The independent., 1907-01-24

ernment on one of the largest and
most expensive irrigation works In
charge Of the reclamation service.
This project contempIates the con-
struction of a huge dam near Engie,
New Mexico to store water for the
irrigation OF 100000 acres, 10000 OF
which lies in that territory. The cost
Of the entire system is estimated at
81, 200 ,000 The main item Of cost is
the dam, which will require 100000
barrels Of cement, a large amount OF
machinery gates, etc, entailing
heavy outlay for freight
IT is estimated that the dam will
cost approximately $5.300.000. 1t will
be 225 feet high. 1S0 feet thick on
the bottom. and 20 feet on top. 1t will
be 1,150 feet long on top of crest The
reservoir thus created will have ca
pacity OF 1000, 900 acre-feet, or twice
that created by the Assuan dam In
Fgypt. and will be largest artificial
lake in the world.
Owing to the great demand made on
the reclamation fund in other local
tiles. the money for this entire project
is not yet available. Recognizing the
Importance of early action in this
section, however, the secretary OF the
interior. on December 2, 1905, allotted
the sum Of $1,000 for the immediate
construction of that portion Of the
project known AS the Leasburg diver
sion. 1t is this dam with canal TO
connect 1t with the old Las Cruces
system for which the contract has just
been let Work will be pushed rapidly
during the winter, and 1t Is hoped
that water can be supplied to $4,000
acres in Mesilla valley during the ir-
rigating season Of 1907.
A GentIeman's job.
1t was a perspicacious person who
first defined a United States senator
ship as gentlemans job. A senator
ship is fully that. Any person IA
miliar with Washington with the ways
of the government and the intricacies
and rewards thereof, will unhesitating-
ly say he would prefer to be a senator
than to occupy any other elective or
appointive post, provided, OF course,
he could serve long enough to impress
his ability on that tremendous body.
Nor does this decry the presidency.
No man lives in the United States who
would not be president If he could,
but few men can. There is but one
president at time and there are nine-
| ty senators. and, moreover, presl-
dent can serve but four or eight years,
while a senator can serve indefinitely
| if his abilities warrant and his con-
stitucnts agree. That is, he has a
chance to serve indefinitely, it all de-
pending on the local circumstances that
| govern officeholding in this country.
/ Observers Of the senate, familiar with
| It's history and it's work, agree that II
is the bulwark of the American repub-
| lie. 1t stands between the obligarchy
Of the United States supreme court on
one hand. and the personal and party
ambitions of the executive on the
other, and it has SO stood since 1t was
created 1t is the pepsin of the legis-
lative branch. there to digest the un
! digested legislation thrown at it by
the house, and it does it's work in its
own time. in it's own way and, usually
with the best results that can be OBJ
tanned subjects to human limitations.
When you dig into the senate anc
examine it's membership closely yol
find there is always reason, and a
powerful one, for the presence Of every
man there who is Of any consequence
Nobody maintains that the senate Is
not an unusual body with men sitting In
it who are not fit to sit there but ever
the unfit men are there for a reason
that was potent at the time they Were
elected. The American political sys-
tenn will not permit the selection OF
ninety of the best men from the view
point of the best citizenship as sena-
| tors, but even if it did it is extremely
doubtful il these ninety men would bt
OF as much service to the country as
the. present ninety.
No Degencracy.
The loud cries about degeneracy II
the senate are not borne out by thu
facts. The present senate compares
with any senate that ever assembled
at the nations capitol The glamol
that the time has thrown about th'
giant figures of the old senate is lack
ing. The perspective Is newer, ans
the fact that the United States nov
has eighty millions OF people insteas
OF twenty makes a difference. IL wa
easier 10 get among twenty millions
than II liz among eighty millions. Their,
was not SO much competition.
One of the bromide criticisms OF thu
senate IL that II is mlllonaire's club
| yyhnu fnQ critics have nothing else Z,