Part 16 (2/2)

1 The New York The New York Herald Herald on January 12 and again on January 19, when the dispute was continued and amplified, broke one of the most rancorous squabbles in the history of American science. The on January 12 and again on January 19, when the dispute was continued and amplified, broke one of the most rancorous squabbles in the history of American science. The Herald's Herald's Hosea Ballou, who was actually Cope's ghost writer, rehea.r.s.ed all the charges and defenses, cited all the doc.u.ments, many of which turned out to have been distorted or used without their authors' permission, and lined up a formidable battery of Hosea Ballou, who was actually Cope's ghost writer, rehea.r.s.ed all the charges and defenses, cited all the doc.u.ments, many of which turned out to have been distorted or used without their authors' permission, and lined up a formidable battery of scientists pro scientists pro and and contra contra Powell's organization of government science. See also Schuchert and LeVene, Powell's organization of government science. See also Schuchert and LeVene, O. C. Marsh, Pioneer in Paleontology, O. C. Marsh, Pioneer in Paleontology, and Henry Fairfield Osborn, and Henry Fairfield Osborn, Cope: Master Naturalist Cope: Master Naturalist (Princeton, 1931), for somewhat partisan but also somewhat sheepish and embarra.s.sed accounts of the row. Everybody connected with the dispute had reason to be sheepish, for the nature of the attack was such that no matter who won, everyone lost. (Princeton, 1931), for somewhat partisan but also somewhat sheepish and embarra.s.sed accounts of the row. Everybody connected with the dispute had reason to be sheepish, for the nature of the attack was such that no matter who won, everyone lost.

2 See Part IV, Chapter 5, See Part IV, Chapter 5, ante. ante.

3 New York New York Herald, Herald, January 19, 1890. January 19, 1890.

5.

1 House Report No. 2407, containing as it does Major Powell's prepared answers to antic.i.p.ated questions, const.i.tutes a major doc.u.ment in the history of the Irrigation Survey. It gave Powell a chance not only to work on the opposition in Congress, but to broadcast his views to the public. This June 4 hearing and the July 2 one before the Senate Appropriations Committee represent the very peak and climax of his fight to inst.i.tute planning in the West. House Report No. 2407, containing as it does Major Powell's prepared answers to antic.i.p.ated questions, const.i.tutes a major doc.u.ment in the history of the Irrigation Survey. It gave Powell a chance not only to work on the opposition in Congress, but to broadcast his views to the public. This June 4 hearing and the July 2 one before the Senate Appropriations Committee represent the very peak and climax of his fight to inst.i.tute planning in the West.

2 There had been no clear-cut definition of the arid lands throughout the entire controversy over the Irrigation Survey. Powell proceeded on a rational a.s.sumption and took in everything west of the 101st meridian, roughly. Finally, at the request of Commissioner L. A. Groff of the General Land Office, Powell on June 30, 1890, sent over a map indicating his understanding of what was meant by ”irrigable lands” in the ”arid regions.” ”As I understand it,” he wrote, ”the act of October 2, 1888, applies to these districts, the work of selecting reservoir sites, ca.n.a.l sites, and irrigable lands falls within these districts, and I am therefore of the opinion that the reservation of lands to be acquired from the General Government, only under the Homestead laws, after proclamation by the President, applies only to these districts.” (United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-17, p. 289.) True to form, within two days Senator Stewart was using this explanatory map as the root of all the misunderstandings of the past two years, and basing on it a renewed attack on Powell. There had been no clear-cut definition of the arid lands throughout the entire controversy over the Irrigation Survey. Powell proceeded on a rational a.s.sumption and took in everything west of the 101st meridian, roughly. Finally, at the request of Commissioner L. A. Groff of the General Land Office, Powell on June 30, 1890, sent over a map indicating his understanding of what was meant by ”irrigable lands” in the ”arid regions.” ”As I understand it,” he wrote, ”the act of October 2, 1888, applies to these districts, the work of selecting reservoir sites, ca.n.a.l sites, and irrigable lands falls within these districts, and I am therefore of the opinion that the reservation of lands to be acquired from the General Government, only under the Homestead laws, after proclamation by the President, applies only to these districts.” (United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-17, p. 289.) True to form, within two days Senator Stewart was using this explanatory map as the root of all the misunderstandings of the past two years, and basing on it a renewed attack on Powell.

