396 



THE IRRIGATION A. G E . 



DR. ELWOOD MEAD, C. E., 



Given a Magnificent Reception by the Empire Club. 



Dr. Elwood Mead, C. E., chairman of the Water Sup- 

 ply Commission of Victoria, Australia, was given a warm 

 reception at the British banquet given in honor of Sir 

 George Reid, High Commissioner at London, for the Aus- 

 tralian government. Dr. Mead spoke as follows: 



America and Australia need to be better acquainted. 

 The part they are to play in the future in shaping the com- 

 merce and civilization of the Pacific makes it to their in- 

 terests and to the interests of the world that these two 



Fig. 13. Riverside Reservoir Dam. 



j Note that the water is not the reservoir but is the seepage tl: 



the dam accumulating in the borrow pits below it. The view 

 the down-stream slope of the dam. 



self-governing countries should be bound together by 

 .closer ties, and that to the union of language there should 

 come more intimate business and social relations. 



It is a fortunate event for both countries, therefore, 

 that one of the ablest statesmen of the commonwealth has 

 :been able to visit this country and interpret Australia as 

 few other men could. 



It is a great pleasure to me to be here. Ever since 

 going to Australia, five years ago, I have realized how 

 much these two countries could learn from each otne., 

 and how much the experience of the one will be helpful to 

 the other in solving the different social and industrial 

 questions created by the growth of 

 wealth and concentration of indus- 

 tries. 



The value of these two countries 

 to each other arises from the fact 

 that in their industrial ideals and 

 political policies they have pursued 

 a widely contrasting course. 

 Australia's Ideal. 



In America the industrial ideal 

 has been individual liberty and effi- 

 ciency. In Australia the ideal is col- 

 lective efficiency. In America the 

 government has kept clear of all in- 

 dustrial enterprise or anything which savored of 'state so- 

 cialism. It does nothing which private enterprise can 

 be induced to carry on. 



In Australia, on the contrary, the state was forced 

 in the beginning to undertake those public utilities -which 

 the development of the country required, because the peo- 

 ple of the country had not the capital to build' railways 

 or water works and too remote from sources of capital 

 for private enterprise to borrow money, only ; the state 

 could do this. 



The success which has attended the state's ipcursions 

 into industrial undertakings has led to their constant ex- 



tension until now we find not only a striking contrast 

 in conditions but an equally striking difference in the 

 opinions of these two countries as to what is the proper 

 limits of state action. 



State-Owned Utilities. 



For example: In America we find that the railways 

 are privately owned. In Australia they are state owned. 

 In America private companies send our telegrams. In 

 Australia the state performs this service. 



In America parcels are carried by private express 

 companies. In Australia this is done by a state parcels 

 post. In America public utilities like water-works, the 

 lighting service of cities, and street railways, are, as a 

 rule, privately owned. In Australia they are almost all 

 publicly owned. In America mines, forests and water- 

 powers are given away with a generous, if not prodigal 

 hand. In Australia they are conserved, and waters and 

 water-powers are everywhere retained in perpetual 

 public ownership. 



This list might be indefinitely extended, and if 

 made complete today would not be so tomorrow 

 because the sphere of state activity in Austrilia 

 is constantly extending. 



Nor is state ownership and the manage- 

 ment of public utilities the most significant 

 or important encroachment on what, in 

 America, is considered the domain of private 

 enterprise. The Australian states do not 

 hesitate to undertake any industry or carry 

 out any work which the development of the 

 country requires. I should say in this that 

 my experience and information is drawn 

 wholly from the State of Victoria but it is 

 generally true of the other states. The fol- 

 lowing illustration of the Victorian action 

 will show in a general way the policy of all 

 the states. 



Forcing Fair Prices. 



When a combination of exporters made 

 excessive charges for the shipment of fresh 

 meats to Europe the state of Victoria established 

 a state cold storage warehouse; the same state 

 i< now building a much larger plant. The privately owned 

 works still do business but they do it on reasonable 

 terms. 



When the State of Victoria found that it was com- 

 pelled to pay more for coal to operate its railways than it 

 could mine it for, it opened its own coal mines and now 

 supplies its own fuel. In this, the state pursues the same 

 policy adopted by American trusts, but it does it for the 

 public good rather than for private gain. In other words, 

 the government of Victoria regards itself authorized to do 

 anything that will develop the State's resources or im- 

 prove the conditions of the people. 



rough 

 shows 



Fig. 14. Illustrating Reduction of Upper Prism. 



I think you will all agree that both countries are in- 

 terested in watching the results of these two contrasting 

 policies, because the ultimate prosperity of the two coun- 

 tries will depend on which is the better. 



When I went to Australia I was strongly prejudiced 

 in favor of the American policy because I understood it 

 and knew that the country had prospered under it. It 

 .seemed that state activities eventually would tend to 

 weaken the energy, self-reliance and initiative of the people 

 and render them less efficient. After five years I have 

 ceased to hold that view. The Australian is not more 

 efficient than the American but be is equally so. 



