The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-28
Numbered BY A
BIG SYNDICATE
Troubles Of the Government Irri.
cation Experts.
SOME CABINET ASPIRATIONS
STORY AT THE EXPENSE OF AID
MIRAL DEWEY.
iOME CABINET ASPIRATIONS
lsneciaI Id - Hera1d.l


Washington, June 27.-The geologic
al survey is keeping very quiet over
the progress made in carrying out the
terms Of the national irrigation bill
The truth Of the matter is, however,
that that section Of the survey presided
over by F. H. Newell, who has charge
Of the reclamation work, has been
pushing things along under the highest
kind Of pressure. One Of the first steps
to be taken was the selection of a
large number Of men to carry on the
work Political favOritism countd for
nothing in getting these men They
are all to be specialists and their spe-
icalties range from ditch building to
law. The survey found so many legal
questions involved in deciding as to 10
cations Of enterprises and the cOnstruc-
ton Of works that the department had
immediate need Of legal council.
over 100 experts of various kinds
have been employed by Mr.. Newell to
carry out the reclamation work. They
are nearly all young men as the limi-
tations in the matter of salary are Sc
we're, but an inducement is offered in
the possibilities Of added reputation
and chance for original work. Mr..
Newell has retained control Of the mat
ter even to details as it was necessary
Tor purposes Of organization to have
but one head and IL was considered de-
slrable one man should know every
thing that was going on that the work
might be planned to better advantage.
Some Hinderances.
In the consideration of several Of the
enterprises there have been remark
able experiences. One Of the five pIO-
1ects selected by the secretary of the
interior has been hindered by a New
York syndicate This syndicate paid
$4,000 for some land which the gov
eminent would have to have and on
being asked for their price set the price
at 100000. On being told that their
land would be condemned they lowered
the price to 100000 and are now max
Ing the argument that at that price
they are being robbed Of their prop
erty
Another enterprise has been hindered
by tangle Of private claims, although
this is now in a fair way to be straight
ened out to the satisfaction of the de-
partment. The trouble has been that
the proposed construction of a govern
ment reservoir interfered with a pri-
vate enterprise and the promoters of
that enterprise have done everything
they could to SOW discOrd among those
whom the government was proposing
to benefit.
The mere construction Of a reservoir
or a big canal is a simple proposition,
but to clear up the legal situation and
prevent future entanglements and law
suits is no mean task and while little
is heard just at this time of what is
being done by the government in this
direction, nearly 200 men in Office and
field are now working diligently with
anxiety as well as enthusiasm, to pre-
pare the way for something which will
make a tangible showing. The work
now being done viii never be fully ap-
preciated by the public, but it was
necessary.
Moody's Aspirations.
The suggestion that Secretary Moody
might some time in the future become
a senator from MasSac husetts has at
tracted some attention to the possible
political deSUinieS of other members of
the cabinet. with the result that they
are found to have none. It is becOm-
ing more and more the rule that no
man of great political strength finds a
place in the cabinet This may be be
cause the head of the government
wants no rivals within his own family
and 1t may be on the other hand that
no ambitious statesman cares to subOr-
dinate himself and merge his own per-
sOnality into that of some other mans
administration where the credit for
great deeds done lies all one way.
President Roosevelt has about him a
group of more or less remarkable men,
but with the possible exception Of the
secretary of the navy not one of them
has any national political possibilities
ahead of him The secretary of state
John Hay, is a man of no political
strength and at this time of his life
no political ambition. The secretary Of
war. EIihu Root has had few equals
as a cabinet official, but he is a paliti-
cal impOssibility and IL is probable that
he has so long recognized this fact
that he has no political ambitions for
himself.
Knox Impossible.
Attorney General Knox is a political
impOssibility for obvious reasons. Sec
rotary Of the interior, Mr. Hitchcock,
may be classed likewise, for his pO-
litical life lies behind him. The secre-
tary of agriculture, "Tama' Jim Will
son. while conducting his department
to the satisfaction Of the country, is
also nearing the end Of his public ca
reer. Secretary Shaw is strong in Iowa
but is not a national character. 1t is
hard to predict Mr.. COrtelyOu's future
for he is a young man, but the prob
abilities are that at the end Of his cab
met career he will be found occupying
some advantageous commercial posi-
ton. Even Mr. Moody, who is men
senator. is not a very strong man pO-
itically in his own state and of course
has no national strength. The leveling
influence of a cabinet position is ap-
parently recognized by ambitious men
for so long as they can keep before the
public in some other important ca
pacity, they fight shy Of cabinet honOrs.
Found in Coal Bin.
The autographs of Horace Greeley.
Roscoe Conkling. Perry Moses and