3 Except in the general definition of policy, Dutton was the head of the Irrigation Survey. Even before November 21, 1888, when he was officially commissioned by Powell to direct the hydrographic work, all letters regarding irrigation were referred to him without comment. Except in the general definition of policy, Dutton was the head of the Irrigation Survey. Even before November 21, 1888, when he was officially commissioned by Powell to direct the hydrographic work, all letters regarding irrigation were referred to him without comment.

4 United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-17, p. 208. United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-17, p. 208.

5 Senate Report No. 1466. Senate Report No. 1466.

6 See Part IV, Chapter 5, See Part IV, Chapter 5, ante. ante.

7 Elimination of the hydrographic work left Dutton out of a job. Though he might have been expected to continue his special arrangement with the Geological Survey which had absorbed his best energies since 1874, his testimony before the Irrigation Committee and his disagreement with Powell on the propriety of concentrating funds from both appropriations on topography led him to return to regular Army duty. He apparently believed, and apparently told Powell, that the topographical work being done with Irrigation Survey funds was illegal, though the record, read now, indicates that the irrigation clique approved topography until they found out what it entailed. See Letter from C. E. Dutton, Jr., appended to Stegner, ”Clarence Edward Dutton,” State University of Iowa unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 1935. Elimination of the hydrographic work left Dutton out of a job. Though he might have been expected to continue his special arrangement with the Geological Survey which had absorbed his best energies since 1874, his testimony before the Irrigation Committee and his disagreement with Powell on the propriety of concentrating funds from both appropriations on topography led him to return to regular Army duty. He apparently believed, and apparently told Powell, that the topographical work being done with Irrigation Survey funds was illegal, though the record, read now, indicates that the irrigation clique approved topography until they found out what it entailed. See Letter from C. E. Dutton, Jr., appended to Stegner, ”Clarence Edward Dutton,” State University of Iowa unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 1935.

8 The optimistic evolutionary aspect of Powell's thought is nowhere so compactly developed as in his essay, ”Sociology,” in The optimistic evolutionary aspect of Powell's thought is nowhere so compactly developed as in his essay, ”Sociology,” in American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. I (July and October, 1899); but other essays in that series, which were to have been combined into the second volume of his n.s. I (July and October, 1899); but other essays in that series, which were to have been combined into the second volume of his novum organum, novum organum, repeat the theme in manifold ways. See ”Technology,” repeat the theme in manifold ways. See ”Technology,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. I (April, 1899); ”Esthetology,” n.s. I (April, 1899); ”Esthetology,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. I (January, 1899); ”Philology,” n.s. I (January, 1899); ”Philology,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. II (October-December, 1900); and ”Sophiology,” n.s. II (October-December, 1900); and ”Sophiology,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. III (January-March, 1901). n.s. III (January-March, 1901).

9 In a letter to a South Dakota correspondent on September 29, 1890, a month after the Senate had destroyed his Irrigation Survey and brought the General Plan to nothing, Powell wrote: ”... I regret that a broader view of the subject could not have been taken and a sufficient appropriation made to carry on investigations in relation to all the waters of the arid and sub-humid regions which can be used in irrigation. Comparatively large appropriations should have been made and information given to the people at the earliest date and the largest extent. Such was my plan, and the House of Representatives deemed it wise, and the bill pa.s.sed that body; but I was unable to represent the matter in such a convincing light as to carry the judgement of the Senate.... In a letter to a South Dakota correspondent on September 29, 1890, a month after the Senate had destroyed his Irrigation Survey and brought the General Plan to nothing, Powell wrote: ”... I regret that a broader view of the subject could not have been taken and a sufficient appropriation made to carry on investigations in relation to all the waters of the arid and sub-humid regions which can be used in irrigation. Comparatively large appropriations should have been made and information given to the people at the earliest date and the largest extent. Such was my plan, and the House of Representatives deemed it wise, and the bill pa.s.sed that body; but I was unable to represent the matter in such a convincing light as to carry the judgement of the Senate....

