EDITORIAL. 207 



water in irrigation, and incidentally with whatever influences may 

 atlect that use. The drainnae work has developed quite naturally out 

 of and with the irrigation work, and has at present assumed practi- 

 cally equal proportions. From an initial appropriation of $10,000 

 in 189S, the fund for these two lines of work has grown to $150,000 

 for the j3resent 3'ear. The work has proved very popular and has 

 been in great demand, frequently in connection with large questions 

 of interstate importance. 



Following the withdrawal of Doctor Mead, it has seemed best to 

 reorganize the work, recognizing more definitely the two different 

 phases of irrigation and of drainage. Mr. C. G. Elliott, who has been 

 the expert in the drainage work since it started, has been placed in 

 charge of that branch ; and Prof. Samuel Fortier, of the University 

 of California, for several years at the head of the irrigation work 

 which the Department has been doing in California, has been placed 

 in charge of the irrigation branch. Both lines will remain under 

 the supervision of this Office as before. 

 14G39— No. 3—07 2 



