Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10
NEWELL IS DIRECTOR
Chief Engineer Now Heads the
Reclamation Service.
DIVORCED FROM THE SURVEY
Irrigation Work Has Become a Sepa-
rate Bureau.
BIG PROJECTS NOW UNDER WAY
Personal History Of the New Head Of
the Service-Made It His
Life Work.

The appointment was announced yester-
day Of F. H. Newell, for years the chief
engineer of the reclamation service, as
director of the service, which, by this
change, Is erected into a separate bureau
of the Interior Department The reclama-
ton service has heretofore been a branch
of the United States geological survey, but
it has grown to such an extent that 1t
has been necessary now to make it a sepa-
rate bureau. with a head Of its own.
Frederick H. Newell was born in Brad
ford, Pa, March 8, 1852. He graduated
from the engineering course of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology in 1885,
and later took a postgraduate course in
hydraulic work. The graduates of this
college, owing to its high standards and ex-
celent facilities, are found in the front
rank Of the technical profession.
Immediately after completing his course
Mr. Newell took up his professional work
in Colorado. Here he came into direct
contact with practical irrigation on a large
scale. His stay in Colorado left deep
and lasting impression, which was respon-
sibe in no small degree for his accepting
a minor position as hydraulic engineer in
the irrigation survey in 1888. During the
formation stage of this survey its rather
chaotic conditions afforded an excellent
field for the exercise and development of
young Newelfs capacity for organization.
bureau passed he never wavered in his
purpose Of doing we'll and thoroughly
everything assigned to him. The irrigation
survey proper was short lived, as Con-
gress failed to provide for 1t after 1880.
Authority, however, was granted to con-
tinue the measurment of streams and to
select survey and segregate reservoir sites.
All of this work was placed directly under
the charge of Mr.. Newell.
Obstacles Overcome.
His aim was national reclamation of the
Great American desert, and for eighteen
years he has devoted all of his skill and
energy to the work of acquiring informa-
ton concerning the resources and needs
of the arid west. 1t is said that he has
frst-hand knowledge of every important
stream in the west. The extensive and
valuable results obtained through this work
attracted wide attention. and the demand
for data led Congress to increase the ap-
preparations gradually until in 1902 they
amounted to 100000 annually
The early work was mainly in vast will
derness full of obstacles to civilized occupa-
ton, and the results were largely respon-
sible for the subjugation Of many desolate
valleys and the development of large areas
for agriculture. His work opened new
channels for industry, new employment for
many thousands and continues to afford OBJ
portunities for the home-seeker.
The reclamation act of June II, 1902, was
the logical development of the investiga-
lions Of the previous twelve years under
Mr.. Newell. Naturally it's administration
was placed in his hands as chief engineer
by the director of the geological survey
His appointment to the position OF director
Of the reclamation service, now an indie
pendent bureau of the Interior Depart
ment. is a recognition Of the invaluable
services he has rendered the government.
1t furnishes also an inspiration to those
who are devoting the best years of their
lives to government work.
(
Mr. Newelps fitness for great responsible
ties lies chiefly in his all-round perfect ball