”Were it in my power, such an investigation of this country would be made as to secure full information for the people, so that in settling in the sub-humid region they would be aware of the fact that it is absolutely necessary in that country to provide against years of drought by storing sufficient water for the agricultural lands and by building the necessary irrigation works, and the investigation would be carried on so thoroughly that the people would know just where the water would be found and how it could be used....” United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-18, p. 151. His, aim, that is, was always primarily an informational one; his difficulty was that information could not be made available without its clas.h.i.+ng with fantasy and the practical politics and speculation that depended on it.

6.

1 United States Geological Survey, 12th United States Geological Survey, 12th Annual Report, 1890-91. Annual Report, 1890-91.

2 Congressional Record, Congressional Record, Pt. 3, 45th Cong., 3rd Sess. Pt. 3, 45th Cong., 3rd Sess.

3 Shannon, Shannon, The Farmer's Last Frontier, The Farmer's Last Frontier, p. 309. p. 309.

4 O. C. Marsh, O. C. Marsh, Odontornithes: Odontornithes: a monograph on the extinct toothed birds of North America. United States Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel Report, VII, Was.h.i.+ngton, 1880. What actually caused the trouble was not this publication by the King Survey, however, but Powell's reprinting of a forty-page abstract, in accordance with well-established practice, in the United States Geological Survey, a monograph on the extinct toothed birds of North America. United States Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel Report, VII, Was.h.i.+ngton, 1880. What actually caused the trouble was not this publication by the King Survey, however, but Powell's reprinting of a forty-page abstract, in accordance with well-established practice, in the United States Geological Survey, 3rd Annual Report, 1881-82. 3rd Annual Report, 1881-82.

5 Herbert's attacks on the Survey, on Marsh, and on Powell are distributed through several hundred pages of the Herbert's attacks on the Survey, on Marsh, and on Powell are distributed through several hundred pages of the Congressional Record Congressional Record (1892), XXIII, Part 2. (1892), XXIII, Part 2.

6 During February, April, and May, 1883 - significantly during the very time when Hayden and Powell were trying, with somewhat ill grace, to settle the details of completing the publications of the Hayden Survey - there was a series of ruffled letters from Smith to Powell's office. James Pilling eventually, on May 24, arranged for a personal meeting at the end of the month so that Smith could bring his objections of intrusions upon his state survey by the Geological Survey. On April 18 Powell himself had written to smooth Smith's feathers and promised the fullest co-operation and consideration of Smith's priorities and wishes. Apparently neither co-operation nor a personal interview cured Smith of his animus, and he remained one of the Cope crowd. United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-4, pp. 122, 236, 303. During February, April, and May, 1883 - significantly during the very time when Hayden and Powell were trying, with somewhat ill grace, to settle the details of completing the publications of the Hayden Survey - there was a series of ruffled letters from Smith to Powell's office. James Pilling eventually, on May 24, arranged for a personal meeting at the end of the month so that Smith could bring his objections of intrusions upon his state survey by the Geological Survey. On April 18 Powell himself had written to smooth Smith's feathers and promised the fullest co-operation and consideration of Smith's priorities and wishes. Apparently neither co-operation nor a personal interview cured Smith of his animus, and he remained one of the Cope crowd. United States Geological Survey, Letters Sent, 173-4, pp. 122, 236, 303.

