The Springfield herald., 1906-12-21
INTERIOR REPORT
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK FIGHT.
ING LAND FRAUDS.
IS PUSHING RECLAMATION
rwenty-Three Irrigation Projects in
Process Of Construction - Nearly
Twenty Million Acres Of Land Sold
-Over One Hundred Forest Ro-

Twenty Million Acres Of Land Sold
-Over One Hundred Forest Ro-
serves.
Washington.-In his annual report
the secretary of the interior says:
THE unusual activity in the public
land service referred to in my last an
nual report has not abated. The pros
ecution Of all persons conspiring to de-
fraud the government of Its public
lands is being continued with vigor, as
is shown by the fact that 400 persons
have been indicted in the various land
states and territories for the violation
of the public land laws. Eighty-nine
have been convicted, and indictments
are still pending against 401.
Until the opportunities afforded for
the fraudulent acquisition of public
lands by the timber and stone act. the
desert land acts. and the Communication
clause of the homestead law, are re-
moved by the repeal or modification OF
those measures, the government may
expect to expend its money and energy
| in apprehending and convicting these
| seeking to defraud 1t out of Its public
| lands. l accordingly renew the recon-
mcniations that / have consistently
| made for the past five years, that the
above mentioned laws be repealed or
modified.
I'm my last annual report twelve ir-
rigation projects were reported rs un-
der construction, under the reclama-
| tion act. Such progress has been made
during the past year that there are
now twenty-three of such projects In
process OF construction, and one, the
Hondo project, In New Mexico, is prac-
tically completed, and 1t is believed
will be in operation in short time.
IAN original suit in the United
States Supreme Court is that of State
OF Kansas VS.. State of Colorado. the
United States intervenor. The case
involves the control of interstate wa
ters in connection with irrigation pro-
jects, and much time and attention has
been given by the assistant attorney
general and his assistants to the pre-
paration of the case on behalf Of the
government All the parties are now
ready to submit the case to the court,
volved led the court to direct that the
case should not be submitted until
there was full bench.
There was disposed of during the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1906 public
lands aggregating 19.431. 1874 acres.
classified as follows: Cash sales.
1.774,34163: miscellaneous entries
embracing homesteads, land warrants,
scrip locations. state selections
swamp lands. railroad and wagon-road
selections, Indian allotments, etc, H.
571, ,102.53 acres, and Indian lands, S5,
1881 acres. showing an increase OF
2.374, $500 acres as compared with
the aggregate disposals for the preced-
ing fiscal year.
"The total cash receipts during the
rto
cluding disposal of public land,
amounted to $6.52s.477.3s; the ex-
penses of district land offices We're
$7S0.417.S0. and the aggregate expend-
lures and estimated liabilities of the
public-land service, including expenses
of district land Offices. s1,69O,6+1 90.
leaving a ret surplus in the treasury OF
s5,9s4, ,Ss2.70.
There are now LOG forest reserves,
created by presidential proclamations
under section twenty-four of the act
of March 3. 1891 (26 Stat. L.. 1881,
embracing 106.999,423 acres This is
an increase over last year OF 24,3sO,95l
acres, and ninety acres were released
from temporary withdrawal during the
year. and. after ninety days published
notice, restored to entry.
During the fiscal year twenty-five
additional forest reserves have been
established, the areas of three have
been reduced, seventeen have been en-
larged, and two have been consoli>
dated as follows: The Baker City
forest reserve has been consolidated
with the Blue Mountain forest reserve,
and the Logan forest reserve with the
Bear River forest reserve.
During the year cocmmencing July
l. 1905, and ended June 30, 1906, the
total number of pensioners on the ron
was 1,033,415, and the number remain
ing on the roll at the close of the fiscal
year, June 80, 1906, was 9S5,971, net
loss of 1910 from the previous year
"The appropriation for the payment
OF pensions for the fiscal year was
s14O 100000; repayments to the appro'
priation made the amount available
for payment of pensions, $140,521,-
55S65. The disbursements for army
and navy pensions during the year, In
Guiding the amount disbursed by treas
ury settlements, were $139,000. .2SS.25,
leaving an unexpended balance to be
| covered into the treasury OF $1,52l;-
27040. The expenditure for navy pen
sions during the year was $4,204. 4.004.6S.
During the last fiscal year substan-
| tial progress was made In the con
struction of the irrigation works au-
thorized by the act of Congress Of June
II, 1902 Practically all preliminary
examinations and surveys have been
completed, and the energies Of the
reclamation service are now being de
] voted to the work of construction.
| Water has been delivered to some Of
the lands OF the Truckee-Carson and
the North Platte projects. The Honio
project has been completed; also the
greater part of the gravity system OF
the MInidoka project.
For the purpose OF making plans
for the future It has been estimated
that the fund for 1906 will be $4.ss2,
0S4.10: for 1907. $4.275, ,909.04. and for
1908. $4,062. .17059 1t is hoped that by
the latter year returns will commence
to come in to the fund from the sale
OF water under the ten annual install,
ments provided by law.
"The experience already had. how.
ever, shows that the government as
n canal owner and investor must use
a firm hand. and that its agents must
employ rare discretion in exercising
control.
"One OF the important points which
has already developed is that greater
protection must be thrown by law