amplified in the accompanying manuscript. It is believed to be desirable to preserve this material and to send it out to the various engineers and assistants who were not present at the meeting, in order to give them information concerning some of the subjects discussed. The public also is interested to a certain extent in many of these details, and it is considered permissible to present, in this somewhat informal discussion, matters that might not be pertinent to the annual report. I therefore respectfully recommend that this matter, together with such incidental information as may be convenient for reference in this connection, be printed as one of the water-supply and irrigation papers. Very respectfully, Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Director United States Geological Survey. F. H. NEWELL, PROCEEDINGS OF FIRST CONFERENCE OF ENGINEERS OF RECLAMATION SERVICE, AT OGDEN, UTAH, SEPTEMBER 15-18, 1903. Compiled by F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer. CALL FOR CONFERENCE. The following notice was sent out from the office of the chief engineer of the reclamation service: The various engineers and assistants of the reclamation service will assemble at Ogden, Utah, on September 14, to hold a conference on important details during the days from September 15 to 18, inclusive. It is expected that, as far as possible, the time will be devoted to official business and the discussion of plans and results, and adjournment will be taken to attend the meetings of the National Irrigation Congress. The following-named persons are expected to be present: Messrs. Ahern, Babb, Bien, Blanchard, Chandler, Darton, Davis, Fellows, Field, Fitch, Hinderlider, Lippincott, Matthes, McConnell, Newell, Noble, Peery, Quinton, Reed, Ross, Sanders, Savage, Storrs, Swendsen, Taylor, Walter, Whistler, and Wisner. On Friday morning it is expected that the engineers will participate in the meeting of the National Irrigation Congress. Very respectfully, F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer. ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCE. In accordance with the above notice, a conference was held at Ogden, Utah, at the time of the meeting of the Eleventh Irrigation Congress, September 15 to 18, 1903. The following persons were present: Ahern, Jeremiah, district engineer, northern Wyoming. Babb, Cyrus C., district engineer, Montana. Bien, Morris, engineer in charge of land and legal matters, Washington, D. C. Darton, N. H., geologist in charge of western section of hydrology. Fellows, A. L., district engineer for Colorado. Field, John E., district engineer for North Platte, Wyoming and Nebraska. Fitch, Chas. H., supervising engineer for South Dakota, etc. McConnell, I. W., engineer on Gunnison Tunnel. Newell, F. H., chief engineer, Washington, D. C. Peery, E. H., law clerk. Quinton, John H., consulting engineer, Los Angeles, Cal. Reed, W. M., district engineer for New Mexico. Ross, D. W., district engineer for Idaho. Swendsen, Geo. L., district engineer, Utah. Taylor, L. H., district engineer for Nevada. Walter, Raymond F., constructing engineer for Black Hills region. Wisner, Geo. Y., consulting engineer. Storrs, H. A., electrical expert. In addition to these there were present at several of the meetings Mr. Gifford Pinchot, chief of the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, and four of his assistants; Mr. B. A. Fowler, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, and many State officials, as well as other prominent persons, some of whom delivered addresses, which are noted or printed in the following pages. MINUTES OF THE MEETING. The following brief statement of the principal events of conference gives the names of the principal speakers and the topics discussed: The engineers of the reclamation service met at the Virginia Hotel on Tuesday, September 15, at 8 a. m., and began the formal discussion of the organization of the service and the methods and results of work already accomplished. The organization of committees and other details were considered. In the matter of the cost and the results of work of supervision and construction a committee was designated consisting of Messrs. George Y. Wisner, A. L. Fellows, and L. H. Taylor. The relation of the reclamation service to forest preservation was discussed and the importance of close cooperation with the Bureau of Forestry was considered. A committee on forest preservation and utilization was designated consisting of Messrs. Fitch, Gifford Pinchot (chief of the Bureau of Forestry), and Plummer. As regards the designation of men for specific work and the promotion of those who had shown merit and fitness, there was a general discussion of ways in which to determine the ability and value of each man. The opinion was expressed that it would be very difficult to ascertain the executive ability of any one man through the usual clerical examination, but that by a combination of examination and reports it would be possible to determine merit. Mr. N. H. Darton, geologist in charge of the western section of the division of hydrology, spoke of the work done on artesian wells and stated that maps had been prepared showing where, in a considerable portion of the West, there was a possibility of obtaining deep or flowing wells. At 9.30 a. m. the engineers adjourned to attend the meeting of the National Irrigation Congress. The afternoon session of the engineers was devoted to further discussion of organization and methods of work. Mr. Gifford Pinchot, chief forester of the Department of Agriculture, spoke of the necessity of cooperation between forestry and reclamation work. The method of making reports from the field was considered at some length, as well as the details of presenting the results of investi gation and determining the cost of construction. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Lippincott, Davis, and Fitch, was appointed to recommend committees on the various subjects of interest to the engineers. On Wednesday, September 16, the engineers of the reclamation service were addressed on the subject of colonization by General Booth Tucker, who brought out a number of points of interest. He claimed that the Salvation Army could furnish colonists, if needed, and could give assurance that these colonists would be competent farmers and desirable citizens. Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah, spoke to the engineers on the importance of the work and the beneficial results that would result from it in the near future. Hon. Frank W. Mondell, of Wyoming, extended his greetings to the engineers and expressed his intention of supporting their conclusions in every practicable manner. The committee on organization, consisting of Messrs. Lippincott, Davis, and Fitch, submitted a list of proposed committees to act as advisers in the technical work and operations of the service. Mr. Arthur P. Davis described at some length the proposed Salt River reservoir in Arizona. He was followed by Mr. A. L. Fellows, who stated the present condition of operations on the Gunnison tunnel in Colorado. A general discussion of these projects followed. The engineers then adjourned to attend the meeting of the Irrigation Congress. At the afternoon session Senator Burton, of Kansas, addressed the engineers on the importance of floods and the interrelation of storage for irrigation with the control of floods. Mr. J. B. Lippincott described the work in progress in California, particularly that on King and Colorado rivers. Mr. L. H. Taylor announced that construction work had begun on the Truckee project, and that surveys, showing the irrigable lands, were rapidly being pushed forward. Mr. D. W. Ross described three large projects under examination in Idaho, and called attention to the vast extent of irrigable land near Jackson Lake, and the possibility of obtaining an ample water supply for its utilization by storage in that lake. Mr. Cyrus C. Babb spoke of the work on Milk River, in Montana, and the opportunities of diverting water upon the adjacent lands. Mr. W. M. Reed described the Hondo reservoir, and also the progress of field work on the Urton Lake project. At the evening session on Wednesday, September 16, the Hon. Francis G. Newlands, Senator from Nevada, addressed the engineers on the recent Nevada irrigation law, passed largely at his instigation and by means of his active support. This law is unique, in that it compels the most intimate cooperation between the United States reclamation service and the State engineer. Governor Morrison, of Idaho, commented upon the work of the engineers and the importance of reclamation to the State of Idaho. A number of other public men spoke approvingly, and showed by their words and action the deep interest that is felt by Senators and Representatives and State officers in the progress of the work of the reclamation service. Mr. B. A. Fowler, president of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, described the organization of that body and entered into the various details and the necessary forms of such organization of water users. A general discussion was participated in by the engineers and public men present. At the morning session, Thursday, September 17, Hon. W. A. Reeder addressed the engineers on the importance of the work and the general interest felt in it. Mr. John T. Whistler described the surveys in progress in Oregon on Malheur, Umatilla and other rivers. The importance of enacting water laws for the State was discussed, and various features relating to water filings were considered. Mr. Morris Bien read a decision of the Secretary of the Interior in regard to water rights, which was generally discussed. The Kansas delegation, headed by Senator Burton and Congressman Reeder, called to pay their respects and inquired concerning the service in Kansas. The surveys in South Dakota were described by Mr. Charles H. Fitch and Raymond F. Walter, particular reference being made to the Belle Fourche projects. Mr. George L. Swendsen spoke of the surveys of Utah and Bear lakes now in progress. The chief difficulty in regard to Utah Lake is |