7 Schuchert and LeVene, Schuchert and LeVene, O O. C. Marsh, Pioneer in Paleontology, C. Marsh, Pioneer in Paleontology, pp. 319-20. pp. 319-20.

8 William E. Smythe, a writer for the Omaha Bee and a zealous worker for reclamation, organized the first national Irrigation Congress at Salt Lake City in 1891; he also founded and edited William E. Smythe, a writer for the Omaha Bee and a zealous worker for reclamation, organized the first national Irrigation Congress at Salt Lake City in 1891; he also founded and edited Irrigation Age. Irrigation Age. His persistent publicizing of irrigation problems, and his organization of arid-belt farmers into a politically coherent group, made him the single most influential figure, with the exception of Major Powell, in the early years of reclamation. His own account of his activities and the fight for adequate reclamation policies is in His persistent publicizing of irrigation problems, and his organization of arid-belt farmers into a politically coherent group, made him the single most influential figure, with the exception of Major Powell, in the early years of reclamation. His own account of his activities and the fight for adequate reclamation policies is in The Conquest of Arid America The Conquest of Arid America (New York, 1900). (New York, 1900).

9 In his ”Inst.i.tutions for the Arid Lands,” Powell indicated what needed to be done in the West and remarked that of the three possible agencies of development - government, private corporations, and co-operative a.s.sociations of citizens - he much favored the last. Federal and state governments, he believed, needed to do nothing but establish statutes on the rights of land and water, and provide adequate district and state courts. He thought that the federal government ought to survey the public domain, hold some of it in trust for the co-operative local districts, cla.s.sify the public lands, and divide the waters by statute among the districts. Otherwise, control and administration of the timber, range, irrigable land, and water of the drainage-basin districts should be co-operative among the actual settlers. He hoped that such co operative a.s.sociations, once organized, might borrow corporation capital and thus bring together the small freeholders and the large corporations who were currently disputing control of the West, and tie them into some mutually profitable a.s.sociation. In his ”Inst.i.tutions for the Arid Lands,” Powell indicated what needed to be done in the West and remarked that of the three possible agencies of development - government, private corporations, and co-operative a.s.sociations of citizens - he much favored the last. Federal and state governments, he believed, needed to do nothing but establish statutes on the rights of land and water, and provide adequate district and state courts. He thought that the federal government ought to survey the public domain, hold some of it in trust for the co-operative local districts, cla.s.sify the public lands, and divide the waters by statute among the districts. Otherwise, control and administration of the timber, range, irrigable land, and water of the drainage-basin districts should be co-operative among the actual settlers. He hoped that such co operative a.s.sociations, once organized, might borrow corporation capital and thus bring together the small freeholders and the large corporations who were currently disputing control of the West, and tie them into some mutually profitable a.s.sociation.

10 International Irrigation Congress, International Irrigation Congress, Proceedings Proceedings (1893), pp. 106-7. (1893), pp. 106-7.

7.

1 Walcott was politically acceptable partly because he was a pure geologist, and had no interest in the Major's land-reform schemes. Walcott was politically acceptable partly because he was a pure geologist, and had no interest in the Major's land-reform schemes.

2 United States Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey, 15th Annual Report, 1893-94, 15th Annual Report, 1893-94, p. 7. p. 7.

3 Speech by W J McGee before a meeting of the Smithsonian in the National Museum, September 26, 1902. In S. P. Langley Speech by W J McGee before a meeting of the Smithsonian in the National Museum, September 26, 1902. In S. P. Langley et al., et al., ”In Memory of John Wesley Powell,” ”In Memory of John Wesley Powell,” Science, Science, n.s. XVI (1902), 782-90. n.s. XVI (1902), 782-90.

4 J. W. Powell, ”The Larger Import of Scientific Education,” J. W. Powell, ”The Larger Import of Scientific Education,” Popular Science Monthly, Popular Science Monthly, XXVI (February, 1885), pp. 452-6. XXVI (February, 1885), pp. 452-6.

