Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-06

Our State Engineer. VINO went 10 Wash
ingtor about month ago, has just re-
turned, and RECORD UNION reporter has
obtained from him some items OF interest
relative to his mission there.
Preliminary, Mr.. Hall desired it stated
that he went East in compliance with the
following letter from the Director Of the
United States Geological Surveys received
early in November last, together with tele-
grams which preceded it, and some subse-
quent correspondence:
DEPARTMENT OF The INTERIOR,
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
WASHINGTON u. c., SOY. 3, 1885
Mr.. Vim. II. Hal, STATE Engineer Sacramento
CuL-DEAR SIR You are probably informed
through the press that Congress at It's last ses-
sion decided that an irrigation survey should be
made of the arid lands. Your long experience
and eminent service to the State of California in
this field of investigation make me desire to
have a Inference with you in relation to the
subject. l have for several weeks hoped that
could come 10 meet you in California, but the
press of official business prevents it. Can you
not come to Washington and give me the bene-
fit of your advice?
Some weeks ago wired you to this effect but
| received no reply. then followed IL with a
| second telegram, which was not delivered.
Still, subsequently, wrote TO a gentleman in
San Francisco asking him to Zee you, to which
| letter received no reply. On Thursday last
telegraphed the Governor of California, which
telegram you received and TO which you have
If you find that you can do me the favor to
come to Washington your ordinary expenses
/, will be paid, and can also pay you at the rate
of for the time you give the matter.
l also send YOU orders for transporta-
ton shall be very glad to have you
| arrive III Washington on or about Novemb Der
| 18th, ii that date will suit your convenience.
| Hoping that l shall have the pleasure OF meet
! ]. W. POWELL, Director.
The irrigation investigation 70 which ref
| erence is here made said Mr. Hall, in reply
| to questioning, Is one noW in the first few
months of its existence and is being prose
| cuted TO ascertain, under the law, 1.-The ex-
| tent to which the arid lands of the United
States may be redeemed by irrigation
| 1t should be remembered that about two
fifths of the tillable lands in the United
States require irrigation to insure any re-
turn for cultivation. The Government now
| has very little land left that can be farmed
without irrigation, but she has several hun
drsd millions of acres that will produce
well if only it were irrigated. These arid
| lands cannot be disposed of to settlers be-
cause settlers cannot cultivate them. Now
| the Government has undertaken to ascer-
tain to what extent they can be irrigated,
and by what means and at what cost, and the
law goes on to direct that special examina-
ton shall be made with reference to the
possibilities of storing waters on large
scale. Storage sites are TO be reserved and
irrigable lands are to be reserved from sale
until the Government can further deter
mine what policy it will adopt in the dis
posal ot such lands and storage sites.
The investigation was favored by Presi-
dent Cleveland, was strongly urged in a
special communication by Secretary of the
Interior Villas, and has been committed to
the Geological Surveys Bureau, of which
Major ]. w. Powell is the Director
Further in reply to questions, Mr.. Hall
said in substance: This Is to be an i'm
mense work, lasting through years to come.
1t has been chiefly urged, as l understand
il, by Representatives from Colorado, Ne.
vada and some of the Territories, though
several of the California Congressman have
been very active in its support. The esti-
mated cost is 100000, which is in addi-
ton to AN estimated amount of $50 GOO, 900 to
complete the geological survey. This geo.
logical survey is sustained by an annual
appropriation of about $500, 600, and now
the House of Representatives has agreed to
all additional sum of S250,000 per year for
the work, which amount will probably be
raised in the Senate to $3.50, 600
Reporter-Will any of this money be
|
much
Mr.. H.-Yes; California will ultimately
get her share, ii proportion TO the area of
arid Government lands III the State of
| which there seems to be any possibility of
irrigation. But, as you know, there are no
considerable bodies of Government irriga-
Bile lands left in this State, except it be in
the northeastern counties in the counties
east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. and
on the deserts south and east of the present
cultivated paris of the State. The Director
of the surveys, Major Powell, is anxious to
have California cooperate VITA him in this
work as Colorado proposes to do, and as
other States and Territories probably will
do
Rep.-What advantage will this be to
the State?
Mr.. Hall--It will secure to the State a
much larger expenditure Of he Govern
ment moneys out of the first appropriations
than would otherwise be made here: it
will enable the State to get the results of
all the work in the Sta e, and publish
them fJr the benefit of her citizens. at an
early day. These are two great objects If
Colorado steps forward aud says 20 the
Director of the Geological Survey, we will
Will spend $50 600 or $4,000 this year on
this work if you will spend an equal
amount in this State, and give us the re-
suits for prompt publication. she will prcb
ably 5e met on the proposition.
The Government bureau reports are
three 10 four years behind hand in printing
at Washington. and if anything is done in
California cut of this first appropriation il
will probably be three TO four years before
| we see sny Il the results in print. unless
the State skes hold of the matter and pro-
vides for helping in the work and publish
ing the results She great feature of the
work is to be the water supply-the storage
question. That study and these surveys
can be extended all over the State, snd the
State will help in the work, as was done in
tbs case Of the Typographical and Geologi-
J cal Surveys of Massachusetts, New Jersey
and other Eastern States. Major Powell
has by this time addressed an official COM
munica,ion to our Governor on the sub
ect, and am expected by Mr.. Powell tC
urge the matter before the proper commit
tees OF the Legislature.
Rep is this done, Mr.. Hall, in YOU
capacity as State Engineer?
SIR. H.-Nc, sir. AS | distinctly reported
10 the Governor, before going East, | will
! not bold the Office of State Engineer You
. will find some plain talk Oh this subject III
my report 'rhe only Interest | shall have
i'll representing this matter to the Legss
+ ture will be as Californian. Beyond that
| act in the interest of the Government
work under Major Powell.
ReD.-Do you mean that you are engages
: in that work, aud, if 50, in what eapac ~
i, Mr.. H-You are too fast in drawing con
illusions. As to my relation to the Govern
: ,Inent work and standing with Msjor Pow.
= ell, you may judge from this letter HANDED
me by him several days after my arrival il
Washington. / am now engaged in pre-
d pairing q report in compliancs with it.
r DEPARTMENT or THE ISTERIoR)
u. s. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
S HAsHISG1oS, d. C., Jan. Is, 1889.
n Mr. HBi Ham. Hal. Consulting Girl Engineer
IrcScat-siR Pursuant TO the purposes of tn
conversation we have held, have the honor Il
request that you submit 10 me in writing out
+ line of your opinions on the general subject o
. an irrigation survey and will socially caii you
, attention 10 the following subjects:
/. The extent and character OF the necessar
= hydraulic survey.
d 2 The method to be pursued in stream gaug
!. | ing.
i 5. The methods to be pursued in sedimen
n gauging.
: Z. The methods to be pursued in evaporation
S gaugIng.
, s. The methods to be pursued IN ren gaus
ing.
e & The methods to be employed in the seleC