively small variations. The total discharge of the Loup at the gaging station a few miles above its mouth, 

during the irrigation season of the year, is about three-fourths that of 

the North Platte for the same period. Even in the case of a discharge 

presenting such a marked degree of uniformity it can not of course be 

assumed that the demand and the supply will be exactly conformable to 

each other. If, therefore, irrigation from the stream is ever developed 

to such a point that the supply is at times unequal to the demand upon 

it, the question of storage will have to be considered. There is a prospect that practically the entire flow of the river will be used at an 

early date for the development of power at some point in its lower 

course or after the water has entered the bed of Platte River. If 

projects now in contemplation are carried to completion and their 

rights to the use of the water are perfected, no storage except that of 

the surplus waters of occasional floods can be accomplished without 

considering these rights. This would complicate the problem of the 

storage of the winter flow. It is not known that any consideration 

has been given to the problem of extensive water conservation on this 

stream. The character of the stream in respect to the extent and 

uniformit}^ of discharge and the relatively small amount of irrigation 

development which has taken place on the stream and its tributaries 

have combined to make the storage of its waters seem less important 

than that of the waters of some of the other streams. It may be 

expected that when an investigation along this line is taken up on
284 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. INO. 93.

Loup River there will be some difficulty in finding reservoir sites of 

sufficient capacity, properly situated, and attended by suitable geological conditions.

It is not believed that Niobrara River will come early into prominence as an irrigation stream. Its course through the semiarid region 

lies for the most part in the sand hills, a region which presents very 

limited prospects for general agriculture. Moreover, the stream runs 

at a great depth (more than 100 feet in many places) below the land 

which it might be desirable to water, so that long lines of diversion 

canals would be necessary to lead the water to the land. As these 

canals would have to be constructed for the most part in soil of 

decidedly unfavorable character, so far as the capacity to hold water 

is concerned, it is probable that their efficiency would be small and 

that great losses and waste would ensue. Aside from a considerable 

number of minor irrigation enterprises on the upper portion of the 

river, it has been considered mainly as a source of supply of water 

for the production of power. At least two large projects have been 

receiving the attention of promoters for a number of years, and it 

seems that the natural advantages in respect to topography and water 

supply are such that, as soon as assurance can be given that there will 

be a demand for the power which may be generated, the plants will 

be installed.

The natural advantages in respect to water supply are the considerable amount of the discharge and the almost unequaled degree of 

uniformity which attaches to it. The lowest measured or estimated 

discharge of the stream is about 600 cubic feet per second. The 

highest is about 1,500 cubic feet per second. The ratio of maximum 

to minimum observed discharge is therefore only two and one-half. 

This exceedingly low ratio is a guaranty of its reliability as a source 

of supply for water power, and so far as its utilization for that 

purpose is concerned, there is no occasion to take up the discussion of 

the artificial regulation of the flow b}T storage or otherwise.

In addition to the principal streams which have been discussed there 

are a number of minor streams which are rendering good service 

in irrigation, or have the capacity to render such service. Some of 

these, also, it may be well to investigate at some time, with a view to 

determining the extent to which their usefulness can be increased by 

storage and other methods of conservation.

PORTLAND-CEMENT MANUFACTURE. « 

By EDWIN C. ECKEL.

The important building material known as Portland cement was 

first manufactured in England in 1824. Its name is not, as is commonly supposed, due to the fact that it is manufactured at Portland

"Revised from a series of articles published in Municipal Engineering during 1902.
NEWELL.] , PORTLAND CEMENT. 285

in England, Portland in Maine, or Portland in Oregon, for it is not 

and never has been made at these points. The name "Portland" was 

applied to this cement because, after setting, it resembles somewhat a 

gray limestone extensively quarried at Portland, England. The original patents on Portland cement expired long ago, and it may now be 

manufactured at any point where suitable raw materials are obtainable. 

As defined by good authorities, Portland cement is an artificial 

product, obtained by burning to semifusion an intimate mixture of 

finely pulverized materials, this mixture containing lime, silica, and 

alumina in certain fixed and definite proportions, after which burning 

the resulting u clinker" is crushed very finely. Four points ma}^ 

therefore be regarded as of cardinal importance in the manufacture of 

Portland cement. These are:

1. The cement mixture must be of the proper chemical and physical 

composition.

2. The materials of which it is composed must be finely ground and 

intimately mixed before burning.

3. The burning must be conducted at the proper temperature.

4. After burning, the resulting clinker must be finely ground. 

These points will be taken up in order.

RAW MATERIALS.

For the present purposes it is sufficiently accurate to say that a Portland-cement mixture ready for burning contains approximately 75 per 

cent lime carbonate and 20per cent clayey material, i. e., silica, alumina, 

and iron. The essential elements lime, silica, alumina, and iron 

entering into this mixture are very common and widely distributed in 

nature, and it is obvious that such a mixture could be made by combining in an almost infinite number of ways many different raw materials. The necessity for producing the mixture as cheaply as possible, 

however, rules out a number of raw materials which would be available so far as their composition only is concerned. In the following 

pages the combinations of raw materials now actually used in the 

United States in the manufacture of Portland cement are grouped 

under six heads. Each of these six different combinations of raw 

materials will be treated separately, brief descriptions of their chemical composition, economic advantages, and geographic distribution 

being given.

Argillaceous limestone and pure limestone. An argillaceous limestone containing approximately 75 per cent lime carbonate and 20 per 

cent of clayey materials would, of course, be the ideal Portland-cement 

material, as it would require no addition of other material in order to 

give, on burning, a good Portland cement. Certain deposits of argillaceous limestone occurring in the United States approach this ideal 

composition very closely. The most important of these deposits at
286 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

present is that which is so extensively utilized for Portland cement in 

New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As this district still produces about 

two-thirds of all the Portland cement made in the United States, its 

raw material will be described in detail.

The cement rock of the Lehigh, Nazareth, and -Easton districts is a 

highly argillaceous limestone of Trenton (Lower Silurian) age. The 

rock is a very dark gray in color, with usually a slaty fracture. In 

composition it varies from 60 per cent lime carbonate with 40 per cent 

silica and alumina, up to 80 per cent lime carbonate with 20 per cent 

silica and alumina. Its magnesia content is always high, as Portlandcement materials go, varying from 3 to 6 per cent.

Underlying these cement beds are beds of purer limestone, ranging 

from 85 to 96 per cent lime carbonate. The usual practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey plants is, therefore, to mix a relatively small 

amount of this purer limestone with the argillaceous "cement rock," 

and thus obtain a cement mixture of proper composition.

The technologic and economic advantages of using this combination 

of materials are well marked. Both the materials, particularly the 

"cement rock," are quarried easily and cheaply. As quarried they 

carry little water, so that the expense of drying them is slight. The 

fact that four-fifths or more of the mixture is made up of a natural 

cement rock permits coarser grinding of the mixture than is common 

in plants using marl or limestone and clay, and it seems probable that 

this fact also decreases the amount of fuel necessary to clinker the 

mixture.

Such mixtures of argillaceous limestone and pure limestone possess, 

therefore, important advantages over mixtures of limestone with clay 

or marl with clay, but are, on the other hand, more expensive than the 

combination discussed under "Chalky limestone and clay."

The analyses in the table below are fairly representative of the materials used in the Lehigh and adjoining districts, the first four being 

of "cement rock," the last two of pure limestone.

Cement rock and limestone.

Cement rock.

10.02 

| 6.26

78.65 

4.71

9.52 

4.72

80.71 

4.92

14.52 

6.52

73.52 

4.69

16.10 

2.20

76.23 

3.54

Limestone.

3.02 

1.90

92.05 

3.04

1.98 

.70

95.19 

2.03

Marl and clay. In the northern and central Western States large 

deposits of calcareous marls occur, usually filling old lake basins and 

being due to the precipitation of lime carbonate from solution by the 

action of vegetable and animal life. These marls have formed the 

basis for a large Portland-cement industry and are now worked
NEWELL.] PORTLAND-CEMENT MATERIALS. 287

extensively for this purpose, principally in Michigan, northern Indiana and Ohio, and central New York.

As shown by the analyses below, marls are usually very pure lime 

carbonates. They therefore require the addition of considerable clay 

to bring them up to the proper composition for a Portland-cement 

mixture.

The marls are readily excavated, but necessarily carry a large percentage of water. The mixture, on this account, is commonly made in 

the wet way, resulting in a very large consumption of fuel in the 

kilns. Analyses of typical marls and clays are given in the following 

table.

Marl and clay.

Silica. . ........ ...A ..................................

Alumina .............................................

0.25

\ .»

94:39

.38

Marl.

3

rt

93.0

1.5

1 60

1.55

88.9

.94

40.48

20.95

25.80

.99

Clay.

52.0

1 17.0

\ 5.0

20.0

63.75

16.40

6.35

4.0

2.1

Chalky limestone and clay. In certain Southern and Western States 

a chalky limestone is used in combination with clay. These chalky 

materials are geologically nearly all of Cretaceous age. The principal 

deposits available for use in Portland-cement manufacture occur in 

three distinct and widely separated areas, occupying, respectively, (a) 

parts of Texas and Arkansas, (5) parts of Alabama and Mississippi, 

and (c) isolated areas in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado.

In composition these chalks, or "rotten limestones," vary from a 

rather pure calcium carbonate, low in both magnesia and clayey materials, to an impure clayey limestone requiring little additional clay to 

make it fit for use in Portland-cement manufacture. Analyses, quoted 

from various authors, of a number of these chalky limestones are given 

in the table below and will serve to show their range of composition.

Chalky limestones.

Silica ........................

Demopolis, 

Ala.

12.13

4.17

3.28

75.07

.92

San Antonio, Tex.

5.77

} 2.14

90.15

.58

Dallas, 

Tex.

23.55

1.50

70.21

.58

White 

Cliffs, Ark.

7.97

88.64

.73

Yankton, 

S. Dak.

8.20

7.07

83.59

n. d.

Milton, 

N. Dak.

s).15

f 4.80

\ 2.30

63.75

1.25

Materials of this type are, in general, excavated and pulverized 

more cheaply and more easily than hard limestones. They also have 

an important advantage over the marls of the Northern and Central 

States in that they carry practically no water.
288 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Portland-cement plants are now operating on materials of this type 

in the States of Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, South Dakota, and North 

Dakota, and it seems probable that these easily handled materials will 

soon prove to be the basis of an important industry.

Pure (hard) limestone-nnd clay or shale. Hard limestones are used, 

with clays or shales, in the manufacture of Portland cement. This 

combination of materials was first employed in New York State, but 

many plants now utilize it. The expense of excavating hard limestone 

is of course usually greater than that of dredging marl, but this disadvantage is counterbalanced by the fact that the limestone, as quarried, is usually dry, while marl may carry over 40 per cent of water. 

Analyses of typical materials of this group are given in the table 

below, the first four being of limestone, the others of clays or shales.

Limestone, clay or shale.

Silica ...............................

Limestones.

1.72 

1.63 

6.59 

90.58

0.86 

.63 

1.03 

97.06

0.56 

1.23 

.29 

97.23 

.75

0.40 

| .44

97.99 

.42

Clay or shale.

63.56 

27.32

3.60 

2.60

55.80 

30.20 

2.54

56.30 

29. 86

60.00 

I 23. 26 

t 4.32 

1.70 

1.50

Caustic soda waste and day. Precipitated lime carbonate, occurring 

as a by-product from alkali manufacture, has received considerable 

attention as a Portland-cement material. In combination with clay it 

is used at several plants in England and the United States.

Slag and limestone. Blast-furnace slags running high in lime are 

valuable as one of the constituents of a Portland-cement mixture. 

The slag is a by-product and as such can be furnished cheaply to the 

cement plants. Usually the slag is granulated as it flows from the 

furnaces and mixed with a pure limestone. The mixture is then 

ground finely and burned in rotary kilns.

The slag can be furnished cheaply, but during granulation, which is 

effected by causing the molten slag to fall into troughs or tanks containing cold water, it takes up 20 to 40 per cent of water and this must 

be almost entirely driven off before grinding can be attempted. To 

partly counterbalance this disadvantage, the lime in the slag is present 

as oxide, not as carbonate, so that there will be a slight saving in the 

fuel required in the kilns.

EXCAVATION OF THE RAW MATERIALS.

The natural raw materials used at present are obtained by one of 

three methods (a) quarrying, (J) mining, and (c) dredging. The 

choice between these different methods of excavation will depend 

partly on the physical character of the material to be excavated and 

partly on topographic and geologic conditions.
NEWELI,} PORTLAND CEMENTS. 289

Quarrying. The term "quarrying" is here used to cover all methods of obtaining dry material from open cuts or pits, whether the 

material excavated be a limestone, shale, or clay. Quarrying is the 

'most natural and common method of obtaining cement materials. If 

marl (which is usually worked by dredging) be excluded from consideration, it is probably within bounds to say that 95 per cent of the 

materials used in American Portland-cement manufacture are obtained 

from open cuts or pits.

In the majority of quarries the material is blasted out and loaded by 

hand onto cars and carts. In a few limestone quarries this method is 

improved by using a steam shovel to do the loading. Steam shovels 

are more frequently employed for this purpose in. shale quarries. In 

certain clay and shale pits, where the materials are of such character 

as to permit it, the steam shovpfdoes all the work, both excavating and 

loading the materials, drilling and blasting being unnecessary.

The rock is usually shipped to the mill as quarried, without any 

treatment except sledging it to convenient size for loading. At a few 

quarries, however, a crushing plant is installed at the quarry, the rock 

being shipped to the mill as crushed stone.

Mining. The term "mining" is used in distinction from "quarrying" to cover methods of obtaining materials by underground work 

through shafts or tunnels. Mining is rarely employed in dealing with 

materials of so little unit value as are employed in Portland-cement 

manufacture. Occasionally, however, when a thin bed of limestone 

or shale is being worked, its dip will carry it under such a thickness 

of other rock as to make mining cheaper than quarrying for that particular case. There are a few advantages in mining cement materials 

that serve to partly counterbalance the greater cost per ton as compared 

with quarrying. A mine can be worked economically in all kinds of 

weather, while a quarry is commonly in a more or less crippled condition for about three months of the year. Material mined is, moreover, always dry and clean.

Dredging. The term "dredging" is here used to cover all methods 

of excavating soft and wet raw materials. Material of such a character as to be excavated by dredging will necessarily occur in depressions, and the deposit, in addition to containing much water diffused 

throughout its mass, may be covered by a more or less considerable 

depth of water. This may involve draining the deposit before dredging can be commenced.

The only cement material extensively worked by dredging in the 

United States is marl. Occasionally clay is obtained from deposits 

covered by more or less water, but this is rarely practiced unless marl 

occurs associated with the clay. In dredging marl the excavator is 

usually mounted on a barge, which floats in a channel resulting from 

IRR 93 04 19
290 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

previous excavation. Occasionally the shovel is mounted on a car 

running on tracks laid along the edge of the marl deposit.

The material brought up by the bucket may be sent to the mill in 

two different ways. At plants using dome or chamber kilns, or at 

other plants where the cement mixture is not made very wet, the excavated marl is usually deposited in cars, hauled to the mill by horse or 

steam power. At plants using a really wet process, however, it is 

probable that the second method is more economical. This consists in 

dumping the marl into tanks on the bank, adding sufficient water to 

make it flow readily, and pumping the fluid to the mill.

Transportation to mill. The method of transporting the raw materials to the mill is almost entirely a question of distance and grade. 

Most cement mills are located close to at least one of their raw materials, and the commonest method of handling and transporting is 

probably to load the material on cars by hand at the quarry face, and 

run the cars by horse power to a point where they are fastened to a 

cable, which hauls them up to the mill. Where a hill or ravine intervenes between quarry and mill, or where there is a great difference in 

elevation between the two points, it is probable that an aerial cableway will prove to be the most satisfactory method of transportation.

Cost of raw materials at mill. The most natural way, perhaps, to 

express the cost of the raw materials delivered at the mill would be to 

state it as being so many cents per ton or cubic yard of raw material, 

and this is the method followed by quarryrnen or miners in general. 

To the cement manufacturer, however, such an estimate is not so suitable as one based on the cost of raw materials per ton or barrel of 

finished cement.

In the case of hard and comparatively dry limestones or shales it 

may be considered that the raw material loses 33^ per cent in weight 

on burning. Converting this relation into pounds of raw material 

and of clinker we find that 600 pounds of dry raw material will make 

about 400 pounds of clinker. Allowing something for other losses in 

the process of manufacture, it is convenient and sufficiently accurate 

to estimate that 600 pounds of dry raw material will give one barrel 

of finished cement. These estimates must be increased if the raw materials carry any appreciable amount of water. Clays will frequently 

contain 15 per cent or more of water, while soft chalky limestones, if 

quarried during wet weather, may carry as high as 20 per cent. A 

Portland-cement mixture composed of a pure chalky limestone and a 

clay might, therefore, average 10 to 20 per cent of water, and consequently about 700 pounds of such a mixture would be required to 

make one barrel of finished cement.

With marls the loss on drying and burning is much greater. Russell states 01 that according to determinations made by E. D. Campbell

a Twenty-second Ann. Kept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 3,1901, p. 657.
NEWELL.] PORTLAND-CEMENT MATERIALS. 291

1 cubic foot of marl as it usually occurs in the natural deposits contains about 47i pounds of lime carbonate and 48 pounds of water. In 

making cement from a mixture of marl and clay, therefore, it would 

be necessary to figure on excavating and transporting over 1,000 

pounds of raw material for every barrel of finished cement.

From the preceding notes it will be understood that the cost of raw 

materials at the mill per barrel of cement will vary not only with the 

cost of excavation, but with the kind of materials in use.

In dealing with hard, dry materials extracted from open quarries 

near the mills the cost of raw materials may vary between 8 cents and 

15 cents per barrel of cement. The lower figure named is probably 

about the lowest attainable with good management and under favorable natural conditions. The higher figure is probably a maximum 

for fairly careful management of a difficult quarry under eastern labor 

conditions. WJben it is necessary to mine the materials the cost will 

be somewhat increased. Cement rock has been mined at a cost equivalent to 10 cents per barrel of cement, but this figure is attained under 

particularly favorable conditions. The cost of mining and transportation may reach from this figure up to 20 cents per barrel.

With regard to wet marls and clays it is difficult to give even an 

approximate estimate. It seems probable, however, when the dead 

weight handled is allowed for, that these soft materials will cost almost 

as much, delivered at the mill, per barrel of finished cement, as the 

hard, dry limestones and shales.

PREPARATION OF DRY MATERIALS FOR THE KILN.

Whatever the raw materials employed, the object of all the opera-- 

{ions that may be carried on prior to burning is simply to secure an 

intimate mixture of these materials and to insure that this mixture is 

finely ground and of proper chemical composition.

The character of the materials employed, however, has determined 

two general methods of preparing the mixture for the kiln, the differences between these methods being due almost entirely to the phy- * 

sical characteristics of the raw materials used. For this reason a 

general subjec| of preparing the materials for the kiln will be discussed 

under three heads:

(a) Mixing and grinding dry materials.

(b) Mixing and grinding wet materials.

(c) Mixing and grinding slag Portlands.

Drying. Raw materials as they come from the mine or quarry will 

almost invariably carry appreciable, though often very small, percentages of water. In the case of hard limestones the water will usually 

range from one-half per cent to 3 per cent, rarely reaching or exceeding the higher figure. With the chalky limestones, which absorb 

water rapidly, the percentage can be kept down to 5 per cent or less,
292 FIEST KECLAMATIOtf SEEVICE COtftfEKENCE. [NO. 93.

while prolonged wet weather may necessitate the handling of material 

containing as high as 20 per cent of water.

The clays present a'more complicated case. In addition to the 

hygroscopic or .mechanically held water, there is also present a certain 

percentage of chemically combined water. The former depends on 

the treatment and exposure of the clay, and may vary from 1 per cent 

or so in clays which have been air dried to as high as 30 per cent in 

fresh clays. The chemically combined water varies from 3 to 10 per 

cent. The mechanically held water can be driven off at a temperature 

of 212° F., while the chemically combined water is lost only at a low 

red heat. The total water, therefore, to be driven off from clays may 

range from 4 to 50 per cent, depending on the weather, drainage of 

the clay pit, and care taken in preventing undue exposure of the 

materials to moisture.

In dealing with shales the mechanically held water will rarely rise 

above 10 per cent, and can commonly be kept well below that limit. 

An additional 2 to 7 per cent of water will be carried in a state of 

chemical combination.

At a few plants mail is used with clay in a dry process. As noted 

elsewhere, the marls, as excavated, carry usually about 50 per cent of 

water.

It will be seen therefore, that cement materials may carry from 1 

per cent to over 50 per cent of water when they reach the mill. In a 

dry process it is necessary to remove practically all of this water, for 

two reasons. One reason is that fine pulverizing can not be econom 

ically or satisfactorily accomplished unless absolutely dry materials 

are fed to the grinding machinery. The other reason is one of convenience rather than of necessity. It is that the presence of water in 

the raw materials complicates the calculation of the cement mixture.

The type of drier most commonly used is a cylinder approximately 

5 feet in diameter and 40 feet long, set at a slight inclination to the 

horizontal and rotating on bearings. The raw, wet material is fed in 

at the upper end of the cylinder, moving gradually downward under 

the influence of gravity as the cylinder is revolved. Frequently angle 

irons are bolted to the interior in such a fashion as to assist the drying 

of the material. The cylinder is heated by waste gases from the kilns 

or by a separate furnace, the products of combustion being introduced 

at the lower end of the cylinder, forced through it, and sent up a stack 

at its upper end.

The drier above described is the simplest and most commonly used. 

For dealing with high percentages of water, however, it is probable 

that the type exemplified by the Ruggles-Coles drier is more economical. In this type a double cylinder is employed. The material to be 

dried is fed into the space between the inner and outer cylinders, 

while the heating gases pass first through the inner cylinder and then 

in the reverse direction between the inner and outer cylinders. This
NEWELL.] PORTLAND-CEMENT MATERIALS. 293

double-heating tj7 pe of drier is largely employed in slag cement plants, 

and has also been installed in several Portland plants.

Drying floors and drying tunnels are in use to a limited extent, particularly in plants using marl.

The cost of drying will depend on the cost of fuel, the percentage of 

water in the wet material, and the type of drier. Even under the 

most unfavorable conditions 5 pounds of water can be expected to be 

evaporated per pound of coal used, while a good drier will usually 

evaporate 7 or 8 pounds of water per pound of coal. 

 Grinding and mixing. Part, at least, of the grinding is usually 

accomplished before the drying, but for convenience the subjects have 

been separated in the present paper. Usually the limestone is sent 

through a crusher at the quarry or mill before being dried, and occasionally the raw material is further reduced in a Williams mill, etc., 

before drying, but the principal part of the reduction always takes 

place after the material has been dried.

After the two raw materials have been separately dried they may be 

mixed immediately, or each may be further reduced separately before 

mixing. Automatic mixers, of which many types are on the market, 

give a mixture in proportions determined upon from analysis of the 

materials.

The further reduction of the mixture is usually carried on in two 

stages, the material being ground to, say, 30 mesh in a ball mill, komminuter, Griffin mill, etc., and finally reduced in a tube mill. At a 

few plants, however, single-stage reduction is practiced in Griffin or 

Huntington mills, while at the Edison plant at Stewartsville, N. J., 

the reduction is accomplished in a series of rolls.

The majority of plants use either the Griffin mill and tube mill or 

the ball and tube mills, and there is probably little difference in the 

cos£ of operating these two combinations. The ball mill has never 

been quite as much of a success as its companion, the tube mill, and 

has been replaced at several plants by the komminuter.

Fineness of mixture. After its finaPreduction, and when ready for 

burning, the mixture will usually run from 90 to 95 per cent through 

a 100-mesh sieve. In the plants of the Lehigh district the mixture 

is rarely crushed as fine as when limestone and clay are used. Newberry a has pointed out in explanation for this that an argillaceous 

limestone (cement rock) mixed with a comparatively small quantity of 

purer limestone, as in the Lehigh plants, requires less thorough mixing and less fine grinding than when a mixture of limestone and clay 

(or marl and clay) is used; for even the coarser particles of the argillaceous limestone will vary so little in chemical composition from the 

proper mixture as to affect the quality of the resulting cement but 

little, should either mixing or grinding be incompletely accomplished.

a Twentieth Ann. Kept. U. S. Geol. Svirvey, pt. 6, 1899, p. 645.
294 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Composition of mixture. The cement mixture ready for burning 

will commonly contain from 74 to 77i per cent of lime carbonate or 

an equivalent proportion of lime oxide. Several analyses of actual 

cement mixtures are given in the table below. Analysis No. 1, with its 

relatively high percentage of magnesia, is fairly typical of Lehigh Valley practice. Analyses Nos. 2 and 3 show mixtures low in lime, while 

analysis No. 4 is probably the best proportioned of the four, especially 

in regard to the ratio between silica and alumina plus iron. This ratio 

for ordinary purposes should be about 2i to 1, as the cement becomes 

quicker setting and lower in ultimate strength as the percentage of 

alumina increases. If the alumina percentage be carried too high, 

moreover, the mixture will give a fusible, sticky clinker when burned, 

causing trouble in the kilns.

Analyses of cement mixtures.

'

Silica .................................................................

1.

12.62

6.00

75.46

2.65

2.

13.46

(?)

73.66

(?)

3.

13.85

7.20

73.93

(?)

4.

14.77

4.35

76.84

1.74

Burning the cement mixture. After the cement mixture has been 

carefully prepared, as described on preceding pages, it must be burned 

with equal care. For a time various types of kiln were in use, but 

now practice in burning at the different cement plants is rapidly 

approaching uniformity.

The kiln in which the material is burned is now invariably of the 

rotary type, the rotary process, which is essentially American in its 

inception and development, being based on the substitution of machine 

for hand labor wherever possible.

As at present used, the rotary kiln is a steel cylinder, commonly 60 

feet in length and 6 feet in diameter. This is set in a slightly inclined 

position, the inclination averaging about one-half inch to the foot. 

The kiln is lined, except near its upper end, with very resistant fire 

brick to withstand the high temperature to which its inner surface is 

subjected.

Fuel, either powdered coal, oil, or gas, is injected at the lower end 

of the kiln, while the cement mixture is fed in at the upper end. The 

kiln is slowly revolved about its axis, and this revolution, in connection with the inclination at which the kiln is set, gradually carries the 

cement mixture to the lower end of the kiln. In the course of this 

journey the intense heat from the fuel first drives off the water and 

carbon dioxide from the mixture and then causes the lime, silica, 

alumina, and iron to combine chemically to form the partially fused 

mass known as "cement clinker." This clinker drops out of the lower 

end of the kiln, is cooled so as to prevent injury to the grinding 

machinery, and is then sent to the grinding mills.
NEWELL.] SOURCES OF CEMENT SUPPLY. '295

In dealing with a dry mixture one rotary kiln will produce 150 to 

200 barrels of cement per day of twenty-four hours, with a fuel expenditure of 105 to 140 pounds of powdered coal per barrel. If the cement 

mixture carries much water, as is usually the case where marl is used 

as one ingredient, the output of the kiln is greatly reduced and its fuel 

consumption very largely increased.

Grinding the clinker. After cooling the clinker, which is usually 

effected by exposing it to the action of cool-air currents, it is sent to 

the grinding mills. In order to retard the setting time of the cement 

sufficiently to give good results in use, about 2J per cent of gypsum 

is commonly added before the grinding of the clinker is commenced. 

Clinker grinding is commonly carried on in two stages, the first reduction taking place in Griffin mills, ball mills, or konmiinuters. These 

reduce the clinker to a size to pass a screen with 20 or 30 meshes to 

the linear inch. The material passing these screens is then finely pulverized in tube mills, which reduce it fine enough for about 95 per 

cent to pass through a screen with 100 meshes to the linear inch.

The ground cement is sent to storage bins, from which it is drawn 

out as needed and packed in sacks, bags, or barrels.

Present sources of cement supply. At present the following cement 

plants are in operation in the West:

(1) Standard Portland Cement Company plant is located at Napa 

Junction, Cal. Ten rotary kilns are in operation, giving a nominal 

capacity of 2,000 barrels per day. The materials used.are an argillaceous limestone and a pure limestone. Brand, "Standard." J. F. 

Bachmann, manager; L. T. Bachmann, chemist.

(2) Pacific Portland Cement Company plant is located at Cement, a 

few miles east of Suisun, Cal. Eight rotary kilns are in operation, 

giving a nominal capacity of 1,600 barrels per day. The materials 

used are a pure limestone and clay. Brand, " Golden Gate." Morris 

Kind, manager; C. J. Wheeler, chemist.

(3) California Portland Cement Company plant is located at Colton, 

Cal. Three rotary kilns are in operation, giving a nominal capacity of 

600 barrels per day. Materials used are pure limestone and clay. 

Brand, "Colton." A. Neu, chemist.

(4) Portland Cement Company of Utah plant is located at Salt Lake 

City, Utah. Four rotary kilns are in operation, giving a nominal 

capacity of 800 barrels per day. The materials used are an argillaceous limestone and a pure limestone. Brand, "Red Diamond." L. M. 

Barley, manager; C. S. Batchelder, chemist.

(5) Portland Cement Company of Colorado plant is located at Portland, a few miles east of Florence, Colo. Six rotary kilns are in use, 

giving a nominal capacity of 1,200 barrels per day. The materials 

used are an argillaceous limestone and a pure limestone. Brand, 

"Ideal." A. Moore, manager; F. W. Brown, chemist.

(6) lola Portland Cement Company, plant is located at lola, Kans.
296 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Twenty-one rotary kilns are in use, giving a nominal capacity of 

4,200 barrels per day. Materials used are limestone and shale. 

Brand "lola." O. Gerlach, chemist.

(7) Kansas Portland Cement Company, plant is located near lola, 

Kans. Eight rotary kilns are in use, giving a nominal capacity of 

1,600 barrels per day. Materials used are limestone and shale. E. C. 

Champion, superintendent and chemist.

THE LEGAL STATUS OF IRRIGATION.

By H. L. HOLGATE.

IRRIGATION AND LITIGATION.

in 1899, according to the reports of the Twelfth Census, there were 

in the States and Territories usually reckoned arid 102,819 irrigated 

farms. This means that, at a low estimate, over half a million people 

in those States and Territories were then directly interested in irrigation. There were more than 7,000,000 acres irrigated, and the value 

of the crops produced thereon exceeded $84,000,000. The irrigation 

systems in operation represented a construction cost of more than 

$64,000,000.

 These are large figures, and they do not include the statistics for the 

semiarid and humid regions, the increase since 1899, or the number of 

people and amount of investments indirectly dependent upon irrigation. They make a creditable showing for the courage and enterprise 

of the western farmer, but when we learn upon what a frail and 

uncertain legal foundation the great and immensely important structure 

of irrigation stands, we are unable to pay a like tribute to the statesmanship of the western lawmaker. Happily there is at present a 

tendency to correct the statutes, and within recent years a number of 

States have made fairly successful attempts to perfect laws governing 

public waters.

