Shortly thereafter, in 1903, J. H. van der Heide, a Dutch specialist
who had been working in Java, was invited to Siam, in agreement with
the Dutch government, to help develop an irrigation program. He was
named director-general of a new canal Department, which was placed.
in the Ministry of Agriculture. van der Heide's subsequent studies led
to the formation of an elaborate plan for the irrigation of the chao
Phya valley, but lack of funds-or the conservatism of the British financial
adviser-made it impossible to implement the plans. (substantially
the same scheme was put into effect after World War II.) Van der
Heide resigned in disgust in 1909, and his department was abolished. It was later revived, however, to become one of the most effective
departments in the Ministry.