The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1923-08-29
Greater Efficiency
Urged By Secretary Work
Sets Forth Plans For Reclamation Projects;
Explains Dismissal of Davis; More Busi-
and Less Use for Engineering is His Plea

4 LeT1OT.
1T creates no position known as
director or commissioner of the rec
lamation service, nor any other po-
sition, but places the whole respon-
sibility for selection of agencies for
the performance of his work on the
secretary of the interior.
In the beginning, necessarily, the
work was the construction of pro-
| jeets involving engineering skill, but
with their completion there grew up
another aspect, namely, the problem
/ of the water users and the collection
of the original cost as contemplated
by the law. 1t is thought that these
problems, which involve dealing with
the farmers Individually, could be
best handled by practical business
man, familiar with conditions pecul
lar to irrigation in the west.
1.-THE return of the enormous in
yestment made by the government
will neeessitate help and advice to
the farmers, on the projects, along
the line of subdivision of large land
6tttln6 oCltiCAS VII
the projects. securing creameries
sugar factories, and other industrial
enterprises; more intensive farming
diversification of crops, and coopera-
tion with the owners and tenants on
$4,000 farms as to packing, handl-
ing and marketing their products by
men who have been trained along
these lines.
This does not mean diminished
construction program, but rather an
increased and accelerated construc
tion, because with the money return
ed to the government under efficient
business management there will be
freed fund to continue construction
that otherwise will be retarded.
ITO handle the engineering work
the engineering force of the service
remains efficient with the same chief
engineer at its head who had been
engaged in the construction work for
many years. There is no thought of
minimizing the Importance of recla-
nation engineering. 1t was my pur-
pose to retain Director A. P. Davis in
the reclamation service as consulting
engineer, he at first consenting. but
subsequently declining the appoint
ment.
1.-THE secretary of the interior, who
alone is charged with the execution
of the reclamation act, desires the
greatest possible efficiency not
alone efficiency in one phase of the
work, but efficiency in every phase
and aspect of reclamation. He be-
lieves that the change to which you
refer is made necessary by existing
conditions, for unless improvement
can be brought about. many projects
will be abandoned entirely by set
| tiers, some have already gone, and
| the government not only will lose
millions of dollars invested, but the
settlers themselves will lose time,
labor and money already placed by
them on their farms.
although 1t is primarily essential
to construct dams and bitches, these
are not alone enough TO secure sue
essful farming to settlers, for whom
reclamation was instituted.
"All of our reclamation projects
are not prosperous. 1t is not ques-
tion now of engineering so much as
it is one of business acumen and op-
Grafton. The men on the projects
must reimburse the government for
it's millions of dollars advanced for
the reclamation of land through irri-
cation and our reorganization with
| this in mind seemed necessary.
Because of the publicity, | am
advised this matter has obtained,
am taking the liberty of giving my
letter to you to the press, that ii
may answer other similar inquiries. -