The history of water diversion in the West is so replete with appeals 

to the courts that one unconsciously associates irrigation with litigation. The money spent in litigation has been enormous. In taking the 

Twelfth Census an attempt was made to ascertain the cost of litigation 

over water rights in 1899. The work was not completed, as it was 

found impossible, in a great many cases that were continued through 

a number of years, to segregate the expenses of 1899. In California 

the owners of 73 irrigation ditches reported an expense during that 

year of $125,000 for court and lawyer fees incurred in defending water 

rights. Presumably the defendants spent as much more. Here we 

have, without taking into account the cases unreported, over a quarter 

of a million dollars spent in one State in a single year in litigation on 

this subject, and few of the decisions, when made, were conclusive or 

gave the victors a sense of security. .
NEWELJ,] LEGAL STATUS OF IRRIGATION. 297

There is a woeful lack of uniformity in the legislation had in the several States and Territories, and there are imperfect laws in individual 

States. The need for reformation is imperative, the more so since the 

National Government has undertaken the heavy responsibility of constructing and operating reclamation works.

ACQUISITION OF WATER RIGHTS.

The necessities of the West have given rise to a new legal doctrine 

relative to water diversion. The requirements, originally of mining 

and later of agriculture, could not be satisfied by the operation of the 

common-law doctrine of riparian rights which exist simply by virtue 

of ownership of lands adjacent to a stream.

The new doctrine of appropriation, under which water rights are 

acquired by actual diversion for beneficial use, independent of riparian 

ownership, is now recognized where irrigation is generally practiced. 

In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, and 

Utah the law of riparian rights has been repudiated, and in Nebraska 

it is limited to the humid portion of the State. In California, Kansas, 

Montana, the Dakotas, Oregon, and Washington both bases of water 

rights are recognized either by statutes or court decisions, and there 

is a resultant legal confusion that a mass of judicial decisions has not 

untangled. It is impossible to define the relationship between the 

operations of the two doctrines in these States. In Washington, 

which has a somewhat comprehensive statute relating to the appropriation of water rights, it has been held that long and unprotested 

usage by an appropriator is no bar to ouster by a riparian owner, 

while in Oregon, a neighboring State, where the written law recognizing the doctrine is brief and limits the right of appropriation to 

corporations, the courts have recently declared that riparian owners 

can not interfere with appropriators of water for irrigation who have 

used it without protest.

STATE CONTROL OF WATERS.

In Wyoming and western Nebraska, and, by an act of the last legislature, in Utah, the State is absolute administrator of streams and the 

diversion of water therefrom. The appropriator must, upon written 

application, secure a permit from the State engineer before beginning 

construction of diversion works, and upon satisfactory completion of 

the works he receives a certificate which is a title deed to his water 

right.

In Colorado and in Nevada, under its very recent statute, the State 

administration of streams does not begin until the appropriation is 

actually made, and the irrigation officials do not then interfere with 

the use of water except upon a written complaint, but the authorized 

State officials are clothed with sufficient power to prevent wasteful use
298 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

and insure equitable distribution to appropriators according to their 

decreed rights. The water commissioners of Washington have somewhat similar authority.

ADJUDICATION OF PRIORITIES.

Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming have enacted laws governing the adjudication of water rights based upon very similar principles. Wyoming initiated this system, and the laws of Nebraska, 

Nevada, and Utah are copies of, or are based upon, the Wyoming 

statute.

The Wyoming law provides for the adjudication of all claims by 

the board of control. Preliminary to the determining of priorities 

upon a stream the State engineer makes thorough surveys and measurements, and prepares maps and tables showing the location and size of 

the ditches, the area irrigated, and the measured flow of the streams. 

Claimants are notified to file claims and proofs, and the board establishes the priority and extent of all the water rights on the stream and its 

tributaries. Appeals from the decision of the board of control may 

be made to the courts, but in Wyoming and Nebraska (where a similar 

law has been in operation for a number of years) very few appeals 

have been made to the courts.

Nevada's new irrigation law is different from that of Wyoming in 

respect to the adjudication of water rights only as to the determining 

authority, which is vested in Nevada in the State engineer.

Under the Utah law adopted this year, the district court of each 

county is made the arbiter of the various claims on streams located 

wholly within the county, and where the stream traverses two or more 

counties the district court of the county most convenient to all the 

appropriators from the stream adjudicates priorities. Other than this 

the method agrees practically with that of Wyoming. The tables, 

maps, and drawings of the State engineer are to be considered prima 

facie evidence of the facts.

The method adopted by Colorado in 1879 and amended by subsequent legislation makes the adjudication the duty of the several district courts, and decisions are based upon the evidence offered by the 

parties in interest.

WATER APPURTENANT TO LAND.

Under the common-law doctrine, water is appurtenant to the land. 

The riparian owner can, it is true, assign his right, but the assignment 

is operative only against himself and his successors and gives the 

assignee no rights as against lower riparian owners.

In the West generally a water right is regarded as a species of 

realty and can be transferred by a deed. As a rule a deed of land
NEWELL.] ^ WATER APPURTENANT TO LAND. 299

is presumed to include the water right, unless the latter is specifically 

excepted. The more recent Colorado decisions hold that the inclusion 

or noninclusion of water rights in the conveyance of land where the 

water rights are not mentioned in the deed is a matter of intent.

In Wyoming, water rights are treated as part and parcel of the land 

and inseparable therefrom. The board of control refuses to recognize 

transfers of water rights apart from the transfer of land. This attitude 

has been attacked in the courts, and the lower court has held that the 

right to the use of water is a property right and as such is transferable. 

The question was appealed to the supreme court, but has not yet been 

decided.

Some of the States, in their laws providing for the operation of the 

Carey Act, make tlje water appurtenant to the land reclaimed under 

that act.

In an Idaho court it was held a few months ago that a user of water 

under a contract for rental is not an appropriator under the meaning 

of the laws of the State; that the dedication to use applies to the land 

only upon which the use is had, and that the right is not transferable.

UNDERGROUND WATERS. '

In the light of judicial decisions it can be accepted as a rule of law 

that the waters from underground streams ma}^ be appropriated and 

priorities in rights to waters therefrom established. The rule is recognized by statute in Kansas, and means for protecting such water rights 

are provided.

In trying cases involving rights to water developed from underground sources, the courts have to decide the difficult question of fact 

whether the water is from a subterranean stream having a well-defined 

and ascertainable channel, or from a stream of unknown channel, or is 

percolating water. Quoting from a decision of the supreme court of 

Utah, 1900: "The rule of law applying to the appropriation of surface 

waters does not apply to percolating waters which, being a part of the 

earth, have no characteristics of ownership distinct from the land itself." 

The water from a stream whose channel is unknown is treated, perforce, in law as percolating water.

In practical contradiction to the Utah decision just quoted, is a New 

York decision made the same year, which states in effect that one who 

on his own land pumps and disposes of water in such quantities as to 

materially lower the underground waters of neighboring lands, to the 

injury of crops grown thereon, may be enjoined as for trespass.

IRRIGATION ENGINEERS.

The States having State engineers who have administrative power 

over streams are Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. 

In Nebraska the State engineer is not so named, as the number of State
300 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 9&

officers is limited by the constitution, but there is a board which has 

control of the streams and of their use in irrigation, and the secretary 

of the board is engineer in fact.

In .these States the State is divided into water divisions, and these 

into water districts, under the administration of water commissioners. 

The State engineer has supervision over the division superintendents 

and the water commissioners, and is the court of appeals from their 

acteftfaiistrative decisions. Besides supervising the administrative 

duties of these irrigation officers the State engineer measures streams, 

collects irrigation data, prepares maps, and makes necessary reports. 

In Wyoming, Nebraska, and Utah he grants permits to intending 

apppopriators, and in Utah he issues the water-right certificates upon 

conff¥tetion and acceptance of the diversion works. In Wyoming and 

Nebraska the board of control issues the certificate.

Idaho has a State engineer, but he has no administrative control of 

the streams, and his work is chiefly statistical. In South Dakota the 

office of engineer has been superseded by that of irrigation instructor, 

whose duties are experimental and statistical. He must be appointed 

by the governor from the experimental station staff or Agricultural 

College faculty.

The new Nevada law introduced a novelty in State legislation. It 

provides that the governor's appointee to the office of State engineer 

must be nominated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Director of 

the Geological Survey, if those officials choose to exercise the privilege.

The other irrigation States have no State engineers.

RECLAMATION SURVEYS.

[Report of the committee on reconnaissance and surveys, consisting of Jeremiah 

Ahern, Cyrus C. Babb, and J. H. Quinton.]

The engineer detailed to examine an irrigation project is given considerable discretionary powers as to lines of investigation. However, 

in order to have methods of surveys in different sections fairly comparable, the following instructions have been formulated, though the}7 

will necessarily be modified occasionally to suit the varying conditions 

of different projects.

ENGINEER'S EXAMINATION.

The engineer should first consider the amount and quality of the 

land and satisfy himself that there i« L available sufficient water in addition to that already appropriated to be utilized, either as perennial flow 

or by means of storage. The amount of water available can be determined by a few rough measurements of the main drainage channel, and 

by a careful study of the rainfall and run-off records and of all maps
NEWELL.] RECLAMATION SURVEYS.

shearing the drainage areas tributary to the district to be irrigated, 

la-some cases the same investigations should be made in adjacent dra|nage areas which might be made to contribute part of the water.

If the project contemplates storage the engineer should consult all 

records of rainfall and run-off in the drainage basin. If there are no 

such records he should form some idea of the quantity of water which 

passes a given point on the main drainage line by examining on the 

ground all high-water marks and getting from the people who have 

lived in that neighborhood all the information possible as to the duration of floods. This will enable him to decide whether it is advisable 

to establish the necessary rain gages and gaging stations for determining the run-off for a few years.

The nature of the drainage area, whether forested or otherwise, 

should be taken into account. In order to ascertain its general physical features an examination requiring several days' time may be 

necessary. In this way a trustworthy general idea of the possibilities 

of the drainage area may be formed. In the case of a large drainage 

basin where there may be a choice of reservoir systems or canals a 

map compiled from railroad and public-land surveys and a barometric 

reconnaissance may be necessary.

On this trip all possible reservoir sites, whether on the main stream 

or elsewhere, should be examined in a rough way by hand level and 

aneroid, and the nature and approximate dimensions of dam and 

reservoir sites, as well as quality, quantity, and availability of material 

for construction of dam should be noted.

If all these conditions are found sufficiently favorable to justify 

continuing the examination of the project, the next thing to be 

determined, in a rough way, is the probable cost of conveying the 

water to the land. This can be done only by a careful reconnaissance 

along the approximate line of the canal. Experience on construction 

in work of this class is of great value in forming a judgment in this 

matter.

These points having been determined a careful examination of the 

land may be made, and all its advantages and disadvantages noted. 

The principal points to be considered are the quantity of land which 

can be irrigated, the ownership of the land (whether largely private 

or not), the amount of water used from the stream upon which the 

project must depend, the fertility of the soil, the difficulties of preparing the land for irrigation, the crops most suitable for the soil and the 

climate, the number of crops that can be counted on annually, the 

probable value of said crops, and whether the cost per acre for conveying the water to the land will enable the farmer to keep himself and 

family and pay back the cost of the works to the Government in ten 

years.
302 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93. 

WITHDRAWAL OF LAND.

If the project be deemed worthy of further investigation recommendations should be made for the withdrawal of the land under the 

reclamation law of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. L., p. 388), as described in 

section 49 of the survey's book of Instructions, page 96.

Special attention should be paid to the method of describing the 

lands by legal subdivisions, as indicated in paragraph 3 of section 49 of 

the Instructions. There is danger of error in transcribing descriptions if they are written out consecutively in solid lines. The tabulation indicated in the Instructions is that used by the General Land 

Office, and has been found the most satisfactory after many years of 

experience.

In making requests for withdrawals it is not necessary to omit tracts 

which have been disposed of by the Government, as the claims to such 

tracts would not be affected by a withdrawal of an entire section or of 

an entire township including them. The withdrawal is made in such 

form as to exclude any tract the title to which has passed from the 

United States, and also to provide for the withdrawal going into effect 

if any claim is afterwards canceled or abandoned.

The circular issued July 21,1903, contains instructions for retracing 

the lines of the public-land surveys. Attention was called therein to 

the importance of not interfering with vested rights where the lands 

have been settled upon. In such cases, therefore, where corners can 

not be found, there will be no authority for reestablishing them, 

because such action would, at the same time, aflfect the rights acquired 

by a settler or patentee of other lands bounded by the same line. 

Under these circumstances the engineer should run out the line as if 

the entire tract were public land, so that his plane-table sheet may 

show the location, but no corners are to be established. In case public 

land adjoins lands which have been granted to railroads, and which 

have not been disposed of to private parties, the lines of the public 

surveys may be rerun and the corners reestablished if necessaiy. The 

fact that the adjoining tract belongs to the railroad need not be 

regarded as an obstacle in such a case.

The plane-table sheets should show the public-survey lines in all 

cases of surveys for irrigation works or irrigable lands. The corners 

should be marked so as to distinguish those found on the ground, 

those not found, and those reestablished.

FLYING-LINE RECONNAISSANCE.

If the preliminary examination shows that the water supply is sufficient and that the relative positions of land and water are such that 

the project seems feasible, the next step is to make a flying-line reconnaissance. The object of this reconnaissance is to determine whether
NEWELL.] EECLAMATION SURVEYS. 303

or not a preliminary survey of the project should be made and the 

character and extent of such a survey that is, whether it should consist of one or more preliminary transit lines through certain portions 

of the tract or a topographic survey of the entire area. In other 

words, it will be necessary to determine approximately the relative 

elevations of the controlling points and the area of the land that may be 

reclaimed. The reconnaissance should start from a controlling point, 

which may be the proposed point of diversion, the outlet from the 

reservoir, the highest point of the irrigable land, or the lowest pass of 

a ridge through which the canal must go.

The instruments best adapted for this work are a light mountain 

transit, provided with a vertical arc and level attached to its telescope, and a stadia rod. The survey consists simply of running 

through the area one or more traverse lines so located that they will 

give the necessary information. Distances between stations of these 

lines should be obtained by stadia, directions by the magnetic needle, 

and differences of elevation by vertical angles. Summits of hills, lone 

trees, houses, or other prominent objects, whose position may be of 

value in locating topographic features, should be " cut in " and vertical angles to them measured. If the area has been covered by a landsurvey, connection with its corners should be made whenever 

practicable.

In work of this kind three men are required, a transitman, a rodman, and a teamster. If the character of the topography permits, the 

transitman should travel between stations in a light wagon or on horseback, and the rodman should be provided with a saddle horse. In the 

above-described manner a reconnaissance can be made rapidly and 

cheaply whicn, if the lines and points located are well selected, will 

furnish at a minimum expense sufficient data for the determination of 

the question in hand. By combining the information thus obtained 

with that of the public-land surveys a good reconnaissance map of the 

area may be made.

RESERVOIR AND DAM SITE SURVEYS.

Surve3T s of reservoir and dam sites should preferably be made by 

plane-table methods, except where the site is densely wooded, in which 

case transit and stadia methods should be used. In cases of reservoirs, 

the standard scale generally to be adopted is 1,000 feet to an inch, 

with 10-foot contours. In the case of dam sites the standard scale is 

20 or 50 feet to an inch with 5-foot contours, except where the detail 

of topography is not great, when a smaller scale may be used.

All reservoir surveys should be made ^ith sufficient accuracy to 

determine the approximate capacity of the reservoir and contents of 

of the dam with a possible error of not to exceed 10 per cent.

One or more permanent bench marks should be established near the
304 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

proposed dam site; the elevation should be determined with reference 

to the river bed or water level, and a line of levels should connect the 

bench mark with the top contour of the survey. Wherever practicable 

this bench mark should be connected by" a checked line of levels with 

a permanent bench mark of the topographic branch of the survey, in 

which case all elevations will be referred to mean sea level. A line 

of levels should also be run up the valley of the reservoir, stakes being 

driven and flags erected at every point where a 10-foot contour crosses 

the line. If the reservoir be wide or timbered, so that the vertical angle 

connections with these contour crossings can not be made frequently 

and conveniently, additional points near the top contour should also 

be established with the Wye level.

A base line of such length and so located that a well-conditioned, 

graphic triangulation may be expanded from it should be measured in 

duplicate by a steel tape, and from this base line a careful plane-table 

triangulation should be executed. Before beginning the triangulation 

all stations should be marked by artificial signals. Where a reservoir 

site, on the scale adopted, covers more than three consecutive planetable sheets, all the angles of a triangulation system should be measured by a transit, and the relative position of the stations should be 

computed and plotted on the plane-table sheets before beginning the 

plane-table surveys.

Secondary points for the control of the sketching can be located by 

stadia methods. Hills, buildings, lone trees, or other recognizable 

objects should be utilized as far as available, and be located by intersection. Secondary points should be skillfully distributed so as to 

establish controlling points in the topography, such as change of slope, 

important junction or bends in drainage lines, hills, passes, etc. A 

careful search should be made for corners of the public-land surveys, 

and all found located accurately on the plane-table sheets.

Where a reservoir site is so densely wooded as to absolutely prohibit any field sketching and necessitate the cutting of lines for all 

sights and the locating of a very large number of points to establish 

the contours, transit and stadia methods should be used. The method 

generally used is to run a traverse line up the valley of the reservoir site, and one along the top contour of the survey; and where 

the site is not too large points on these lines may be connected by 

traverse lines, differences of elevation being obtained by the hand 

level, and distances determined by pacing. Where the reservoir is 

large it will be necessary to run these traverse lines by transit and 

stadia.

PRELIMINARY CANAL SURVEYS.

-Before beginning a preliminary canal survey the chief of party 

should become thoroughly familiar with the country through which
NEWELL.] . PRELIMINARY CANAL SURVEYS. 305

the canal must pass. Party organization for a preliminary survey 

will usually consist of one chief of party, one transitinan and levelr 

man, one plane-table man, and the necessary rodmen and camp 

assistants.

The chief of party will give the general location of the line. The 

instrument man, whose party will comprise, in addition to himself, 

one rodman, one stakeman, and axmen if necessary, should place 

stakes with a level along the line of the canal, estimating approximately the grade. These stakes should be placed from 200 to 300 feet 

apart and be marked with a consecutive number and elevation. Distances between the stakes should not be measured in this first step, 

but should be estimated. This line should not follow the grade con-. 

tour on the ground, but should be located as nearly as possible where 

the final line would cross ridges or ravines. The second day's work 

of this party should consist in locating the stakes with transit and 

stadia, running an azimuth line in preference to deflection angles. 

The transit notes should be platted in camp from day to day as the 

work progresses, on a long roll of detail drawing paper, generally on 

a scale of 400 feet to the inch. These platted points should then be 

transferred to plane-table sheets by placing the said sheets under the 

drawing paper and pricking through with a needle point. Points thus 

transferred should be marked with the consecutive stake number and 

the elevation.

These sheets should then be taken into the field by the plane-table 

man, whose party will include one rodman, and one station assistant 

to keep notes and work up the elevations and horizontal distances from 

the vertical angles and stadia distances. The topography in 5-foot 

contours should be mapped with alidade and stadia for a distance of 

300 to 500 feet on both sides of the line. The sheets should overlap an inch or two at the most convenient angle, at or near the left 

side of the lower sheet, so that the line and the topography may be 

continuous when the sheets are superimposed in their proper order.

Wherever the line crosses a watercourse, however small, the planetable man should make notes preferably on the plane-table sheets of 

the approximate area of the drainage basin above the point of crossing, 

and estimate from the position of drift, etc., the probable maximum 

discharge of the stream at the point of crossing. This information is 

of great value in the office when making designs for crossing watercourses. Wagon roads, railroads, and other construction intersecting 

the line should be noted.

The level work should be of the degree of accuracy required by the 

regulations of the topographic branch; that is, the limit of error in 

feet should not exceed 0.05-\/distance in miles. Permanent benchmark posts should be established on the line of survey at intervals

IER 93 04 20
306 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

not greater than 3 or 4 miles and, wherever practicable, be connected 

with the bench marks of the topographic branch. Temporary bench 

marks should be established not more than a mile apart in open country and at every 1,000 feet in rough or broken country. Connections 

should be made as often as possible with the located corners of the 

public-land surveys, and with the primary triangulation of the topographic branch where it exists. The three-point location is generally 

the most convenient method for making the later connection1.

Another method of survey, which may be found advantageous under 

certain conditions, is described below:

The first party should make the location of the canal line with a 

Wye level, setting stakes from 500 to 1,000 feet, suitably marked with 

the ground elevation and with a flag, so that they can be easily seen at 

some distance. The line should follow the approximate grade of the 

canal and not run as a simple contour line.

The second party should locate this line with plane table, distances 

being obtained by stadia and orientation or direction with the magnetic 

needle. Frequent connections should be made with section corners, 

where the area has been covered by the public-land surveys. The 

scale of map may be 2,000 feet to the inch. The contour interval 

should be 10 feet, from which the slope of the ground can be obtained 

and estimates of quantities made. By this method from 4 to 6 miles 

a day can be run, thus easily keeping up with the level party.

The location of the line will be known from time to time as the work 

progresses, and it will not be necessary to afterwards plot up the line, 

as is the case when transit methods are adopted. Connections with 

the corners of the public-land surveys can also be more quickly made, 

as the land lines can be projected ahead of the work after the first one 

or two corners have been found.

Such a party should consist of one levelman and his rodman, one 

plane-table man with his rodman, one teamster, and one cook.

Observations on a circumpolar star or on the sun should occasionally 

be taken as the survey progresses, in order to check the azimuth of the 

line. These observations, if possible, should be made at a station on 

the line.

Where only a hasty reconnoissance can be made of the canal line, 

the topography, instead of being mapped with a plane table, may be 

sketched in a notebook, only one man with hand level being required 

for that purpose. He will generally keep up with the transit party.

Along canyon sections the scale of 400 feet for the plane-table work 

is hardly large enough, and if an accurate estimate is desired a larger 

scale of 200 or 100 feet to the inch will be necessary. Experience has 

shown that through open country, with the recommended scale of 400 

feet, the plane-table party can generally keep up with the locating 

party if the levels are run one day and the sa,me line located with 

transit the following day.
NEWELL.] RECLAMATION SURVEYS. 307 

TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS.

Wherever the topography is such that preliminary canal lines can 

not be easily located by the method given in sections 27 and 28 of the 

Survey's book of Instructions, as in a very difficult rolling country, a 

topographic survey of the entire area should be made, and the preliminary location of canal lines made on the resulting topographic map. 

For such a survey plane-table methods should always be used, and the 

general methods of topographic surveying given on pages 56-81 of 

the Instructions should be employed in so far as they are applicable 

to the work.

The topographic branch of the Survey has extended primary triangulation and primary leveling over various parts of the country. 

Before a topographic survey of a project is begun information should 

be obtained from the Washington office as to whether these primary 

surveys have been extended over the area, and if so, such of their 

data obtained as will expedite the work.

SURVEYING IRRIGABLE LAND.

The same general methods prescribed for topographic field work 

(pp. 56-81 of Instructions) should be used in surveying irrigable 

land under a proposed canal line. Where no primary triangulation 

exists it will be necessary to measure a base line and expand the 

plane-table triangulation from it. As in the case of reservoir surveys, where the area covers more than three consecutive plane-table 

sheets, an instrumental triangulation should be made with a transit or 

theodolite.

The scale of field sheets should not be less than one-half mile to an 

inch, and the contour interval not greater than 10 feet. As in reservoir surveys, connection should be made with all land-office corners.

TRIANGULATION.

Where it is necessary to measure the angles of a system of triangulation for the control of the topography of a large area of irrigable 

land, and where the instrument used reads to 20 or 30 seconds, the 

following method is generally of sufficient accuracy:

The signals are supposed be in the order of A B C A. 

First set J Telescope direct read on A B C A.

1 Telescope reversed read on A C B A. 

f Shift the limb 90°. 

Second set .. J Telescope reversed read on A B C A.

( Telescope direct read on A C B A.

If more than two sets are necessary the limb should be shifted, between sets, 180° divided by the number of sets. 

In all cases read both verniers.
308 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Each set is complete in itself.

Observations on a circumpolar star for azimuth should be made at 

the beginning and end of the triangulation.

FINAL LOCATION.

In finally locating a waterway many things must be considered 

which are necessarily matters of judgment on the part of the engineer.

The first and most important is the velocity which the water must 

have for a given material. This involves changes of gradient and 

changes of cross section for different classes of material.

If the velocity is too high the material of the bottom and sides will 

be eroded and carried to places whence it will have to be removed at 

some expense every year. If the velocity is too low, there will be an 

unnecessary outlay in first cost of excavation and of maintenance in 

removing deposits of sediment. Good judgment is essential in this 

matter, and it is probably better to err on the side of safety by fixing 

a low velocity instead of a high one. This decision may be modified, 

if there is much sediment in the water, as a low velocity will allow 

the sediment to accumulate where it may affect the capacity of the 

canal, and entail an annual expense for cleaning which would be 

unnecessary if the velocity were higher.

The following limiting values for mean velocity in canals are given, 

Although they may be changed if in the judgment of the engineer such 

change is warranted:

2 to 3 feet per second for ordinary soils; 1.75 feet per second, minimum, unless 

water is very clear, when a lower velocity may be used.

3 to 3.5 feet per second in ordinary firm soils.

5 to 7 feet per second, safe in hardpan and soft rock.

8 to 10 feet per second in cement work.

15 feet per second in solid rock.

The velocity and the quantity of water to be carried being fixed, the 

area of cross section is known. This area may, however, be put into 

many different shapes, which must vary according to the material 

encountered. In the simplest case, the area being a rectangle, there 

are but two factors to consider the breadth and depth. In trapezoidal 

channels an additional factor has to be considered the slope of the 

sides. In the most general case, if

A equals the area, . 

jB equals the base, 

d equals the depth,

, ,, ,. , , horizontal 

m equals the ratio of slopes, r- p

The area A equals Bd plus md2 .

There are here three variable quantities, and it becomes necessary 

to fix two of them before the third can be found.
NEWELL.] FINAL LOCATION. 309

It is evident that m is fixed between narrow limits on account of the 

material, and that B and d may vary considerably. As the width of 

the base is of minor importance compared with the depth of the water, 

it is best to fix the latter as soon as the velocity is decided upon. The 

depth of the water depends to a great extent upon the purpose of the 

canal. If it is to be an irrigation canal from which many branches 

may be taken, the depth should be less than for a canal which is meant 

to carry flood water to a reservoir. For rectangular channels, a canal 

in which the base is twice the depth gives a maximum velocity for a 

given gradient. This cross section can sometimes be used in flumes 

and rock cuts, but it is seldom practicable to construct a canal with 

the most economical form of trapezoidal section, as the slopes are fixed 

by the nature of the material, and the depth of water by other 

conditions.

In general the following limiting values for side slopes of canals 

will be found safe:

£ horizontal to 1 vertical in rock cuts. 

1 horizontal to 1 vertical in firm soil. 

3 £ horizontal to 1 vertical in ordinary soils. 

2 horizontal to 1 vertical in very light soils.

On steep side hills the channel should be all ir_ excavation, in order 

to prevent the sliding of the lower bank, although the expense of the 

grading is thereby increased. In level or slightly rolling country the 

cost of excavation may be much reduced by making the depth of the cut 

such as to allow the upper portion of the canal to be made with the 

material taken out of the excavation.

Due allowance must be made for the height of the banks above the 

maximum height of water surface, and also for settlement or shrinkage 

of banks, dependent upon the nature of the material excavated. Great 

judgment must be used to avoid slides on the lower side of the canal, 

where the ground on which the embankment rests is sloping, as water 

is liable to percolate between the new material and the original surface 

of the ground. Slides are also liable on the upper side of canals on 

steep slopes if the ground becomes saturated from rain or snow.

Sometimes a berm of 2 or more feet is introduced between the foot 

of the bank and the edge of the excavation, but this is liable to introduce irregularity in the flow of the water if the ground is sloping laterally and undulating longitudinally. Absolutely level ground is 

seldom found in practice, and if a berm is graded off to true planes, 

in order to make the cross section conform as nearly as possible to the 

theoretical one, the additional cost is not justified. Berms have been 

very generally discarded in recent irrigation practice, and are not 

recommended except possibly in deep cuts to catch material that would 

slide into the canal.

It is nearly always desirable to have a wagon road running along-
310 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

side a canal, to facilitate repairs, and this must also be taken into 

account in the formation of the bank on one side.

In fixing the minimum radius of curvature to be used on a canal it 

is well to bear in mind that curves may be used much more freely to 

save work on a canal than they may on railroads. The minimum radius 

to be adopted must be, in great measure, a matter of good judgment 

on the part of the engineer. Every curve changes the conditions of 

flow to some extent, tending to reduce the velocity. Care must also be 

exercised to prevent excessive washing of the banks. In general, the 

minimum radius should be from 4 to 6 times the bottom width. In 

special cases a smaller radius may be used, but then the outer bank 

should be riprapped in ordinary soils to prevent erosion.

These are a few of the points which must be considered when making 

the paper location on the topographic sheets. When staking out the 

final location on the ground the method used in staking out the final 

location of a railroad should be adopted. Stakes should be set every 

50 or 100 feet, and driven so that if struck hard enough they will 

break off in the ground instead of being knocked over. In hard 

ground it may be necessary to use a steel gad and sledge to make a 

hole for the stake, but extra care should be taken with the final location stakes, as every one of them will have to be found and verified 

by the party setting out the slope stakes. This rule applies even more 

forcibly to slope stakes, as they are supposed to be preserved by the 

construction force and should not be disturbed. They should remain 

just where driven till the work is all done. On many railroads small 

hardwood pegs are driven exactly to measurement on center and down 

to the surface of the ground, and the usual large stake driven alongside as a witness stake. This practice has much to commend it. As 

the center stakes are usually removed after all instrument points are 

referenced, and the first plowing made, it is sufficient to drive the 

center stakes so that they may be found without trouble at any time 

within a few years after being driven.

The stakes of all preliminary lines should be pulled up when the 

final location stakes are driven. Neglect of this apparently simple 

precaution will frequently result in the graders getting on the wrong 

line and doing work which has to be thrown away, thereby causing 

hard feelings between engineer and contractor. All stakes look alike 

to a man who can not read. Stakes should always be lettered and 

numbered on the side next the transitman, so that he can check the 

numbering on curves. This also enables the rodman to see the number and call it out to the leveler before he puts down his rod. The 

letter "L" should be used only for final location. All stakes should 

be lettered and numbered from the top downward and be marked with 

red keel if possible to obtain it.

Hubs with tack points for beginnings and ends of curves should be
NEWELL.] DESIGNS. 311

/

driven to the level of the ground or a little below it, so that passing 

vehicles or animals may not displace them.

Bench marks should be established on final location at least every 

1,000 feet on rough sidehill ground, and at least every mile in level 

or open country, and they should always be far enough to one side to 

be well outside the slope stakes when they are set.

DESIGNS.

When the engineer is making the paper location he will decide as to 

the number and nature of the structures required on the canal, and 

will have additional topographical notes and maps made on a large 

scale, as may be necessary for the careful designing of the structures. 

These designs could be underway when the final location of the line 

is commenced in the field. The designs should contemplate permanent 

and durable structures, such as will reflect credit on the service 

and be most economical in the end.

The engineer in charge of a project should make his own designs for 

structures or have them made by a competent designing engineer 

under his immediate supervision, and when ready they should be submitted to the board of consulting engineers appointed by the chief 

engineer for their approval and suggestions.

