The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-07-20
The Right Foot

er head OF the reclamation depar
ment, continues to call comment froI
the press. In the east Mr.. Davis hel
the confidence not only of congress
but of representative Americans e'
crywhere. His dismissal, it is prob
ably rightly feared. will react to tn
material disadvantage of reclamation
in the west.
And yet Mr.. Davis was an engineeI
Probably the foundation of all tn
critisicm OF his work resulted fror
that one fact. He lacked the sympa
thetic viewpoint. the human angle o
things. He could see only figures
costs of projects. returns per acre. per
centage of delinqucncies.
Coincident with the dismissal of Mr.
Davis and the appointment of d. w
Davis this letter went to all projec
managers from Hubert Work, secre
tary OF the interior:
You are this departments repre-.
sentative, on the ground, connecting
the department in Washington with
those for whom reclamation was de-
vised.
when in your office, or on duty,
make yourself available for consulta-
ton with the settler, soon to be part
owner. with the least possible delay.
Bring about the closest possible re-
lation between your office and the wa
ter users, working together with them
in their interests first. SO that the gov
eminent may be protected finally, and
for the mutual interests of all
I'm case of serious complaint. you
should study the case carefully be-
for arriving at decision. Put your
self in the compartments place; avoid
an arbitrary attitude on any question
brought up by the water users. No
complaint is unimportant, It is only
relatively so. You should hear each1
case. give it careful consideration. and
decide it upon its merits. No better
can be paid you, as pro-
ject manager. than to have it said |
that you are fair and arc willing to
hear a matter before rendering your
decision. There are times. of course.
when questions of local policy may be
discussed with the directors of dis
riots or associations with profit to
10th, thus greatly enhancing the rela-
ions between water users organiza-
ions and project employees.
Call conferences; sympathetic dis
ussions will help you as much as any
me. The success OF these projects
depends on the success of the settler
wing thereon. You should have a
understanding of the diff
culties Of the farmer You will not.
owever, be swayed from direct ad- 4,
erencc to the law and regulations ,
clative to the project, but these
hould be carried out with diplomatic ,
termination, even though you face ,
,mporary unpopularity
II hope our managers, who have
cen construction engineers, may try
} distinguish between the construct
e and the producing features of the
nterprise We want every project to
iccecd and become the property Of
lose who must live under it; and at II
ie earliest possible date. No irriga- 1
on project can have the maximum d
recess until il is operated by its resi- y
rnt owners, the farmers. In the d
eantime, the relation between those d
wing on the project and the govern a
ent will depend largely upon the de- c
'rtment's contact managers. h
"A government employees time is B
} more valuable than a farmers in Il
INNER time. The word private" on il
c office door OF government en- &C
oyee is an offense. The develop a
80 ~ al hiak~aoA PiolSSt ptkinS ~
d continues with the government to Of
mpletion. Its operation should be- ii
with the settler and tend toward
government The open-door pol n:
: will in the end succeed and will liz
LIP immeasurably to build up the K,
elamation Service from the farmer m
ward the department rather than ii,
I'M the department 10 the farmer. M
Please feel free to write to the de- bl
rtment for information. There de
Isl be mutual understanding before Ike
re can be cooperation. so very nee ad
airy to the success Of reclamation ua
'jee,s."
'ueh an attitude, such a policy. The
bune sincerely believes 10 promise err
J for future harmony between pro- Ike
% and the reclamation department. ",