Gilpin observer., 1902-11-27
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY Of THE
INTERIOR REVIEWS THE RECLAMATION ACT

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homeseekers. Events have. however.
moved with great rapidity, and the
ceaseless efforts OF men interested in
the reclamation of the arid lands have
culminatedun the passage of the recla-
nation lay above referred to.
l. This law puts into. the. hands bf the
secretary of the interior extraordinary
| powers and heavy responsibility. 1t
| creates q. 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 gro With
and extension of the work which may.
be considered as having initiated i'm
1888 under Major J. w. POWELL thed
former directoE of the geologicalsu
| Great credit snOuiu be assigned to this
far-seeing ana fearless Befentist, =, 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 vicissifudes,. has, by
a process of evolution, become the hy-
geographic investigation, Of the United
| States The engineeTS' starting as.
young men in the work have gained
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 afnh-
cleus. and with the guidance of the
weIi-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 lo-s
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-
tical 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 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 a matter Of expert
ment. In nearly every part of the
| country where large works have been
.completed they have offered TO 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-
tion act. it is of prime importance chat
:. 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 desirous than the secre-
tary of the interior and his assistants
OF bringing about such condition, but
1t 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
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 it. 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 1t has
been determined to enforce strictly the
civil service rules. and to appoint engi-
| neers and assistants to the various po-
sitions only after competitive examin-
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