When the plans are approved by this board they may be presented 

to the chief engineer for his final approval, after which they will be 

ready to attach to the contract.

POWER DEVELOPMENT.

By H. A. STORKS.

The power features of most projects naturally divide themselves 

into three classes, viz:

1. Temporary power development for use during construction of 

dams, canals, etc.

2. Permanent power development possibilities.

3. Permanent power utilization possibilities.

Machinery required for temporary power plants can ordinarily be 

utilized afterwards in the permanent power plants; hence temporary 

power development may often be accomplished at the slight increase 

of cost of the project as a whole, since the first cost of most of the 

machinery is ultimately charged to the permanent plant. To secure 

this end the general design of the permanent power plant should be 

determined before buying the machinery for the temporary plant.

For gravity irrigation systems, including the development and use 

of power for pumping as an auxiliary source of supply, two classes 

should be considered, viz:

(1) Those in which the power is developed by water flowing out of 

a storage reservoir.
312 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

(2) Those in which the power is developed by water diverted £rom 

a stream or falling from a higher to a lower canal level. Power plants 

for the first class will have to be designed to operate under various 

heads, depending upon the stage of water in the reservoir; whereas 

power plants for the second class will be designed to operate under 

practically constant head, and will therefore be cheaper and simpler in 

construction.

For each class the available flow of water during the irrigation 

season should be stated. This information could be best presented in 

the form of curves showing the probable average day and night flow 

per day or week throughout the year.

An important aid in determining the best design of power machinery for class 1 consists in knowing approximately the stage of water in 

the reservoir at which the full output of the power plant is to be 

secured. The bearing of this information in determining the design 

becomes evident when it is observed that if the machinery is intended 

to yield the full output of the plant when the reservoir is nearly 

empty, the machinery will not be able to utilize the entire power 

available when the reservoir is full; whejeas if tlie machinery is 

designed to yield its full output only when the reservoir is full, the 

plant will be able to deliver only a fraction of its full-rated output 

when the reservoir is only partially full. Another form of conveying 

the information required for properly designing power plants for 

storage reservoirs would involve statements as to capacities at all 

depths of water in the reservoir and as to whether the reservoir is 

expected to be filled and emptied each irrigation season, or to be filled 

and emptied only in exceptional seasons, or to be only partially filled 

and not entirely emptied (probable limits to be stated) each season 

under usual conditions of rainfall, etc.

The design and cost of power plants will also be affected by the conditions under which the power is to be used. Assuming that it is to 

be applied to pumping from wells or from a lower to a higher canal 

level, the power will usually have to be transmitted electrically, 

and the distance of transmission is one factor in determining the 

design of the electrical apparatus. The cost of transmission lines will 

depend upon the distance, the amount of power transmitted, and local 

conditions.

In preliminary estimates of cost of power plants, transmission lines, 

and pumping plants, the knowledge of local conditions which it is most 

necessary to have involves a statement as to the supply of labor and 

construction materials afforded by the local market, with estimates of 

cost of the same, a statement of the distance by wagon road from the 

nearest railroad station to the location of the works, and cost of hauling per ton mile, and a statement of the nature of the country over 

which the transmission line will pass. The cost of poles, 35 to 40 feet
POWER DEVELOPMENT. 313

long and 10 inches in diameter at the top, delivered, should be ascertained, as well as the cost of timber and other construction materials.

Detailed information should be obtained as to the nature of the 

ground at the proposed locations of power and pumping plants, preferably on plane-table sheets drawn to a scale of about 50 feet to the 

inch and showing 5-foot contours over the area where headworks, penstocks, power machinery, draft tube pits, tailrace, etc., are to be 

located. Where it is expected that structures requiring solid foundations will be built, the depth to bed rock should be ascertained by test 

pits or borings. The highest and lowest water levels in the stream at 

proposed location of tailrace should be stated, in order that the power 

house may be built out of reach of flood waters, yet low enough to 

utilize the full head available. The power-room floor level can be 18 

or 20 feet above tail-water level.

The power possibilities of a project should usually be given but 

little attention when an ample supply of water can be delivered by 

gravity at reasonable cost to all the irrigable land available. Sometimes, however, a long main canal through country involving expensive construction may be replaced by a series of canals located so as 

to take advantage of the surface formations and involving one or 

more pumping plants, thus lessening somewhat the total cost of the 

system. A given quantity of water falling a given vertical distance 

may be counted on to pump an equal quantity of water to about onehalf the same vertical height, and the total cost of the electric power 

system may be roughly figured at $100 per horsepower transmitted.

Projects in which pumping may be considered an essential feature 

involve three principal items: (1) The possibility of developing power 

at reasonable cost; (2) an adequate supply of water for pumping; (3) a 

sufficient quantity of irrigable land within reach of the pumping plants.

The determination of the possibility of power development involves 

a study of water power; from streams and reservoirs and a study of 

the fuel resources of the country.

The determination of the possibility of obtaining an adequate water 

supply involves a study of stream flow and underground supply.

The determination of the amount of land to be irrigated by pumped 

water involves a study of the character and quantities of land at various elevations and at various distances from the source from which 

water is to be obtained by pumping.

The possibility of storing the pumped water in reservoirs at such 

elevations that it can be distributed by gravity to the lands to be irrigated is an important feature of some projects. Where such an 

arrangement is possible, a comparatively small pumping plant working continuously would be able to furnish water sufficient for a short 

irrigation season for several times as much land as it could supply if 

pumping direct onto the land without having the benefit of the equal-
314 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. .[NO. 93.

izing effect of the reservoir. This feature is specially important where 

the water is pumped from wells, since a steady draft on the wells is 

more economical of power than a short forced draft, and the capacity 

and number of wells required to yield the year's supply of water may 

be smaller.

Where conditions are favorable for pumping water for irrigation, 

except that the cost of developing water power is nearly or quite prohibitive, the possibility of using steam or gas engines should be considered. This involves securing information regarding the cost of 

coal or oil delivered at the power plant, and a determination of the 

quality of the coal in case a low-grade coal can be obtained cheaply 

near at hand. With cheap fuel a central producer gas plant distributing gas under pressure by pipe lines 5 or 10 miles in length to scattered pumping plants operated by gas engines would compare favorably, as regards first cost, operating expenses, and efficiency, with 

many electric systems operated by water power.
PERSQHEL OF THE RECLAMATION SERVICE.

[Revised to April 1, 1904.]

The following list gives, in alphabetic order, the rtames of the principal men of the regular force of the reclamation service and the 

salient facts concerning their education and experience. These have 

been brought together for convenience of reference by all concerned 

with the work of the reclamation service, since they answer questions 

that are asked from time to time as to the various men.

More elaborate and detailed information is kept on file in the Washington office, together with confidential records of the ability displayed 

and the work accomplished by each employee, these being for the 

information of the boards convened to consider personnel.

AHERN, JEREMIAH, engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in California, 

July 5, 1860. Educated as a civil engineer at University of California. In 1883 was 

field assistant with United States Geological Survey, and in November of that year 

was appointed assistant topographer. In 1884 was on survey and reconnaissance 

work in California. During field seasons 1885-1889 was on topographic surveys in 

Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and during the winter months on 

office work in Washington, D. C. 1889-1891, topographer, Powell Irrigation Survey, 

in charge of surveying parties in Montana. 1891-1892, topographer, United States 

Geological Survey, on topographic work in New Mexico and California. 1892-1895, 

associated with McCray Brothers, civil and hydraulic engineers, San Francisco, Cal., 

during which time was engaged in land surveys, surveys of reservoir sites, railroads, 

canal lines, construction of ditches, and wagon roads, also in hydraulic and irrigation 

surveys and investigations and study of problems related to water supply. Author 

of "Hydraulic Formulas and Tables." 1895-1899, United States surveyor of lands 

in Indian Territory, under United States Geological Survey. 1899-1901, topographer, 

United States Geological Survey, on topographic work in Arizona, New Mexico, and 

Utah, and on office work in Washington, D. C. 1901-1902, hydrographer, United 

States Geological Survey, on topographic work in Colorado and Arizona, and on 

hydrographic work in Arizona. July 8,1902, appointed engineer in the reclamation 

service, since which date he has been engaged in surveys and investigations in 

Wyoming.

ANDERSEN, CHRISTIAN, engineer. Address, Portland, Oreg. Born in Denmark, 

December 28, 1860. Educated at University of Minnesota, degree B.C.E. Member 

American Society Civil Engineers. In 1886 was division engineer on construction 

for Minneapolis, Lyndale and Minnetonka Railroad; in 1887, resident engineer on 

construction for Northern Pacific Railroad; 1888-1890, topographer, transitman, and 

in charge of locating party, Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. From 

1890-1899 practiced civil engineering in Oregon. In 1899-1900, chief engineer of location, The Dalles Southern Railroad. In 1901 was general manager for the Columbia 

River Packers' Association, constructing salmon cannery in Alaska. In 1902, superintendent of construction in Alaska. Appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service May 24, 1903, and promoted to engineer January 1, 1904.

315
316 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

ARNOT, EDWIN PERCY, engineering aid. Address, Wadsworth, Nev. Born in California, July 22, 1882. Graduate of Nevada State University, degree B.S. In 1902 

was with Standard Electric Company, of California, making estimates of rock-fill in 

construction of dam at Tamarack, Cal., also making topographic survey of two reservoir sites. 1902-1903, with United States Geological Survey, on Truckee Canal and 

Carson River reservoir sites. May 27,1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and continued on Truckee-Carson work.

BABB, CY;RUS GATES, engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in Portland,

Me., 1867. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1890. Associate

member American Society Civil Engineers. In 1887, on preliminary railroad survey

fs. Rockland to Rockport, Me. In 1888 transitman under Gilbert Hodges, Member

*> American Society Civil Engineers, on street railway work; 1890 to date with United

^ States Geological Survey in various capacities, viz., July, 1890, to August, 1892, assistant

,. hydrographer and assistant topographer in charge of hydrographic office work;

^ August, 1892, to January, 1893, assistant in topographic and hydrographic field work

*< in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado; from January to July, 1893, in office; summer and 

.0 fall of 1893, assistant geologist working in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee; summer 

^ of 1894 traveling in Europe; January to June, 1895, engaged in hydrographic field work 

>v in the basin of Potomac River; July to December, 1895, in charge of hydrographic 

, «j work in Atlantic slope; January to July, 1896, as assistant hydrographer for the 

r-> determination of a water supply for Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona; July,

*""* 1896, to November, 1898, inspector of hydrographic stations west of Mississippi River. 

November, 1898, to September, 1899, assistant hydrographer in charge of field party 

on Gila River survey; September, 1899, to June, 1901, hydrographer in charge of 

investigations for water supply for Uinta Indian Reservation, Utah; July, 1901, to 

June, 1902, hydrographer in charge of Milk River project, Montana. July, 1.902, to 

date, engineer, reclamation service, in charge of Milk River project, Montana.

BAILEY, EARNEST ALBERT, engineering aid. Born at Clay Center, Kans., November 

9, 1879. Education, high school, Delta, Colo., and University of California. In 

1902, engaged in land and general surveying in Mendocino County, Cal. Appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service May 15, 1903.

BARROWS, HAROLD KILBRETH, assistant engineer. Address, Burlington, Vt. Born 

in Massachusetts, November 9, 1873. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1895, in civil engineering. In 1895 and 1896 was assistant instructor in civil 

engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1896-1899, with city engineer, 

Newton, Mass., as transitman and assistant in charge on city work. 1899-1901 with 

Metropolitan Water Board, Boston, Mass., on designs and computations. 1901-1903, 

assistant professor of civil engineering at University of Vermont, and from that time 

associate professor. July to September, 1902, resident hydrographer, United States 

Geological Survey, Kingston, N. Y. Was appointed assistant engineer June 15,1903, 

in charge of river work in Vermont and New Hampshire, under N. C. Grover.

BEBB, EDWARD CROSBY, topographer. Address, Seward, 111. Born in Illinois 

1872. High school education at Rockford, 111., and course in civil engineering at 

University of Wisconsin, B.S. in C.E., 1896. In 1896 levelman and topographic 

assistant with United States Geological Survey in northern peninsula of Michigan. 

A 7 1896-1897, in general engineering work, making survey and plat for addition to city 

of Madison, Wis., gaging Baraboo River, etc., and preparing maps and drawings for 

Geological Survey publications. July 1, 1897, appointed assistant topographer 

United States Geological Survey and assigned to duty with parties in Vermilion iron 

range, Minnesota, and on Danville, 111., quadrangle. In 1898 in charge of topographic 

work in Menominee iron range, Michigan, and later in Vermilion range, Minnesota. 

July 1, 1899, appointed topographer United States Geological Survey. 1899-1903, 

in charge of topographic work in various mining districts and surveys of quadrangles. 

July 1, 1903, transferred as topographer to reclamation service.
PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 317

BEERS, WILLIAM DUKE, assistant engineer. Address, P. 0. Box "Sf" Salt Lake 

City, Utah. Born in Utah, August 20, 1877. Graduate of Agricultural College of 

Utah, degree B.S. In 1897 engaged in conduct of experiments on carrying-capacity of 

ditches and canals. In 1899 engaged in running canal lines and gaging streams. 

In 1900 engaged in preliminary and location work on proposed Idato Southern 

Eailroad. In 1901 worked under Mr. G. L. Swendsen as assistant field engineer 

on the construction of the Last Chance canal in Idaho. 1901-1902, assistant civil 

and irrigation engineer at Agricultural College of Utah. 1901-1903, assisting in 

hydrographic work in Utah. February 7, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the 

reclamation service; January 1, 1904, promoted to assistant engineer.

BENNETT, SAMUEL G., engineer. Address, 431 Bialto Building, San Francisco, Cal. 

Education, public and private schools, Hartford Academy, Hartford, Ky., and Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky. From 1886 to 1891 assisted in surveying and engineering work; 1891-1893, draftsman; 1893-1896, general practice, surveying, and 

engineering. In 1897 assisted in survey of Music Mountain mines, Arizona. 1897- 

1898 with Chicala Water Company, Rialto, Cal. April to October, 1898, in general 

surveying work. 1898-1903, assistant resident hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. 1899-1900, conducted investigations and made estimates in connection with water supply, pressure, etc., for Pasadena and Los Angeles, Cal. July, 

1902, made a study of carrying capacity of the Lagrange Ditch and Hydraulic Mining 

Company's canal, Lagrange, Cal. Appointed engineer in the reclamation service 

January 8, 1903.

BIEN, MORRIS, engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in New York City, 

April 17, 1859. Graduate of University of California in civil engineering, Ph. B., 

1879; graduate of Columbian University, Washington, D. C., LL.B., 1895; National 

University, Washington, D. C., LL.M., 1896. 1879-1893, engaged in topographic 

and irrigation work, United States Geological Survey. 1893-1902, General Land 

Office, Washington, D. C., legal and right-of-way work relating to irrigation, railroads, etc. July 10, 1902, transferred to Geological Survey; engaged in legal and 

land matters, reclamation service.

BLANCHARD, CLARENCE JOHN. Address, Washington, D. C. Born, Norham, Canada, December 4, 1863. Education, Iowa Agricultural College, class 1883. Deputy 

State oil inspector, Iowa, 1886-1891. Special press correspondent in Central America 

1893-1898; in Hawaii 1899. Chief of irrigation section Twelfth Census. In charge of 

special investigation of irrigation by Census Office 1902-3. March 1, 1903, appointed 

clerk in the reclamation service.

BLISS, GEORGE HENRY, assistant engineer. Address 427 Peyton Block, Spokane, 

Wash. Born at Newburyport, Mass., April 21, 1875. Education, high school and 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1894-95, engineering inspector, etc., for 

city of Newburyport, Mass. 1896^-97, assistant engineer for city of Maiden, Mass. 

January-April, 1898, engaged in construction work on electric road, Boston, Mass. 

April-October, 1898, with Allegheny and Western Railroad, in charge of party 

railroad location surveys. October, 1898-1900, with New York, New Haven and 

Hartford Railroad, Boston, track widening, retaining wall, and bridge work. 1900- 

1902, inspector of materials, Charlestown Navy-Yard. 1902-3, with Boston Steel and 

Iron Company, Medford, Mass.; structural engineering. Appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service, May 23, 1903.

BOLSTER, ROY HALE, assistant engineer.- Address Phoenix, Ariz. Born Roxbury, 

Mass., April 6, 1877. Studied electrical and civil engineering at Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology. Appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service January 19, 1903, and from that date to April 29 on duty in Washington, D. C., making 

computations. May-October, 1903, atMontrose, Colo., on Gunnison River project, 

and then in electrical work in connection with Salt River project. January 1, 1904, 

promoted to assistant engineer.
\ 

318 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

BONSTEDT, FERDINAND, assistant engineer. Address, Lawton, Okla. Born Akron, 

Ohio, 1864. B. S. in C. E. Pennsylvania Polytechnic College, 1885. July, 1885, to 

January, 1886, employed in city engineer's office, Akron, Ohio. 1886, transitman. 

on location and division engineer on construction Union Pacific Railway extension in 

Nebraska. 1887-1889, assistant engineer municipal improvements for city of Lincoln, 

Nebr. 1890, engineer o» maintenance of way for Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. 1891-1896, deputy city engineer, Lincoln, Nebr. 1896-1900, city engineer, Lincoln, Nebr. 1900-1902, assistant engineer, department of streets, Habana, Cuba. 

Appointed assistant engineer United States Geological Survey, September 29,1902.

BRAINARD, LINUS BROOKS, engineering aid. Address, Los Angeles, Cnl. Born in 

Oregon, June 20, 1879. Graduate of University of California, degree A. B. JuneAugust, 1901, solar compass work, subdividing two townships, 135 miles of line. 

June-November, 1902, field work, Department of Agriculture, running about 500 

miles of levels, and having immediate supervision of another party doing similar 

work; later employed on office work. May 15, 1903, appointed engineering aid in 

the reclamation service.

BRANCH, LESTKR VAN NOY, assistant engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo. Born in New York State, February 23, 1880. Graduate 

of University of North Carolina; degree B. S., and, later, M. S. Tojok special 

course at Columbian University, 1901-1903. With United States Geological Survey June-November, 1900, on Appalachian Park investigations in North Carolina 

and Tennessee. November, 1900, to May, 1901, in office at Washington oft work 

connected with Appalachian Park investigations and on computations for annual 

report. May-November, 1901, engineering aid in Utah and Montana. November, 

1901, to July, 1902, on office work in Washington office. July 28, 1902, appointed 

assistant irrigation engineer in the reclamation service, and has since been on duty 

in Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming, and in Washington office.

BRINKLEY, MILO HAMILTON, engineering aid. Address, Jefferson City, Mo. Born 

in Missouri February 12, 1881. Graduate of University of Missouri, B. S. in C. E. 

In 1901 was chainman on a preliminary railroad survey in Missouri. In 1902 was 

with the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Company, of Mississippi, at first as rodman 

and afterwards on instrument work; also as draftsman in the office of the chief engineer. June 10, 1903, was appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and 

was transitman on Bear Lake project in Idaho until October.

BURKE, JOHN THOMAS, assistant engineer. Address, Boise, Idaho. Born in Illinois September 28, 1874. Graduate of Idaho State University, B. S. in C. E., 1901. 

In 1900 was assistant draftsman and surveyor on aerial tramway work in Nelson, 

British Columbia. In 1901 topographer on preliminary canal lines for Twin Falls 

Land and Water Company; also, in same year, topographer on reservoir and canal 

investigations for United States Geological Survey in Idaho. 1901-2, assistant 

engineer and superintendent on reservoir and canal construction. In 1902 assistant 

draftsman and field engineer under Idaho State engineer. 1902-3 assistant irrigation 

engineer in charge of field party for United States Geological Survey on reservoir 

and canal investigations in Idaho. January 12, 1903, appointed assistant engineer 

in the reclamation service and assigned to Colorado River surveys near Needles, Cal., 

and later in charge of field work on surveys connected with Minidoka project in 

Idaho.

CAMERON, JOHN DONALD, engineering aid'. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Nevada 

June 11, 1881. Education, high school and University of Nevada, degree B. S. In 

1903 was in the field with a topographic party engaged in surveying a proposed canal 

line, also in same year engaged in transit work near Still water, Nev. In fall and 

winter of 1902 in office of L. H. Taylor, resident engineer, United States Geological 

Survey. May 23,1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service and assigned 

to duty as levelman on location work of Lower Truckee canal from April to July,
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 319

inclusive; then as transitman on location of laterals tributary to Lower Truckee canal: 

also on office work in Reno, Nev.

CAMP, JAMES G., assistant engineer. Address, Phoenix, Ariz. Born, Alliance, 

Ohio, July 2, 1863. Education, common and high schools. February, 1894, to May, 

1898, superintendent of construction for Farmers' Union Ditch Company. JuneNovember, 1898, topographer with Pacific and Idaho Northern Railroad Company. 

From May, 1902, with United States Geological Survey party, making preliminary 

reservoir surveys, etc. January 12, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and promoted to assistant engineer September 1, 1903. January-May, 

1903, preliminary surveys on Umatilla Eiver for ditch, and reservoirs and investigation as to feasibility of irrigation projects on the Palouse, Snake, and Columbia rivers. 

June-November, 1903, preliminary surveys and investigations of ditch projects and 

reservoirs on North Fork of Snake Kiver.

CASTEEL, CALVIN, engineering aid. Address, Salem, Oreg. Born in Iowa, January 20, 1876. Graduate of University of Oregon, B. S. in C. E. June 16, 1903, 

appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and assigned to duty in the 

State of Washington.

CHANDLER, ALBERT EDWARD, engineer. Address, Carson, Nev. Born at San 

Francisco, Cal. Graduate of University of California. 1899-1902, instructor at University of California. 1900, hydrographer United States Geological Survey, in charge 

of investigations of storage possibilities on Cache Creek,' California. 1901, irrigation 

expert, United States Department of Agriculture, in charge of study of duty of water 

on Tule River, California. 1902-3, irrigation assistant, Department of Agriculture, in 

charge of irrigation investigations on Carson and Walker rivers, Nevada. Appointed 

engineer in the reclamation service June 26, 1903.

CHANDLER, ELWYN FRANCIS, assistant engineer. Address, University, N. Dak. 

Born in Ohio, August 29, 1872. Graduate of Ripon College, Wisconsin, degrees 

A. B. and A. M. Attended University of Wisconsin two years. Has been engaged 

in surveying and civil engineering since 1890. 1895 was city engineer of Ripon, Wis.; 

in 1898 was with Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, on a hydrographic map of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 1899, employed in designing and constructing a sewerage and drainage system for University of North Dakota, and other similar 

improvements there. In 1902 was in charge of an office in Grand Forks, N. Dak., 

for general civil engineering and surveying. 1902-3, assistant professor in charge of 

the department of mathematics, University of North Dakota. Appointed assistant 

engineer in the reclamation service May 1, 1903.

CHARLES, LAVERN JOHN, assistant engineer. Address, Golden, Colo. Born in 

Colorado, July 9, 1877. Education, common school, high school, and technical; 

degree of engineer of mines and metallurgy. Technical course included survey of 

reservoir sites, construction of irrigation canals, testing and rating flow of water over 

weirs, through conduits, pipes, ditches, etc., tunneling and underground surveying, 

and general hydrographic surveying. Appointed assistant engineer in reclamation 

service March 31, 1903, since which date has been engaged in measurement of base 

lines, triangulation, transit, level, and plane-table work, and computations incident 

thereto.

CHILDS, ERNEST ROY, assistant engineer. Address, 2045 J street, San Diego, Cal. 

Born in Minnesota, July 7, 1875. Education, University of California, degree B. S. 

1901-1903, field assistant with United States Geological Survey. Appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service July 1, 1903; promoted to assistant engineer January 1, 1904.

CHURCHILL, PERCIVAL MITCHELL, assistant hydrographer. Address, Elmwood, 

Mass. Born at Elmwood, Mass. Education, full civil engineering course at Massachusetts Institute-of Technology, class of 1895. In 1892 was in city engineer's 

office, Brockton, Mass. 1893, draftsman, East Bridgewater, Mass. 1894, private
320 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

work at same locality. 1895-96, resident engineer, Massachusetts highway commission. 1896-97, assistant chief of party for joint board of Massachusetts State board 

of health and harbor and land commission on survey of Green Harbor, Mass. . 1898, 

draftsman and designer, East Bridgewater, Mass. 1899, chief of party on electric 

railway work, Boston. 1900-2, United States junior engineer, War Department. 

1902, resident hydrographer United States Geological Survey, Oatskill Mountain district, and Delaware River. Appointed assistant hydrographer, reclamation service, 

December 10, 1902.

CLAPP, SIDNEY K., assistant engineer. Born in Massachusetts, January 8, 1873. 

Graduate Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B. S. In 1894, in engineering department of city of Boston, Mass. 1895, with Boston and Maine Railroad. 1895-1901, 

with Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board of Massachusetts. 1901-2, under city 

engineer, Waterbury, Conn., on Wigwam dam. 1902-1904, in private employment. 

January 5, 1904, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

CLAPP, WILLIAM BILLINGS, assistant engineer. Address, Pasadena, Cal. Born at 

Conway, Mass., April 11, 1861. Education, high school and special study. 1882, 

assistant in subdivision of public land in northern California. 1883-1886, assistant 

engineer in charge of construction, Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad. 

1888, assistant engineer on construction of cable railway system, also assistant 

engineer for Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railway Company. 1889, private engineering work at Seattle, Wash. 1891, engineer and roadmaster for San Gabriel Valley 

Rapid Transit Company. 1892, chief engineer Arizona waterworks and sewerage company. 1893, engineering practice, Pasadena, Cal. 1894-1901, city engineer, Pasadena, 

Cal. 1901-1903, private engineering practice and with United States Geological 

Survey. Appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service May 5, 1903.

CLAUSEN, JACOB CENTENNIAL, engineer. Address 314 Fourth street, Los Angeles, 

Cal. Born at Blanco, Cal., March 8, 1876. Graduate of University of California, 

B. S. In 1898 was with city engineer of Salinas City, Cal. 1899, with county surveyor, Monterey County, Cal. 1899-1901, surveying for De Lamar Mining Company 

(Limited),-Idaho. 1901, in charge of transit party for county surveyor, Monterey 

County, Cal. 1901-2, with Spreckels Sugar Company, surveying, estimating, and 

locating in connection with Arroyo Seco canal, reservoir, and dam, impounding waters 

of San Lorenzo Creek, etc.; also in connection with distribution of water, making 

contour surveys, locating lateral ditches, checks, levees, gates, check feeders, etc., 

also measuring quantity of water passing through gates. 1903, with United States 

Geological Survey in hydraulic and hydrographic work. May 6, 1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service; January 1, 1904, promoted to engineer.

CORLETT, BERTRAM EDWIN, engineering aid. Address, Reno, Nev. Born at Cleveland, Ohio, March 18, 1879. B. S., University of California. With surveying party 

from University of California two summers, performing transit, level, stadia, and 

plane-table work. June 1, 1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service.

COVERT, CLERMONT CALVERT, assistant engineer. Address, Binghamton, N. Y. 

Born at Townsendville, N. Y., January 25, 1872. C..E., Ohio Northern University. 

In 1895 was in general practice at Syracuse, N. Y. In 1896, with city engineer, Syracuse, N. Y. 1896-1898, in private practice at Binghamton, N. Y. 1898-99, with 

United States Volunteer Engineers in Porto Rico; also made preliminary survey for 

Penn Yan, Lake Kenka and Southern Railroad. 1899-1900, with Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad. 1900-1, in private practice. 1901-2, assistant engineer in 

charge of construction work Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. 1902-3, 

assistant hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. June 1, 1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

Cox, CHARLES BARROWS, engineering aid. Address, 106 Washington street, Newton, Mass. Born in Massachusetts November 4, 1881. University education; graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, degree S. B., 1903. In 1901, with
NEWELL.] PEKSONNEL OF THE SEKVICE. 321

Holbrook, Cabot & Daly on New York City subway, general office work, leveling, etc. 

In 1902, Summer School of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gaging streams, 

plane-table mapping, etc. June 30, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

DARTON, NELSON HORATIO, geologist. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in New 

York City, December 25, 1865. Received a common school education. In 1878 

entered pharmaceutical laboratory of William W. Thayer, in New York City. In 

1882 opened a laboratory as analytical chemist in New York and gave much time to 

research work on methods of chemical analyses, the results of which were published 

by the American Chemical Society, of which he was elected a member, in 1883. 

First geological studies were undertaken in New Jersey, near New York City, where 

observations of the Newark group were made, which finally developed into a detailed 

investigation. In 1886 joined the United States Geological Survey, and has been a 

member of the Survey's geological corps ever since. Mr. Barton's earlier" work was 

mainly in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and AVest Virginia, but during later years most of his attention has been given to the Black Hills, central dreat 

Plains, and Big Horn Mountains. In the spring of 1903 was placed in charge of the 

western section of hydrology of the hydrographic branch of the Survey to investigate 

the geology of underground waters in the reclamation States and Texas, with a number of assistants. The Survey has published many reports and folios by Mr. Darton, 

and numerous papers of his have appeared in scientific journals and the proceedings 

of scientific societies.

DAVIES, WILLIAM GOMER, engineering aid. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Education, Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts; Pomona College, Claremont, Cal.; University of California, degree B. S. In 1901 was with Government 

irrigation survey on Tule River, California. In 1902 with survey party 'on Sierra 

Railroad of California and with Government drainage survey, Fresno, Cal. May 15, 

1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service.

DA vis, ARTHUR POWELL, supervising engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

in Illinois, February 9, 1861. Education, Junction City, Kans., High School; graduate of State Normal School, Emporia, Kans.; engineering studies, Columbian University, Washington, D. C. 1884-1894, topographer, United States Geological Survey, 

conducting surveys and explorations in Arizona, New Mexico, and California. 1895- {<\ 

1897, hydrographer in charge of all Government stream measurements. 1898-1900, 

hydrographer in charge of hydrographic examination of Nicaragua and Panama canal 

routes. Member American Society of Civil Engineers. Author of Elevation and 

Stadia Tables, 1893; Progress of Stream Measurements, 1897; Irrigation near Phoenix, 

Ariz., 1897: Hydrography of Nicaragua, 1899; Irrigation Investigation in Arizona, 

1898; Hydrography of the American Isthmus, 1902; Water Storage on Salt River, 

Arizona, 1903; also articles in magazines on irrigation, the isthmian canals, and 

other hydrographic subjects. Appointed principal engineer, reclamation service, 

July 8, 1902, and supervising engineer, July 1, 1903.

DAVIS, EDMUND IRELAND, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

in Maine, November 26, 1877. Education, four years at University of Maine and 

advanced work in hydraulics at Cornell. In 1900 was with United States Geological 

Survey; also in same year with Boston and Albany Railroad on preliminary and 

location surveys. In 1901 with United States Geological Survey, and inspector of 

surveys, Sullivan, Me. In 1902 with United States Geological Survey, also on 

plane-table work, etc., at Rockland, Me., and Ithaca, N. Y. May 11, 1903, appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service, and on November 11, 1903, promoted to 

assistant engineer. -

DILLON, RALPH P., assistant engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, 

Denver, Colo. Born, Fremont, Ohio, December 14, 1872. Education, common and 

IRK 93 04 21
322 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

high school, graduate of Case School of Applied Science, June, 1894, degree B. S. 

