, 1906-03-17
Of SURVEYS BY
THE STATE ENGINEER

be informed as to what tracts will be
irrigated. We will work up all plans
and specifications here and these will
be submitted to parties who desire to
invest in irrigation works on the reser-
walton during the summer. Bids &C
~companied by certified checks for &c.
900 will be received by me and the par
ty which offers to construct all works
under contract with the state will re-
ceive the permits from this office. The
cost of the surveys will be deducted
from the certified check of $4,000. The
successful bidder will nave to put up
a guarantee that the works will be con.
%structed in a certain time and in ac-
cordance with the plans and speciica-
tons we make.
Guarantee by State.
Under this plan the people who set,
tie will secure water rights at the low
est price that can be obtained through
competitive bidding. The state will
guarantee that the irrigation works will
be of the best and yet the state will
not have to pay a cent towards the cost
Of surveying or making the necessary
plans and specifications. 1t means
much work for me in addition to that
which we already have, but l will be
glad to give all of my evenings, hoi-
days and Sundays to the work is neces-
sary.
All correspondence relating to these
surveys is now in the office, a matter
of public record and any one can read
the letters at any time. The plans and
specifications will be public property
and any person who wishes to submit
a bid in good faith can do SO. The bids
will be opened before all the witnesses
who desire to be present and public
the bidding.
No Unworthy Motives.
A public officer should not expect
credit for doing a little more than his
plain duty in any cause or at any time.
l do not anticipate any departure from
this rule in this cas- and have made
my plans in the open So that | can at
least protect the Office from charges
which might insinuate, at least, that
we ave had unworthy motives.
l regard this work we have taken up
as of utmost Importance to your local
ity. Unless these surveys are complet-
ed early in the summer, at least, con-
struction cannot begin until this pre-
liminary work has been conducted in
the fall and then the ground would be
frozen before a plow We're put in action.
By starting construction by September,
the people who settle will have appor-
~tunities for employment and a guaran-
tee of water supply for their lands at
the earliest possible date.
Attempt to Better Conditions.
1t seems to me that u efforts should
be rewarded by at least a passive sup
port in Fremont county, and l believe
that the people living near the reserva-
ton could have well afforded to have
borne the entire expense of surveys in
order to hasten settlement and protect
the newcomer who is to be your fellow
citizen. Wyoming cannot afford to
have thousands of people come here to
settle and return after severe trials
simply because we have delayed too
long in retaining the land from its
desert condition. Fremont county has
more interest in this matter than the
state at large and I trust that our work
may be regarded as an attempt, at
least, to make conditions easier for the
settler rather than a ~grand-stand play
or anything that would not be a credit
to Wyoming at home or abroad.
Sincerely yours,
CLARENCE T. JOHNSTON,
State Engineer.