The Washington times., 1901-11-26
WILD LANDS
OF THE WEST.
-Four Hundred Million Acres
Are Still Open,
SECRETARY WILSON'S OPINIONS.
In His Annual Report He Suggests
Some Legislation Needed - A
Newly Introduced Insect Of Value
Irrigation Plans w Gather Bu-
reau Extension.

The statement that 400 600, coo acres Of
the public domain has no agricultural
value except for pasturage; it is at pres
ent an open common. with no laws for its
protection or disposal will probably be
read with surprise by citizens of the
eastern part of the United States, where
the budding together of thousands of
people in the slums Of the great cities is
apt to create the general opinion that the
whole country is more or less crowded
and that the vast prairies Of previous
decades are thing Of the past. But the
sentence quoted is prominent feature of
the fifth annual report Of the Secretary
of Agriculture, made public yesterday.
In this connection the Secretary refers
to the frequent conflicts of the farmers
under irrigation with the range stock
men" and recommends. "as remedial
and beneficial measure, the leasing of
grazing land in such a way as not to in
terfere with the homesteader- The rent
ais would amount in the aggregate to a
large sum, which could be appropriately
applied to the reclamation of the irriga-
bic lands
Legislation on Irrigation.
The Secretary expresses the belief that
irrigation will in the near future be-
come subject for legislation by Con
gress. there being important reasons why
il should have the attention OF that body.
At the same time, he says that those best
informed believe that the uncertain char
acter of water rights can only be rem
edied by a larger measure Of public con-
troll and the making Of certain classes OF
irrigation structures permanently public
l. cha nHuNA n at FAn
owned by private parties, and the argu-
ment produced In favor of constructing
reservoirs by act of Congress is the same
which justifles setting aside forest re-
serves and the maintaining Of a force to
control them. On the other hand. the Sc
retary points out that an appropriation OF
money by Congress to construct such ir-
rigation works will bring the country face
to face with a new Government policy
and will carry a larger measure of public
control over the water resources of the
West than has hitherto prevailed or been
sanctioned by public sentiment
Wireless TeIegraphy Reports.
Mr. Wilson announces an important eX-
tension of the forecast field Of the Wealth
er Bureau. which now includes reports
from certain points in the British Isles
and on the continent of Europe, from the
Azores, Nassau, Bermuda and Turks ISL
and. An extension of the forecast 10
farmers through the rural free delivery
is contemplated. Substantial improve
ments are reported in the Departments
system of wireless telegraphy, Of which
the Secretary states in conclusion:
While there is much experimental work
yet TO be done before the present system
is reliable for intership communication,
or before any two systems can work with
in the same field without each rendering
the other useless. such progress has been
made by the Government experimenters
that, with no interference by private sys-
TENS stations can be successfully op-
Grated over at least $50 miles Of coast
line, and they are now in operation on
the North Carolina and Virginia coasts
and soon will be instituted between the
Farallone Islands and the mainland and
Tatoosh Island and the mainland. on The
Pacific coast.
Mr.. Wilson's Conclusions.
The report covers all the various
bureaus of the Department, and concludes /
with review of the development of ag- !
riculture and commerce during the past |
twenty years, and of the contributions !
by the Department of Agriculture to the |
progress Of events and the building up |
of domestic and foreign trade. The Sec
retary says that colncldently numerous
institutions have grown up in this cOun-
try and abroad, devoted to the applica-
tion of science to the service OF agricul-
ture, thus creating a great demand, at I
good salaries, for the right sort of men.
Each nation is seeking to extend its pro-
ductions, and is depending more and more
upon the aid Of science. Men combining
knowledge with practical experience and
ability are hard to get hence the Depart
ment has TO face the necessity of paying
much higher salaries or of being COM
PEELED to either lose opportunities Of get
ting the best men or to lose some of those |
who. under its training have developed /
such qualities as make them exception /
ally valuable To retain these experts /
the Secretary asks Congressional aid in /
the next years appropriations.