In 1896 was assistant city engineer of Alexandria, Ind. 1896-97, with'Youngstown 

(Ohio) Bridge Company. 1897-98, with Brown-Ketcham Iron Works, Indianapolis, 

Ind. 1898-99, with Gillette-Herzog Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn.

1899-1900, with C. L. Strobel, consulting and contracting engineer, Chicago, 111.

1900-1902, with Keystone Bridge Works, Pittsburg. 1902-3, with United States 

Geological Survey, on Colorado River. May 28, 1903, appointed engineering aid in 

the reclamation service. July 1, 1903, promoted to assistant engineer.

DOBSON, FRANK S., engineering aid. Address, Roswell, N. Mex. Education, three 

years high school and preparatory school, three and one-half years in University of 

Nebraska, C. E. course. 1896-1899, employed, while attending school, as chainman, 

rodman, and instrument man by city engineer, Lincoln, Nebr. In 1900, axman 

and chainman, Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, in Wyoming. September, 

1900, to June, 1901, instrument man in surveying city lots, setting sewer and street 

grades, Lincoln, Nebr. June-October, 1901, assistant division engineer, Burlington 

and Missouri River Rail road, Edgemont, S. Dak. From October, 1901, to June, 1902, 

on river measurements in Nebraska for United States Geological Survey. JuneSeptember, 1902, instrument man in Bridgeport, Nebr. September, 1902, general 

engineering work in Fairbury and York, Nebr. During fall season of 1902, on river 

measurements for United States Geological Survey. April-May, 1903, instrument 

man on railroad location work, Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. May 25, 

1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and has since been in 

charge of field parties in New Mexico.

DOLE, RICHARD BRYANT, engineering aid. Address, 263 Dearborn street, Chicago,

111. Born, Portland, Me., May 8, 1880. Graduate of Portland (Me.) High School,

f«. classical course, 1898; graduated Bowdoin College, 1902. In 1902 was elected

~;r instructor in chemistry in Bowdoin College; resigned in February, 1903, to take

~- post-graduate course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specializing in sani5 tary chemistry and bacteriology. In 1902, worked on water analysis and study of

1 * Androscoggin River for United States Geological Survey. June 15, 1903, appointed

engineering aid in reclamation service.

DOWNEY, AUSTIN C., engineering aid. Address, Fort Collins, Colo. Born in Illinois, November 8,1881. Education, Fort Collins, Colo., public schools and Colorado 

Agricultural College; course in civil and irrigation engineering. During college 

course was employed by Colorado Experiment Station on seepage measurements and 

as draftsman. In 1902 was on maintenance of way work on Oregon Short Line 

Railroad. In 1903, in Colorado State engineer's office and afterwards as draftsman 

for Arkansas Valley Sugar Beet and Irrigated Land Company. June 28, 1903, 

appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

DURYEE, EDWARD, cement expert. Address, Globe, Ariz. Born in New York 

State in 1858. Graduated from engineering department, Rutgers College, 1878, 

degrees B. S. and C. E. Spent one season with New Jersey geodetic survey. In 

1879, engaged in experimental investigations and in perfecting the rotary kiln for 

metallurgical uses, with G. Duryee. 1880-1892, assayer and metallurgist with smelting companies in New Mexico, Colorado, and California. Instructor in New York 

schools one season. 1892-1894, superintending chemist, Montezuma Portland Cement 

Company. 1894-1903, chemist California Portland Cement Company. Occasional 

engagements as cement expert in investigating deposits of cement materials. With 

reclamation service, as cement expert, since April, 1903.

ELA, EDWIN STANTON, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Wisconsin, December 30, 1871. Education, common school, and four years in academy. Graduate of University of Wisconsin, B. S. in C. E. 1896-1898, with United 

States Mississippi River Commission on topographic and precise-level work. AprilJune, 1898, with United States Engineers, New Orleans, La. 1898-1899, with United
NBWELL.] . PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 323

States Geological Survey in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois, as field assistant, 

sketching topography. 1900-1901, with Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company 

in Iowa, as instrument man and in charge of work on second-track construction. 

1901-1903, with United States Geological Survey in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West 

Virginia, and Georgia, as topographer, doing stadia traverse, and sketching topography. March 7, 1901, appointed assistant topographer in United States Geological 

Survey, and on July 1, 1903, transferred to the reclamation service.

EVANS, HENRY ROSENGARTEN, assistant engineer. Address, Phoenix, Ariz. Born in 

Pennsylvania, August 3, 1878. Education, common school, high school, and college. 

In 1899 was elected county surveyor of Jefferson County, Colo. In 1900 was surveyor-general of Colorado; afterwards engineer for Gross Placer Company in Dutch 

Guiana. In 1902 was instructor in mining engineering at Nevada State University. 

April 10, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, and on October 

10, 1903, promoted to assistant engineer.

EWING, WILLIARD REA, engineering aid. Address, 1142 South Ridgeway avenue, 

Chicago, 111. Born in Ohio, February 10, 1882. Educated at Lawndale Grammar 

School, Chicago, English High and Manual Training School, and Purdue University, 

degree B. S. in C. E. In 1901 was draftsman for American Car and Foundry Company, Chicago. In 1902, rodman for Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company; 

also, same year, chainman on location of Lake Bluff cut-off, Chicago and Northwestern Railway. June 25, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation 

service.

FARISH, WILLIAM ADAMS, assistant engineer. Address, Phoenix, Ariz;. Born San 

Francisco, Cal., October 22,1870. In 1889 was with hydrographic division of United 

States Geological Survey and afterwards transferred to topography. In 1891 surveyed reservoir sites for Rio Verde Canal Company. In 1893 surveyed Tonto reservoir site, Salt River, Arizona. From 1894 to 1903 was manager and engineer of 

Arizona Waterworks and Sewerage Company, of Phoenix, Ariz. In 1899 planned 

and built a sewer and water system for United States Indian school near Phoenix, 

Ariz. 1899-1903, city engineer of Phoenix, Ariz. June, 1898, to December, 1900, in 

charge of United States Geological Survey gaging station on Salt and Verde rivers. 

June 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service.

FELLOWS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce building, 

Denver, Colo. Born in Kennebunk, Me., November 1, 1864. Received degree of 

B. A. at Yale, 1886. Commenced work in irrigation lines September, 1887, continuing for eight years for" the Montezuma Valley irrigation companies, and being for 

several years of this period superintendent of schools and county surveyor of 

Montezuma County, Colo^ Was for five years deputy State engineer of Colorado. 

Prior to appointment as engineer in the reclamation service, on January 1, 1903, was 

employed at various times by the United States Geological Survey as hydrographer 

and topographer. Author of several papers and articles on hydrography, irrigation 

survey, and irrigation practice.

FIELD, JOHN ELLIS, engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce building, Denver, 

Colo. Born in Colorado, May 13, 1867. Ph. B., Yale University, class of 1888, 

scientific. From 1888 to 1893 was engaged in practice of mining, civil, and hydraulic 

engineering in mining camps of Colorado. 1888-89, assayer and chemist for Aspen 

Public Ore Sampling Works, Denver. 1890-91 in similar -capacity with Taylor & 

Brenton Sampling Works. 1891-1893, civil and hydraulic engineering practice. 

1893-1897, chief examiner of mineral surveys for United States surveyor-general of 

Colorado. 1897-1899, State hydraulic engineer of Colorado. 1899-1901, assistant 

engineer board of public works, Denver, Colo. 1901-1903, deputy State hydraulic 

engineer of Colorado. Author of various bulletins published by United States 

Department of Agriculture. Appointed engineer in the reclamation service, January,
324 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

FISHEE, CHESTER CENTENNIAL, engineering aid. Address, Boise, Idaho, care of D. 

W. Ross. Born in Oregon, July 4, 1876. Education, high schools and University 

of Oregon, degree B. R. in C. E. From June 10 to August 19, 1902, was in charge of 

party cruising timber in the coast fir regions. On June 11, 1903, was appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service, since which date has been employed in 

transit, level, and plane-table work.

FISHER, HOWELL TRACY, assistant engineer. Address, 20 West Thirty-fourth street, 

New York City. Born December 10, 1868. Graduate Pottsville, Pa., High School. 

From 1885 to 1886, with real estate company, compiling land maps. 1886-1888, with 

State geological survey of Pennsylvania anthracite survey. 1 888-89, with Susquehanna Coal Company and Pennsylvania Railroad Coal Company. 1889-1891, with 

A. B. Cochran & Son in civil and mining engineering and city surveying. 1891-1893, 

assistant to A. D. W. Smith, geologist and mining engineer, preparing Anthracite 

Coal Waste Commission's report, and State geological survey of Pennsylvania, assisting in construction of geological map of the State. 1893-1898, with A. B. Cochran 

& Son, as general assistant. 1898-1900, with United States Board of Engineers on 

Deep Waterways. 1900-1901 with Isthmian Canal Commission. 1902, with Denver 

Union Water Company, engaged in estimating capacity of Lake Cheesman reservoir 

and making plans of spillway for Lake Cheesman dam and reservoir surveys. January 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

FITCH, CHARLES HALL, engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in Wisconsin, September 12, 1854. Education, preparatory school, Woodside, College Station, 

Md., and Georgetown Academy, D. C. 1872-1876, aid, United States Coast Survey, 

and at the same time completed course under private instructors. 1876-1884, United 

States deputy surveyor on public land surveys in New Mexico, also deputy mineral 

surveyor and draftsman, surveyor-general's office, Santa Fe, N. Mex. In 1884, 

appointed topographer, United States Geological Survey. 1884-1888, on topographic 

surveys in Texas; 1889, on similar surveys in Colorado. In 1890, in California making investigations of alleged fraudulent surveys, under direction of Commissioner of 

General Land Office. In 1891-92, on topographic surveys in Black Hills, South 

Dakota. 1893-1895, in General Land Office, Washington, D. C., as assistant chief of 

surveying division. In 1895, reappointed topographer, Geological Survey, and 

designated to take charge of topographic and public land surveys of Indian Territory; completed field work in 1898, and office work in 1899. In 1899-1900, engaged 

in examination of forest reserves in California In 1900 was transferred to division 

of hydrography, Geological Survey, and assigned to hydrographic investigations in 

Northwestern States during 1900-1901. In 1902, appointed engineer in the reclamation service.

FORBES, BURT E., assistant engineer. Address, Beatrice, Nebr. Born in Michigan, 

August 6, 1872. Graduate of University of Nebraska, 1895, liberal arts course. 

1889-90, rodman and chainman, Beatrice, Nebr. 1896-97, teacher, Beatrice High 

School. 1897-98, levelman on placer mining work in Boulder County, Colo. 1899, 

engineer in charge of same work. 1899-1901, assistant engineer on railroad construction and track laying. 1901-2, assistant secretary of State board of jpigation 

of Nebraska, on steam gaging and adjudication of water rights. November 1, 1902, 

appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service. 1902-3, on plane-table work in 

Nevada. 1903, transitman on final location and division engineer on construction of 

main canal, Truckee project, Nevada.

FRENCH, JAMES ADAMS, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born, 

Washington, D. C., January 27, 1866. Education, common school, and Georgetown 

University, Washington, D. C. In 1883 was with United States Coast and Geodetic 

Survey on Long Island Sound. Remained in Coast-Survey service until 1886. Then 

entered -employ of Greely, Carlson & Co., civil engineers, Chicago. 1886, draftsman, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company. 1886-87, instrument
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 325

man, maintenance of way department, Union Pacific Railroad, Denver, 

1888, with city engineer of Santa Barbara, Gal. In fall of same year with United^ 

States Coast and Geodetic Survey in San Francisco. 1889-1891, in Alaska with party*' 

to determine crossing of one hundred and forty-first meridian, on Yukon and Porcupine rivers, also topographic surveys. 1891, Stockton, Cal., with city engineer. 

1892, North Yakima, Wash., topographic work for Sunnyside Canal. 1892-93, with 

Colorado Irrigation Company, Yuma, Ariz. 1893, inspector in engineer department, Washington, D. C. 1900, Cape Nomet Alaska, in charge of equipment of 

party. 1893-1903, employed chiefly on construction work of sewers, and foundations for sewerage pumping stations, in engineer department of District of Columbia. January 5, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service.

FULLER, MYRON LESLIH, assistant geologist. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

at Brockton, Mass., April 15, 1873. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, geological department; degree, S. B. In 1896 was engaged in geologic 

work on Cape Cod, a report on which received the Walker prize of the Boston 

Society of Natural History for 1897. From 1897 to 1900 was assistant and instructor 

at the college named, and in 1899 also acted as special agent for the commission to 

the Paris Exposition, preparing an exhibit of building and ornamental stones, which 

was awarded a gold medal. In June, 1900, joined the United States Geological Survey, since his connection with which has been engaged on geologic surveys in 

New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois, and has prepared and published 

several folios and a number of papers on oil and gas. January 1 , 1903, was transferred to the hydrographic branch, where he. organized the eastern section of the 

division of hydrology, under which work was begun in about twenty States.

GAY, LEON LINCOLN, engineering aid. Address, Phoenix, Ariz. Born, Barton 

Landing, Vt., May 29, 1879. Graduate of Sheffield Scientific School of Yale, 1901, 

Bachelor of Philosophy. 1901-1903, with Boise- Payette River .Electric Power Company, Boise, Idaho, as assistant engineer. ^Construction of 'canal and power plant 

began in January, 1902, and from this time until its completion in February, 1903, 

was engineer in charge. May 13, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation 

service.

GILBERT, ARCHIBALD MARVINE, engineering aid. Address, Washington, D. C. 

Born in Washington, D. C., December 6, 1876. Education, common school, grammar school, and Cornell University. During the summers of 1900 and 1902 was with 

United States Geological Survey on stream measurement work, plane-table work, 

etc. June 19, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

GILES, JAMES MARVIN, assistant engineer. Address, Temple^ Court, Atlanta, Ga. 

Born, Rock Hill, S. C., September 21, 1875. Education, two years Wofford College, 

also common school. Course in electric lighting and railway work. For four years 

assistant engineer Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company, Tallassee, Ala. May 1, 

1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service; January 1, 1904, promoted to assistant engineer.

GORDON, CHARLES EDWARD, assistant engineer. Address, Lawton, Okla. Born at 

Mamaroneck, N. Y. , January 20, 1874. Graduated Glens Falls Academy, 1892. Graduated in civil engineering from Union University, 1896. November, 1892-December, 

1895, draftsman for irregular intervals, Schenectady Locomotive Works. December, 

1895-September, 1896, acting leveler, New York State canals; surveys and estimates. 

September, 1896-June, 1897, topographer and assistant engineer, making maps and 

building roads in Adirondack Mountains for W. Seward Webb. November, 1897- 

June, 1898,with New York State Forest Preserve Board as assistant engineer Indian 

Lake reservoir. July, 1898-July, 1899, with United States Deep Waterway Commission, water supply division, in charge of stadia topographical party and in charge of 

borings. July, 1899-December, 1899, assistant engineer on construction, Chicago and 

Northwestern Railway. December, 1899-December, 1900, topographer, Choctaw,
826 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [xo. 98.

Oklahoma and Gulf Eailroad. December, 1900-August, 1901, resident engineer in 

charge construction, same railroad. August, 1901-March, 1902, resident engineer, in 

charge construction, Choctaw, Oklahoma and Texas Railway. March, 1902-Deeember, 1902, resident engineer, in charge of construction, Rock Island System. December, 1902-June, 1903, resident engineer, in charge of construction, Missouri, Kansas 

and Texas Railway. June 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation 

service.

GRANKE, LEO ERNEST, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Wisconsin, October 2, 1877. Graduate of La Crosse (Wis.), high school; Wisconsin 

Business College; University of Wisconsin, B. C E., 1900. 1898-1900, rodman, levelman, and field assistant, United States Geological Survey. In 1900 was with Chicago 

and Alton Railroad. 1901-2, assistant engineer, Chicago and Alton Railroad. 1902-3, 

assistant topographer, United States Geological Survey. September 1,1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

GREEN, HUBERT EDWARD, engineer. Address, San Francisco, Cal. Born in England, August 17, 1859. Education, Auckland, New Zealand, college and grammar 

school. Partial course in electrical engineering with International Correspondence 

School. Member American Society of Civil Engineers. From 1874 to 1884 was with 

public works department, New Zealand Government. 1884-1886, construction engineer Sierra Valley and Mohawk Railway. 1886-1888, in city engineer's office, San 

Diego, Cal. 1888-1890, with International Company of Mexico; also made reconnaissance survey for railroad. May-December, 1890, in charge of construction of 

railroad trestle across Elliott Bay in Puget Sound; also designed and put in grillage 

foundations and superintended erection of swing bridge across White River. 1891, 

in charge of location in the field, canal survey, Northern Pacific Railroad. 1891-1893, 

locating and construction engineer for Texas, Louisiana and Eastern Railroad; also, 

in 1893, in charge of. levels for Colorado River Irrigation Company. 1893-94, consulting engineer in San'Diego City and County. 1894-1896, chief engineer Coronado 

Beach Company; surveys of reservoirs for San Diego water supply; afterwards 

superintended laying of foundation of Morena Dam. 1897, examined and report on 

placer mine in Cariboo, British Columbia. 1897-98, general practice in San Francisco. 1899, in charge of construction and draftsman in office Los Angeles electric 

railroads. 1900-1902, field assistant, United States Geological Survey. 1902-3, in 

charge of surveys, etc., for Seaside Water Company, Long Beach, Cal.; also subdividing tract of land for Beach Land Company, of Los Angeles, Cal.; made plans and 

estimates for water and sewer systems and improvements for seaside resort at Playa 

del Rev. May 4, 1903, appointed engineer in the reclamation service.

GROVER, NATHAN CLIFFORD, engineer. Address, Orono, Me. Born, Bethel, Me., 

January 31,1868. Education, University of Maine, B. C. E. and C. E.; Massachusetts 

ST- » >- Institute of Technology, B. S. 1889, location and construction, Somerset Railway. 

\ T^^ 1890, location and construction of extension, Maine Central Railroad. 1891-1894, 

H^ -4 5? assistant in civil engineering. Maine State College. 1894, water-power department, 

jRumford Falls, Me. 1895, leveler on construction, Sebasticook and Moosehead Rail- 

>^ ^groad. 1894-1896, assistant professor of civil engineering, University of Maine, and 

' ^ < ~\associate professor from 1896-97. Professor of civil engineering, University of Maine, 

<3 1| ^1897-1903. 1901-1903, resident hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. 

£< cxr&April 29, 1903, appointed hydrographer in the reclamation service. July 1, 1903, 

designation changed to engineer.

HALL, BENJAMIN MORTIMER, consulting engineer. Address, Temple Court, Atlanta, 

Ga. Born in South Carolina, January 31, 1853. Education, Emory College, Oxford, 

Ga., and University of Georgia; B. E. and C. E. and M. E. 1876-1880, professor of 

mathematics, Northern Georgia Agricultural College, Dahlonega, Ga. 1880-1884, 

chief engineer in water-supply investigations, surveys, and construction of mining 

canals, flumes, tunnels, etc., for hydraulic mining. 1884 1887, superintendent of
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SEEVICE. 32?

Gold Mines Hydraulic Mining, Lincoln County, Ga.. and underground mining in 

Warren County. 1887-1890, superintendent Southern Marble Company, Marble 

Hill, Ga. 1890-1903, in general civil and hydraulic engineering practice, Atlanta, Ga. 

1895-1903, resident hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. Has made 

water-supply investigations for Atlanta, Columbus, Dublin, and Elberton, Ga. 1903, 

consulting engineer, United States Geological Survey. Author of "Water Powers of 

Georgia, 1896;" "Water Powers of Alabama, 1903;" in preparation "Water Powers of 

Georgia, 1903."

HALL, MAXCY REDDICK, hydrographer. Address, Temple Court, Atlanta, Ga. Born, 

Georgia, November 16, 1864. Education, common school and University of Georgia. 

1895-1903, assistant resident hydrogapher, United States Geological Survey. In 1900 

made water-power surveys on Saluda River, near Newberry, S. C., and Broad River, 

at Anthony Shoals, Ga.; 1901, on Chattahoochee River, near Buford, Ga., and on 

Yellow River, near Conyers, Ga.; 1902, on Hiawassee River, near Murphy, N. C. 

1889-1903, general civil and hydraulic engineering, Atlanta, Ga. January 1, 1903, 

appointed hydrographer in the reclamation service.

HALL, WARREN ESTERLY, engineering aid. Address, Temple Court, Atlanta, Ga. 

Born in Georgia, October 5, 1881. Education, Georgia School of Technology, C. E. 

course. 1899, hydrographer. United States Geological Survey; also ran levels for 

preliminary survey of Gainesville railroad; also surveying for Consolidated Mining 

Company, Dahlonega, Ga. 1899-1900, levelman on navigation survey in Chattahoochee Corps of United States Engineers. 1900, assistant hydrographer in Appalachian Park investigation. 1901-2, assistant engineer on water-power survey for 

Chattahoochee Falls Company, Columbus, Ga.; also assistant engineer on Garner waterpower survey, on upper Chattahoochee River. 1902-3, assistant hydrographer for 

United States Geological Survey. 1903, on hydrographic and topographic surveys 

for Hall Brothers, Atlanta, Ga. January 6, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the 

reclamation service.

HAMLIN, HOMER, engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born at Pine Island, Minn., 

August 27, 1864. Education, common school and high school, and independent. 

study. 1887-1893, was with city engineer, San Diego, Cal. 1893-1895, general engineering and surveying business at San Diego, Cal. In 1894 was assistant to United 

States engineers in survey for fortifications on Point Loma and Coroiiado Beach. 

1895, draftsman, Los Angeles, Cal.; also in surveyor's office, of Los Angeles County. 

1895-96, in office of city engineer, Los Angeles, Cal. 1897-98, in office of county surveyor of Los Angeles County. 1899-1900, deputy city engineer, Los Angeles, Cal.

1901. hydrographic and geologic investigations for United States Geological Survey.

1902. hydrographic and hydrologic investigations for United States Geological Survey. 

January 1, 1903, appointed engineer in the reclamation service.

HANNA, FRANK WILLARD, assistant engineer. Address, 263 Dearborn street, 

Chicago, 111. Born in Geneseo, 111., September 16, 1867. Education, Western Normal College, Shenandoah, Iowa, and Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa. 

1894-95, was assistant in departments of mathematics and civil engineering in Highland Park College, and in 1895 became dean of departments named, continuing as 

such until 1903. In 1900, commissioned by governor of Iowa to investigate foreign 

schools and traveled through Europe studying engineering structures. Is author of 

pamphlet "Logical methods in arithmetic," and inventor of an "angle multisector." 

June 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

HANSEN, ANDREW C., engineering aid. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born, Denmark, February 18, 1880. Education, University of California. In 1902 was chainman, rodman, and computer for N. B. Kellogg, San Francisco, in locating power 

plant on Feather River, also ran compass and took slopes. May 15, 1903, appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service.
328 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

HARDESTY, WILLIAM PRESTON, assistant engineer. Address P. O. box "S," Salt 

Lake City, Utah. Born in Missouri April 5,1865. Education, college and university, 

University of Missouri, C. E. 1887-88, with Interstate Consolidated Rapid Transit 

Railway Company, Kansas City, Mo. 1888, with Denver Tramway Company, Denver, Colo. 1889, with Denver City Railway Company. 1890, with Denver and Rio 

Grande Railway, assistant engineer on construction, Colorado canal. 1891, assistant 

engineer for T. C. Henry Canal Companies, San Luis Valley, Colo. 1892, assistant 

engineer for Lemhi Placer Gold Mining Company, Idaho. 1893-1903, private engineering practice, Salt Lake City, Utah. June 5, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in 

the reclamation service.

HARLEY, GEORGE FOSTER, engineering aid. Address, Sparta, Ga. Born in Georgia 

January 6, 1875. Education, high school, university, and scientific school. In 1898. 

was employed on preliminary railroad survey in Georgia, and in same year received 

civil service appointment in Department of Agriculture in East St. vLouis, 111.; in 

1900 transferred to Department of Interior at Washington, D. C. July 1, 1903, 

appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service and assigned to work in State 

of Washington.

HARRIS, ARCHIE LEE, assistant engineer. Address, Livingstone, Ariz. Born in 

Orange, Mass., February 17, 1872. Education, University of Michigan, B. S. in 

C. E. 1894-95, teaching school. 1898-1900, rodrnan and draftsman on United States 

deep waterways survey along Hudson River, and in office at Detroit, Mich. 1900- 

1901, draftsman and computer on New York State Barge Canal survey, Albany, 

N. Y. 1901, draftsman for United States Isthmian Canal Commission, Washington, 

D. C. 1901-2, draftsman for Russell Wheel and Foundry Company, Detroit, Mich., 

and Hamilton Bridge Works Company, Hamilton, Ontario. 1902-3, draftsman for 

Pennsylvania, New York and Long Island Railroad Company, New York. May 19,

1903. appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

HAWLEY, RALPH STEVENSON, assistant engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born 

m California, January 11, 1877. Education, high school and University of California, 

electrical and civil engineering courses, B. S. in C. E. In 1902, in city engineer's office, 

Oakland, Cal., and with Spreckels Sugar Company. In 1903, assistant in University of 

California Summer School of Civil Engineering, at Monterey, Cal. During 1902-3 

was twice chosen president of civil engineering association of University of California. 

August 7, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service; January 1,

1904. promoted to assistant engineer.

HAWLEY, ROBINSON WILBER, assistant engineer. Born in New York, September 

28, 1876. Graduate of Colorado Agricultural College in irrigation engineering. 

1896-97, assistant engineer, irrigation surveys on the Rio Puerco and canal superintendent in Idaho. 1898, assistant engineer on survey for canal in Rio Grande 

Valley. 1899-1900, designing irrigation structures and drafting and on stream measurements for State in Colorado. 1901, topographic surveys for lateral systems. 

1901-2, with Oregon Short Line; also with Mammoth Reservoir Company, Fairview, 

Utah; also, same year, on surveys, United States Geological Survey, Montrose, Colo.; 

January 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service.

HAYDEN, BEAUPORD EMMETT, assistant engineer. Born in Missouri, August 23, 

1875. Education, high school, private college, and Territorial University, Norman, Okla.; B. S. in 1900. In 1901 and 1902, constructed ditches and laterals for 

the reclamation of land near Yuma, Ariz. In 1902-3, on topographic work on Colorado River. June 9, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, 

and assigned to duty in the Salt River Valley, Arizona; December 9, 1903, promoted 

to assistant engineer.

HAYS, DAVID WALKER, assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in 

Bridgeport, Cal., March 24,X1878. Education, Nevada State University, B. S. In 

1900, was levehnan and topographer under commissioner of State highways of the
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 329

State of California, in survey of road into Yosemite Valley, and in survey of Placerville road between Placerville and Lake Tahoe. 1901-2, assistant hydrographer and 

engineer in stream measurements and surveys of canals and reservoirs, under L. H. 

Taylor, of United States Geological Survey. January 1, 1903, appointed assistant 

engineer in the reclamation service.

HENDRICKS, ERNEST DEMAREST, engineering aid. Address, Las Cruces, N. Mex. 

Born in New York, December 16, 1879. Education, Cornell University, C. E. 

During summers 1897-1900 with Hendricks Haypress Manufactory, Kingston, N. Y. 

In 1901, rodman with geological survey of New York State. In 1902, in New York 

State engineer corps. June 13, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation 

service.

HEWITT, CHARLES EDGAR, engineering aid. Address, Peyton Block, Spokane, 

Wash. Born in Iowa, October 30,1868. Education, Iowa City Academy, commercial 

school, and State University of lowaj C. E. During 1897 and 1898 was with United 

States Geological Survey as levelman, then accepted position on engineer corps of 

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway; during field seasons since that time has 

been with Government survey. 1901-2 with Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad 

on location work in Oklahoma and Indian Territory. July 16, 1903, appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service.

HILL, Louis CLARENCE, engineer. Address, Livingstone, Ariz. Born in Michigan, 

February 22, 1865. Education, University of Michigan, B. S. in C. E. and E. E. 

In 1886-87 was draftsman with Detroit Pipe and Foundry Company, Detroit, Mich. 

1887, leveler and transitman, Duluth, Redwing and Southern Railroad, also in St. 

Paul office of United States Engineer Corps as assistant engineer. 1887-88, transitman and chief of party, Duluth, Redwing and Southern Railroad. 1888, resident 

engineer Great Northern Railroad, St. Paul, Minn. 1890-1903, professor of physics 

and electrical engineering, Colorado School of Mines. In 1893 served as judge" on 

committee of awards, World's Columbian Exposition, and since that date has served 

many times as consulting engineer. June 8, 1903, appointed engineer in the 

reclamation service.

HINDERLIDER, MICHAEL C., engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce building, 

Denver, Colo. Born, Medora, Ind., May 19, 1876. Education, public schools and 

University of Techology of Indiana, B. S. inC. E., Purdue University. In 1897 and 

1898 was on United States Land Survey in Colorado. During the summers of 1899 

and 1900 was employed by the State engineer of Colorado to make stream gagings. 

1899-1900, in engineering department of board of public works of Denver, Colo. 

In 1898 and 1901, in designing and construction, also drainage surveys. In 1902 was 

engaged in hydrographic work over the State of Colorado under the United States 

Geologic Survey. January 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation 

service; September 1, 1903, promoted to engineer. January 1 to July 31, 1903, in 

charge of hydrographic work in Colorado under the United States Geological Survey. 

August 1, 1903, given general supervision of hydrographic work in Colorado and 

adjoining States, with headquarters at Denver.

-HOGUE, GILBERT H., engineering aid. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Education, 

University of Idaho, B. S. in C. E. 1900-1901, on maintenance of way and construction work; also, in 1901, assistant engineer and draftsman in office of city 

engineer, Moscow, Idaho. 1901-2, general engineering and land surveying; also, in

1902. city superintendent on construction, Moscow, Idaho, and chief draftsman and 

topographer Cascade Canal Company, EllensburgKWash. 1902-3, assistant irrigation engineer and hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. January 12,

1903. appointed engineering aid in reclamation service. 1903, topographic work on 

Minidoka project, Idaho.

HOLOATE, HARRY LANGFORD, clerk. Born, Corvallis, Oreg., January 21, 1867. 

Graduate of Oregon Agricultural College, B. S. Admitted to practice law iu the
330 FIRST RECLAMATION" SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

courts of Oregon, October 3, 1893. Practiced law in Oregon until departure to the 

Philippines as member of the Second Oregon Regiment Volunteer Infantry. 

Appointed clerk United States Census Office in 1900. Assistant chief of irrigation 

section until June 1, 1903, when he was transferred to United States Geological Survey as clerk in the legal department of the reclamation service.

HOLLISTER, GEORGE BUELL, hydrographer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born, 

Brooklyn, N. Y., September 16, 1865. B. A., Yale University. From 1892 to 1896 

was private secretary to Arthur M. Dodge, New York City, and during that time 

was also assistant treasurer of Central Electric Heating Company, and treasurer of 

Dewey Elecrtric Signal Company. 1896-97, with estate of Arthur M. Dodge; then 

entered employ of his father in wholesale grain and feed business, New York City. 

1901-1903, hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. January 1, 1903, 

appointed hydrographer in the reclamation service.

