Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-24

should be discussed with the proper
knowledge of fa,tp and right attitude
of mind
Primarily, the government, in each
administration, has sought the very
best teLcnical talent obtainabie.
Arthur p. Davis, director, has had a
large place as consulting engineer in
the Panama canal construction. When
Russia asked Tor q competent man to
advise on two very extensive proposed
irrigation projects tire president sent
Mr.. Davis. When the Red Cross people
asked for men to advise as to flood
control In China, whereby so many
lives ere lost periodically, Mr.. Davis
was on Of three who spent several
months studying the country and it's
needs. as hydraulic engineer. Several
Idaho engineers were in his staff. The
great Arrowrocx reservoir was &C M
pleted at saving of s1,500,00o out of
the est. mated cost.
Charles HI. Paul. engineer in charge,
was called to the service of a city to
take charge of a system of flood con-
troll at salary double the amount paid
by the government, while building Ar
rowrocl: dam. F. E. Weymouth, project
engineer during most of the construc-
ton has been promoted to be chief of
construction of the reclamation serv-
ice. f. l.. VaVis, a Boise man, who
had charge of accounts, has been pro-
NOTED to be chief accountant Of the
reclamation service at Washington, ID.
G. Ray d. Clawson, native Idaho
boy, is now in the Denver office by
promotion.
MISTAKES BY SUBoRDINATES.
1T would seem that strong men
were in the United States reclamation
service on the Boise project. This is
no warrant, no ever, that there have
not been costly errors both in engineer
ing and construction on the Boise por-
ject. and just such mistakes as the
peoI,e could see and know. The set
tiers all should have promptly and in
sistently reported any negligence. as
many did, and thus saved many dollars
to the people. Thee mistakes have
been estimated by the committee to
have amounted to so cents an acre, or
about one twelfth of the saving in
constructing Arrowrock dam. These
errors and losses came largely through
incompetent and negligent subordi-
mates.
These men were on the smaller units
OF the work and there We're many of
them. Most of them were raw mate
rial, but on account of scarcity of COM
petent men had to be used when they
were unfit The government is i'm
posed upon by unfit men, the same as
farmers or others. This is not a fault
in the reclamation law, nor is II neces-
sarily the fault of those in charge of
the work. 1t is inherent in humanity.
This is a legitimate charge in the
profit and loss account in every enter
prise involving the human factor.
INTERESTED IN COST PER ACRE.
The most interesting phase Of the
reclamation work on every project is
the cost per acre. This phase draws
the most intense scan of every eye and
arouses a strong protest against any
questionable item. To what extent
should this protest be carried Is a
proper question to every friend Of this
great work of the government.
While the service of the government
as defined by the reclamation act is
benevolent it is not charity, as that
word usually implies. We are given
the free use of the fund for such time
as we can reasonably ask in which to
work it out of the land. This seems to
be the attitude of the government as
expressed in the act of congress. As
we are able to return the fund it is
used in the construction of other
works on the same terms.
THE value of the free use of this
fund can only be measured by the cost
of money to settlers who need it and
borrow it for use in improving and
stocking up their farms. Many are now
making loans on their personal credit
at 10 per cent interest. Should this
condition prevail during the 20-year
/ period, and NC certainly hope it will
not, the free use of this fund would
/ place the charges equivalent to s27.41
| per acre. The prevailing rates fol
/ farm loans on the project will exceed
is per cent interest. On this basis the
! free use Of the fund would reduce the
| cost TO S31.13 an acre. II seems proba-
| bic that the average price of credit or
| the project, both personal and land
credit, may be per cent. If so, this
| free use of the fund will make the cost
/ S35.06. Should we be fortunate
enough to hold our credit down to {
per cent we would still keep the
charges down TO s3S.47 per acre.
When asked the cost of the water
right the answer must involve the cur
rent rate of interest. Otherwise ne
proper credit will be given for the free
use of the fund as provided in the re-
clamation act. This is just as legiti-
mate credit as any other form of re-
bate. The change In the law from II
equal annual payments TO 20 graduated
yearly payments reduced the cost one
/ fourth.
Another phase of the matter has
not been considered. A considerable
portion of the project has already had
the use of a completed service for 81,
years without any payments. This
gives them an advantage of about 81
an acre. Should the service thus favol