Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-09
land SERVICE
UNUSUALLY ACTIVE
secy. Hitchcock Reports Several
Investigations Into Alleged
Frauds.
RECLAMATION ACT PROJECTS,
r,clyc Under Process OF Construction
More Forest Reservations Have
Been Established.

Nasblngton. u. O.. Dec, S.-The an
anal report OF Secy. of the Interior h.
Hitchcock, made public today, says
in part
since my last annual report the land
serylce has been the scene Of unusual
artIvity. The prosecution of the ring
y, conpIrators on the Pacific coast has
beep vigorously pushed, number have
bse, convicted and many more indicted
and apprehended and brought before
the courts for trial.
other Investigations OF alleged viola
lions Of the public land laws in that
section and elsewhere are being rapid
Is and energetlcally prosecuted, sew
era, old and persistent offenders have
heen indicted and their trials win oc-
cur IN the near future. Other cases
Will soon be IN shape for presentation
~ the federal grand iuries having Jur-
,sdIctIon of the offenses alleged, and it
is believed that the offenders will be
speedlly brought 10 justice.
The vigorous manner in which tres
masses upon the public timber and I'M
nWml Enclosures OF the public domain
are being investigated and the Offend
ers punished is creating a healthy pub
Ms sentiment in the localities involved
and throughout the country that the
Law must be complied with.
RECLAMATION PROGRESS.
Great progress has been made In the
administration OF the act OF June II,
1902 known as the reclamation act.
Twelve projects re now under process
" construction. and number of 9TH
erS have been approved with a view to
future construction. on June II. 1905, at
Hazen New the water was turned
through the canal of the first complet-
ed unit of the Truckee-C Carson project
IN that state.
FOREST RESERVATIONS.
Twcnty-six additional forest reser-
yatinns have been established by presl-
dental proclamation under the act of
March 2, 1891 l26 Stat. L.. l095), the
areas Of four have been reduced seven
have been enlarged and three have
been consolidated into one. The in
crease IN area Of such reserves during
the year was 22.S5ii7S acres The total
number OF forest reservations created
8.
aggregatlng s56lS,s72 acres. In accord
ance with recommendations contained
IN prior annual reports. Congress. BY
net approved Feb. |, 1905, (33 Stat H..
$3.50, transferred the supervision over
Forest reserves to the department OF az
ycuture.
The further continuance OF the office
Of receiver Of public moneys for Unit
81 states land offices is one OF qlles-
uonabe proprlety, considered either
rom the standpoint OF economy or ef-
fcient administration I'm the land ser-
Vice ! commend to favorable consid-
'eration the recommendation of rhe
commissioner Of the general land office
that this office be abolished.
me opening to settlement and entry
UNDER me homestead law OF the Rose
bud indian lands in South Dakota ana
or the Devils Lake lands I'm North pa
ko,a' under the acts of April 20. 1904 (23
STAT i"' 25fl, and April 81, 1904 (33
Hlal. L.. 3ls). respectively, was sue
cessfully accomplished, and the entry
OF lahds in said reservations Is still IN
progress. Equally successful was the
opening to settlement and entry under
me homestead laws on Aug. 9S. 1905 OF
me unreserved and unalol ted lands of
me lntah indian reservation in Utah.
under the act OF March 8, 1905.
TIMBER LAND SALES.
Further sales Of pine timber under
me act OF June 81, 1902, known as tho
Motifs bill. ON the Chippewa coded
hnds IN Minnesota were held at Cass
Lake Mimi, on Nov. Is and II, 1904.
hese sales were had under the system
% sealed bids provided for in said act.
ana we're TN every way success.
tnder the acts of March g. 1901. and
June 80, 1902. several Of the municipal
improvements contemplated by said
acts IN the counties of Kiowa. COM
AHghe and Caddo have been completed
lhl practically all OF the balance have
been contracted for and are now under
obstruction In the cities of Hobart.
LAYTON and Anadarko. o. r.
~ The Indian service four agencies
We're abolished during the year. and
We duties OF the agents devolved upon