HOLT, LESTER MORTON, assistant engineer. Address, Lawton, Okla. Born, Wisconsin, February 25, 1877. Education, Columbian University; degree B. S. in 1900; 

degree of C. E. in 1902. Member of engineer corps of District of Columbia National 

Guard for four years, making maps, etc. From 1896 to 1902 was messenger, clerk, 

and bookkeeper, United States Treasury Department. July 20, 1902, appointed 

irrigation assistant in United States Geological Survey. July 1, 1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service. Four months' instrument work on 

surveys of Grand Valley irrigation project, Colorado. One month's office work, 

level and transit, at Montrose, Colo. Three months' plane-table and level at Mountain Park, Oklahoma Territory. Four months' office work, level, plane-table work, 

etc., for investigation for Lawton waterworks, Lawton, Okla.

 HoRTON, ALBERT HOWARD, engineer. Address, Silver Creek, N. Y. Graduate 

of Cornell University, degree C. E. In 1898-99 was stadiaman and draftsman on 

United States Deep Waterway Survey; also^ in 1899, rodman in precise-level party. 

1899-1900, recorder with United States Lake Survey, engaged in hydrographic 

surveys and discharge measurements on the St. Clair River. 1900-1901, recorder 

with United States Lake Survey, in charge of field work in connection with discharge 

measurements of St. Lawrence River. 1901-2, with United States Lake Survey, in 

charge of office work connected with a resurvey of St. Lawrence River. 1902-3, 

junior engineer with United States Lake Survey, in charge of precise level party, 

running levels between Greenbush and Oswego. May 9, 1903, appointed assistant 

engineer in the reclamation service; January 1, 1904, promoted to engineer.

HORTON, ROBERT ELMER, hydrographer. Address, 75 Arcade, Utica, N. Y. Born 

in Michigan, May 18, 1875. Education, Albion College, Michigan, degree B. S. 

1895-1897, made calculations of rainfall and run-off of Hudson River for New York 

State engineer. In 1898 was second assistant engineer of construction, Indian Lake 

storage dam, New York. 1898-99, computer, water-supply division, United States 

Deep Waterways Survey; also, same year, cL/ paving inspector, Rome, N. Y. 

1899-1900 and later, in private practice. Investigated water powers on West Canada 

Creek, New York, built storage pond, Oneida County; made surveys and plans, 

Fishkill (N. Y.) waterworks, and Binghamton (N. Y.) water powers; consulting

4 expert in various cases', etc. 1900-1902, hydrographer, United States Geological 

Survey, in charge of stream gagings in New York State, and later in Michigan. 

January 1, 1903, appointed hydrographer in the reclamation service.

HOSFORD, CLARENCE KENT, engineering aid. Born in Vermont, September 17,

1875. Education, Dartmouth College, B. S., and Thayer School of Civil Engineering.

In 1900 assisted in contour work and laying out foundations. In 1902, field assistant

with United States Geological Survey. January 5, 1903, appointed engineering aid

in the reclamation service and assigned to duty in New Mexico.

HOYT, JOHN CLAYTON, computer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born at Lafayette,

. Y., June 10, 1874. Education, Andover Academy and Cornell University; gradu-
PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 381

ated in civil engineering in 1897. From May to October, 1897, was with Cornell 

University hydraulic laboratory construction, as assistant engineer. From November, 1897, to October, 1898, was with United States Deep Waterways Commission on 

Oswego route. November, 1898, to September, 1899, draftsman, Bureau Yards and 

Docks, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. October, 1899, to August, 1902, with 

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, as computer. September 3,1902, appointed 

computer in United States Geological Survey.

HUBER, FREDERICK W., engineering aid. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Virginia, 

August 31, 1879. Education, Baltimore City College and Cornell University. In 

1899, was rodman on preliminary surveys for United Railways of Baltimore; in 1900, 

rodman on construction, United Railways of Baltimore; in 1901, rodman on location, 

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; 1902, temporary assistant engineer, United Railways 

of Baltimore. May 7, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

HUFFAKER, ISAAC WATTS, engineering aid. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in California, 

September 25, 1874. Education, common school and private instruction in surveying, etc. 1899 to 1901 was in general-surveying office at Deer Lodge, Mont. In 

1901 was employed in construction of iron-frame smelters at Anaconda, Mont. May 

7, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service. Employed as hydrographer on Walker River Basin for three months following appointment; since that 

time as levelman on Lower Truckee canal.

HUMPHERYS, THOMAS HYRUM, engineering aid. Address, 391 South Main street, 

Logan, Utah. Born in Idaho, November 26, 1874. Graduate of Utah Agricultural 

College, degree B. S. in C. E. In 1897-98 was employed at Utah Experiment Station, 

United States Department of Agriculture. In 1898, surveying for Newton Reservoir 

Company, Newton, Utah. In 1900, on work connected with subdivision of Government lands. 1901-2, surveyor for Cache County, Utah. 1902-3, employed by the 

West Cache Canal Company, of Trenton, Utah. June 15, 1903, appointed engineering 

aid in the reclamation service.

HUMPHREYS, DAVID CARLISLE, assistant hydrographer. Address, Lexington, Va. 

Born in Virginia, October 14, 1855. Education, Washington and Lee University, 

degree C. E. 1872-1874, engaged in mapping and general surveying. 1874-75, office 

assistant and draftsman, railway construction. 1878-79, teacher. 1879-1885, draftsman and United States assistant engineer on improvement of Mississippi and Missouri 

rivers, under board of engineers and Missouri River Commission. 1885-1903, professor of civil engineering at Washington and Lee University. In 1888 was engineer 

for increasing water supply of Lexington, Va. Also, at various times, engineer and 

architect for land companies, railroads, etc.; also consulting engineer and vicepresident, Lexington Light and Power Company. 1895-1903, resident hydrographer, 

United States Geological Survey. February 2, 1903, appointed hydrographer in 

reclamation service.

HURD, HURD CLARENCE, assistant engineer. Address, Roswell, N. Mex. Born in 

Texas, April 16, 1870. Graduate of Princeton, C. E. During 1891 spent four months 

on the construction of the Broadway cable road, New York City. 1893-1897, degree 

with engineering department of District of Columbia. With Nicaragua Canal Commission, 1897-1899, and with Isthmian Canal Commission, 1899-1901; then accepted 

position as transitman with Washington and Annapolis Electric Railway Company. 

In 1902, assistant engineer with J. M. Guffey Petroleum Company, Port Arthur, 

Tex. September-December, 1902, with special agent, Department of State, on 

work on Nicaragua Canal route. May 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the 

reclamation service.

JOHNSON, EDWARD, Jr., engineer. Address, 263 Dearborn street, Chicago, 111. 

Born in Boston, Mass., December 4, 1876.' Education, Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology, degree B. S. September 26, 1899, to October 13, 1900, with Essex 

County, Lawrence, Mass., as assistant engineer in construction work, water measure-
332 FIEST EECLAMATION SEEVICE CONFEEENCE. ' [NO. 93,

ments, hydraulic engineering, and city surveying. October 25, 1900, to December 15, 

1902, attached to U. S. S. Ranger as hydrographic surveyor. Winter of 1900-1901, 

connected with building of wharf for United States coaling station at Pichilinque 

Bay, Mexico, and during that time and in 1902 executed the main triangulation of 

the survey of the coast of Lower California. February 2, 1903, appointed assistant 

engineer in the reclamation service; January 1, 1904, promoted to engineer.

KEDDIE, WILLIAM ARTHUK, assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in 

California March 4, 1878. Education, Nevada State University; degree B. S. In 

1900, on topographical surveys; also made topographic maps and did general drafting for report on Truckee River project. 1901-2, draftsman in United States surveyor-general's office. June-September, 1902, on United States survey work in 

Nevada. 1902-3, made preliminary surveys of canal lines along Truckee River. January 24, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service, since which 

time has been on topographic surveys in Nevada.

KERE, JOHN NICEWAUNGER, assistant engineer. Address, Monte Vista, Colo. Born 

in Ohio, July 1, 1879. Education, University of Colorado and Colorado School of 

Mines. In 1898 was field assistant with Colorado Valley Land and Canal Company. 

1899, assistant engineer with Colorado Valley Land and Canal Company. 1900, 

mining at Summitville and Ouray, Colo. 1902, draftsman with Southern Colorado 

Land Company; also mining and mining surveying, Summitville district, Colorado. 

September 15, 1902, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

KLEINSCHMIDT, HENRY SCHWING, engineering aid. Address, 2112 Waverly place, 

St. Louis, Mo. Born in Tennessee, May 28, 1882. Graduate of University of Missouri, degree B. S. in C. E. In «1901 was with survey party in Oklahoma and Texas, 

as chainman for St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. In 1902, with Atchison, 

Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, between Chicago and Kansas City, on maintenance 

of way. June 11, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

LAURGAARD, OLAF, engineering aid. Address, La Crosse, Wis. Born in Norway, 

February 21,1880. Education, high school and University of Wisconsin. In 1901 had 

charge of level party in northern Minnesota for United States Steel Corporation1902, running levels for electric railway. 1902, with United States Geological Sur. 

vey as primary levelman and traverseman. May 14, 1903, appointed engineering 

aid in the reclamation service.

LAWSON, LAWRENCE MILTON, assistant engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born 

Washington, D. C., January 8, 1879. Education, high school, Polytechnic Institute 

of Pasadena, Cal., Mount Tamalpais Military Academy, and Stanford University. In 

1902 was in charge of pipe-line survey for Pomona and Ontario Gas and Fuel Company, 

Los Angeles, Cal.; also in charge of party making stream measurements in California 

for United States Geological Survey. January 5, 1903, appointed engineering aid in 

the reclamation service; July 5, 1903, promoted to assistant engineer.

LEIGHTON, MARSHALL ORA, hydrographer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Maine, May 1,1874. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1896 

to 1902 was executive officer for the board of health at Montclair, N. J., and 

during the latter half of this period was engaged in private sanitary-engineering practice as consulting expert. In 1899 was associated with George W. Fuller, consulting 

expert, New York City, in an examination of drainage area of Passaic River above 

Little Falls to determine the fitness of the water flowing therefrom for.use in domestic 

supply. In 1901 was employed by the United States Geological Survey to prepare a 

report on sewage pollution in rivers around New York, published as Water Supply 

and Irrigation Paper No. 72. In 1902 was engaged in a new branch of work under 

the United States Geological Survey having especial reference to pollution of waters 

and the damage done thereby, and reviewed water investigations made in the northeastern part of the United States in a report published as Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 79. Also investigated, in conjunction with Mr. George B. Hollister,
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 333

the great floods on the Passaic River in March, .1902, and October, 1903. Made an 

extended trip through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas, exploring river 

drainage areas for locations of current-meter measurement stations, and on December 

1, 1902, was put in charge of river measurements in the Mississippi district, which 

covers the above-named States, together with Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. January 1, 1903, was appointed hydrographer, and put in charge of the 

division of hydro-economics.

LEMENAGER, HENRI V., draftsman. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in England, 1870. Education, English high school and special courses in art in South 

Kensington School of Science an/1 Arts. 1889-1894, draftsman with ^Northern Pacific 

Railroad; 1894-95, draftsman, United States Surveyor-General's Office; 1900, draftsman, Rand-McNally Company. In January, 1901, was appointed draftsman, United 

States Geological Survey, an£ on October 1, 1902, assigned to duty in the hydrographic branch.

LEWIS, JOHN HOWARD, hydrographic aid. Address, Pendleton, Oreg. Born in 

Oregon, April 22, 1878. Education, graduate of high school, three years in Stanford 

University, 0. E., Cornell, 1903. In 1899 and 1900 was draftsman for Oregon Rail-, 

road and Navigation Company; also, in latter year, chief topographer in field for 

same company, and from August, 1900 to September, 1901, was in charge of records 

of right of way department of same company; June to September, 1902, was field 

draftsman on construction work for same company. June 10, 1903, appointed hydrographic aid in the reclamation service, having charge of all hydrographic work in the 

State of Oregon.

LIPPINCOTT, JOSEPH BARLOW, supervising engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. 

Born in Scranton, Pa., October 10, 1864. Educated at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, and University of Kansas, receiving degree of B. S. in 1886. Since that time 

has been continuously engaged in civil engineering. 1886-1888, railroad work for the 

Santa Fe System. In July, 1888, was employed by United States Geological Survey 

for topographic work and continued until 1892, when he was appointed assistant 

engineer for Bear Valley Irrigation Company, of Redlands, Cal., and assisted in 

building a portion of the Santa Ana canal. In 1893 took charge of field work of an 

enterprise contemplating irrigation of 30,000 acres in northwestern portion of Los 

Angeles County, Cal.; work abandoned in December, 1894. In January, 1895, was 

placed in charge of hydrographic investigations for the United States Geological 

Survey in California and has had charge of said work to date. Is author of various 

United States Geological Survey publications. Has been employed on domestic 

waterworks of various cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa 

Barbara, Cal., as consulting engineer and also in same capacity by a number of 

irrigation companies.

LOOTZ, ALF C., assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Massachusetts, 

March 8, 1870. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; degree, S. B.; 

also graduate of English High School, Boston. In 1896-97 rodman with Boston 

Transit Commission. 1897-98, with chief engineer city of Boston, when he had 

charge of field work, laying out and estimating and making surveys. 1898-1903, in 

Navy Department at Boston Navy-Yard, in surveying, inspecting construction of 

quay walls, buildings, etc.; also had charge of laying out the new dry dock at that 

yard, making estimates for same. June 4, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the 

reclamation service."

McCoNNELL, IRA WELCH, engineer. Address, Montrose, Colo. Born in Missouri, October 17, 1871. Graduate of Cornell; degree, C. E. In 1897, contractor's 

foreman; 1898, topographic surveyor, United States Deep Waterways Commission; same year, rodman, United States navy-yard, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1898-99, 

contractor, North Tarrytwon, N. Y., sewerage system; 1899-1900, instructor in civil 

engineering, Cornell University; 1900-1901, superintendent of construction, Indian-
334 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

apolis Water Company; 1901-1903, superintendent, Nash & Dowdle, contractors, 

Chicago and New Orleans; January to June, 1903, professor of civil engineering, 

Missouri School of Mines; June 14, 1903, appointed hydrographer in the reclamation service; December 14, 1903, designation changed to engineer.

MCDERMITH, ORO, engineering aid. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, 

Denver, Colo. Born in Colorado, August 24, 1879. Graduate of Colorado Agricultural College; degree, B. S. In 1894-95 was miner and prospector, Leadville and 

Gunnison, Colo. 1895-1897, ranchman and practical irrigator, Eagle, Colo. 1897- 

1899, student at college, Fort Collins, Colo. 1899-1900, clerk and telegraph operator, 

Wolcott, Colo. 1900-1902, student, Fort Collins, Colo. 1902-3, fellow in irrigation 

engineering, and assistant in irrigation investigations at Agricultural Experiment 

Station, Fort Collins. May 15, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation 

service.

MclNTYRE, OTIS LITTLE, engineering aid. Address, Washington, D. C. Graduate 

of Columbian University. 1901-1903, work in general engineering, cartographic 

draftsman in United States hydrographic office. May 18, 1903, appointed engineering 

aid in the reclamation service.

MACPHERSON, DAVID J., assistant engineer. Address, Pasadena, Cal. Born in 

Canada, January 12, 1854. Graduate of Cornell University, B. C. E. 1878-1880, 

with Worthington and Sioux Falls Eailroad in Minnesota. 1881-82, building railroad projects under contract. 1883, assistant city engineer, San Antonio, Tex. 1884, 

locating engineer, Mexican National Railway. 1885-1891, in real estate business in 

California. 1892-1896, chief engineer Mount Lowe Railway. 1899-1901, chief engineer, constructing railway and installing mining machinery for parties in Mexico. 

1902-3, on hydrographic work, United States Geological Survey. December 5, 1903, 

appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service.

MADDEN, FRANCIS MICHAEL, hydrographic aid. Address, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo. Born in Minnesota, October 10, 1878. Graduate of University of Minnesota, C. E. 'April to September, 1901, was rodman with "Soo" 

Line. May-September, 1902, instrument man, Chicago Great Western Railway.. 

July 27, 1903, appointed hydrographic aid in the reclamation service.

MAGRUDER, FRANK C., engineering aid. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo. Born in Missouri, January 16, 1879. Graduate of University of 

Missouri; degree B. S. in C. E. In 1901 was topographer on Missouri Pacific Railway. In 1902 was rodman with Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway. In 1903,- 

instructor in surveying at Missouri State University. June 17, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

MATTHES, GERARD HENDRIK, engineer. Address, Lawton, Okla. Born in Holland, March 16, 1874. Education, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; B. S. 

1895. During summer of 1893 in plan department of Associated Factory Mutual 

Insurance Companies. 1895-1897, in town engineer's office, Brookline, Mass., as 

draftsman, instrument man, and sewer inspector; also instrument man for three 

months for Massachusetts State Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners. Since 

May, 1897, to date with United States Geological Survey, 011 stream gaging, reservoir 

and canal surveys. At present district engineer in charge of reclamation surveys 

and construction of public works in Oklahoma, and special disbursing agent.

MEEKER, RALPH INMAN, engineering aid. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo. Born in Kansas, February 14,1878. Education, high school and 

Colorado State School of Mines. In 1899-1900 was assistant to the chief engineer of 

the Twin Lakes Land and Water Company and Twin Lakes Reservoir Company. 

In 1900-1901 was with Union Gold Extraction Company, Florence, Colo., as head 

barrel man and precipitator. July-August, 1901, with The Woods Investment Company, at Economic Chlorination mill, Cripplecreek, as barrelman. In 1902 assayer 

in office of A. E. Reynolds, Pueblo, Colo.; also, in 1902, in mine surveying and samMl**/ c/t'**
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 335_

pling at Blackhawk, Colo., with Boston and Denver Consolidated Mining and Milling Company; also, same year, with Colorado Northern Gold Mining Company, as 

assayer and electrician, also mine surveying. In 1902-3, with Wall Street Gold 

Extraction Company, Wallstreet, Colo., as general man. May 1, 1903, appointed 

engineering aid in reclamation service.

MILLER, GEORGE S., engineer. Born at Lowell, Mass., April 22, 1872. B. S. in 

C. E., University of Vermont. 1895-96, assistant engineer, United States engineers' 

office, Burlington, Vt.; also, in 1896, with Boston and Albany Railroad, on separation of grades. 1896-97, with Metropolitan Sewerage Commission, at Dedham, Mass. 

1897-98, with Murphy & Haskins, contractors. 1898-1904, with United States 

Engineers, War Department, as assistant superintendent and superintendent. March 

9,1904, appointed engineer in the reclamation service, by transfer from War Department.

MORRIS, ANTHONY PAUL, hydrographic draftsman. Address, Washington, D. C. 

Born in Maryland, March 21, 1876. Education, high school and normal school; now 

attending Columbian University, Washington, D. C. In 1894 was employed as 

assistant in making subdivision surveys in District of Columbia. 1895-1897, with 

United States Fish Commission. 1898-99, served in United States Army during 

Spanish-American war. In February, 1901, was appointed hydrographic draftsman 

in United States Geological Survey.

MURPHY, EDWARD CHARLES, engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Canada, June 17, 1859. Graduated from Cornell University in 1884; degree, B. C. E. 

Has since received from that university the degrees of M. S. and Ph. D. Fellow in ^ 

mathematics, Cornell, 1885-86. 1887-1898 was assistant professor of civil engineering 

at University of Kansas. In 1899 fellow in civil engineering, Cornell University. ** 

In 1900 hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. In 1901 instructor in civil 

engineering at Cornell. 1892-1898, resident hydrographer, United States Geological 

Survey, for eastern Kansas. 1902, hydrographer and assistant engineer, United States 

Geological Survey. Associate member American Society of Civil Engineers. Has 

published Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers Nos. 8, 42, 43, and 64, also papers in 

Kansas University Quarterly, Kansas Academy of Science, Engineering News, and *-J 

Transactions American Society of Civil Engineering. October 9, 1902, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service. July 1, 1903, promoted to engineer.

MYERS, EDWARD WARREN, assistant engineer. Address, Greensboro, N. C. Born 

in North Carolina, October 30, 1873. Education, private school, graded school, 

military preparatory school, and university. Graduated with degree B. S. from . 

University of North Carolina in 1895. Associate member American Society of Civil 

Engineers. Since his graduation has been employed for the greater part of the time 

as engineer of the North Carolina geological survey in reconnaissances and investigations of water power of North Carolina, topographic surveys, etc.; also as resident 

hydrographer for North and South Carolina, in charge of the hydrographic work in 

these States and in parts of Virginia and East Tennessee. Private work has consisted of surveys and plans for water-power development, water supply, sewerage, 

and electric railways, and of expert testimony before courts in suits relative to these 

subjects. January 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

NEWELL, FREDERICK HAYNES, chief engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

in Bradford, Pa., March 5,1862. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology P'e 

as engineer, 1885. Engaged in mining in Colorado. Miscellaneous engineering in Ju«' 

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other States. With United States Geological Survey, 1889-90, as assistant hydraulic engineer; 1890-1895, topographer; 1895-1902, 1^ 

hydrographer. July 8, 1902, appointed chief engineer, reclamation service. Author 

of Hydrography of the Arid Regions, 1891; Agriculture by Irrigation, 1894; The 

Public Lands of the United States, 1895; Irrigation, 1902. Member commission on 

revision of land laws.
83.6 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

NEWELL, HERBERT D., assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. 0. Born in 

Massachusetts, August 6, 1871. Education, common school, academy, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology; degree, B. S. June-September, 1896, surveyor, 

Erie Railroad. In 1896-97, with Boston Transit Commission. , 1897-1902, with 

United States Engineers, Boston. 1897-98, on survey of Broad Sound, Boston Harbor, 

and survey of upper Merrimac River. 1898-1902, on fortification construction. 1902-3, 

at United States engineer's office at Fort Stevens, Oreg., assistant to engineer in 

charge of fortification construction and in charge of improvement of mouth of 

Columbia River. June 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation 

service.

NEWELL, ROBERT J., engineering aid. Address, Boise, Idaho. Education, common 

and high school and college. In 1900 taught school. 1901-1903, student at Highland 

Park College, Des Moines, Iowa. May 14, 1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service and assigned to duty as transitman on preliminary work in Idaho on 

Minidoka project, under J. T. Burke, and later on Dubois proposition and several 

reservoirs, under J. G. Camp.

NOBLE, THERON AUGUSTUS, engineer. Address, 427 Peyton Block, Spokane, Wash. 

Born New Philadelphia, Ohio, January 7, 1864. Education, Iowa State College and 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engaged in civil engineering 1890-1892 for 

Kirkland Land and Improvement Company, Seattle, Wash. 1892-93, superintendent of machine shop and foundry, Seattle Iron, and Steel Manufacturing Company, 

Seattle, Wash. 1893-1899, civil engineer, general practice, during which time was 

engaged by Blue Canyon Coal Company; was for three years chief engineer for 

Seattle Power Company, Seattle, Wash., Pelton Water Wheel Company, San Francisco, Cal., General Electric Company, Portland, Oreg. Member American Society 

of Civil Engineers. 1899-1901 was civil engineer for Oriental Consolidated Mining 

Company, Chemulpo, Korea. 1901-1903, engaged in general civil engineering practice and resident hydrographer for the United States Geological Survey. Appointed 

engineer in the reclamation service May 2, 1903.

OLBERG, CHARLES REAL, assistant engineer. Address^ Livingstone, Ariz. Born 

St. Paul, Minn., August 19, 1875. Graduate Columbian University in civil engineer- 

^ ing. Associate member American Society of Civil Engineers. 1894-1896, instrument 

man on irrigation works, Crow Indian Reservation, Mont. 1896-1900, structural 

steel draftsman, Supervising Architect's Office, Treasury Department, Washington, 

D. C. 1900-1902, assistant hydrographer, United States Geological Survey; in charge 

of field parties on topographic and transit work. 1902 to September, 1903, assistant 

engineer, reclamation service, in charge of field wor,k on Salt River. Now assistant to 

L. C. Hill.

OWEN, RAY, engineering aid. Address, 613 Francis Street, Madison, Wis. Born in 

Wisconsin, October 29, 1878. Education, common school and high school and 

University of Wisconsin. In 1902 ran levels and did planetable work for United 

States Geological Survey on East Liverpool and Salineville sheets, in Ohio. June 12, 

1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

PARSHALL, ADRIAN JEFFERSON, hydrographer. Address, Cheyenne, Wyo. Born 

in Michigan, May 24, 1850. Grammar and high school education, entering Michigan 

University in 1867; graduated with degree of C. E. in 1871. In 1871, assistant city 

engineer at Jackson, Mich.; 1872-1874, draftsman in surveyor-general's office, Cheyenne, Wyo.; 1875, chief clerk in same office, and later, county surveyor of Laramie 

County, Wyo.; 1876-1880, did private work in the Black Hills, South Dakota; then 

engaged in banking business. Returned to Cheyenne in 1883 and remained in busi- 

- ness until 1895, when he was appointed chief clerk of the State land board, having 

in charge the work being done under the Carey Act of 1894. .1899-1902, was assistant 

State engineer of Wyoming, and during that time also performed duties of resident
NEWELL.] rN'EL °F THE 8ERVICK. 337

hydrographer fo^HHBHlp Geological Survey. Since 1902 has given his entire 

time to the woijK||l!9Hllhited States Geological Survey. February 2, 1903^- 

appointed hydro|^HMHHp reclamation service. _^^^

PATERSOX, ^A-Mpfj^MNi assistant engineer. Address, Newport, Ky. Born in 

Kentucky, ^eP^eVM^HHP- Education, three years at Rose Polytechnic, Terre 

Haute, Ind. ; ^^^HHHHP66^ work at Missouri School of Mines. OctoberDecember, 1895, ySjjjjjjjjillk, with city engineer, Colorado Springs; January-April, 

1896, with Wilsolllllfl^lfigii., contractors on tunnel for Colorado Springs water supply; May-November, 1896, engineer on construction of ditch for Taylor Park Gold 

Mining Company. In 1897, special work at Missouri School of Mines; 1898-1900, 

assistant city engineer, Colorado Springs; 1900, assistant superintendent and engineer of Colorado Springs Rapid Transit Railway; 1901-2, deputy county surveyor 

El Paso County, Colo. ; 1902, draftsman, leveler, and trausitman on location for 

Denver and Rio Grande Railway in Colorado. October 28, 1902, appointed assistant 

engineer in the reclamation service.

PEASE, CHARLES T., engineer. Address, Denver, Colo. Born in Maine, May 3, 

1858. Graduate of University of Maine, B. S. University of Denver, LL. B. From 

1882-83, assistant engineer in charge of maintenance of way, Mexican National Railway. 1886-87, in charge of residences under construction on Colorado Midland Railway. 1887-88, in charge of divisions under construction, Santa Fe Railroad. 1888- 

1891, assistant engineer in maintenance of way department, Denver and Rio Grande 

Railway, 1891, in charge of division under construction on Rio Grande Southern 

Railway. 1892-1896, in private practice as mining engineer, Rico, Colo. 1897-1901, 

in United States surveyor-general's office, Denver, Colo. 1901-1903, in private practice as mining engineer. December 14, 1903, appointed engineer in the reclamation 

service.

PEERY, EDWIN HOWE, law clerk. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in Missouri, 

July 27, 1856. Graduate of Grand River College, Edinburg, Mo. (A. B. ), of Law 

School, Missouri State University (LL. B. ), and of Law School of Columbian University, Washington, D. C. (M. L. ). Prior to graduation from college taught school 

and farmed. 1877-1883, studied law and taught school in California, and was 

admitted to the bar. 1883, removed to Oregon and clerked in railroad office, land 

department. 1885-1891, clerk in office of attorneys having railroad and general 

practice, Portland, Oreg., and assisted in practice. 1891-1894, engaged in law practice, Portland, Oreg. 1894-95, on board of examiners, United States Civil Service 

Commission. 1895-1897, confidential clerk to Assistant Comptroller of the Treasury. 

Admitted to the bar of United States Supreme Court in 1897. 1897-1903, law 

clerk, office of Comptroller of the Treasury. May 12, 1903, law clerk, United States 

Geological Survey, reclamation service.

PERKINS, EDMUND TAYLOR, engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born in Virginia, September 8, 1864. Graduated Union College; C. E. and B. A., 1885; M. A., 

1888. From 1885 to date with United States Geological Survey, except parts of 1893 

and 1894. In 1893, engineer State Wagon Road Commission of Idaho, equipping 

and controlling a party which ran reconnaissance lines for wagon roads over 300 

miles, through mountainous and tinexplored regions. In 1894, United States land 

inspector of contract surveys; also undertook two contracts for subdividing Government lands. With United States Geological Survey, has been in charge of topographic, triangulation, and leveling parties; 1897-1898, extended triangulation so as 

to locate by latitude and longitude points on boundary line between Idaho and 

Montana; also between Idaho and British possessions. July 8, 1902, appointed 

engineer in the reclamation service and placed in charge of " Yuma project," Colorado River district. 

IRK 9
338 FIRST EECLAMATION SERVICE B^CE. [NO. 93.

.

PBTBRSON, OTTO WALLACE, engineering aid. Born in^aliforp.ia, December 31, 1880. 

Address, 2106 San Pablo avenue, Berkeley, Gal. Edu^aiiotiS<5iigJi . school and University of California. In June, 1900, was enumerator fe}P tTjot-i&scL States census. In 

1899-1901 was engaged in farming. In 1902 was rodmltti "f OT" Iffiiited States drainage 

survey, near Fresno, Cal. Since September, 1902, hSV'Kj^ji "; ^flth United States 

Geological Survey as hydrographic aid at Los Angeles^^., in Underground- water 

investigation and mapping underground waters; also e|^'^to'^aaa: gaging and topographic mapping. May 4, 1903, appointed engineering afpfJiiE i&e" reclamation service.

PLACE, ADOLF EDWIN, engineering aid. Address, 53 Sycamore street, Somerville, 

Mass. Born in Germany, December 21, 1876. Matriculated for one year as student 

of mechanical engineering and for two years as student of civil engineering at German 

technical universities of Karlsruhe and Braunschweig. Graduate of Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology, 1903. Was mechanic, machinist, and draftsman for two and 

one-half years in Hamburg, Germany. In 1901 was assistant field hydrographer, 

United States Geological Survey; also civil engineer and surveyor in Boston, Mass. 

July-September, 1901, employed by city of New York to make investigations of 

tributaries of Hudson and Housatonic rivers, with reference to future supply of 

New York City. February-October, 1902, civil engineer with Pierce & Barnes, 

Boston. June 17, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

PORTER, ARTHUR PEABODY, engineering aid. Address, Newton, Lower Falls, Mass. 

Education, public school, including high, Exeter Academy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. June 6, 1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service 

and served June to August on stream gaging on Long Island and miscellaneous 

work at Washington, D. C.

PORTER, SAM GRAHAM, engineering aid. Address, 1700 Congress avenue, Austin, 

Tex. Born in Kyle, Tex., September 1, 1875. Educated at Baylor University ( A. B., 

1898), University of Chicago and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B. S., 1903). 

1898-1901 taught in Antioch public school, Enon, Tex., East Texas Institute, Rusk, 

Tex., and Central High School, Waco, Tex. June 10, 1903, appointed engineering 

aid in reclamation service, United States Geological Survey.