5 J. W. Powell, J. W. Powell, Truth and Error Truth and Error (Chicago, 1898), p. 243. (Chicago, 1898), p. 243.

6 Lester A. Ward, Lester A. Ward, Dynamic Sociology, or Applied Social Science Dynamic Sociology, or Applied Social Science (New York, 1883). Ward's thoughts on every sort of scientific and philosophical topic are collected in the six volumes characteristically t.i.tled (New York, 1883). Ward's thoughts on every sort of scientific and philosophical topic are collected in the six volumes characteristically t.i.tled Glimpses of the Cosmos Glimpses of the Cosmos (New York, 1913-18). A considerably too enthusiastic estimate of Ward's thought and career as biologist, sociologist, and philosopher is Samuel Chugarman, (New York, 1913-18). A considerably too enthusiastic estimate of Ward's thought and career as biologist, sociologist, and philosopher is Samuel Chugarman, Lester Ward, the American Aristotle Lester Ward, the American Aristotle (Durham, N.C., 1939). (Durham, N.C., 1939).

7 Ward reviewed Ward reviewed Truth and Error, Truth and Error, not too favorably considering that the book was dedicated to him, in not too favorably considering that the book was dedicated to him, in Science, Science, n.s. IX (January 27, 1899), 126-37, and Powell replied - or retorted - in the same publication, IX (February 17, 1899), 259-63. n.s. IX (January 27, 1899), 126-37, and Powell replied - or retorted - in the same publication, IX (February 17, 1899), 259-63.

8 See especially ”From Savagery to Barbarism,” See especially ”From Savagery to Barbarism,” Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Was.h.i.+ngton, Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Was.h.i.+ngton, III (1885), 173-96; ”From Barbarism to Civilization,” III (1885), 173-96; ”From Barbarism to Civilization,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, I (1888), 97-123; and ”Human Evolution,” I (1888), 97-123; and ”Human Evolution,” Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Was.h.i.+ngton, Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Was.h.i.+ngton, II (1883), 176-208. II (1883), 176-208.

9 The rather macabre settlement of the bet involved a study of Powell's brain, which was made with almost phrenological solemnity by Dr. D. S. Lamb after Powell's body had been embalmed in Haven, Maine, where he died, and brought to Was.h.i.+ngton. The solemn poking about in the ”fissural complexities” of his brain was in keeping with Powell's own experimental habit, as well as with his positivist philosophy and his belief in things, concretions, as the sources of observation and hence of knowledge. The study was published by E. A. Spitzka as ”A Study of the Brain of the late Major J. W. Powell,” The rather macabre settlement of the bet involved a study of Powell's brain, which was made with almost phrenological solemnity by Dr. D. S. Lamb after Powell's body had been embalmed in Haven, Maine, where he died, and brought to Was.h.i.+ngton. The solemn poking about in the ”fissural complexities” of his brain was in keeping with Powell's own experimental habit, as well as with his positivist philosophy and his belief in things, concretions, as the sources of observation and hence of knowledge. The study was published by E. A. Spitzka as ”A Study of the Brain of the late Major J. W. Powell,” American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist, n.s. V (1903), 585-643. n.s. V (1903), 585-643.

VI. THE INHERITANCE.

1.

1 Garlar tells of his acquaintance with Powell in Garlar tells of his acquaintance with Powell in Roadside Meetings Roadside Meetings (New York, 1930), pp. 361-63. (New York, 1930), pp. 361-63.

2 United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, ”Present and Proposed Activities,” January 1, 1951. A listing of Reclamation Bureau projects up to the year 1948 is in Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, ”Present and Proposed Activities,” January 1, 1951. A listing of Reclamation Bureau projects up to the year 1948 is in Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Reclamation Bureau Data Reclamation Bureau Data (Was.h.i.+ngton, 1948). (Was.h.i.+ngton, 1948).

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