The Delta independent., 1913-05-23
HON. JOHN c. BELL DWEllS
ON RECLAMATION SITUATION

1t would surprise you the amount
of false information that is lodged
in the Secretarys office. l saw re,
port from a high official stating that
the September meeting of farmers to
protest against shutting down the ca
nal without notice was the work OF
ambitions as candidate for office.
was informed by our senior senator
that they had reports that only myself
and three others opposed the govern
ment policy.
We found the Secretary apparent
ly most excellent man, wanted to
know the right and to do justice to
everybody. In the first hearing from
Arizona they raised every objection
that we raised; slowness of opera
ton, excessive expenses in the offices,
ignoring of farmers lone of the wit
nesses thanking the Secretary for in
viting the farmers to come berore
him, saying it was the first opportun-
ity they had ever had to give their
point OF view to any reclamation Of
ficer', alleged incompetency and ruin
Gus expenses of superintendence, and
wanted the projects turned over to
the farmers at the earliest possible
moment
The Secretary turned to the engi-
neers and asked why the first project
could not at this time be turned over.
The erg 'neers replied that it was not
finished. and that certain bitches and
laterals were yet required TO be built
The Secretary replied, If there was
anv d 'tch that was finished he saw no
reason why that could not be turned
over to the farmers, and If they
thought they We're able to complete
the uncompleted bitches he saw no
reason why the whole project could
not be turned over to them. He said.
/ II the farmers who had TO paw these
expenses wanted to assume the re-
sponsibility and receive the glory. if
there was any to be obtained in the
construction Of these works. he saw
no reason why they should not have
/ IL. and asked the engineers to give
him any reasons. If they had any. why
the farmer should not do his own
work and represent himself Someone
suggested that the law provided that
II shold be turned over to them when
majority of the payments were
made. The attorney of the rec'ama-
ton replied that there was nothing
in the Law that prevented the Secre-
iary OF the Interior turning over the
works at any time that he deemed ad-
visable. II was shown that We were
paying all the expenses of our office
in Montrose. our portion of the eNpen-
ses of the office in Denver and our
portion of the expenses of the office
in Washington CITY. and even por.
ton of $500 salary paid to an en-
gineer in Washington. who had been
appointed by a former secretary of
the Interior. and who. We were told
bv those who claimed to know. per-
forms no service whatever. and was
on the retired list drawing a very
large salary. as he is now very old
II developed that our office charges.
in Montrose. Denver and Washington
up to the present time was over 1880
600. Our project is at point where
private corporation would probably
consider one engineer adequate; but
We are paying many. from consulting
engineers in Washington to Montrose
and will continue to paw these until
we vigorously insist on being relieved
from paying at Washington. Denver.
or more than is absolutely necessary
at Montrose.
The most of the projects. in fact
nearly all. excluding Colorado. are in
one confederation; and this confedera-
tion told us that. when they came on
the stand. they should introduce reso-
lutions and insist that the whole ser
vice be reorganized. and the consult
ing engineer in Washington and the
district organizations. such as ours in
Denver. be entirely eliminated; and
that we get our own home offices re
duced to what careful private bull
der would use II he were paying the
expenses of the project: and their es
innate is that such wise reorganiza-
tion would reduce the cost at least
33 1-S per cent.
The Grand Valley is just beginning
its project. Ours is training their men
and they will make our office pay a
large charge for the Denver and Wash
ington office that We can't possibly