PRALL, CARLOS THEODORE, assistant engineer. Address, 69 Alfred street, Detroit, 

Mich. Born in Michigan, February 20, 1871. Attended public schools in Detroit 

and Ypsilanti, Mich., until June, 1886. Began work for hydrographic branch, 

United States Geological Survey, March, 1899, on Gila River, Arizona. Transferred to Uinta Indian Reservation, Utah, September, 1899; stationed there until 

August, 1902. Levelman, transitman, and in charge of stream measurements under 

Cyrus C. Babb. Transferred to Montana August, 1902. In charge of boring party, 

also plane-table surveys and stream measurements at St. Mary dam site, SeptemberOctober, 1902. Transferred to Nevada November, 1902. In charge topographic 

party on Truckee-Carson survey until May 1, 1903. Transferred to Montana May 

15, 1903. June-November, 1903, in charge of boring party, also plane-table surveys 

and stream measurements at St. Mary dam site. June 1, 1903, appointed assistant 

engineer in reclamation service.

PRESSEY, FRANK ETHELBERT, engineering aid. Address, 487 Union street, Bangor, 

Me. Born in Maine, April 28, 1879. Education, common school, and graduate of 

University of Maine, 1902; course in civil engineering. 1902-3 assistant hydrographer in Geological Survey. May 11, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the 

reclamation service.

PRITCHETT, CHARLES MARCELLUS, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. 

Born in Georgia, August 10, 1869. Education, Georgia School of Technology (B. S., 

1891); Agricultural and Mechanical College of Raleigh, N. C. (M. E., 1894, and C. E., 

1895); also took special course in experimental engineering at Cornell University. 

Member of American Society of Civil Engineers. 1891-1900 assistant professor of 

engineering, Agricultural and Mechanical College. 1900-1902 with D. A. Tompkina
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 339

Company, Charlotte, N. C.', in charge of surveys for development of water powers; preparing plans for cotton mills, cotton-seed oil mills, etc., and in charge of installation of 

machinery for cotton mill. April-August, 1902, with W. C. Whitner, Eock Hill, 

8. C. (chief engineer Catawba Power Company), in charge of survey for Catawba 

Power Company, and survey for railroad line from Eock Hill to Seaboard Eailroad, 

also preparing plans for water-power development on Wateree Eiver. AugustOctober, 1902, with J. E. Sirrine, milling engineer, Greenville, S. C., in power 

department. October, 1902, to January, 1903, assistant engineer, United States 

Geological Survey, locating and determining available water powers in North Carolina 

and South Carolina. January 12, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

QUINTON, JOHN H., consulting engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born in Ireland, October 19, 1850. Educated at Queens College, Belfast, and Queens College, 

Gahvay, Ireland. Degrees, B. A. and B. E., Queens University, Ireland. 1860-1866, 

at Portora Eoyal (School, Ennis Killen, Ireland; 1866-1868, at Queens College, Belfast, Ireland; 1868-1871, at Queens College, Galway, Ireland. In 1873 spent six 

months as leveler on construction of a railway in Sligo, Ireland, and three months 

as leveler on Fresno Eiver canal, California. In 1874 leveler on topographic survey 

of Burlingame tract near San Francisco, and leveler and transitman on Southern 

Pacific Eailway, with which company he remained until June, 1876. In 1877 surveying and leveling in San Joaquin Valley, California. 1878-1880, assistant engineer 

in charge of location and construction on South Pacific Coast Eailway, California. 

In 1880 engineer in charge of construction of 80 miles of Oregonian Eailway. 1881-1884, 

assistant engineer, principal assistant engineer, and acting chief engineer Pacific 

Branch Mexican Central Eailway. 1884-1888, in private practice as civil and hydraulic 

engineer in southern California. 1888-89, assistant engineer in War Department at 

Portland, Oreg. 1890-1892, field engineer for Hoffman & Bates, bridge builders, 

Portland, Oreg. 1892-93, principal assistant engineer in charge of location and construction of Santa Ana canal, California. 1894-1897, in private practice as consulting 

engineer in Los Angeles, Cal. 1898, engineer in charge of construction of San Gabriel 

power canal, including 36 tunnels and other works. 1899-1900, deputy city engineer 

in charge of construction of Third street and Broadway tunnels, Los Angeles. 1900- 

1902, in private practice in Los Angeles, Cal. 1902-3, consulting engineer with 

United States Geological Survey. May 5, 1903, appointed consulting engineer in the 

reclamation service.

EEDMAN, ARVILLE C., assistant engineer. Address, Lawton, Okla. Born in Belfast, 

Me., January 16, 1877. Graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; B. 8., 

1900. June, 1900, to July, 1900, draftsman for Edward L. Eaymond, landscape 

architect, Boston, Mass. July, 1900, to June, 1903, employed on sewage-disposal 

system, Washington, D. C., designing, estimating, and construction work. June 1, 

1903, appointed assistant engineer reclamation service.

EEDMOND, HUGH, engineering aid. Address, Livingstone, Ariz. Born in New 

York State, October 18, 1880. Education, common school, high school, Cornell 

University; degree C. E. Specialized in hydraulic engineering at Cornell. During 

vacations from college did civil engineering work in farm surveys, relocating lines 

and laying out roads and building sites. During summer of 1902 assisted in surveys 

for dam on Sixrnile Creek, for a pipe line from dam to pumping station, survey of 

site for pumping station, and pipe line connecting pumping station with the city 

mains. Also assisted in survey of filter plant, including location; also survey of 

Tanghannock Creek for reservoir site, dam, and power station. May 23, 1903, 

appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

EEED, HOWARD SAWYER, assistant engineer. Address, Fort Duchesne, Utah. Born 

in Maine, April 27, 1869. Education, common and high school in home town. 

1885-1894, in mercantile business in Boston, Mass. 1894-1897, with Moore & Co.,
340 FIBST BECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

Boston, engineers and constructors of waterworks on various projects throughout 

Maine and Massachusetts. 1897-1902, with the Nicaragua and Isthmian Canal Commission as assistant hydrographer, spending three years in hydrographic work on the 

Niearargua route. 1902, assisting in the preparation of the report on the Salt River, 

Arizona, project, and the annual report of the hydrographic division of the United 

States Geological Survey. June 28, 1902, appointed resident hydrographer for work 

on the Uinta Indian Reservation, and May 28, 1903, assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

REED, WENDELL M., engineer. Address, Roswell, N. Mex. Born in Moriah, 

N. Y., December 28,1864. Graduate of Sherman Collegiate Institute, Moriah, N. Y., 

and of University of Vermont, receiving degree of C. E. at latter in 1886. Has practiced irrigation engineering since 1889. 1889-1893, assistant engineer Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company, Carlsbad, N. Mex. In 1893 was resident engineer 

on construction of distributing reservoir and made surveys and plans for Hondo reservoir dam, headworks, canals, etc., for the same company. In 1894 became 

engineer and water superintendent of Roswell Land and Water Company, Roswell, 

N. Mex., and retained this position until 1898, when he became chief engineer for 

Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company, which position he held until 1900. 

During this time acted as expert for the Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company 

in their suit against the Department of Justice concerning the navigability of Rio 

Grande and the impounding of waters of Rio Grande in New Mexico. In 1900 established office in Roswell, N. Mex., for general irrigation engineering practice.

REEDY, OLIVER THOMAS, assistant engineer. Address, Livingstone, Ariz. Born 

March 10,1873, at Nebraska City, Nebr. Graduate of University of Nebraska in C. E. 

1898-1900, with Union Pacific Railroad as chainman, rodman, assistant draftsman, 

and draftsman. 1900-1902, in engineering department of United States military 

government of Cuba as topographical draftsman in charge of office work by the subdepartment survey of fortifications. July-September, 1902, with Mexican Central 

Railway as topographer and transitman. October 17, 1902, appointed assistant engineer in reclamation service and assigned to topographic work in Salt River Valley, 

Arizona. In October, 1903, assigned to duty as locating engineer on power canal.

ROBBINS, SAMUEL B., engineer. Address, Great Falls, Mont. Born in Connecticut, 

October 15, 1867. Private school, high school, and college education; graduate of 

Sheffield Scientic School of Yale. In 1886 was chainman with Union Pacific Railway. In 1887 was with Burlington and Missouri River Railroad as rodman, leveler, 

and assistant engineer. 1887-88, assistant engineer on Poughkeepsie Bridge system. 

August-November, 1889, masonry engineer on Lehigh Valley Railroad; then with 

Union Pacific Railway as assistant engineer on surveys till, April, 1890; then in 

charge of construction on Ogden-Butte line, Bear River Canyon to Deweyville; 

afterwards in charge of construction between Portland and Seattle (work uncompleted). In June, 1891, opened civil-engineering office in Great Falls, Mont., making a specialty of irrigation work. Continued in general engineering practice until 

June, 1897, when he was employed by Boston and Montana Mining Company, at 

Butte, in charge of water supply and construction work. Resigned August 1, 1898, 

to take position as mine superintendent. Resigned October 1, 1899, and returned to 

Great Falls and resumed private practice, having charge of construction and making 

purveys on several large reservoirs and irrigation canals. July-October, 1902, made 

reconnaissance for reclamation service in central Montana. June 8, 1903, appointed 

engineer in the reclamation service.

Ross, DOUGLAS WILLIAM, engineer. Address, Boise, Idaho. Born in Ontario, 

Canada, December 7, 1865. Education, Collegiate Institute, St. Thomas, Ontario, 

1881-83. First engineering work, 1883-84 on public surveys of Canada on North 

and South Forks of Saskatchewan River, Territory of Alberta. 1886-1889, instrument man and topographer on railroad construction and location. 1900, topographer
PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. * 341

United States Geological Survey and in charge of location of New York canal in Boise 

Valley, Idaho. 1891, in charge of maintenance of Phyllis canal in Boise Valley. 1892, 

resident engineer in charge of construction of Sunnyside canal in Yakima Valley, 

Washington. 1893 in charge of construction of Riverside canal in Boise Valley. 1893- 

1896, in general charge of operation of canal system of Payette Valley Irrigation and 

Water Power Company, Idaho. 1896-1898, manager hydraulic mining operations 

of Pioneerville Gravel Gold Company, in Boise Basin, Idaho; also engaged during 

same time in investigation of irrigation projects in southern Idaho. March, 1899, to 

March, 1903, State engineer of Idaho, and besides discharging duties of that office 

had charge during 1900, 1901, arid 1902 of investigations determining the duty of 

water in irrigation in Idaho, under United States Department of Agriculture. July, 

1901, to July, 1902, conducted reservoir and canal investigations in cooperation with 

United States Geological Survey, and since carrying on these investigations under 

reclamation service.

RUSSELL, WILLIAM GARDNER, hydrographer. Address, Russell, Kans. Born in 

Ohio May 17, 1850. Education, common schools, Plains Seminary, commercial 

college, student of civil engineering at National Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio; mining, electrical, and stationary engineer courses in correspondence school. 1868-1871, 

1875-1878, was teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. 1878 admitted to 

bar of Ohio and practiced law until 1882. Admitted to bar of Kansas in 1883. 

1885-1903, surveyor of Russell County, Kans. 1892-1902, bridge engineer of Russell 

County, Kans. 1895-96, engineer of Kansas State board of irrigation. 1895-1902, 

hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. September 15, 1902, appointed 

hydrographer in the reclamation service.

SANDERS, WILLIAM HORATIO, consulting engineer. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. 

Born in Scotland July 12, 1842. Educated in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1886-1887, 

general engineering practice, chiefly in northern Minnesota. 1887-1903, hydraulic 

and sanitary engineering in southern California as follows: Ten years engineer 

Pomona Land and Water Company, water development and irrigation; chief engineer 

San Antonio Light and Power Company, designing and constructing the historical 

San Antonio power plant; consulting engineer for South Riverside Land and Water 

Company, also Santa Ana and Anaheim Water Company; designed and constructed 

system of sewer and septic tanks for city of Pomona, Cal. 1899-1903, chief engineer 

for San Antonio Water Company, irrigation works; designed and constructed 

Ontario power plant. May 15, 1903, appointed consulting engineer in reclamation 

service,

SANDS, EDWARD EMMET, assistant engineer. Address, Sparta, Wis. Born in Ohio, 

January 5, 1877. Graduate of University of Wisconsin; B, S. in C. E. JulyNovember, 1898, rodman with United States Geological Survey. June-November; 

1899, levelman, United States Geological Survey. 1900-1902, instructor in civil 

engineering at University of Wisconsin; also in charge of gaging of Wisconsin River. 

During the same period was also city engineer of Sparta, Wis., and designed sewer 

system and supervised construction of sewers and pavements. July-September, 

1902, in charge of survey of an electric road from Sparta to Melrose, Wis. August, 

1902, had charge of survey of Tomah, Wis., and designed sewer system and established grades. September 8, 1902, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation 

service.

SAPH, AUGUSTUS VALENTINE, assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Education, University of California, B.S., 1894, and M. S. 1896; Cornell University, M.C.E., 

1901; Ph. D., 1902. 1896-1900, instructor in drawing, University of California. 

1900-1902, engaged in experimental work at Cornell University on resistance to flow 

of water in pipes, details of which were published in Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. 47, April, 1902, p. 295, and Proceedings 

American Society of Civil Engineers, May, 1903, p. 419, both of these articles having
.342 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. t»«. 93.

been written in collaboration with Mr. E. W. Schoder. Jn 1902 assisted in making 

calculations for a proposed dam at Ithaca, N. Y. 1902-3, instructor in civil engineering at University of California. May 25, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in 

the reclamation service.

SARGEANT, WILLIAM, engineer. Address, Eeno, Nev. Born in England, December 31, 1861. Education, English grammar school, finished in Neuwied, Germany. 

1886-1888, draftsman on city, topographic, and general surveying in southern California. 1888-89, assistant engineer under War Department, at Portland, Oreg. 

1889-90, on preliminary railroad surveys in Wasco County, Oreg. 1890-1892, topographer on railroad lines in Washington and Oregon. 1892, on canal location and 

construction in southern California. 1893-94, engineer in charge of relocation and 

construction of canal, Craftoii Water Company. 1894-95, draftsman. 1895-96, 

superintendent Palm Valley Water Company. 1896-1902, water distributor and 

engineer under receiver for B. V. I. Co. 1902, field assistant, United States Geological Survey. May 25, 1903, appointed assistant engineer reclamation service, and on 

November 25, 1903, promoted to engineer.

SARGENT, JOSEPH ANDREWS, assistant engineer. Address; office of district engineer, 

Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo. Born at Escanaba, Mich., September 29, 1872. Graduate B. S. in C. E., University of Nebraska. Associate member 

American Society of Civil Engineers. From 1888 to 1898, when not in college, 

served variously as axnian, rodman, chain man, leveler, topographer, and transit man 

on railroad location, construction, maintenance of way, freight dock construction, 

and Mississippi Eiver incline building. Served during Spanish-American war as 

sergeant,'Second United States Volunteer Engineers, on camp sanitation and water 

supply. Had charge of party of engineer soldiers on preliminary survey of Havana 

and vicinity. 1899-1902, as assistant engineer to the chief engineers of United States 

military government of Cuba, organized and directed fortification and topographic 

surveys of Havana. October, 1901, to April, 1902, also organized and completed a 

reconnaissance survey of the island of Cuba. July-October, 1902, division engineer 

on construction, Mexican Central Eailroad. December 3, 1902, appointed assistant 

engineer reclamation service.

SAUNDERS, HENRY J., engineering aid. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Iowa, January 14, 1880. Graduate of University of Wisconsin, C. E. In 1899, with 

Union Pacific Railroad. 1899-1900, with city engineer, Madison, Wis. 1900, with 

Union Pacific Railroad in Utah and Wyoming. 1900-1901, on surveys of Lakes Mendota and Kegonsa, Wisconsin. 1901, on survey for water-supply system for Cumberland, Wyo. 1901-2, with Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas. 1903, with Union 

Pacific Railroad as assistant engineer on double track construction. January 21,1904, 

appointed engineering aid in reclamation service.

SJAVAGE, HIRAM NEWTON, consulting engineer. Address, National City, Cal. 

Education, New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, B. S.; 

Thayer School of Civil Engineering, C. E. In 1888 with Nashville and Tellico Railway; also same year engineer to Athens (Tennessee) Improvement Company and 

engaged in field work connected with location and construction of streets, street railways, and municipal water system for Athens. 1889-90, assistant engineer and chief 

engineer for Hydraulic Mining and Irrigation Company, operating in New Mexico. 

In 1890 engineer and superintendent of construction, Billings Park and race track, 

White River Junction, Vt.; also designed and located sewerage system for West 

Randolph, Vt. 1891 to 1903, chief engineer San Diego Land and Town Company. 

1891, engineer in charge of maintenance and operation of Sweetwater dam, San Diego, 

Cal.; chief engineer National City and Otav Railroad Company, California. 1893, 

designed and superintended construction of Sweetwater Park and race track, National 

City, Cal. 1895 designed and superintended construction, repairs, and additions 

increasing capacity of Sweetwater dam. 1898, designed, installed pumps for, and has
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 348

since supervised distribution of an emergency supply of water under Sweetwater 

system. 1893-1898, consulted frequently by Southern California Mountain Water 

Company; then appointed permanent consulting engineer for that company. 1898 

to date, consulting engineer, general practice; chief engineer San Diego, Pacific Beach 

and La Jolla Railroad Company, and chief engineer San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railroad Company, California. 1901-2 maintenance, etc., San Diego Flume 

Company; on semitranscontinental railway from El Paso, Tex., to Pacific coast; 

associate engineer San Diego Eastern Railway project. 1902 investigations, etc., 

Otero irrigation district, Colorado. 1903 material contractor's engineer for United 

States Government jetty under construction at entrance to San Diego Bay. August 

1, 1903, appointed consulting engineer in the reclamation service.

SAVAGE, JOHN LUCIAN, assistant engineer. Address, Madison, Wis. Born in Wisconsin December 25, 1879. Graduate of University of Wisconsin, B. S. in C. E. 

May 11, 1903, appointed engineering aid in reclamation service, and assigned to duty 

in the State of Idaho; April 1, 1904, promoted to assistant engineer.

SAWYER, WILBUR CYRUS, engineering aid. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Vermont May 8, 1877. Graduate of University of Vermont, B. S. in C. E. From 

1900 to 1903 was instructor in surveying and drawing at University of Vermont. 

Summers of 1900 and 1901, draftsman on steel construction, New York City. July 

10, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

SAXTON, WILLARD ROY, engineering aid. Address, Berlin, Wis. Born in Wisconsin November 6, 1881. Graduate of University of Wisconsin, B. S. in C. E. In 

1902, level man on topographic work in North Dakota, under United States Geological Survey. June 11, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

SCHADLER, AUGUST H., engineering aid. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Germany 

March 8, 1879. Graduate of Nevada State University, B. S. In 1902 made stream 

measurements and ran levels in Nevada for United States Geological Survey. April 

20, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

SCHLECHT, WALTER WILLIAM, assistant engineer. Address, 10 River View Terrace, 

New York, N. Y. Born in New York City, October 27, 1874. 1891-1897, at New 

York City College and Columbia University. Graduated in 1897 as civil engineer. 1897-1901 with Nicaragua and Isthmian Canal commissions in Nicaragua, 

Panama, and Washington, D. C., in charge of hydrographic investigations under A. 

P. Davis, chief hydrographer. 1901-2 resident hydrographer, United States Geological Survey, at Kingston, N. Y. July 3, 1902, appointed assistant topographer in 

the reclamation service; January 1, 190-i, designation changed to assistant engineer.

SLIGHTER, CHARLES SUMNER, consulting engineer. Address, Madison, Wis. Born 

in Minnesota, April 16, 1864. Education: Four years' science course and one year 

graduate study at Northwestern University; B. S. and M. S. Northwestern University; research work while professor of applied mathematics in University of Wisconsin since 1886. Since 1894 has done special work for United States Geological 

Survey on motions of underground waters. Has published many books and papers 

on scientific and technical subjects which have been printed in American scientific 

and engineering periodicals. Devised and put in use in the field in 1901 a new 

method of measuring the velocities of ground waters. Has been called in consultation on ground waters by United States Department of Agriculture, Santa Fe Railroad Company, and others. Has undertaken the study of the theory of the plastic 

solid, which has for one of its objects the determination of the distribution of stress 

in earthen dams, and for this purpose has built apparatus for magnifying the rate of 

motion of the particles of plastic solids by the factor 100,000, which apparatus is the 

basis of the experimental study of the distribution of stress in such bodies. January 

1, 1903, appointed consulting engineer in the reclamation service.

SLONAKER, CHARLES EDWARD, engineering aid. Address, Los Angeles, Cal. Born 

in Pennsylvania, October 27, 1877. Graduated from public schools of New Kingston
344 . FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

and from the preparatory school of Dickinson College. In 1896-97 taught a public 

school. In 1901 was appointed observer in the United States Weather Bureau, and 

on April 20, 1903, was transferred to the reclamation service.

SMITH, CHARLES BAILEY, assistant engineer. Address, Boise, Idaho. Born in 

Michigan, May 11, 1879. Education: Agricultural College of Utah, B. S. in C. E. 

From May, 1901, to April, 1902, in charge of field party for the Telluride Power 

Company, Provo, Utah. May, 1902, to September, 1902, inspector and division 

engineer with Southern Pacific Railroad at Fenelon, Nev. September, 1903, to October, 1903, engineer in charge of field work on Glenns Ferry Canal, Bliss, Idaho. 

December, 1902, to February, 1903, draftsman in office of United States surveyor-general, Boise, Idaho. March 1, 1903, to May 26, 1903, draftsman with reclamation 

service. Appointed assistant engineer May 27, 1903.

SMITH, WALTER D., engineering aid. Address, Redlands, Cal. Born in California, 

1878. High school education. 1889-1902, assistant city engineer, Redlands, Cal. 

Appointed engineering aid in reclamation service February 1, 1903.

SOUTHWORTH, CLAY IlARFORD, engineering aid. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in 

Canada, September 4, 1881. Education: High school; University of Nevada, degree 

B. S. From July to September, 1900, worked in cyanide plant near Bodie, Cal. 

July-September, 1901, draftsman for Sweetwater Consolidated Mining and Milling 

Company, making plans for cyanide plant; during part of this time worked on surveys. Has been employed with United States Geological Survey as redman, levelmaii, 

and transitman. May 11, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service, 

since which date has acted as plane-table man and chief of party.

SPRIGG, ALDEN M., assistant engineer. Address, Pho'enix, Ariz. Born in Maryland, 

November 16, 1857. Attended private schools in Cumberland; St. James College, 

Hagerstown; St. Johns College, Annapolis, and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. 

1877-78, land surveying as chainman in Maryland. 1878-79, manager of plantation 

in Mississippi. 1879-80, 011 construction of railroad in western Maryland as rodman 

and chainman. 1880-81, with Baltimore and Ohio Express Company, Baltimore, 

and Fidelity Title and Trust Company, same place. 1881, rodman and chainman in 

engineering department, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Also, in same year, on various 

railroad surveys in West Virginia and Pennsylvania as rodman, instrument man, and 

in charge of party. 1881-1883, mine surveys for Consolidated Coal Company in 

Maryland as transitman and draftsman. 1883-1902, with Baltimore and Ohio engineering department as transitman, assistant engineer, and division engineer. 1902-3, 

on street-railway construction and laying out lots in Pittsburg, Pa. May 28, 1903, 

appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

STABLER, HERMAN, hydrographic aid. Address, Washington, D. C. Born in 

Maryland, 1880. Graduate Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., B. S. Course in irrigation engineering at Columbian University, Washington, D. C., leading to degree 

C. E. . 1899-1903, instructor in mathematics, Washington, D. C. December 30, 1903, 

appointed hydrographic aid in reclamation service.

STANNARD, JAY D., assistant engineer. Address, Denver, Colo. Born in Michigan, 

JulyS, 1855. Graduate of Michigan Agricultural College, 1876. 1876-1888, farming 

and surveying in Michigan and Wisconsin. 1888-1891, county surveyor and city 

engineer, Greeley, Colo. 1891-1900, assistant in department of civil and irrigation 

engineering, Colorado Agricultural College, in charge of classes in physics, surveying, irrigating engineering, strength of materials, roofs and bridges, and drawing. 

1900-1903, assistant in irrigation investigations, United States Department of Agriculture; was assigned to studies on Weber River, Utah; Humboldt River, Nevada; 

and Snake, Big Lost, Big Wood, and Little Wood rivers, Idaho. April 16, 1903, 

appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service, and assigned to work on the 

Sweetwater project, Wyoming.

STEINEK, CHARLES RODOLPH, assistant engineer. Address, Phoenix, Ariz. Born in
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 345

Switzerland, October 2, 1857. Education: Three and one-half years at Zurich Polytechnic School, Switzerland. 1879-1882, city engineer's office, Zurich, Switzerland. 

1882-1884, bridge, structural, and hydraulic engineering With two concerns in France. 

1885-86, two years of travels to India and various countries of Europe and South 

America for power plants, harbor construction, and railway projects. 1887-88, in 

Germany and Switzerland, eighteen months 011 factory designs, and remainder of 

time with railroad company and on military work. 1889-1902, with interruptions, 

draftsman, designer, translator, computer, checker on structural and hydraulic work 

with consulting engineers, bridge and structural concerns, railroad and power companies in the United States. June 5,1903, with reclamation service as expert designer 

iiid assistant engineer.

STEVENS, JOHN CYPRIAN, assistant engineer. Address, Station A., Lincoln, Nebr. 

Born in Kansas, January 9, 1876. June, 1902, to .November, 1903, w#s assistant 

hydrographer for United States Geological Survey, on stream measurements, etc., in 

Nebraska. August, 1902, to February, 1903, agent and expert in irrigation investigations for Department of Agriculture. November, 1902, to March, 1903, assistant 

State engineer of Nebraska. March 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the 

reclamation service.

STEWARD, WILLARD G., assistant engineer. Address, Livingstone, Ariz. Born in 

California, March 3, 1861. Graduate of Michigan State Normal School; studied 

mechanical drawing at Toulane University, New Orleans; mechanical course at 

Michigan Agricultural College; C. E., 1891, at Columbian University, Washington, 

D. C. From 1885 to 1887-was teacher, superintendent, and principal of schools. 

1889-1894, in Eecord and Pension Office, War Department. 1894-1897, Pension 

Office, Interior Department. 1897-98, photographic and mechanical expert with 

American Parlor Kinetoscope Company. 1898-1902, Pension Office, Interior Department. 1892-1897 was with engineer corps, District of Columbia National Guard. 

October 10,1902, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service. July 1, 1903, 

promoted to assistant engineer.

STOCKMAN, Louis EICHARD, assistant engineer. Address, Milwaukee, Wis. Born 

in Wisconsin, November 7,1876. Graduate of University of Wisconsin, degree B. S. 

In 1897 and 1898 taught school. During summers, while attending college, worked 

on farm. In 1901, was levelman for United States Steel Company. In 1902, with 

K. LaF. & J. E. E., in Tennessee; also, August-November, with Louisville Property 

Company. 1902-3, with United States Geological Survey. May 5, 1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

STOCKTON, FRED, engineering aid, Boise, Idaho. Born in Missouri, December 21, 

1880. Graduated, University of Oregon, 1903, B. S. May-September, 1899, 011 

contract surveying. June-November, 1902, with C. M. Collier, engineer, Eugene, 

Oreg., doing general surveying and engineering. November, 1902, to June, 1903, 

devoted half time to work with Mr. C. M. Collier. Appointed engineering aid, United 

States Geological Survey, June 6, 1903.

STOCKTON, ROBERT SUMMERS, engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, 

Denver, Colo. Born in Illinois June 5, 1872. Graduate of Colorado School of 

Mines, degree E. M. In 1892 worked on Government subdivision survey near 

Pagosa Springs, Colo. In 1894 engaged on Government subdivision survey near Delta, 

Colo. In summer of 1896 worked on Madison Eiver, in Montana, for the Power Company. During the summers of 1895 and 1897, in the Cripple Creek district, prospecting 

and studying. Summer of 1899, employed with the engineering force engaged in 

enlarging the power plant on the Provo Eiver, Utah, for the Telluride Power Company. Summer of 1902, superintendent of power transmission plant of the Telluride 

Power Company, on the Provo Eiver, Utah. 1895-1903, professor of mathematics 

and surveying at Colorado School of Mines. June 5, 1903, appointed engineer in 

the reclamation service.

4
346 FIEST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

STOKES, HUGH GREGOEIE, engineering aid. Address, Denver, Colo. Born in South 

Carolina July 25, 1879. Graduate of Clemson College, degree B. S.; course in 

mechanical and electrical engineering. From August 1 to November 1, 1902, 

employed by the United States Geological Survey as traversenian and topographer; 

from January 10 to July 10, 1903, as field assistant, making stream measurements 

and recording observations or gage readings, and on July 10, 1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service.

STORES, HARRY ASAHEL, electrical engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce 

Building, Denver, Colo. Born in Boston, Mass., January 13, 1861. Graduate of 

University of Vermont, degree C. E., in 1882. In 1882-83 was on railway work in 

Ohio and West Virginia. 1883-84, superintendent of waterworks at Burlington, Vt. 

1884-85, on topographic work in Virginia. 1885-1887, with Western Electric Company, New York and Chicago; became electrician at New York and had charge, 

among other projects, of laying cables from Nantucket to mainland and from Cape 

Charles to Cape Henry for the Signal Corps. In 1887 was chief engineer for Pomona 

Land and Water Company, California; had charge of making and laying cement pipe, 

of building dams, flumes, reservoirs, etc., and of surveys for water-power development, etc., in the Sierra Madre Mountains. In the summer of 1888 laid the Government cable across mouth of Columbia River for the Western Electric Company. 

Left California in 1890, and after a few months in New York in electrical work, 

accepted position of assistant professor of civil engineering in University of Vermont. 

Pursued post-graduate studies at Columbia University in 1893-94. In 1892-1899 was 

professor of electrical engineering in University of Vermont, during which time acted 

as consulting electrical and hydraulic engineer on electric plants in Vermont. In the 

summer of 1893 did the instrumental work on a survey of St. Lawrence River under 

United States Engineer Corps. In 1897 was on construction work on seacoast fortifications, including electrical installations, and during summer of 1898 on the same, 

and was also chief electrician of harbor mines during Spanish war. 1899-1903, electrical engineer under the War Department, designing and installing electric plants; 

also on river and harbor improvements. Member of American Institute of Electrical 

Engineers, and Connecticut and Boston societies of .civil engineers. April 18, 1903, 

appointed electrical engineer in the reclamation service.

STRATTON, GEORGE E., assistant engineer. Born in Massachusetts June 2, 1873. 

