Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-15
HIGH OFFICIALS OF
SERVICE
Chief photographer Newell and Consulting En-
gineer Savage Discuss Las Vegas Reservoir
Project

Chief Engineer F. H. Newell, who
passed through Las Vegas Of No. 2
today was met by a number of the d.
rectors of the Commercial club and
The Optic representative. With Mr..
Newell was Consulting Engineer Saw
age, who was en- route to Denver and
points In the northwest with his chief.
The gentlemen having previously
dined were escorted to a cool and
shady spot on the Castaneda porch
and the stwenty-fve minutes We're
spent In a discussion Of the project
which is Of the utmost Importance to
Las Vegas. Few new facts We're
developed in the course of the yigor-
GUS questioning and answering which
occupied the half hour which thfSsw
any new light upon the project here.
Mr.. Newell expressed his regret that
his plans we're such that he could not
stop at Las Vegas but he was already
behind his schedule. He said, more
over, that nothing could be gained by
stopping at this time as the work here
was now iii the hands of the efld
corps and upon the receipt OF their re.
port it would be taken up by the
board of engineers and il would then
be necessary for a committee Of them
which might include himself TO come
to Las Vegas and go over the entire
ground personally. Mr.. Newell said
joyially that one of his first objects
In life just now was to keep out OF
trouble. IT was suggested that the
only way to do that was to stay in
the east but the gentleman said 1t
was SO hot there that that was impos,
sible. He was compelled to seek the
west in self defense and take his
chances.
Mr.. Newell said to those around
him that the government vas collect
ing a great mass of data in regard to
a large number of different projects
and after that had been collected the
point was 70 select the problems
which offered the most simple and
certain solution as 1t was especially
important that the initial undertaking
be carried through successfully. He
said that one of the most important
considerations was that the lana
which it was proposed to reclaim be
so disposed that it could be taken up
by settlers in small tracts convenient
IL and safely. He was then asked
whether. so far as our local project
was concerned, IL lay with the grant
commissioners to take the initiative
in the matter of arranging the title
and placing It in proper form in the
hands Of the government or whether
they should wait advice and direction
from the government as TO how to pro.
coed. He replied that Just now until
tho report of the engineers on the
ground was completed and in the
hands Of the board for their direction,
there was probably nothing which the
grant commissioners or the people OF
this community could do to further the
project; that at any point in the pro.
ceedings the officials of the govern.
ment would probably not attempt 10
dictate to the people Of the communi
lty what tt.y shot j 10 IA = MA 81
but that when the report Of the Held
corps was received and the mater
was taken up by Ne hard Of nsiN
GERS they would come TO Las Vegas
and would discuss the situation with
those who have power to act, which.
in this case would be the grant com.
m~issioners, and In q purely informal
way the best means Of procedure
would be agreed upon and could then
be followed MP by the grant commits.
sioners.
At the present stage he believed
there was nothing for u people 70
do but await the report of the field
corps. The Optic man at this point
asked II he would break the news
easy In a the proposition should
be turned down and Mr.. Newell re.
Piled that he always left that part OF
the business % Mr.. Savage. The
inference was sufficiently plain. Mr..
Savage was asked whether the mat
ter of the cost per acre would have
particular weight In determining thu
course of the government in the pro-
iect. He replied that it would not up
to any reasonable figure: that pro
jects had already been reported upon
fayorabIy which ran from SIS to s35
per acre and that various considera
tions such as the nature Of the soil
and the length Of the season entered
In To every proposition. Mr.. Savage