The state herald., 1903-03-06
state ennIneer,s ofnee.

In the new appropriation bill to pro-
vide salaries and funds for the off,
GERS and departments of the state gov
ernment the office of state engineer has
been given some large advances. These
were all made. the committee on appro-
prlatioEs states. on the recommended
tion of Professor Carpenter. who will
be the state engineer for the next two
years. Professor Carpenter was indif-
ferent to the appointment when 1t was
offered him. owing to the poor equip.
ment OF the office and the small
amounts allowed for salaries.
During the last two years a great
deal Of engineering work has been nee
essary TO secure testimony for the suit
OF Kansas against Colorado for the wa
ters of the Arkansas river. Under the
appropriation of two years ago. there
was no money to carry on this work.
and II had to be either neglected or
done by outside parties. MIR. Carpen-
ter himself was called upon and fur
nished good share of the engineering
facts that have been already introduced
as testimony.
When Mr. Carpenter looked over the
present facilities for doing the work
required of the state engineer he found
the appropriations OF the last years to-
tally Inadequate How the other eng!-
neers had managed to worry through
he did not eSlctly understand. They
had done their best. he found. but were
work in any sort OF form to be OF use
unable to preserve the records of their
TO following engineers. The reasons
Mr.. Carpenter urged for the increased
appropriations were continued In a
statement furnished the committee. lie
asked that the appropriation for tray-
cling expenses be Increased TO 81 900 a
year, as $500 was found to be INSULT
Client even before the Kansas suit was
begun. The engineer asked for S. 900
to enable the Office to carry out the
present requirements OF the law In re-
spect to stream guneing. rating OF
bitches. examination OF dams and res
eryoirs and other work connected with
the Irrigation system OF the state. Two
years ago one assistant was thkon from
the Office. crlppling It's work. and he re-
qucsted that he be restored
The item Of sionogrnphcr and clerk
was added To the list because there II
more work than one can do In keeping
up the records and preserving them
for subsequent use For the past two
years the Office has been without u
drauEh,Sman. seriously rctardlng that
work. There Is more work now ON
hand than one draughtsman can pos
sibly complete In two years, The sup.
ply Of instruments IN 20 deficient that
NIL the money that ean be detected for
TINT purpose can b. used.
These recommendation Of the In
coming engineer were supported by the
statements Of N. last engineer. The
committee on appropriations granted
almost NIL that Mr. Carpenter asked
The members told him that the state
would depend on his ofilcc to do much
OF the work In proving that Kansas
had no claim 10 the waters OF the Ar
kansas. aud would. therefore. b. one
of the most important branches Of the
state government No, only the Kan
naA suit, but the states system Of irrl-
eating canals. diieher and reservoirs.
depended upon him. There ARE dog
on laws detailing ihn duties of the
state engineer. and each Of them gives
almost work enough for separate
man durinE the entire year. The pol
Icy of the present administration he's
been stated to be to make the depart.
menia ~ government effective or drop
them altogether.