The Delta independent., 1902-11-28
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY Of THE
INTERIOR REVIEWS THE RECLAMATION ACT

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.
1t has been considered wise at the
outset not to create 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
1888 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
ticularly in western or arid lands, and
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
well-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
constituting 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
great mass of information concerning
the arid lands and the opportunities of
reclaiming these, yet when II 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 n matter of expert
ment In nearly .:~ry part of the
country where large works have been
completed they have offered 10 their
builders a 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-
ton act. IL is OF prime importance that
all of the designs should be considered
with unusual care. so 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 a proper desire to see some
thing accomplished as soon as possi-
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 is
no one more DESTROYS than the secre-
tary of the interior and his assistants
of bringing about such condition. but
IL is far more important that the wa
ter should be running over well-con-
structcd works for an indefinite num-
bcr of years than through the ruins of
a single failure.
To plan and supervise the building
of the works the best engineering tai
ent of the country should be secured.
Such men cannot easily be had. Their
services are in demand by corporations
and their compensation is notably
high. On the other hand. there is a
great body of unemployed persons,
who are ambitious to take up the
work. and who are using every effort
to get connected with 1t. To sift out
from the body of applicants those who
may have proper education and Qualifi
cations, and especially to attract the
men of known experience and ability.
is no easy task. At the outset it has
been determined to enforce strictly the
civil service rules, and to appoint engi-
neers and assistants to the various pc-
alton. one which tests not merely book
learning, but practical experience and
ability in accomplishing results, From
time to time new men certified by the
civil service commission have been ap-'
pointed in the reclamation service. and
this engineering corps is growing as
rapidly as prudence will permit, The
best physical. mental and moral quail
ties are NEEDED in the men who design
and build such structures.
The thirteen states and three terri
tories within which reclamation work
can be carried on embrace, with the
exception of Texas, the largest politi-
cal divisions of the United States.
While It is not possible for any man to
know the topography and photography
OF all OF these sixteen states and terri
tories. yet in general way the oppor-
tunties for completing works OF re-
clamation have been discovered by the