The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1907-05-08

quick growing varieties like ash ant
cottonwood viii be chiefly used.
Secretary Garfield OF the Tnterio,
Department is taking hold in earnest
4 With reference to the government ir-
/ rigation work, Mr.. Garfield has issuet
some wise Instructions requiring tht
prosecution of the work on existing ir-
rigation projects. While the work Of
| the reclamation service has been thus
far most energetic and successful. tlie
secretary recognizes the advisabilit,
Of pushing actual construction worl,
as rapidly as possible which will result
in the practical demonstration to the
nation Of the business like features OF
the irrigation act.
The fact that the people who enter
the reclaimed lands viii gladly repay
70 the government the cost of construc-
tion, will overcome the objections Of
some of the pessimlsts that eventually
congress would be forced into pol
Icy Of turning over the reclaimed lands
to the settlers free of cost.
Good Men at the Helm.
The elevation of Chief Engineer n.
Fl. Newan to the position OF director
of the reclamation service has been
generally recognized and approved. as
a just Reorganization of that officiaps
untiring energy and enthusiasm in
prosecuting to a successful issue the
work of his service, since the passage
of the reclamation act in 1902.
No less a matter of congratulation
for the public is the promotion Of for
mer Assistant Engineer Davis to sthe
position of chief engineer Of the rec
lamatfon service. Much Of the success
of not only Mr.. Newall but the entire.
service has been due to the tren1en-
dous efforts Of Mr.. Davis, who has
from the beginning Of this work fore-
seen the actual creation of a great i'm
terror empire now devoted principally
to sage brush. cactus, the coyote and
the horned toad a&
Arthur p. Davis is recognized as
man who has never figured in q failE,I
ure. What he has set his hand toll
do has always been accomplished. AT
the age of 20, he entered the United
States Geological Survey as a member
or the topographic branch, and since
then has been closely identified with
the topographic, photographic and en-
work of the government.
His early work was in the west where
he spent several years in surveying
sites in the high mountains
and in measuring the streams of thel
great American desert. His name is
to many of the original maps
of Arizona, New Mexico and Califor- |
MIA. The reports of his investigations
are valuable contributions to our know |
edge of the arid country and its pos /
sibiltties, and have been of specialI
lalue in the preliminary work of the |
reclamation service.
In 1SsS-1sOO Mr. Davis had charge /
II the photographic work of the Mic /
and Panama canal routes, and
his reports furnished much needed and /
Important information concerning both |
1lans. lie joined the. reclamation SER
ice Immediately after the passage OIL
he reclamation act, and since that |,
tnae has been closely identified with
II Of ths engineering work conneGtedI
herewith. !
The bureau of which he has become Il
hief engineer is now expendfng more
han. 100000 per month in the con
truction of twenty six large irriga
ion projects, which win reclaim 81
10000 acres of land. The work gives
Employment of more than. 10000 peo-
lie. and has already reclaimed neArlyI
10000 acres of desert.