Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-10
WORK OF THE FUTURE
Reclamation Of the Arid
Lands.
DATA TO BE OBTAINED
ENGINEERING PARTIES NOW IN
THE FIELD.
Seeking Information in Many Western
States-Mr. Frederick II. Newell
Tells What is to Be Done.

Now that the long fight for the reclama-
ton of the arid lands of the west has been
won in Congress, and the idea SO long cher
ished by western statesmen has been writ
ten into law. the point of view of the whole
question of irrigation al once changes from
one of oratory and glowing conclusions to
one of complex engineering problems
The administration of the law is practi-
cally and primarily in the hands of Fred
erick Haynes Newell, photographic engi-
neer and chief OF the division of hydrog-
raphy of the United States geological sur
vey: member of the American Society OF
Civil Engineers: expert on Irrigation for
the eleventh and twelfth censuses; secre-
tary of the American Forestry Assoc "a
tion etc. Mr. Newell has made the subject
of irrigation a life study, and he will now
be given an opportunity to put the result
of that study into practical operation.
Outlined by Mr.. Newell.
Mr.. Newell was seen today by Star
man and asked to explain what would be
done first, what second, and what would
be the ultimate result of the undertaking
of the federal government to reclaim the
vast arid regions of the west.
The first work to be done" was his re-
ply, lis to send civil engineering parties
lHtO lHe HelO TO investigate and report on
three distinct phases of the work to be ac-
complished. For instance, take a given
territory which it is desired to irrigate; be-
fore any actual construction is begun it is
necessary to ascertain the cost of the con-
struction of the dam and the canals; to
survey and plan the details of each and
besides, the law requires reports TO be made
as to the amount of land to be irrigated.
and the probable benefit in dollars and
cents to each acre.
When You realize that the work is to be
done. not at any given locality but that
the most available locations are to be Sc
lected. the VastnesS of the work hecomes
more apparent.
Mr.. Newell stated that from the passa ge
of the irrigation bill to the present time the
work done embraced the sending out of
surveying parties to make observations and
report on the details.
Engineers i'll the Field.
The civil service commission is being
drawn on for civil engineers and the field
force is being increased as rapidly as pos
slble. Parties of this character are now
working in California, Oregon, Washington
Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho Arizona
and Colorado. When reports have been re-
ce1ved the date will be forwarded to Wash
lngton as rapidly as collected and here it
VIII be classified, the merits of each nropo-
sltlon compared with those of other loca-
tlons and the conclusions of the experts
presented to the Secretary of the Interior.
The work which will be begun first will
DOUBTLESS be on the site which presents the
pest prospects of good results and shows
the most natural advantages
Mr.. Newell estimates that for the next
hundred years there cannot possibly be irri-
gated more than 60oU00U0 acres of arid
land, Notwithstanding the claim III Con-
sress that something like 200G00,0OO acres
says 1t may be possible to conserve the
waters OF the mountains 10 such an extent