Geographic Notes 



387 



The work authorized by the law is 

 that of surveying and examining oppor- 

 tunities for water storage and diversion 

 of large rivers, and also the location 

 and construction of the works when 

 found to be feasible. The cost of these 

 is to be returned to the reclamation f unti 

 and used again in construction. 



In 1888 the Director of the United 

 States Geological Survey was author- 

 ized to make examinations of this char- 

 acter, and extensive surveys were begun 

 at the time. The appropriation for these 

 was cut off at a later date, excepting as 

 regard the topographic surveys of the 

 catchment basins. In 1894, however, 

 appropriations were made for measur- 

 ing the streams and determining the 

 water supply, and the funds for this 

 purpose have been increased until now, 

 the year ending June 30, 1903, there 

 is available the sum of $200,000. 



The information obtained under the 

 authority of the law of 1888 and of 

 subsequent acts has been published in 

 the reports of the Geological Survey. 

 In obtaining the data a considerable 

 number of skilled engineers have been 

 employed and a separate division formed , 

 known as the Hydrographic Branch of 

 the Geological Survey. 



Upon the passage of the Reclamation 

 Law, the Secretary of the Interior, to 

 whom is entrusted the administration 

 of the reclamation fund, received from 

 the Director of the Geological Survey 

 a plan for putting the law into imme- 

 diate effect, and on July 8, these sug- 

 gestions being approved, active work 

 was begun. This is in effect a continu- 

 ation and enlargement of the work of 

 the Hydrographic Branch. Instead of 

 organizing a new bureau, the Secretary 

 authorized the gradual creation within 

 the Hydrographic Branch of a corps of 

 engineers to be known as the ' ' Recla- 

 mation Service," these men retaining 

 their connection with the Geological 

 Survey, but receiving additional assist- 

 ants and being assigned to a larger field 

 of work. 



The great advantage derived from 

 the creation of the Reclamation Service 

 within a well-established bureau is that 

 it is able to obtain the services of skilled 

 and experienced men, and does not pass 

 through the vicissitudes incident to the 

 formation of new rules and regulations 

 and the originating of precedents for 

 all of its operations. The Reclamation 

 Service as thus established is able to 

 proceed at once with the work contem- 

 plated by the law with the least amount 

 of time consumed in preparation, and 

 it is safe to say that at least a year has 

 been saved in this way. The new men 

 added are young engineers, graduates 

 of professional schools, selected after 

 competitive examination from the eli- 

 gible lists of the Civil Service Commis- 

 sion. 



The official in charge of the work as 

 designated by law is the Secretary of 

 the Interior, Hon. Ethan A. Hitchcock. 

 He has referred the surveys and exami- 

 nations and making of recommendations 

 for construction to the Director of the 

 Geological Survey, Hon. Charles D. 

 Walcott. The charge of the work is by 

 him entrusted to the Chief Engineer, 

 Mr F. H. Newell. The latter is also 

 Chief Hydrographer of the Geological 

 Survey, and is conducting stream meas- 

 urements in various parts of the United 

 States. The principal engineer next in 

 rank is Mr Arthur P. Davis, well known 

 for his work on the hydrography of 

 Nicaragua and Panama. 



Before the passage of the Reclamation 

 Law detailed surveys had been begun in 

 Montana on St. Mary's Lakes and out- 

 let, in Nevada on the Truckee and Car- 

 son Rivers, in Colorado on the diversion 

 of Gunnison River, and in Arizona on 

 the San Carlos and Salt River reservoirs. 

 After the passage of the law this work 

 was pushed forward more vigorously, 

 the field parties being increased. Ex- 

 aminations have been begun on Yellow- 

 stone River in Montana, on the Snake 

 River in Idaho, on the Bear River in 



