The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-08-28
WORK EXPLAINS
WHY DAVIS WAS
ASKED To QUIT
Problems of Reclama-
ton Department De-
manded New View
point and New Blood.

Washngton.-Secretary of the In
terror Work has addressed the follow.
ing communication to James II. Dun.
lap. secretary of the American Society
OF Civil Engineers. New York City. in
reply to request for information re.
garding recent changes in the person
mel of the Bureau of Reclamation:
"Your courteous inquiry OF June II.
reply to which has been delayed be-
cause OF my absence from the states,
requires more than categorical ans
wer.
The reclamation law, providing for
the construction and operation of ir-
rigation projects. mentions no official.
but places the entire burden and re-
sposibility of administering the law
and of carrying out its purposes upon
the Secretary of the Interior.
at creates no position known as
director or commissioner of the recla-
nation service. nor any other position,
but places the whole responsibility for
selection Of agencies for the perform
ance OF his work on the secretary OF
the interior
in the beginning. necessarily, the
work was the construction of projects
involving engineering skill, but with
their completion there grew up another
roxv,atxr tHA DrAkfasr, If fh.. Il
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 farm
ers individually. could be best handled
by a practical business man, familiar
with conditions peculiar to irrigation
in the west.
The return OF the enormous invest
ment made by the government will ne
cessitate help and advice of the farm
ers. on the projects, along the line of
subdivision of large land holdings.
getting more settlers on the projects,
securing creameries. sugar factories.
and other industrial enterprises; more
farming, diversihcation of
crops. and cooperation with the own
ers and tenants on $1,000 farms as to
packing. handling, and marketing the
products by men who have been well
trained along these lines.
This does not mean a diminished t.
program, but rather an ,
increased and accelerated construc-
lion, because with the money returned
o the government under efficient bust
less management there will be freed
fund to continue construction that
otherwise will be retarded.
ITO handle the engineering work the
force of the Service re-
mains efficient with the same chief en-
,ineer at its head who has been en-
aged in construction work for many
ears. There is no thought of minim-
ting the importance Of reclamation
ngineering. 1t was my purpose to re-
ain Director A. p. Davis in the recla-
nation service as consulting engineer,
c at first consenting. but subsequent
: declining the appointment.
The secretary OF the interior, who
lone is charged with the execution
the reclamation act, desires the
reatest possible efficiency-not alone
hciency i'll one phase of the work,
ut efficiency in every phase and as
rct of reclamation. He believes that
'e change to which you refer is made
.cessary by existing conditions. for
Hess improvement can be brought
TOUT, many projects will be aban-
,ned entirely by settlers. some have
ready gone. and the government will
Il only lose millions of dollars in
sted. but the settlers themselves will
sc time. labor. and money already
aced by them on their farms.
Although it is primarily essential
construct dams and bitches, these
. not alone enough to secure success
farming to settlers, for whom rec
nation was instituted.
All of our reclamation projects are
/ prosperous. 1t is not a question