The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1906-12-19
INTERIOR REPORT
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK FIGHT.
ING LAND FRAUDS.
IS PUSHING RECLAMATION
Twenty-Three Irrigation Projects In
Process Of Construction = Nearly
Twenty Million Acres Of Land Sold
Over One Hundred Forest Re-

Twenty Million Acres Of Land Sold
Over One Hundred Forest Re-
serves.
Washington.-In his annual report
the secretary of the interior says:
1.-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 tnoso
seeking to defraud 1t out OF Its public
lands. accordingly renew the recon-
mcndations that I have consistently
made for the past five years. that the
above mentioned laws be repealed or
modified.
''In my last annual report twelve ir-
rigation projects were reported as I'M
der construction, under the reclama-
ton 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
Fordo project. In New Mexico. Is Drac-
tically completed, and it is believed
will be in operation in short time.
DIV a1 G,tft n
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,
but the Importance of the question in
volved led the court to direct that the
use should not be submitted until
there was a full bench.
There was disposed of during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1906. public
lands acgregating 19.431 .1S7.47 acres.
classified as follows: Cash sales.
1,774.341.63: miscellaneous entries.
embracing homesteads. land warrants.
scrip locations. State selections.
swamp lands. railroad and wagon-road
selections. Indian allotments. etc. H.
ST., 102.53 acres, and Indian lands. So
743.31 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
fiscal year from various sources. in
GLIDING disposal of public land.
amounted to $6.52s,477.3s; the ex-
penses of district land offices were
$7sO.417.sO, and the aggregate expend-
lures and estimated liabilities of the
public-land service. including expenses
Of district land Offices. s1.e9o,sA1 30.
leaving a net surplus in the treasury OF
s., 9s4,SS2.70
There are now LOG forest reserves.
created by presidential proclamatlOns
under section twenty-four of the act
of March 8, 1891 t26 Stat. L.. 1881,
embracing 106.999.423 acres. This is
an increase over last year OF 24.3s0.951
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,
md the Logan forest reserve with the
Bear River forest reserve.
During the year commencing July
l. 1905. and ended June 30, 1906, the
total number of pensioners on the roll
was 1.033. AIS, and the number remain
ing on the roll at the close of the fiscal
year, June 80, 1906. was 9s5.971, net
loss of 12.470 from the previous year
1.-The appropriation for the payment
of pensions for the fiscal year was
s140.500.00O; repayments to the appro-
priation made the amount available
for payment of pensions. S14O.521,-
55s.65. 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 81 .52l.-
270.40. The expenditure for navy pen
sions during the year was $4,204 .004.63.
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
reclamation service are now being de
voted to tha work of construction.
Water has been delivered TO some OF
the lands of the Truckee-C Carson and
the North Platte projects. The Hondo
project has been COMPLETED: also the
greater part of the gravity system of
the Minidol-a project.
For the purposn of making plans
for the future II, has been estimated
that the fund for 1906 will be $4.SS2,-
o'4.10: for 1907. $4e75.909.O4. and for
1908. $4.062.170.59. It is hoped that by
the latter year returns will commence
20 come In to tho fund from the sale
OF water under the ten annual Install
ments provided by law.
THE experience alreadv had, how
ever, shows th't the government as
canal owner and investor must use
a firm hand. and that its agents must
employ rare discretion in exercising
control. ~.
"One of the imnortant POINTS which
has already deve'oped is that greater
protection mus. be thrown by law