168 OUR FEDERAL LANDS 



fore wasteful. "Characteristically American," an 

 English writer has called it, which is true because 

 unstudied precipitancy, with all attendant evils, has 

 been characteristic of all phases of American devel- 

 opment in turn. But if it is characteristic of us to 

 begin a long race at finish speed, as some one else 

 has said, it seems also characteristic somehow to 

 finish strongly with time and breath to spare. We 

 see national reclamation well along in its swift er- 

 ratic course, recovering from many stumblings, 

 gaining second wind, steadying, and settling into 

 winning pace. 



All but four of the contemplated projects, 

 namely Grand Valley in Colorado, Orland in Cali- 

 fornia, King Hill in Idaho, and Riverton in Wyo- 

 ming, were initiated during the administration of 

 the Secretary of the Interior who started the Sys- 

 tem, E. A. Hitchcock. The Orland project followed 

 under his successor, Secretary James A. Garfield, 

 1907-1909. None began under Secretary Richard 

 A. Ballenger, 1909-1911, but Secretary Walter L. 

 Fisher, 1911-1913, started the Grand Valley project, 

 and Secretary Franklin K. Lane, 1913-1920, the 

 King Hill and Riverton projects. 



Expansion paused during the secretaryships of 

 John Barton Payne, 1920-1921, and Albert B. Fall, 

 1921-1923, and reorganization began with Secre- 

 tary Work, who followed Fall. 



The men who designed and carried out the work 

 were equally strong in their professions. 



