Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-20

ances economically, and to deal with
all classes of people without offend
ing any. A man possessing all these
qualities can seldom be elected from q
board of directors. but must be chosen
from those who have had much ex-
perience in managing irrigation sys-
tens. He is often q man who has
grown up with the project and has
been advanced from lower to higher
positions
The operation department is in
charge of a superintendent or water
master. Under him are the assistant
water masters and the ditch riders.
This department is more important
than any because it comes into the
closest relations with the farmer, and
it delievrs the water, thus accomplish
ing the ultimate aim of the whole
system.
During the period of construction.
almost all the work is done by the
engineering department. When the
system begins TO operate. the work of
this department is greatly lessened.
but it must still be maintained. Often
new structures must be added, old
ones replaced. repairs made. hydro
graphic reports taken. and land sur
veyed. The chief engineer is at the
head Of of the engineering department
Under him are the assistant chief en-
gineer. operating engineer, construc-
ton engineer, instrument men, inspec-
tors, photographers, surveying en-
gineers, and foremen on construction
work.
Tho Clerical Organization
The third organization division is the
clerical department. On government
systems this in under the supervision
of the chief clerk, while on other
systems it is under the supervision of
the secretary. Other employees in their
department are the chief tookkeepcr
and assistants. stenographers and
typists. telephone operator and office
boy. The compIexity of the %organiza-
ton of this department depends upon
the size of the project and upon the
character of the company. On large
projects there are more records to be
kept. more employees to write pay
checks for, more money to look after,
and more correspondence with which
to deal.
On government projects the organi-
zation is more detailed because If the
careful accounts of expenditures re-
quired. On some Carey act projects
the departments are well developed.
while on others they are very simple
so that operation may be as cheap as
possible. On many of them plans have
been to turn the system over to the
settlers. but construction has been
slower than anticipated and the ten
dency is toward more complete operat-
ing organization and better maintel-
ance.
With this in mind we must consider
colonization. a term which means the
settling and development of new lands.
In this discussion it will be best to
treat it in regard to the irrigated
localities of the west, along the liEes
of private and Carey act enterprises.
There are two things which are Of
great Importance in colonization. One
is the man who is doing the YORK; the
other. the people with which he is
populating the new country.
Because a colonization organization
is built up rapidly with no degree of
permanency, it is difficult to secure
the best material for such an organi-
zation. There is no school to educate
colonization men except that of exper-
fence, and the tuition is high. Coloni-
zation is a service that calls for the
best there is in the best of men, for
there is a great and difficult duty on
with it. 1t is exceedingly hard,
because of the high commission award
ed to the colonizer to refrain from
encouraging a family to move, even
il would not be to their best
interests.
Only Best Farmers Wanted
This is q work In which the almighty
dollar plays n minor part, for the serv-
ice is priceless. There are two kinds
Of Observation-Disclosures and prac- /,
teal. The former exists only in the
eyes of the public, who think that the
colonizer receives a huge salary plus a
commission, while in reality he
has only a meal ticket. He gets his
reward in seeing the virgin territory
grow into a prosperous farming COM
with schools and churches,
where only yesterday the coyote held
sway.
The colonization man should not Be