The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-06-16
Senator Ankeny Interviews Depart
mcnt Official
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS ARE NEEDED
WAsHINGTON'S SENIOR SENATOR
SAYS CONTINUATION MEANS
MUcp OR THIS STATE.

Senator Ankeny, of Washington.
spent some little time with the direc-
tor of the geological survey today, go
ing over the plans of the bureau for its
work this season in this city, says a
dispatch from the national capital.
THE people of my state said the
senator, ARE gravely concerned over
the threatened reduction in the appro-
priation which congress usually makes
for the Investigations of the geological
survey.
1--WE are in a position to appreciate
highly the benefits of this work and
are extremely anxious for its cOntinu
alton. A large proportion of Washing
ton is undeveoped and it's resources are
but little known. The collection and
dissemination of facts relating to these
areas is a work of paramount import
ance, which grows with the tremend-
Gus increase in population in this coun-
try and the gradual narrowing of the
unoccupied domain. Settlers who are
flocking to the far west find themselves
confronted with entirely new conditions
and with unknown problems of agricul-
ture, and it should be the duty of
the government to provide all possible
information to them, in order that they
may establish themselves successfully
in their new homes.
Among the facts most desired are a
knowledge of the water supply. the oc-
currence of er-bearing gravels, the
quantity and quality of the waters, the
location of minerals. such as COAL ETC.
The states are not able financially, nor
do they possess the requisite equipment
of a trained corps of scientific experts
to conduct these Investigations. The
government in the past has built up a
high-cass organization for this pur-
pose. and for several years has main
tanned these Investigations in many of
which the states have co-operated as
far as they were able. 1t is my belief
that the cessation of this work at this
time would result in materially stay
ing the progress of development in all
the western states.
The tremendous growth of the cities
many and varied commercial and man.
ufacturing industries has created a
very large demand for power. The
dawnward rush of streams from the
Cascade mountains in my state must be
harnessed to move the wheels of in
dustry. 1t is essential that we should
have a full and careful investigation
Of the annual flow of these waters.
In the eastern part of the state, where
crops are dependent largely upon irri-
CATION. the same information is desir-
ed in order that the irrigation systems
may be connected. There is an in
creasing demand that the boundaries of
the forest reserves shall be properly
fixed. and this is a work which the
survey is admirably fitted to carry
on.
There is an increasing demand also
for a fuller knowledge of our mineral
resources, which we of Washington be-
lieVe to be of vast extent and great
richness. In all of its details the work
of this bureau is OF special value to
Washington. l am opposed to the pres
ent effort to restrict and curtail the
scope of the work.
The pendulum of population has
turned from cities to the farms, and
it is the duty of the government to en-
courage this movement as far as pos
sible. We are learning new things ev-
cry day ABOUT the great empire in the
west, which was so long regarded as
uninhabitable and worthless. All over
what was known as the Great Ameri-
can desert prosperous and contented
communities have arisen and railroads
are extending their branches in every
direction. bringing people in closer
communication with the markets of the
world. This is a home market and
this is an internal expansion which de-
serves to be encouraged