THE PROGRESS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 



137 



the Executive Departments, we do not know, but the 

 action taken is most intelligent and significant, and 

 not the least pleasing feature of it is the fact that it 

 gains its standing from the active support of two 



F. H. NEWELL, 

 Of the United States Geological'Survey. 



members of the Cabinet who have been regarded 

 heretofore as indifferent or unfriendly to Western 

 development. Hon. Hoke Smith, Secretary of the 

 Interior, has been more conspicuously identified with 

 the promotion of Southern emigration than with the 

 encouragement of Western progress during his term 

 of office. Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, has officially discouraged the work of recla- 

 mation and settlement, and taken .the ground that the 

 country is already over-producing the necessities of 

 life. We recall these circumstances not to be un- 

 gracious, but because a knowledge of them is essen- 

 tial to a full appreciation of the importance of their 

 present action. They have countenanced the creation 

 of a joint association, consisting of officials named by 

 them fiom their respective departments, organized 

 for the purpose of assisting in every legitimate way 

 the development of irrigation plans and policies. The 

 practical benefit that may result from this action of 

 Secretaries Smith and Morton is large; the moral 

 effect of it upon public opinion and congressional 

 action may prove enormous. These members of the 

 Cabinet, as well as the subordinate officials who have 

 encouraged, if not suggested, the step, and who will 

 take up the work as an] added burden without added 

 compensation, are entitled to the hearty thanks of 



Western people and of the army of sympathizers now 

 rapidly growing throughout the country. 



Personnel of "^ ne name f the new official body is 



the Board of " The Board of Irrigation, Executive 

 Irrigation 



Departments. It has organized with 



Prof. .Mark W. Harrington, of the Weather Bureau, as 

 chairman, and Prof. F. H. Newell, of the Geological 

 Survey, as secretary. A study of its personnel reveals 

 its possibilities of usefulness. Charles D. WalccHt, 

 director of the Geological Survey, has in charge the 

 investigation of the extent to which the arid land can 

 be redeemed by irrigation, as well as the topographic 

 survey of the country, the selection of reservoir sites, 

 and other surveying operations. Mark W. Harring- 

 ton, as chief of the Weather Bureau, has general over- 

 sight of the collection of information pertaining to 

 rain and snowfall, its distribution, and the aridity and 

 other climatic details. Daniel M. Browning, Com- 

 missioner of Indian affairs, is authorized by Congress 

 to introduce methods of agriculture by irrigation 

 among certain Indian tribes, to construct canals and 

 ditches, and to bore wells. Edward A. Bowers, as- 

 sistant commissioner of the General Land Office, has, 



CHAS. W. IRISH 



Member Board of Irrigation, Executive Departments. 



in connection with his official duties, the rendering of 

 decisions respecting rights of way for canals and 

 reservoirs on the public lands and the administration 

 of the laws relative to acquisition of titles under the 