Education, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, C. E. course. During summers 

1891-1893 was rodman, transitman, and inspector at Brookline, Mass. Summer of 

1894, rodman in Boston sewer department. Summer of 1895, rodman in Boston 

sewer department, in charge of field party on surveys and construction. 1896-1898, 

principal transitman with Metropolitan Sewer Commission, Boston, Mass. 1898-1903, 

junior engineer, War Department, Boston district. Member Boston Society of Civil 

Engineers; associate member American Society of Civil Engineers. June 13, 1903, 

appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

STRICKLER, THOMAS JOHNSON, engineering aid. Address, 3428 Campoeil Street, 

Kansas City, Mo. Born in Kansas, May 21, 1883. Education, civil engineering 

work at Wentworth Military Academy and Kansas State University. During summers 1899-1901, assistant manager lead and zinc ore producing plants at Galena, 

Kans., and Joplin, Mo. Summer and fall 1902, assistant division engineer on railroad construction, Mexican Central Railroad. Spring, 1903, recorder in reclamation 

service, Colorado River project. June 10. 1903, appointed engineering aid in 

reclamation service.

SWENDSEN, GEORGE LEWIS, engineer. Address, P. O. Box S., Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Born in Utah December 21, 1869. B. S. in C. E.,. Harvard University, 1894. During the summer of 1893 was in charge of a party in Boston City Board of Surveys. 

1900-190f, engineer of construction for aqueduct and pipe lines for Hercules Power 

Company, Logan, Utah. 190l'-2, employed by the Last Chance Canal Company,
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE.

Cove, Idaho, as engineer of dam in Bear River and diversion canal. April-July, 1902, 

employed by North Extension Canal Company, Turner, Idaho, as engineer. JuneAugust, 1902, engineer of projected reservoir at the head of Cub River, for Cub River 

Reservoir Company, Lewiston, Utah. August-September, 1902, in charge of party 

investigating Bear Lake as a storage reservoir for United States Geological Survey. 

Fall of 1902, consulting engineer for aqueduct pipe line and canal of Glenns Ferry 

Land and Irrigation Company, Glenns Ferry, Idaho. 1902-3, consulting engineer 

in subdivision of water of Logan River, Logan, Utah. May 1, 1899, to February 7, 

1903, professor of civil engineering in Utah Agricultural College. 1899-1903, resident 

hydrographer, United States Geological Survey. February 7, 1903, appointed 

engineer in the reclamation service.

SWIFT, WILLIAM EVERETT, engineer. Address, Wadsworth, Nev. Born in Connecticut January 1, 1871. B. S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. JuneAugust, 1895, rodman in engineering department, Boston waterworks. 1895-1899, 

with Metropolitan Waterworks, Boston, as rodman, instrumentman, and head of 

party. 1899-1900, with Munson Steamship Line, New York City. 1900-1903, assistant engineer, Rapid Transit Railroad, New York City, in charge of construction of 

section of subway under Forty-second street and Broadway. February 24, 1903, 

appointed engineer in the reclamation service.

TANNER, CALEB, assistant engineer. Address, P. 0. Box S, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Born in Utah September 3, 1869. Graduate of Lawrence Scientific School, degree, 

S. B. University education at Harvard. 1896-1903, instructor in mathematics and 

surveying in the Brigham Young Academy, Provo, Utah. From 1897 to 1903 was 

city engineer of Provo, Utah. At intervals during summers of 1901-1903, hydrographer for United States Geological Survey. In 1902, measured the flow and investigated the seepage in the Sevier Valley, Utah. February 18, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

TAYLOR, CLYDE VICTOR, assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in California January 26, 1878. Education, University of California. 1900-1902 with hydrographic branch of United States Geological Survey, making stream measurements on 

Truckee, Carson, and Humboldt rivers and their tributaries; in charge of parties on 

surveys of reservoir sites and canal lines on those rivers in 1901 and 1902. Has also 

-surveyed ditch lines and mining claims, and retraced Government subdivision of 

land lines and surveyed two townships in Elko County, Nev. January 1, 1903, 

appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

TAYLOR, LEON HENRY, engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Comanche, Tex., 

October 2, 1863. Common and normal school education. For eight years resident 

hydrographer for United States Geological Survey, engaged in measuring discharge 

of streams, surveying and computing area and capacity of reservoir sites, planning 

and estimating cost of reservoir, and diverting dams and weirs. During this time 

was also employed 011 survey and plans for reservoir on Rock Creek, and canal 

system for irrigation of 100,000 acres of land in Humboldt River Valley; also on 

surveys and plans for two reservoirs in lower Humboldt River Valley, Nevada. 

Employed at different times from 1886 to April, 1892, inclusive, by various land and 

water companies in California as irrigation engineer, and by Francis G. Newlands 

for Sharon estate as engineer on location and designs of canal from Truckee River, 

California and Nevada, to irrigate 75,000 acres of land, -May to August, 1892. 

Appointed engineer in reclamation service February 11, 1903.

I- TAYLOR, THOMAS U., resident hydrographer. Address, Austin, Tex. Born in

/Texas January 2, 1858. Graduate of University of Virginia, degree C. E., also

M. C. E., Cornell University. Has been with United States Geological Survey since

1897; has had charge of all the streams in Texas, and has kept gaging stations on

the Pecos, Brazos, Colorado, Trinity, and Guadalupe rivers; also made special

\ measurements of nearly all the spring-formed rivers and creeks west of the Colorado,
348 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

and a number of those east of the river. Reports of these operations will be found 

in the Water-Supply Papers of the Geological Survey, special < report on Austin dam 

water supply being published in Paper No. 40 of that series. Is author of a report 

on irrigation systems of Texas, published as Water-Supply Paper No. 71. January 1, 

1903, appointed resident hydrographer in the reclamation service.

TEMPLK, FRED A., assistant engineer. Address, Reno, Nev. Born in Missouri 

August 10,1871. Graduate of University of California, C. E., degree B. S. 1897-1899, 

was instrument man for the Los Angeles Railroad Company. 1899-1900, civil 

engineer for Independent Electric Light and Power Company, of San Francisco.

1900-1901, junior civil engineer at Mare Island Navy-Yard. 1901-1903, assistant 

engineer in city engineer's office of - San Francisco, Cal. June 9, 1903, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

TILLINGHAST, FREDERICK HOWARD, assistant engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. 

Born in Providence, R. I., September 19, 1877. Graduate of Brown University, C. E. 

In 1899-1900 was special student in hydraulics and sanitary engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1900-1901, instrument man for Chicago and Great 

Western Railway. May-November, 1901, assistant to J. F. Witmer, civil engineer, 

Buffalo, N. Y., making surveys for waterworks, sewers, etc.; also supervised construction of a waterworks plant, including power house and concrete reservoir.

1901-2, special agent for Equitable Fire and Marin Insurance Company, on map work. 

February-July, 1902, draftsman for Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad. JulyOctober, 1902, assistant to superintendent 011 construction of masonry dam and power 

house, on Catawba River, for Catawba Power Company. October 9,1902, appointed 

assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

TURNER, WILLIS T., topographer. Address, Phoenix, Ariz. Born in New Jersey, 

April 23,1869. Three years at Vineland High School. In 1894 was station assistant, 

United States Geological Survey; 1895, traverseman. 1896-1898, United States surveyor, Indian Territory survey. 1898-99, field assistant, Pacific division, United 

States Geological Survey. 1899-1903, topographer, Pacific division, United States 

Geological Survey. June 15, 1903, transferred to reclamation service.

VEATCH, ARTHUR CLIFFORD, assistant geologist. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

in Indiana, October 26, 1878. Graduate of Rockport, Ind., high school, 1895; student Indiana University, spring term, 1896. 1896-1898, teacher, Rockport High 

School. 1898, member Indiana University geological survey. January-April, 1898, 

student at Indiana University. April-June, 1898, student at Cornell University.- 

June-September, 1898, member Cornell geological survey of the Tertiaries. 1898- 

1900, assistant geologist, Louisiana geological survey. 1900, assistant in charge of 

areal and stratigraphic geology, Cornell school of field geology. 1900-1901, student 

Cornell University, and assistant in stratigraphic geology. 1901-2 consulting geologist, Houston Oil Company. 1902, assistant in preparation of Louisiana geological 

report of 1902. 1902, professor of geology, Louisiana State University, and geologist, 

Louisiana geological survey. November, 1902-3, special assistant, hydrographic 

branch, in charge of investigation of underground waters in northern Louisiana and 

southern Arkansas; in charge of underground geology and water problems, Long 

Island investigation. September 20, 1903, appointed assistant geologist in the reclamation service.

VOORHEES, ISAAC SPURR, assistant engineer. Born in New York, September 18, 

1872. High school and college education. Attended Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, B. S. in C. E. In 1900 did some surveying at Shelter Island, New York. 1900-1901 

in employ of chief engineer of Central Railroad of New Jersey as draftsman and 

instrument man; also inspector in charge of hydraulic work. 1901-1903 in engineering department of Rapid Transit Railway Commission, New York City, as rodman 

and draftsman. January 7,1903, appointed engineering aid in the reclamation service; 

January 1, 1904, promoted to assistant engineer.
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. 349

WALTER, RAYMOND F., engineer. Address, Chamber of Commerce Building, Denver, Colo. Born in Illinois, October 31, 1873. Graduate of Colorado Agricultural' 

College, degree B. S.; postgraduate -course in same school, C. E. In 1894 went to 

Greeley, Colo., and since then has been actively engaged as irrigation engineer and 

surveyor. Was county surveyor of Weld County for four years and city engineer of 

Greeley, Colo., for three years; also assistant State engineer of Colorado for three 

years, having charge of canal ratings in irrigation division No. 1. From 1895 to 1903 

was engineer for many of the large canal and reservoir companies in northern Colorado. May 20, 1903, appointed engineer in the reclamation service.

WARNER, GEORGE LITTLETON, engineering aid. Address, Washington, D. C. Born 

in Ohio, March 23, 1879. Completed half of a five-year course at Columbian University, Washington, D. C. 1896-1898, rodman, Suburban Electric Company, Akron 

Ohio. 1899-1900, transitman on city surveys, Washington, D. C. 1901, topographer 

on Washington and Annapolis Suburban Electric Railway, Washington, D. C. 1901-2, 

computer, hydrographic work, Maricopa County water storage commission; also, same* 

year, computer, United States Geological Survey; also assistant in sewer division, 

engineer department of the District of Columbia. September 26, 1902, appointed 

engineering aid in the reclamation service.

WEISS, ANDREW, assistant engineer. Address, Golden, Colo. Born in Austria, July 

18, 1867. Graduate of Colorado School of Mines, degree E. M. 1899-1903, teaching 

mathematics and surveying. During the summers of 1900 and 1901 was employed 

as mine surveyor by parties in Cripple Creek, Colo. During the summer-of 1902 

worked with party of Colorado and Southern Railway engineers on location-of line 

of road; also on maintenance of way. June 4, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in 

the reclamation service.

WEYMOUTH, FRANK ELWIN, engineer. Address, Orono, Me. B. C. E., University of Maine in 1896; C. E., same university in 1899. 1896-97, sewer construction, Maiden, Mass. 1897-1899, waterworks construction and surveys, Boston, Mass. 

January to August, 1899, assistant city engineer, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and resigned 

to accept position with Isthmian Canal Commission on surveys for a proposed oceanic 

canal through Nicaragua; was in Nicaragua August, 1899, to October, 1900. October, 

1900, to May, 1901, in Washington on same work. May, 1901, to March, 1902, with. 

the Guayaquil and Quito Railway Company, Ecuador, South America, as resident 

engineer on construction work. June, 1902, to January, 1903, with United States 

Geological Survey on surveys in Montana and in the Washington office.

WHISTLER, JOHN T., engineer. Address, Washington, D. C. Born at Newmarket, 

Ohio, in 1866. 1884-1891, student, teacher, and principal of schools. 1891-1893, 

with Arrowhead Reservoir Company, of California. 1894, prospecting in Cripple 

Creek, Colo. 1894-95, engineer for Cachavi Mining Company, in Ecuador, South 

America. 1895-1897, structural steel draftsman, designer, and engineer. 1897-98, 

in private practice in New York as structural engineer. 1898, draftsman and engineer for Hamilton Bridge Works Company, Hamilton, Canada. 1898-99, dry dock 

construction in Brooklyn, N. Y.; also with Nicaragua Canal Commission as draftsman and computing engineer. 1899, United States surveyor under direction of United 

States Engineer Corps, in hydrographic surveys about Staten Island and Sandy Hook 

waters and upper Hudson River. 1899-1902, with Isthmian Canal Commission. 

April to August, 1902, assistant engineer on preliminary surveys and location for 

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in western Pennsylvania. August, 1902, to present 

time, with United States Geological Survey as engineer in reclamation service. * WHITE, THOMAS BROOK, assistant engineer. Address, Portland, Oreg. Born in 

England December 3,1860. English public school and collegiate education, followed 

by a course of study under private tutor. Attended lectures at Heidelberg. Graduate of Union College of Law, Chicago, degree LL. B. 1880-1882, on Northern Pacific 

and Oregon Pacific railroads as draftsman, and later as assistant in charge of office.
350 FIRST RECLAMATION SERVICE CONFERENCE. [NO. 93.

1882-83, draftsman. 1888-1891, draftsman and clerk, engines1' Portland waterworks. 

. 1898-99, Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company as draftsman. 1899-1900, field 

work, topographic draftsman, Corvallis and Eastern Railroad, and on completion of 

survey took similar position with Goble, Nehalem and Pacific Railroad. In 1901, 

similar position with Oregon Short Lino. May 1, 1903, appointed assistant engineer 

in the reclamation service.

WILEY, ANDREW J., engineer. Address, Boise, Idaho.- Born July 15, 1862. 

Graduate of Newark College and of Delaware College, Ph. B. 1883-1889, on railroad and irrigation surve^ s. 1889-90, Avith United States Geological Survey on canal 

surveys in Snake River Valley. 1890-91, chief assistant engineer Idaho Mining and 

Irrigation Company. 1892-1899, chief and resident engineer Owyhee Land and 

Irrigation Company. 1899-1900, in private irrigation practice. 1900-1901, chief 

engineer, Trade Dollar Consolidated Mining Company. 1891-1903, in general 

hydraulic engineering practice. Designed and constructed plant of Boise-Payette 

Electric Power Company, also Crow Creek reservoir dam for the city of Cheyenne. 

Designed power plants for the McCloud River Electric Power Company, Boise, Idaho, 

and made preliminary plans for dam and headworks of Twin Falls Land and Water 

Company, on Snake River. April, 1904, appointed engineer in the reclamation 

service.

WILLIAMS, HAROLD S., engineering aid. Born in Wisconsin May 26, 1878. Graduate of Phillips (Wisconsin) High School; special course in engineering at Ripon College. In 1899 was rodman and chaiuman for various parties. In 1900, stakeman 

and leyelman on railroad work. In 1901 was draftsman at Phillips, Wis.; in same 

year, assistant county surveyor, Phillips, Wis. In 1902 was rodman, chainman, and 

draftsman for various parties. September, 1902, to January, 1903, rodman in irrigation work, United States Geological Survey. January 8, 1903, appointed engineering 

aid in the reclamation service.

WILLIAMS, MELVIN D., assistant engineer. Born in If>wa August 5,1876. Graduate 

of Colorado Agricultural College. In 1898 and 1899 was assistant engineer, West 

Gallatin Irrigation Company, Bozeman, Mont.; also, in 1899, on seepage measurements and stream gaging, Colorado Experiment Station, Fort Collins, and on same 

work under State engineer, Colorado, in 1899-1900. 1901, transitman, Woods Instrument Company; also, same year, gager, Colorado Experiment Station, and rating 

flumes for Holly Irrigation and Beet Sugar Company; also, same year, hydrographer 

under State engineer, Colorado. 1901-2, professor of irrigation engineering and 

drafting, Colorado Agricultural College. 1902, engineer, Homestead Irrigation Company, in Wyoming. September 17,1902, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

WISNER, GEORGE Y., consulting engineer. Address, 34 West Congress street, 

Detroit, Mich. Born West Dresden, N. Y., July 11, 1841. Graduate of University 

of Michigan, C. E., 1865. 1865-1880, engaged in Government surveys on Great 

Lakes and Mississippi River. 1880-1884, on surveys of Mississippi, Des Plaines, and 

Illinois rivers improvements. 1884-1887, superintendent of construction, Tenth and 

Eleventh United States lighthouse districts. Since then has been engaged in private 

practice. 1888-1891, resident engineer South Pass Jetty works and chief engineer Brazos 

River Harbor improvement; 1895-1897, organized and directed sanitary department, 

Detroit Board of Health; 1897-1900, member United States Board qf Engineers on 

Deep Waterways. Author of Geodetic Field Work, 1883; Brazos River Harbor Improvement, 1891; Worthless Government Engineering, 1892; Breakwaters, Sea 

Walls, and Jetties, 1893; Hydraulics of Rivers having Alluvial Beds, 1896; Sewage 

Disposal, 1896; Regulation of Lake Levels, 1895 and 1899; Report of United States 

Board of Engineers on Deep Waterways, 1900; Canals from the Great Lakes to the 

Atlantic, 1900. March 23, 1903, appointed consulting engineer in the reclamation 

service.
NEWELL.] PERSONNEL OF THE SERVICE. '351

YOUNG, WILLIAM ERNEST, assistant engineer. Address, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Born in Marion, 111., December 3, 1969. Public school and collegiate education. 

Graduated A. B., Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, Mo., 1889. 1889-90, rodman 

and transitinan, location and construction G. & N. R. R. in Missouri. 1891-92, 

instrumentman and engineer Boise City and Nampa Irrigation Land and Lumber 

Company. 1892, instrumentman Boise, Nampa and Oyhee Railroad. 1893-94, 

engineer B. C. & N. I. L. & L. Co. 1894, instrumentman on survey for State of 

Idaho, Minidoka project; local engineer, irrigation ditches, Orchards' Farms Reservoir and Canal Company. 1895, business for self and B. C. & N. I. L. & L. Co. 

1896, transitman Fort Hall Indian Reservation irrigation surveys; 1897, engineer; 

1898, business for self. 1899, locating and track engineer Pacific and Idaho Northern 

Railroad. 1900, transitman Oregon Short Line Railroad in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, 

and Montana location surveys. 1901, division engineer, construction Oregon Short 

Line Railroad. 1901-2, division engineer, construction St. Louis, Iron Mountain and 

Southern Railroad in Arkansas. 1902, division engineer, construction Oregon Short 

Line Railroad. 1902-3, reconnaissance surveys for United States on Flathead and 

Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations. May, 1903, appointed assistant engineer 

in reclamation service.

ZORN, GEORGE WASHINGTON, assistant engineer. Address, Hecla, Wyo. Education, high school, Iowa State College, degree B. C. E. In 1896 was rodman on 

United States Geological Survey. In 1897, levelman, irrigation canal in Wyoming; 

also same year rodman, United States Geological Survey, in Wyoming and Kansas. 

1898, levelman on Iowa Central Railway; also same year levelman, United States 

Geological Survey. 1899, levelman, Iowa Central Railway. 1899-1901, chief engineer reservoir construction for Wyoming Development Company. 1901-2, general 

engineering work. 1902-3, resident engineer on construction of masonry dam for 

city of Cheyenne, Wyo. July 24, 1903, appointed assistant engineer in the reclamation service.

INDEX.

Page.

Abney level, kind used..__.__ ___ 267 

Accounts, classification of ......... __ 50-52

disallowance of, discussion of... __ 57-59 

examples of.._......_._.._ 59

explanations to, manner of making ........................... 60

engineers authorized to certify..... 19

examination of..-.._.._.___ 58

suspension of, discussion of.-..-__ 57

examples of...... _.-.-.__.._ 59

explanations to, manner of making ........................... 60

See also Disbursements; Vouchers. 

Advertisement, form of, for bids for

cement for Truckee Canal.. 302 

form of, for bids for construction of 

telephone line in Salt River 

Valley........................ 76

for bids on Truckee Canal...... 186

sample of ..._..._....._._-... 76

Advertising, regulations concerning... 74-80 

Ahern, Jeremiah, biographic sketch of. 315 

paper by, on investigations in

Wyoming.................... 237-231

work in charge of ...__........._ 19

Ahern, Jeremiah, Babb, C. C., and Quinton, J. H., report of, on surveys.......................... 300-311

Aids, salary and qualifications of.... 28

Algeria, alkaline waters in, use of...... 357-258

Alidades, kind used .__.._......__ 265

Alkaline waters, use of, for irrigation. 255-258 

Allotment of expenditures. See Expenditure9,

classification of. 

Analyses, clay........................... 287,388

limestone........................ 286,287,288

marl.................................. 287

Andersen, Christian, biographic sketch

of............................. 315

Aneroids, kindused... .-...__... 266 

Annual reports, kind and character of. 48-50 

Appointees, appointment of, conditions

governing. .._ . 37-42 

classification of.................. 27-29,36-37

qualifications of ......._......_ 34-27

Appointment, application for, method

of making.........._...... 42

method of........................ 24,29,37-42

See also Examinations.

Appropriation of water, notice of.. _ 103-104

Arizona, engineering force in. __. _ 17

reclamation work in ............ 107,128-130

underground waters in, work on... 117 

See also names of projects.

IRK, 93 04 23

Page.

Arnot, E. P., biographic sketch of .. 316 

Assistant engineer, salary and qualificationsof.... -.... 28

Associations, formation of.......... 103-107

See also Salt River Valley Water

Users' Association.

Attendance at conference, list showing ........................... 9-10

Auction sales, procedure for........ 88

Auditor, circular of, regarding disallowances.__..__..__.... 60

Authorization necessity for__..... 93-96

Babb, C. C., biographic sketch of....... 316

paper by, on investigations in Montana.........-.. _--. - 182-186

work in charge of........... __.... 18

Babb, C. C., Quinton, J. H., and Ahern, 

Jeremiah, report of, on surveys.. ........................ 300-311

Bailey, E. A., biographic sketch of-..... 316

Barbour, E. H., work of.-............... 118

Barrels, water, kind used..-...-.--.._ 267 

Barrows, H. K., biographic sketch of .. . 316 

Battle Creek, S. Dak., reservoir sites

on............................ 212

Bear River, Utah, investigations on_--_ 216-219 

Bebb, E. C., biographic sketch of ...... 316

Beers, W. D., biographic sketch of..... 317

Belle Pourche project, S. Dak., discussion of.................... 211,212-213

Bench-mark posts, kind used........... 267

Bench-mark tablets, kind used _-.-....- 266

Benchmarks, establishment of .._.. 303-304 

Bennett, S. Gr., biographic sketch of ... 317 

Bids, advertisement for, for cement for

Truckee canal............... 202

advertisement for, for telephone

line in Salt River Valley.... 76

for Truckee canal........._... 186

method of obtaining, opening, etc.. 72-74 

on Truckee canal, schedule of ...... 198-199

See aJso Contracts; Proposals. 

Bien, Morris, biographic sketch of..... 317

paper by, on relation of Federal and

State laws to irrigation. _. 332-237 

Bighorn Basin, Wyo., work in...... 110

Billof lading, useof..................... 61

Blanchard, C. J., biographic sketch of. 317 

Blankets, kind used.....--..--.. 267

Blinds, harness, kind used __...---...- 267 

Bliss, G. H., biographic sketch of... _ 317 

Blythe estate, Arizona, diversion at..-. 274 

Boards, duties of ..._.-.....-..-__.. 34

Bolster, R. H., biographic sketch of.... 317

353
354 INDEX.

Page. 

Bond, amount required --....-_....... 74

form of............................... 112-114

regulations coneerning ------------- 115-116

See also Contracts. 

Bonstedt, Ferdinand, biographic sketch

of............................. 318

Bookkeeping, system of ._............ 50-62

See also Accounts; Expenditures. 

Boxelder Creek, S. Dak., reservoir sites

on............................ 811-212

Box compasses, kind used--__.__--_----- 366

Brainard, L. B., biographic sketch of __ 318 

Branch, L. Van 1ST., biographic sketch of. 318 

Branding irons, kind used -------------- 267

Bread pans, kind used................... 268

Bridles, kind used....... ________________ 26"

Brinkley, M. H., biographic sketch of-_ 318 

Buckets, kind used......__.............. 267

Bulls Head, Ariz., diversion at.-----_-. 273

Burke, J. T., biographic sketch of ______ 318

California, engineering force in. _______ 17-18

reclamation work in _-__.------_ 107,158-159

Salvation Army colony in........... 125

underground waters in, work on... 118 

See aIso names of projects. 

Call-for conference,copy of............. 9

Cameron, J. D., biographic sketch of _. 318 

Camp, J. G., biographic sketch of...... 319

Camp equipment, list of .....__....._. 267-368

Canal surveys, method of _______ 304-307,308-311

Canals, capacity of, determination of.. 173,182 

cross section of -....._________.._____ C03-309

curvature of_._.--...._.....__..____. 316

right of way for.____________________ 97

reservation of, circular regard

ing .........._...._._-_______, 101-102

velocity in,limits of.______________ 308

Canteens, kind used. ____________________ 867

Casteel, Calvin, biographic sketch, of _ _ 319 

Cement for Truckee canal, specifications and advertisement for 

bids for ---._.__________.__-_- 202-204

manufacture of __-.___.._____....__._ 284-396

on Salt River, Ariz_____.________ 129

Cement material, cost of.........._..... 290-291

excavation of... _ _ _ _......____..... 1.88-291

preparation of, for the kiln......... 291-296

Cement mixture, composition and burning of __,_____-.__.____-______ 394-395

Cement plants, list of _________________ 295

Cement rock, analyses of.......__..---. 286

Chairs, kind used . -.-.--------_--.-. 267

Chandler, A. E., biographic sketch of __ 319. 

Chandler, E. F., biographic sketch of.. 319 

Charge sheet, use of. _----.__--_.--_--. 50-53

Charles, L. J., biographic sketch of.___ 319 

Cheyenne River, S. Dak., reservoir site

on -_.......____.__.__..._._____ 211

Chief engineer, address by...__-._... 21-116 

Childs, E. R., biographic sketch of...._ 319

Churchill, P. M., biographic sketch of _ 319 

Civil service, appointments in, discussion of-__...-_........__-_-___ £5-43

Civil Service Commission, cooperation

of ._----_..._____.__.________. 36

Page. 

Clapp, S. K., biographic sketch of...... 330

Clapp, W. B., biographic sketch of..... 330

Classes of employees, definition of.. _ _ _ 36 

Classification of employees, discussion

of ......-.....-_...._...._ 27-29,36-37

of expenditures, instructions for__. 50-52

of lands, instructions concerning... 104-106

Clausen, J. C., biographic sketch of.... 320

Clay, analyses of ___...____...__._.___._. 287,288

use of, in cement manufacture..._. 286-388

Climate, effect of, on capacity of canals. 177-178

of Oregon............................ 213-214

on Colorado River.--------...----.... 170

Coal, occurrence of, in North Dakota.. 209 

Cody, Wyo., project near.-------......- 229

worknear --.._...-------._..-_-----. 110

Colonization, address on__._-----.-..-_. 122-136

Colorado, engineering force in _------_. 18

reclamation work in ............ 108,160-167

Salvation Army colony in ...... 135

underground waters of, work on_.. 118 

water appropriation in, control of.. 297 

See also names of projects. 

Colorado River, climate along.._-----_- 170

crop values along.... __-------_-. 171

irrigable lands along._-----_.-_... 171

navigation on___ ------------------ 169

reclamation projects on. _---..--__.. 272-276 

salt content of............. __--__. 171

silt in.-----_--_ --------._.. ---_ 170

water supply of _._.______....._.-___ 168-169

workalong .._..............-....-... 107,172

Committees,duties of-_----.__---.-----. 33

lifctof-.- ------------------------ 14

Communications. See Correspondence. 

Compasses, kind used......._-. ...... 266

Condra,G.E.,work of................... 118

Conference. See Ogden conference. 

Construction, method of undertaking-_ 92 

Consulting engineers, duties of..-._. 31 

relation of district engineer and . _ _ 248 

Contract for Truckee canal, form of ... 200-301 

Contracts, form and number of copies

required .................. 81,110-112

regulations concerning .... 71-74,114-115

See also Bids; Proposals.

Cooking utensils, method of obtaining.. 83 

Cooks, employment of.-___-_--._..-.__-. 39-40 

Corlett, B. E., biographic sketch of...... 330

Corners, restoration and re-marking of,

instructions concerning..-.- 105 

Correspondence, rules for--....-........ 43-44

Cost, estimates of, computation of...... 93

Covert, C. C., biographic sketch of --.... 320

Cox, C. B., biographic sketch of......... 330

Cross section of canals, method of determining--..- ----.-. . 308-309

Cups, kind used.....---.................. 287

Current meter,kind used............... 236

Curtis, J. A., exploration by............. 164

Curvature of canals,limits of........... 310

Dam-site and reservoir surveys, method

of.......-- -- - -- 303-304

Dams, characteristics of highest..----.. 129

correct design and stability of...... 240-246
INDEX. 355

Page.

Darton.N. H.,biographic sketch of. __ 321 

paper by, on work of western section of hydrology..-_--.._ 117-120 

work in charge of ............... 16

Da vies, W. G., biographic sketch of..... 321

Davis.A. P.,biographic sketch of.-....- 321

paper by, on investigations in Arizona .......................... 128-130

work in charge of................... 17,18

Da vis, E. I., biographic sketch of....---. 321

Decker v. Willey, decision in case of.... 236

Denver,office at,establishment of...... 161-162

Desert-land entries, final proof of, circular concerning ------------ 105

Design of high masonry darns, paper on

stability and.---.-.-.-------- 240-246

Designs, method of making............. 311

Devils Gate, Wyo., work near........... 226

Dillon,R. P.,biographic sketch of ...... 321

Director of Geological Survey, duties

of.......................... 15

Disallowances of accounts, discussion

of-.--.-.........---...---.... 57-59

examples of.._--------.--._---------- 59

explanations to, manner of making ........................... 60

Disbursements, general discussion of .. 52-57 

See also Disallowances; Expenditures; Vouchers.

Disbursing officers, duties of-_.-..---.- 55-57 

Discharge measurements. See Streams. 

Dish pans, kind used .................... 268

District attorneys, assistance by ------- 103

District engineers, duties of---.-.--... 29-31,32 

relations of consulting engineers

and-....---..------.---...---- 248

Ditches. See Canals.

Dobson, F. S., biographic sketch of...- 322

Dole, R. B., biographic sketch of....... 322

Douglas, E. M., paper by, on instruments and camp equipment- 265-268 

Downey, A. C., biographic sketch of... 322 

Drawing paper, kind used.-----.---.... 267

Dredging cement material, method of. 289-290 

Drivers, employment of----..----.----- 39-40

Dry Creek, S. Dak., reservoir site ou.. - 213 

Duryee, Edward, biographic sketch

of ............................ 322

Eckel, E.G., paper by, on Portland cement manufacture ---------- 284-296

Efficiency, standard of._.............. 24-27

Ehrenberg, Ariz., diversion near....... 274

Eight-hour day, law governing.-------- 82

Ela, E. S., biographic sketch of......... 322

Electrical transmission of power for

pumping, paper on.......... 237-240

Employees, appointment of. conditions

governing -...---.-__...... 37-42

classification of.................. 27-29,36-37

qualifications of --....--------....--- 24-27

Employment, applications for, method

of making-.....---.-..-..._ 42

See also Examinations. 

Engineers, employment of.............. 41

salary and qualifications of......... 29

Page.

Engineers Continued.

See also Assistant engineers; District engineers; Supervising 

engineers; Consulting engineers; Resident engineers. 

Entries, desert-land, final proof of, circular concerning............

Evans, H. R., biographic sketch of.....

Ewing, W. R., biographic sketch of....

