The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-10-05

da, actual construction has begun
1t is hoped that contracts will soon
be let for work in several other
states.
Under the terms Of the law the
works, when built, are to be paid for
in ten annual instaliments, and are
ultimately 20 be owned and operated
by the people using the water. The
problems before the reclamation ser
vice are thus not merely engineering
in character, but are largely legal and
pertaining to the organization of the
irrigatOrs into associations, such that
the management can be placed in
their hands. This is perhaps the
most difficult part of the work, name
~, to bring together the discordant
elements Of a community, torn by
conflicts over water and weld these
into compact organization sufficient
ly strong to maintain the works
built by the government and distrib-
uIS Vie NoCCl SduIIoblS.
F. Storage of Flood Waters.
Reclamation will come about
more largely through the storage of
flood waters which now run waste in
the spring. Wherever suitable ba-
sins can be found these will be utiliz-
ed by closing the outlets and catch
ing the waters which otherwise would
flow down the steep slopes, devasta-
ting the lowlands. Many of these
stored waters can be brought out by
gravity canals to cover the lands ad-
iacent to the rivers. Much of the
better land, however, lies at attitudes
too high to be thus reached, and these
lands, if irrigated at all, must be sup
piled by some form Of pumping de-
vice, or from artesian wells. AS the
water flows down the steep river
channels it can be occasionally be di-
verified and power developed, the
water being used later for irrigation.
This power carried out by electrical
transmission, can be used to pump
water to the lands somewhat above
the ordinary canals.
1T is one Of the engineering prob
lens Of the reclamation service to de-
velOp all Of the power possible, and
10 utilize this in irrigating the higher
lands by means of pumping. Another
problem is that Of discovering the
quantity and quality Of the under
ground waters, and devising means by
which these may be brought to the
surface, if not too saline, for agricul-
tural purposes. Thus the work of the
engineers is not merely hydraulic in
character. it involves mechanical and
electrical constructions, and a knowl-
edge of geological principles which
govern the occurrence Of water under
ground.
The easily available waters Of the
arid region have already been appro-
priated and put to use by private en-
terprise. leaving for the government
only the large, difficult, or involved
projects. 1t is not possible anywhere
TO find ideal conditions, and al
though great results can be accom-
plished these will be achieved only
after great skill and tact has been
brought to bear. Criticism has and
will be made because of the slow
progress in these great works, but
when it is remembered that nearly all
Of these undertakings involve the ap
plication, or trial of new methods and
devices, and the dealing with con-
siderable numbers Of persons, it will
be seen that the work requires aot
merely skill, but time.
Individual Lands Utilized.
In the execution of the works it
is necessary to utilize lands, rights OF
way, or privileges owned by individ
uals. Most of these can be acquired
by purchase; others must be con-
demned by process Of law 1t is not
desirable to begin condemnation pro-
ceedings until all possible efforts
have been exhausted to bring about
fair and business-like sale, as it is
essential to secure and maintain the