第61章

WhenGovernorofNewYork，asIhavealreadydescribed，IhadbeeninconsultationwithGiffordPinchotandF。H。Newell，andhadshapedmyrecommendationsaboutforestrylargelyinaccordancewiththeirsuggestions。Likeothermenwhohadthoughtaboutthenationalfutureatall，Ihadbeengrowingmoreandmoreconcernedoverthedestructionoftheforests。

WhileIhadlivedintheWestIhadcometorealizethevitalneedofirrigationtothecountry，andIhadbeenbothamusedandirritatedbytheattitudeofEasternmenwhoobtainedfromCongressgrantsofNationalmoneytodevelopharborsandyetfoughttheuseoftheNation’spowertodeveloptheirrigationworkoftheWest。MajorJohnWesleyPowell，theexploreroftheGrandCanyon，andDirectoroftheGeologicalSurvey，wasthefirstmanwhofoughtforirrigation，andhelivedtoseetheReclamationActpassedandconstructionactuallybegun。Mr。F。H。Newell，thepresentDirectoroftheReclamationService，beganhisworkasanassistanthydraulicengineerunderMajorPowell；and，unlikePowell，heappreciatedtheneedofsavingtheforestsandthesoilaswellastheneedofirrigation。BetweenPowellandNewellcame，asDirectoroftheGeologicalSurvey，CharlesD。

Walcott，who，aftertheReclamationActwaspassed，byhisforce，pertinacity，andtact，succeededinputtingtheactintoeffectinthebestpossiblemanner。SenatorFrancisG。Newlands，ofNevada，foughthardforthecauseofreclamationinCongress。HeattemptedtogethisStatetoact，andwhenthatprovedhopelesstogettheNationtoact；

andwasablyassistedbyMr。G。H。Maxwell，aCalifornian，whohadtakenadeepinterestinirrigationmatters。Dr。W。J。McGeewasoneoftheleadersinallthelaterstagesofthemovement。ButGiffordPinchotisthemantowhomthenationowesmostforwhathasbeenaccomplishedasregardsthepreservationofthenaturalresourcesofourcountry。Heled，andindeedduringitsmostvitalperiodembodied，thefightforthepreservationthroughuseofourforests。HeplayedoneoftheleadingpartsintheefforttomaketheNationalGovernmentthechiefinstrumentindevelopingtheirrigationofthearidWest。Hewastheforemostleaderinthegreatstruggletocoordinatealloursocialandgovernmentalforcesintheefforttosecuretheadoptionofarationalandfarseeingpolicyforsecuringtheconservationofallournationalresources。HewasalreadyintheGovernmentserviceasheadoftheForestryBureauwhenIbecamePresident；hecontinuedthroughoutmyterm，notonlyasheadoftheForestservice，butasthemovinganddirectingspiritinmostoftheconservationwork，andascounsellorandassistantonmostoftheotherworkconnectedwiththeinternalaffairsofthecountry。Takingintoaccountthevariednatureoftheworkhedid，itsvitalimportancetothenationandthefactthatasregardsmuchofithewaspracticallybreakingnewground，andtakingintoaccountalsohistirelessenergyandactivity，hisfearlessness，hiscompletedisinterestedness，hissingle-mindeddevotiontotheinterestsoftheplainpeople，andhisextraordinaryefficiency，Ibelieveitisbutjusttosaythatamongthemany，manypublicofficialswhoundermyadministrationrenderedliterallyinvaluableservicetothepeopleoftheUnitedStates，he，onthewhole，stoodfirst。AfewmonthsafterIleftthePresidencyhewasremovedfromofficebyPresidentTaft。

ThefirstworkItookupwhenIbecamePresidentwastheworkofreclamation。ImmediatelyafterIhadcometoWashington，aftertheassassinationofPresidentMcKinley，whilestayingatthehouseofmysister，Mrs。Cowles，beforegoingintotheWhiteHouse，NewellandPinchotcalleduponmeandlaidbeforemetheirplansforNationalirrigationofthearidlandsoftheWest，andfortheconsolidationoftheforestworkoftheGovernmentintheBureauofForestry。

AtthattimeanarrowlylegalisticpointofviewtowardnaturalresourcesobtainedintheDepartments，andcontrolledtheGovernmentaladministrativemachinery。ThroughtheGeneralLandOfficeandotherGovernmentbureaus，thepublicresourceswerebeinghandledanddisposedofinaccordancewiththesmallconsiderationsofpettylegalformalities，insteadofforthelargepurposesofconstructivedevelopment，andthehabitofdeciding，wheneverpossible，infavorofprivateinterestsagainstthepublicwe