The Holly chieftain., 1902-11-28

fore the people of the United States OF
greater importance than the conserya-
tion of the water supply and the recla-
nation Of the arid lands OF the west
and their settlement by men who will
actually build homes and create COM
munities."
When this was written the most san
guine would hardly have believed 1t
possible that within a few months 1t
would be In the power Of the depart
ment to actually begin upon the great
problem Of reclaiming the public lands
and putting them in the hands of
homeseekers. Events have, however.
ceaseless efforts OF men interested in
the reclamation of the arid lands have
eliminated In the passage Of the recla-
nation law above referred to.
This law puts into the hands OF the
secretary of the interior extraordinary
powers and heavy responsibility. 1t
creates fund to be expended by him
in the construction of irrigation works
which are to be paid for by the set
tiers. and which pass ultimately into
their control. The law is very general,
ana leaves to the Judgment of the sec
retary many important matters. upon
each of which wise decision is essential
to the ultimate success OF the work.
Great caution is therefore necessary in
taking the preliminary steps. and es-
pecially in creating precedents, which,
If not carefully considered, may result
in injury to the country.
1t has been considered wise at the
outset not to create a separate bureau
with new officers and untried regula-
tions, but to permit the steady growth
and extension of the work which may
be considered as having initiated in
1883 under Major J. w. Powell, the
former director of the geological survey.
Great credit snouIu be assigned to this
far-seeing ana fearless scientist, who
through his mature life urged in public
and before Congress the Importance of
the national work of reclamation. The
work which was begun under his di-
rection fourteen years ago. after pass
ing through many vicissitudes, has, by
a process of evolution. become the hy-
geographic investigation of the United
States. The engineers starting as
young men in the work have gained
a broad education and experience, par
eAS'iaiiy III WVSiCi II Vi al III lihNo, anu
many of them. between intervals of
service for the government, have been
concerned in the planning and con-
struction of irrigation works. Taking,
therefore. this body of men as a nu-
cleus, and with the guidance of the
weil-tested rules and regulations of
the geological survey, an engineering
corps has been formed. designated the
reclamation service. this being, for ad-
ministrative purposes, branch Of the
geological survey.
The data already at hand concerning
the amount of water available. the To-
cation of reservoir sites, and the alti-
tude and area of catchment basins,
have proved invaluable in beginning
the work of reclamation. These facts
have been collected by the men now
the reclamation service,
are familiar to them, and enable prac-
teal work to be begun at once, leading
up to the construction OF definite plans
and specifications for reservoirs and
main line canals.
Although there is thus available a
great mass OF Information concerning
the arid lands and the opportunities of
reclaiming these. yet when it comes to
definitely recommending any project
great caution must be exercised. and
consequent delay. especially with the
first works. Few persons appreciate the
difficulties inseparably connected with
successful hydraulic construction.
The construction of water storage
irrigation works of magnitude is in
many respects still matter OF expert
ment. In nearly every part Of the
country where large works have been
completed they have offered to their
builders series of surprises. Even
though carefully planned, one part or
another has had to be replaced or
changed. In government works such
as those contemplated by the reclama-
tion act. 1t is of prime importance that
all Of the designs should be considered
with unusual care, 80 that errors may
be avoided and the confidence Of the
people In the finished work be fully
justified.
The intense public interest In the
carrying out of the irrigation law re-
suits In q proper desire to see some
thing accomplished as soon as posi-
BILE. This is voiced bw the current ex-
preston that the people wish to see
the water running over the dams be-
fore another season passes. There il
no one more desirous than the secre-
tary Of the interior and his assistants
of bringing about such condition. but
it is far more important that the wa
ter should be running over well-con-
structed works for an indefinite num-
ber of years than through the ruins Of
single failure.
To plan and supervise the building
of the works the best engineering tai
ont of tho cO,tptrv ehOn,ld t,a aeCurod