The state herald., 1902-11-28
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR REVIEWS THE RECLAMATION ACT

Washington. Nov 25.-The first por-
Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior, is
devoted to the reclamation act. The
secretary says:
The past year has been character
lied by further increase in the vol
tlme of business, notably so in the pat
ent Office, general land Office. geolog-
ical survey and the secretarys office.
While, in consequence thereof, 1t has
been necessary, in some instances. to
extend the hours of labor. the service
required has been cheerfully rendered,
and the work dispatched in such an eX-
petitions manner that am gratified to
state the public business is well in
hand and there is but little arrears,
such increase in the force, etc. as ex-
isting conditions appear to demand,
has been noted in departmental esti-
mates to be brought to the attention of
Congress in the manner prescribed by
law.
New forest reservations have been
established during the year, the for
estry service extended, better and
more thorough system of patrolling
the reservations has been perfected
and the work of reforestation on the
various reservations has been entered
upon with satisfactory results.
The unlawful fencing of the public
lands for grazing and other purposes
refererd to hereafter has greatly in
creased in some sections of the West
and grown so fragrant as to cause much
concern. Vigorous measures, however,
have been pursued regarding these un-
lawful occupants of the public domain,
and prompt steps taken looking to the
institution of civil or criminal proceed
ings against them.
Timber on the unreserved public
listing laws relating thereto, and es-
.pecially the act of June 3, 1878. known
as the timber and stone act" II not
repealed or radically amended, will re-
suit ultimately in the complete destruc-
ton of the timber on the unappropri-
ated and unreserved public lands. The
situation demands the passage of the
remedial legislation on this subject
hereinafter mentioned.
Applications received during the year
for free use of timber in forest reserves
numbered l,322, being more than four
and one-half times the number received
during the preceding year. There were
approved by the department seventy of
such applications, and by local forest
officers. 1,2S9.
Under the reclamation act. in your
first message to Congress, you state
that
In the arid region 1t is water, not
land. which measures production. The
western half of the United States would
sustain population greater than that
of our whole country to-day If the wat
ers that now run to waste were saved
and used for irrigation"
As n result of the strong presenta-
ton OF the importance of water stor-
age. Congress pasesd the act which was
signeu by you on June II. 1902, setting
aside the proceeds of the public lands
for the construction of works of recla-
alton In the thirteen states and three
territories which form the western half
of the country.
The amount of money thus set aside
in the treasury amounts to over sS.000.-
0OO. The work is to be carried on un-
der the direction of the secretary of the
Interior. The surveys. examinations
and making of recommendations have
been intrusted TO the geological survey.
whose director and leading men have
spent the greater part of their lives in
the arid West. studying the problems.
measuring the rivers and preparing es-
timates OF the extent to which arid
lands might ultimately be reclaimed
On the day following the passage of
the act plans were submitted by the di-
rector of the geological survey for
putting ii into effect: and these being
approved by me. survey parties were
at once put in the field to obtain all of
the facts concerning the feasibility of
various projects.
The act In itself Is general. leaving
to administrative action most OF the
details; so that the ultimate success OF
this great undertaking may be said to
.e5t wholly with the men In charge,
They cannot shift this responsibility by
aging any blame for non-success upon
Congress. With this responsibility
resting upon them. great care Is being
exercised in selecting the projects
which will be OF the greatest benefit to
the country: which will settle upon the
land the greatest number of people:
and which will return to the treasury
the cost OF the undertaking. keeping in
tact the fund Tor new works. No con-
OF expediency or sentiment
can be tolerated but only those OF max.
Ing the working success from busl-
ness standpoint. The same caution Is
exercised In selecting men TO carry out
the details. They are chosen by com
petitive examination through the civil
service. and are impressed with the
fact that In their selection and subse-
luent advancement ability and merit
alone are considered Most OF the men
thus obtained are from the arid West
and have spent their professional lives
In the surveying and construction OF ir-
figation works.
II IL not considered wise to attempt
much nj the outset. but TO proceed as
rnpidly ns possible. consistent with
knowing fully the work TO be under
taken and the men TO carry II on. 80
that no mistake may be made leopard
izlng the future.
In the preceding reports considerable
space has been devoted to the import
ancc OF the investigation OF irrigation,
and emphasis has been laid upon the
necessity OF not merely acquiring facts.
but OF doing something toward utlliz-
Ing the great opportunities presented
by the unoccupied public lands. In par
tlcular II has been stated that:
There In no one question now be-
fore the people Of the United States of
greater Importance than the conserya-
ton OF the water supply and the rccla-
nation Of the arid lands OF the West
and their settlement by men who Will