Examinations, time and scope of.....-.,.

Expendable property, definition of ....

Expenditures, allotment of. See Classification, below, 

authority for........................

classification of.---------.. -.--._- 

monthly report of....---........-...

See also Disbursements; Vouchers;

Accounts.

Express shipments and charges,instr uctions regarding.......-.---..

Parish, W. A., biographic sketch of....

Federal and State laws, relation of, to 

irrigation ....................

Fellows, A. L., biographic sketch of. 

exploration by.......................

paper by, on work in Colorado -....

work in charge of----_---------._----

Field, J. E., biographic sketch of.......

paper by, on work on North Platte 

River in Wyoming ----------

work in charge of. ._--------------

Field assistants, employment of--------

Field offices, establishment of__..--..-.

Field parties, men employed in, method

of appointing _.............

Fisher, C. A., work of.------............

Fisher, C. C., biographic sketch of-....

Fisher, H. T., biographic sketch of.....

Fitch, C. H., biographic sketch of ......

paper by, on conditions in South 

Dakota------.----------.-_-

on investigations in North Dakota.. ------_------.....------

work in charge of... ............

Flag poles, kind used------..-. ----------

Flags, kind used---.---..-.---------.....

Flood water, value of, in determining 

capacity of canals.----------

Floors, tent, kind used ..................

Flow of streams, measurement of......

Flying-line reconnaissance, method of . 

Forbes, B. E., biographic sketch of ....

Forbes, R. H., cited on silt in Colorado 

River .. ...................

Forest reserves, use of ..................

Forestry, relation of irrigation to......

Form 9-060, use of.......................

Form 9-245, use of ..-.-...........--.. .

Form 9-263, copy of......................

use of ................................

Form 9-272, use of-----------------------

Forms, examples of-.--------.-.-------.

Fowler, B. A., paper by, on Salt River 

Valley Water Users' Association ------------.-.----....

105

323

323

29

93-96

50-52-

252

61-66 

323

232-237 

323 

164

160-162

18

323

225-227 

18

37-42 

84

37-42 

119 

324

210-211

18,19

267

267

178-180 

267

263-265

302-303

324

170 

120 

120 

61

47,250 

102 

97

50-52 

110-116

130-158
356 INDEX.

Pasre

French, J. A., biographic sketch of .... 334 

work in charge of................... 18

Fuller, M. L., biographic sketch of..... 335 

work in charge of................... 16

Gaging stations, establishment of.-_... 2<53-264 

Gay,L.L.,biographic sketch of ..-.---. 325 

Geological Survey, Director of, duties

of ............................ 15

hydrographic branch, work and -organization of -----.-------... 14-20

Gila River, Ariz., work on..........._ 107

Gilbert, A. M., biographic sketch of ... 325 

Giles,J.M., biographic sketch of....... 325

Glendive, Mont., irrigation pro j ect near 207 

Golden Dream dam site, Arizona, investigations at --..-.---.I--.---. 274 

Gordon, C. E., biographic sketch of..... 325

Gould,C.N.,work of.................... 118,119

Grades of employees, definition of..... 36

Graduate charges for packages sent by

express, table showing -_-... 64-65 

Grand River, Colo., work on ........... 108,160

Granke, L. F., biographic sketch of..... 326

Green,H.E.,biographic sketch of...... 326

Green River, N. Dak., pumping plant on 210 

Groceries,method of obtaining......... 83

Grover, N. C.,biographic sketch of..... 326

work in charge of ---...--------__--. 16

Guernsey,Wyo.,work near ............ 2S5-226

Gunnison River, Colo., work on. lOj, 160,162-167 

Hall,B.M.,biographic sketch of........ 326

work in charge of ------------------- 16

Hall, M.R., biographic sketch of........ 327

Hall, W.E., biographic sketch of........ 327

Hamlin,Homer,biographic sketch of.. 337 

Hanna, F. W., biographic sketch of...... 327

Hansen, A. C., biographic si: etch of..... 337

Hardesty,W. P.,biographic sketch of.. 328 

Harley, G. F., biographic sketch of..... 338

Harness,kind used ..__................ 267

Harness blinds, kind used --------------- 267

Harney project, Oregon,features of.... 215

Harris,A.L., biographic sketch of..... 328

Hawley, R. S., biographic sketch of..... 328

Hayden, B. E., biographic sketch of .... 338

Hays, D. "W., biographic sketch of....... 338

Head Gate Rock, Arizona, diversion at. 273-274 

Hendricks, E. D., biographic sketch of . 329 

Hewitt, C. E., biographic sketch of..... 339

Hill, L.C., biographic sketch of......... 329

Hinderlider, M. C., biographic sketch

of............................. 339

Hitchcock, E. A., biographic sketch of _ _ 14 

Hogue, Gf. H., biographic sketch of...... 329

Holgate,H. L., biographic sketch of .... 339

paper by, on legal status of irrigation .......................... 296-300

Hollister,G. B., biographic sketch of.... 330

Holt,L. M.,biographic sketch of--.-.... 330

Homestead entries, instructions regarding ........................... 104-105

Hondo project, New Mexico, discussion

of.............. ............ 20(5

Horses, method of obtaining.-.......... 83

Horton, A. H.. biographic sketch of.... 330

Page. 

Horton, R. E., biographic sketch of.... 330

work in charge of................... 16

Hosford, C. K., biographic sketch of... 330 

Houses, movable, use of................. 84

Ho well v. Johnson, decision in case of.. 335-236 

Hoyt, J. C., biographic sketch of....... 330

Huber, F. W., biographic sketch of .... 331

Huffaker, I. W., biographic sketch of.. 331 

Humpherys, T. H., biographic sketch of 331 

Humphreys, D. C., biographic sketch of 331 

Hurd, H. C., biographic sketch of..._ 331 

Hydro-economics, division of, organization and work of ............ 16

Hydrographic branch, organization of. 16-19 

work of....-.-.--.............-.-.... 14-16

Hydrography, division of, organization

of............................. 16

work of-.-..--...----.-----.----..... 15

Hydrology, division of, organization of 16 

work of -.-------.----.--....-...-..-- 15

Idaho, engineering force in............. 18

irrigation conditions in._..--. . 172-173 

reclamation work in............ 108,174-176

India, irrigation in....................... 123

Information, method of giving out..... 45-46

Instruments, list of....---- -- -_..-. 365-267

requisitions for. -.. - ---.. 45 

Interior, Secretary of. See Secretary

of the Interior. 

Irrigable land surveys, method of...... 307-308

Irrigation, alkaline waters for use of .. 355-358 

extent of....._._...-_...._..__.- ._ 296

legal status of..... ................ 396-300

normal development of - - ._ 176 

relation of Federal and State laws

to............................. 333-237

of forestry to .................... 120

pumping for, in North Dakota ..... 208-210

Irrigation conditions in Idaho, paper

on............................ 173-173

Irrigation engineers, Statesappointing. 399-300 

Irrigation law, systems of .............. 233

Irrigation projects, limits of. -.-._ 176-182 

Irrigation surveys, use of plane table

in ............................ 252-355

Johnson, Ed ward, jr., biographic sketch

of.-.....--.........------..... 331

work in charge of................... 16

Johnson v. Howell, decision in case of.. 335-338 

Kansas, engineering force in ___._____ __ 18

reclamation work in ................ 108

undergrotind waters in, work on... 118 

Keddie, "W". A., biographic sketch of ... 332 

Ker r, J. N., biographic sketch of....... 332

Kettles, kind used....................... 267

Keyes, C. R., work of ................... 118

Kibbey, J. H., plan of, for association in

Salt River Valley ........... 132-140

Kleinschmidt, H. S., biographic sketch

of............................. 333

Laborers, employment of........--..-. 39-40,41

Lake De Smet project, Wyoming, discussion of _-.................. 237-228

Lake. See next word of name.

Lamps, kind used ................... 268
INDEX. 357

Page.

Land, classification and division of, instructions concerning....... 104-106

purchase of.......................... 98-100

title for, examination of............ 93-98

withdrawal of, method of ._--.-.. 303 

See also Desert-land entries; Corners.

Land and water titles, investigation regarding.... .................. 100-101

Landes, Henry, work of ................ 119

Laurgaard, Olaf, biographic sketch of. 332 

Lawson, L. M., biographic sketch of... 333 

Lee, W. T., work of..................... 117

Legal status of irrigation, paper on -_ 396-300

Leighton, M. O., biographic sketch of.. 333

work in charge of.... ---.-._--.-_ 16

Lemenager, H.V., biographic sketch of. 333

Letters. See Correspondence.

Leveling rods, kind used...........__ 366

Levels, kind used.......-.....---.....--- 366

Lewis, J. H., biographic sketch of------ 333

Lignite,occurrence of, in North Dakota. 209 

Limestone, analyses of.............. 286,287,388

use of, in cement manufacture. 285-286,28" 

Lippincott, J. B., biographic sketch of. 333 

paper by, on irrigation surveys and

use of plane table.--........- 253-255

on methods and reports......... 250-252

on work along Colorado River.. 168-172 

work in charge of...............__ 17

Litigation, extent of __._.__.___ _._____ 296

Location surveys, method of........... 308-311

Locke hand levels, kind used........... 267

Lootz, A. C., biographic sketch of-._ 333 

Loup River, Nebr., irrigation conditions on...................... 283-284

Low-water supply, value of, in determining capacity of canals... 180 

McConnell, I. W., biographic sketch of. 333 

paper by, on topographic work in 

the Grand Canyon of the 

Gunnison..._.............. 162

McDermuth, Oro, biographic sketch of 334 

Mclntyre, O. L., biographic sketch of.. 334 

Macpherson, D. J., biographic sketch of 334 

Madden, F. M., biographic sketch of... 334 

Magruder, F. C., biographic sketch of. 334 

Malheur project, Oregon, features of _. 215 

Malta project, Montana, description of 185 

Marl, analysesof ................___. 287

use of, in cement manufacture..... 286-287

Masonry dams, correct design and stability of...................... 240-246

Material. See Supplies; Contracts; 

Purchases; Bids; Proposals. 

Matthes, G. H., biographic sketch of. _. 334 

paper by, on surveys in Oklahoma. 268-272 

work inchargeof..__........_ 18

Maxwell, G. H., work of. ...__._.____ 133

Means, T. H., paper by, on use of alkaline waters for irrigation... 255-258 

Measurement of flow of streams, paper

on............................ 363-265

Mechanics, employment of.. _ __ __ 40,41 

Meeker, B. I., biographic sketch of __ 334 

Mendenhall, W. C., work of ............ 118

Mess boxes, kind used __....._.. 

Metallic tapes, kind used....__.....

Methods and reports, paper on.........

Milk River, Mont., canal proposed on, 

description of ...............

work on .........__................

works proposed on.................^

Milk River project, Mont., conditions 

controlling.........._......

Miller, G. S., biographic sketch of .....

Mining cement material, method of ...

Minutes of conference, abstract of.---_

Mondell, F. W., paper by, on work of

reclamation service.--------

Montana, engineering force in.........

reclamation work in...-------.- 108,

See also names of projects. 

Monthly report of expenditure, method 

of making....................

of progress, method of making. _--. 

Monthly reports, character of..........

Monthly time report, method of making

Moore, W. L., cited on climate along

Colorado River-----------...

Morris, A. P., biographic sketch of--.-. 

Morrison, J. T., paper by, on irrigation 

conditions in Idaho--..-.__ 

Mountain transits, kind used... _ __ 

Murphy, E. C., biographic sketch of--.

paper by, on measurement of flow 

of streams -------------------

Myers, E. W., biographic sketch of ....

Napkins, kind used...... --.....-._....

Nebraska, agricultural conditions in ..

engineering force in..--.__........

reclamation and water storage in..

reclamation work on.. --........

underground waters in, work on...

water diversion in, control of --....

See also names of projects. 

Nevada, construction in -.--.----.-.---.

engineering force in.................

reclamation work in .-.-....--..-...

water appropriation in, control of..

See also names of projects. 

New England, hydrographers in charge 

of work in .--...- __........

New Mexico, engineering force in .....

reclamation work in ................

underground waters in, work on. _.

See also names of projects. 

New projects, consideration and approval Of.......-------___---.

New York, hydrographers in charge of 

work in----------------------

Newell, F. H., address by.. -......--.

biographic sketch of...---....-.-...

letter of transmittalby.... ......

Newell, H. D., biographic sketch of...- 

Newell, R. J., biographic sketch of ....

Newspapers, advertising in ............

See also Advertisements. 

Niobrara River, irrigation conditions on 

Noble, T. A., biographic sketch of -....

paper by, on work in Washington..

work in charge of........__......

267

266

250-252

184-185 

108 

183

182

335

289

10-14

137-128

18

182-186

252

251-252

4t>47

250,251

170

335

173-173 

266" 

335

£33-365 

335 

268

276-277 

18

276-284 

108 

118 

297

1C6-204

18

108

297

16

18

108

118

89-91

16

21-116 

335

1

74-80 

?84

231-233 

19
358 INDEX.

Page. 

Nonexpendable property, definition of. 88

See also Property. 

North Dakota, engineering force in.... 18

investigations in.........._ __ __ 207-208

irrigation in, by pumping ...... __ 208-210

reclamation work in .._...... 109

underground waters in, work on... 119

North Platte Eiver, water supply of... 277-282

work on.. __....__._.-._.._.._.... 108,225-227

Occasional employees, defini tion of term. 28 

employment of...................... 41

Odometers, kind used...............__ 366

Officers. See Appointees; Employees. 

Offices, establishment of ..__.......... 81

Ogden conference, attendance at...-_ 9-10 

call for............;................ 9

committees appointed at.. ....... _ 14

necessity for......................... 7

proceedings of, abstract of..... 10-14

purpose of-------- .................. 21-23

O'Harra, C. C., work of................. 119

Oklahoma, engineering force in__.... 18

surveys in ................... 109,119,268-272

Olberg, C. R., biographic sketch of .... 336

Oregon, climatic conditions in...___ 213-214 

engineering force in -----._ ______.__ 18

reclamation work in ............ 109,213-216

underground waters in, work on... 119 

See also names of projects. 

Organization, discussion of... __...... 29-33

Outfitting, instructions concerning __ 83-84 

Owen, Bay, biographic sketch of.. __ 336 

Pack blankets, kind used............... 267

Packages, graduated express charges

for ........................... 64-65

Packers, employment of.._......__ 39-40

Pails, kind used ......................... 267

Pans,kind used..................__.... 268

Pardee, G. C., paper by, on reclamation

work in California -.._ __ 158-159 

Parshall, A. J., biographic sketch of... 336 

Paterson, H. T., biographic sketch of.. 337 

Paul, E. G., work in charge of_____._ 16

Pease, C. T., biographic sketch of.._ 337 

Pecos Eiver, N. Mex., work on......... 108

Pecos Valley, N. Mex., investigations in. 204-307 

irrigation system in

soil and alkali conditions in......_

Peery, E. H., biographic sketch of __

Pelton, J. E., exploration by. _ __ __

Pennsylvania, hydrographers in charge

ofworkin..__........._

Perkins, E. T., biographic sketch of ...

paper by, on Colorado Eiver reclamation projects..._..._ 272-276

work in charge of ____........... 172

Personnel, committee on, duties of __ 34-35

general observations on....._.._ 24-27

Peterson, O. W., biographic sketch of . 338 

Physical strength, necessity of. __ __ 25 

Picacho, Ariz., dam siteat..._........ 274

Pinchot, Gifford, paper by, on forestry 

and irrigation ..........._

Piney Creek, Wyo., diversion of.... __

Place, A. E., biographic sketch of......

Page.

Plane table, paper on irrigation surveys

and use of--.....---....-...-.252-255

Plane-table boards and tripods, kind

used.....----... -.--..-. 266

Plans, paper on reconnaissance and...- 247-249 

Porter, A. P., biographic sketch of..... 338

Porter, S. G., biographic sketch of.. 338

Portland cement, manufacture of... 284-296

raw materials for .._.- .... 285-288

Power, development of, paper on...... 311-314

electrical transmission of-__...... 237-240

Prall, C. T., biographic sketch of....... 338

Preliminary canal surveys, method of. 304-307 

Preliminary survey, method of.. _. 300-301 

President of the United States, message

from ......................... 121-122

Pressey, F. E., biographic sketch of __ 338 

Price current meter, kind used. - .... 266

Printed forms, examples of.-...-..-.... 110-116

Printing, regulations concerning........ 66

Priorities, adjudication of.............. 298

See also Water rights.

Pritchett, C. M., biographic sketch of.. 338 

Private corporations, reclamation 

works constructed by, advisability of.................. 90-91

Proceedings of conference, abstract of. 10-14 

Proj ect board, officers composing. 32 

Projects. See New projects. 

Property, care and disposal of.. _. __ 88 

engineers responsible for purchase

of... ....................... 19

quarterly report on . ............. 48

Proposals for Truckee canal, form of .. 187 

method of obtaining, opening, etc.. 72-74 

See also Bids.

Public, information to, method of giving . --.-.... ........... 45-46

Public lands, withdrawal of, from entry 302 

Public-land surveys, corners of, restoration and re-marking of. 105 

Pumping, irrigation in North Dakota

by-.---.-... ............. 208-210

power for, electrical transmission of 237-240 

Purchases in open market, regulations

governing ................... 69-71

lawcovering ........................ 67-68

vouchers for....................__ 57

See also Contracts. 

Qualifications of employees, discussion

of............. ............. 24-27

Quarrying cement material, method of. 289 

Quarterly reports, character of ... _ 47-48 

Quinton, J. H., biographic sketch of -.. 339 

Quinton, J. H., Ahern, Jeremiah, and 

Babb, C. C., report of, on surveys......................... 300-311

Eain gages, kind used....... ........ 266

Eeclamation and water storage in Nebraska, paper on ..._.. _ 276-284 

Reclamation law, scope of ..........._ 261-262

text of............_.....--...-... 259-261

Eeclamation projects,stages in.....__ 30

Eeclamation service, members of, biographic sketches of.____ 296-351
INDEX. 359

Page.

Reclamation service,organization of 17-19,29-33 

personnel of, general observations

on.-.........-..-.---....-...- 24-27

work of........................ 21-22,127-128

Reclamation surveys, method of, report

of committee on.----.--..... 300-311

Reconnaissance, method of..... 300-301,802-303

paper on plans and.-._............ 247-249

Red Water Oreek, S. Dak., irrigation

from ......................... 212

Redman, A. C., biographic sketch of... 339 

Redmond, Hugh, biographic sketch of. 339 

Reed, H. S., biographic sketch of....... 339

Reed, W. M., biographic sketch of..... 340

paper by, on investigations in Pecos

Valley........................ 204-207

Reedy, O. T., biographic sketch of..... 340

Regular employees, classification of. 28-29

See also Employees. 

Reports, character of......._--..-_._ 45-50

method of making................... 250-252

See also Monthly progress report; 

Weekly progress report; 

Weekly time report; Monthly time report. 

Reports and methods, paper on ........ 250-252

Reports and statements, paper on..._ 249-250 

Republican River, Nebr., irrigation

conditions on ................ 282-283

Requisitions, method of making.. ...... 44-45

Reservoir and dam-site surveys, methods of ........................ 303-304

Resident engineer, duties of............ 32

Responsibility, placing of............... 31-33

Richards, P. S., paper by, on water laws

of Utah...................... 220-225

Richardson, G. B., work of ............. 119

Riding bridles, kind used ............... 267

Riding saddles, kind used............... 268

Right of way for ditches or canals, reservation of.----.-._--.--.-. 97

reservation of, circular regarding.. 101-102 

Rio Grande, N. Mex., work on ......... 108

Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company v. United States, decision in case of........_._ 234-285

River observers, employment of..---... 39 

Robbins, S. B., biographic sketch of.... 340

Rodmen, employment of.._......._ 40

Rods, leveling, kind used ............... 286

Roosevelt, Theodore, message from__ 121-122 

Ross, D. W., biographic sketch of ...... 340

paper by, on investigations in Idaho. 174-176

on limits of an irrigation project. 176-182

work in charge of ...............__ 18

Roswell, N. Mex., irrigation near ...... 205

Russell,!. C., work of---.--..---........ 119

Russell, W. G., biographic sketch of ... 341 

Sacramento Valley, Gal., work in...... 107

Saddle blankets, kind used............. 267

Saddles, riding, kind used .............. 268

Sage Creek, Wyo., water rights on, decision regarding............. 235-236

Sahara Desert, alkaline waters in, use

of ............................ 257-258

Sales, procedure for .................... 88

Page. 

Salt content of Colorado River......... 171

Salt River, Ariz., work on .......... 107,128-129

Salt River Valley, Ariz., conditions in. 130-131 

surveys in ........................... 131-132

telephone line in, advertisement for

bids for construction ....... 76

Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, address on.......... 130-158

articles of incorporation of..... 147-158

formation of.......-....----.--...... 140-147

Salvation Army colonies, condition of.. 125 

Samples, when required.._ -----..... 73

San Joaquin Valley, Gal., work in...... 107

Sanders, W. H., biographic sketch of.. 341 

Sands, E. E., biographic sketch of...... 341

Saph, A. V., biographic sketch of ...... 341

Sargeant, William, biographic sketcji

of ............................ 342

Sargent, J. A., biographic sketch of ... 342 

Saunders, H. J., biographic sketch of., 342 

Savage, H. N., biographic sketch of.... 343

paper by, on reports and statements.-...................... 249-250

Savage, J. L., biographic sketch cf .... 343

Saws, kind used.......................1. 288

Sawyer, W. C., biographic sketch of.... 343

Saxton, W. R., biographic sketch of.... 343

Scales, kind used ........................ 267

Schadler, A. H., biographic sketch of.. 343 

Schlecht, W. W., biographic sketch of. 343 

Secretary of the Interior, duties of .... 15

Services, vouchers for................... 57

Settlers. See Colonization. 

Shale, use of, in cement manufacture.. 288 

Shoshone project, Wyo., discussion of. 228-231 

Siebenthal, C. E., work of .............. 118

Silt in Colorado River .-.......--.--.... 170

Slichter, C. S., biographic sketch of.... 343

Slonaker, C. E., biographic sketch of .. 343 

Slopes of canals, limits of............... 308-309

Smith, C. B., biographic sketch of ..... 344

Smith, W. D., biographic sketch of .... 344

Snake River, Idaho, irrigation projects

along-.------...-.-----. ------ 174-175

work on.............................. 108

South Dakota, engineering force in.... 19

irrigation conditions in ............. 210-211

reclamation work in __...----. 109,211-212

underground waters in, work on... 119 

See also names of localities. 

Sonthworth, C. H., biographic sketch of 344 

Specifications form of .................. 80

form of, for cement for Truckee

canal--...--......-------...-- 202-204

for construction of Truckee

canal......................... 187-197

Sprigg,A.M.,biographic sketch of..... 344

Spring Creek, S. Dak., reservoir siteon. 212 

Stability of high masonry dams, paper

on correct design and....... 240-246

Stabler, Herman, biographic sketch of. 344 

Stannard, J.D., biographic sketch of-. 344 

State and Federal laws, relation of, to

irrigation........-..-....---. 232-237

Statements. See Reports.

Station assistants, employment of ..... 40
360 INDEX.

Page. 

Stationery boxes, kind used-.-----..--- 267

Steel tapes, kind used................... 266

Steiner, C. R., biographic sketch of_... 344 

Stevens, J. C., biographic sketch of.... 345

Steward. W. G., biographic sketch of.. 345 

Stewpans, kind tised.................... 268

Stockton, Fred, biographic sketch of .. 345 

Stockman, L. R., biographic sketch of. 345 

Stocktcn, R. S., biographic sketch of .. 345 

Stokes, H. G., biographic sketch of _ 346 

Stools, kind used....-------------------- 267

Storrs, H. A., biographic sketch of .... 346

paper by, on electrical transmission

of power for pumping ...... 237-240

on power development. .__ 311-314 

Stout, O. V. P., paper by, on reclamation and water storage in 

Nebraska.. .....- ..,._- 276-384

Stoves, kind used.-...................... 268

method of obtaining ................ 83

Stratton, G. E., biographic sketch of .. 346 

Streams, flow of, measurement of ..... 263-365

Strickler, T. J., biographic sketch of .. 346 

Subsistence, regulations concerning... 85-88 

Subvouchers. See Vouchers. 

Supervising engineers, duties of ...... 31,33,33

Supplies, purchase of, in open market,

regulations governing ...... 69-71

purchase of, law governing..----... 67-68

See also Contracts; Outfitting. 

Surveyors, employment of ............. 41

Surveys, method of, report of committee on ........................ 300-311

Suspensions of accounts, discussion of . 57-59

examples of __.-...................... 59

explanation to, manner of making. 60 

Sweetwater River, Wyo., work on--__. 226-237 

Swendsen, G. L., biographic sketch of. 346

paper by, on investigations in Utah. 216-220

work in charge of................... 19

Swift, W. E., biographic sketch of..... 347

Tablecloths, kind used.................. 267

Tableware, kind used ------------------- 367

Tables, kind used ....................... 268

Tally sheet. See Charge sheet.

Tanner, Caleb, biographic sketch of'... 347

Tapes, metallic, kind used--.-.---______ 266

Tapes, steel, kind used.................. 266

Taylor, C. V., biographic sketch of .... 347

Taylor, L. H., biographic sketch of .... 347

paper by, on construction work in

Nevada ...................... 186-204

work in charge of................... 18

Taylor, T. U., biographic sketch of .... 347

work in charge of ................... 16

Team work, necessity of................ 26-27

Technical experts, employment of..... 40

See also Employees. 

Telegrams, method of sending, addressing, and marking--.--....... 44

Telephone line in Salt River Valley, 

advertisement for bids for 

construction of.............. 76

Telescopic alidades, kind used.......... 265

Temperature, strains in dams due to

changes in ........_........ 243

Page. 

Temple, P. A., biographic sketch of.... 348

Temporary appointments, definition

of..-... - .-- -.-- 27-28 

See also Occasional employees; Employees; Appointments. 

Tent floors, kind used...............__ 267

Tents, kind used ........................ 268

method of obtaining ................ 83

Texas, hydrographer in charge of work

in................ ............ 16

underground water in, work on_... 119 

Tillinghast, P. H., biographic sketch of. 348 

Time reports, method of making....... 250-251

Todd, J. E., work of...... .:... .. 119

Topographic surveys, method of.._ 252-255,307 

Topographic work in the Grand Canyon of the Gunnison, description of ....................... 162-167

Torrence, W. W., exploration by....... 164

Transits,kind used.--....--._----..-..-- 265,266

Traveling expenses, disbursements for. 57 

Traverse plane table, kind used...._... 266

Triangulation, method of............... 307

Truckee canal, Nevada, bids on, advertisement for.-....------.___-- 186

bids on, schedule of ................. 198-199

cement for, specifications and advertisement for bids for .... 202-204

contract for .....-........ ...... 200-201

proposals for, form of ---.-._____---- 187

specifications for -.--..--....---...-- 187-197

Truckee River, Nev., work on.......... 108

Tucker, P. de L. B., paper by, on colonization _- _ _- ..- 122-126 

Turner, W. T., biographic sketch of... 348 

Umatilla project, Oregon, features of . 215 

Uncompahgre Valley, work in.___. 108,160-161 

Underground water, legal decisions concerning ...................... 299

work on.............................. 117-120

United States v. Rio Grande Dam and 

Irrigation Company, decision in case of ............... 234-235

United States Geological Survey. See

Geological Survey.

Urton Lake project, New Mexico, discussion of .................... 206

Utah, engineering force in....------.._. 19

reclamation work in ............ 109,216-220

water laws of ....................... 220-225

water rights in, adjudication of

priorities .................... 298

See also names of projects. 

Utah Lake, irrigation conditions at.--. 219-220 

workat.-...-----.-.--._.....--...... 109

Vacancies, method of filling -.--.-...... 37-42

See also Appointments; Employees. 

Veatch, A. C., biographic sketch of .... 348

Velocity in canals, limits of --------- 308

Voorhees, I. S., biographic sketch of... 348 

Vouchers, details of..-....--...-.--..... 57

disallowanc e and suspension of..... 57-60

disposition of ------------_ - -. 50

statement accompanying ----.... 47

See also Disbursements; Accounts; 

Expenditures.
INDEX. 361

Page. 

"Wagons, kind used....._.............. 268

method of obtaining ................ 83

Walcott, C. D., biographic sketch of _.. 15 

Warner, G. L., biographic sketch of _... 849 

Washington, engineering force in...... 19

reclamation workin..---..-_-.. 109, 231-332

underground waters in, work on... 119

Walter, R. F., biographic sketch of .... 349

paper by, on investigations in South

Dakota....................... 211-212

work in charge of..............._ 210

Water, appropriation of, notice of..... 103-104

economy of --------------_........ 249

legal relation to land................ 298-299

use of, decisions relating to......_ 234-237

Water, underground, legal decisions

concerning---...-.....--..... 299

work on.------.---,...----....-..--.. 117-120

Water and land titles, examination regarding ...................... 100-101

Water barrels, kind used -.-.......-._.. 267

Water laws of Utah, paper on.......... 220-225

Water rights, acquisition of, manner of. 297-399 

adjudication of priorities ......-..-- 298

decisions relating to................. 234-237

Water storage and reclamation in Nebraska, paper on _.--..-.-. 276-284 

Water users' associations. See Salt

River Valley Water Users' ' 

Association. 

Waters, State control of................ 297-298

Waters,'alkaline, use of, for irrigation. 255-258 

Weekly progress report, method of

making .--.....--...-.-..".--. 251

Weekly reports, character of........... 46

Weekly time report, method of making--...-..--....--.......... 250

Weiss, Andrew, biographic sketch of.. 349

Weymouth, F. E., biographic sketch of.

work in charge of .--.---...---------

Whistler, J. T., biographic sketch of...

paper by, on investigations in Oregon................-...- ...

work in charge of. ...... .

White, T. B., biographic sketch of-...-

Wilder, F. A., paper by, on irrigation in

North Dakota by pumping -

work of .-..-...._. --...-.-...---

Wiley, A. J., biographic sketch of......

Willard, D. E., work of............._.

Willey v. Decker, decision in case of... 

Williams, H. S., biographic sketch of .. 

Williams, M. D., biographic sketch of. 

Williams, Ariz., dam site at __ --------

Wilson project, South Dakota, discussion Of-- -----___----------

Wisner, G. Y., biographic sketch of....

paper by, on correct design and 

stability of high masonry 

dams.-__....-----.-.-..-..

on reconnaissance and plans....

Withdrawal of land, method of -._.---. 

Wood, L. H., work of ............... _.

Wye levels, Jrind used.- ...... ....

Wyoming, engineering force in ....--..

reclamation work in............ 110,

underground water in, work on....

water diversion in, control of ......

water rights in, adjudication of priorities.-_..-----.-..----.--

See also names of projects. 

Yellowstone River, N". Dak., diversion 

from, discussion of..........

Young, W. E., biographic sketch of _. 

Yuma, Ariz., dam site at.-.--..-----...

Zorn, G-. W., biographic sketch of .....

349

307

349

213-216

18

349

208-210 

119 

350 

119 

336 

350 

350 

273

213

350

240-246

247-249

302

208

266

19

225-331 

119 

297

207-208 

351

274-275 

351

IER 93 04 24

O