The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-10-04
Governments Project for Arid
Lands Calls for Exercise of
Tact and Skill.
FORCE OF EXPERTS REQUIRED.
Men Of Wide Experience and Tn
questioned Integrity Are Be
ing SOught-Systematic
Study Has Begun.
EErraiJc SPECIAL.

EETE BIC SPECIAL
Washington. Oct. 3.-air. Z T.. Newell.
Chief OF the Division OF photography Geo
logical Survey. the official who IS initiating
the great irrigation work OF the Govern
mc1t in the West. makes a statement OF
the scope and effect Of that work. He
SAYS:
The United States reclamation service.
under he Law of June Il. 1902. has been
organized for the purpose OF making sur
/, veys and examinations and constructing
irrigation works for the reclamation OF
the arid lands OF the West. The funds
for this purpose are derived from the dis
posal OF public lands in thirteen States
and three Territories. and the work IS
confined to these. There is now avail
able u~ward OF 100000. and this amount
il being increased from day 10 day.
In order TO carry out the purpose Of
tho law. an engineering corps has been
organized under the cIvil-service rules,
Zach man being selected through competi-
tive examination. These examinations
have been hssed largely on experience in
actual planning and construction OF irriga-
ton works. About 30 experienced men
have thus been obtained, together with
some younger men, with good technical
education.
From time 10 time other men are being
added 10 the force, especially from the
graduates OF professional schools. The at
tempt is being made TO obtain a force OF
the most competent men Of high principle
and undoubted integrity. as It is believed
that the great hydraulic works can be
planned aud built only by men OF the
highest type.
SYSTEMATIC WORK.
In each Of the States and Territories
s general study Is being made Of oppor-
tunities FOR reclamation. and two or three
projects especially noteworthy are Sc
lccted for careful survey. From a com
parisOn Of results one of these is chosen
by the district engineer. When he IS
ready to report upon the work. with
recommendations, the facts and figures are
submitted 10 a Board of Engineers. who
pass upon these. Sometimes additional in
formation is sought or the conclusions
arc modified.
are transmitted TO the Secretary OF the
Interior. with definite recommendations
for immediate action and with full facts
As 10 the Gust and benefits. Final action
IS thus taken only after the most critical
examination Of existing conditions and
comparison OF these with other projects.
In some Of the States a general recon
nOiSSanCe is still being carried on: in
others plans and estimates a been com
plstcd, and in one case. in Nevada actual
construction has begun. Il is hoped that
contracts will soon be let for the work in
several other States.
NhANA AAE AEAAlS VI Ut Jaw the MOTHS
when huilt. are 10 be paid FOR in ten an
nual instruments, and ultimately to be
owned and operated by the people using
The water ThC problems before the re-
claU2tiOn service are thus not merely en-
EineCrtng in character, but are also large
~ legal and pertaining to the ~organiZa-
ZION Of the lrriEatcrS into associations.
such that the management can be placed
Ia their hands. This is perhaps the most
dIt1cult part OF the work, namely, 10
bru1G together the discOTdant elements OF
a community torn by conflicts over water.
ana weld these into a compact ~orCaniza-
lion Su~thciently strong 10 maintain the
tribute the water Cquitably.
STORAGE OF FLOOD WATERS.
Reclamation will come about most
l@rGcly through the storage Of flood Va
teI~. which now run 10 waste in the
spring. Wherever suitable basins can be
Iound. these viii lie utilized by closing the
outlets ana catching the waters, which
'Un:rwi>c would flow down the steep
Si". e, devastating The loWlands.
Many u these stored waters can be
br,uGn, cut by gravity canals to cover
La, I-Ius .Ful2Cent 10 the rivers.
Much q the better land, however, lies
a. afutuuLs TOO high to be thus reached,
ara tnc-c lands, il irrigated at all. must
te srppL,a by some form OF pumping de-
wee ~ nom artesian sources. As the wa
ter flows down the steep river channels il
can occasionally be diverted and power
developed, the water being USED later for /
irrIga ION. This pOwer carried out by
electrical transmission, can be used TO
pump water to the lands somewhat above
the ordinary canals.
The easIiy available waters Of the arid
region nave already been appropriated
anu put 10 use by private enterprise, leav-
n.E Tor the Government only the large, 1
difficult % involved projects. Ii Is not
possible anywhere to find ideal conditions
and, although great results can be ac-
complished. these viii be achieved only
Stter great skill and tact have been
brought 10 bear.
RAILROADS WILL BENEFIT.
The main feature OF the law is to Sc
cure the development of the arid region
and the utilization of the great resources
which experience has shown cannot be
put 10 beneficial employment by private
enterprise which if properly utilized be-
comes the greatest source OF strength to
the Commonwealth through the creation
OF homes. II matters little whether the
lands thus utilized happen TO be, at the
time OF construction, in private or pub
lc ownership. The main thing is to Sc
cure ultimately the building OF homes and
the placing Of these in the hands of peo- |
Ite who become .~sell-supporting and who
uEn and will refund to the Government 1
the cost Of the reclamation.
This II an obpect I'm which not only the
Government, out all citizens and indus
iritS are interested. The transcoutfnentaI /
f.-tlfuadS recognize that they will he first
htncfciaUies and the continuous gamers
IA this home-buildinS movement, and
lhCN nave contrlouteu LaIseiy 10 the sue
cess of the movement. Some OF them have
land TO sell, IL is true, but the profit from
the sale OF the and Is as nothing COM
pared TO the traffic secured.
The railroads might sell the land 10
Cattlemcn. but, as a matter OF business, /
1t would be FAR better to donate It &c set
tiers. living on irrigated farms. The manu-
f%acurinS and jobbIng interests Of the East
also have contributed 10 this work, as
they believe that I'm the West is the great
est home market for manufactured prod
Ucts."
smATrIIoo 70 mA1Ir