The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-04-04
REoRGAN1z1NG THE LAND OFFICE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Concern
trates Efforts In His Bureau-Ffeld
Divisions and Chiefs.i IN

trates Efforts In His Bureau-FieId
Divisions and Chiefs. tn
In accordance with the directions OF
the President and the, Secretary of the
Interior, thru orders recently issued;
the Commissioner Of the General Land
Office has taken up the work of re-
organizing the field and office force I'M
der his control. InJ order to secure
greater efficiency in the field work OF
has found 1t advisable to redistrict the
public land territory. changing the lines
so that for the most part the field di-
visions have been enlarged, giving
greater territory to the several chiefs.
The chiefs of divisions have been Sc
lected with great care, and they have
been invested with more authority and
greater supervisory powers than here
tofore. The special agents will be de-
tailed to the several chiefs from time
to time and placed directly under the
jurisdiction of the chiefs of the several
divisions in the field, each chief being
held responsible for the efficient per-
Torrance of all work in his division.
The chiefs will also be required to call
for reports respecting the conduct of
local land offices and the offices of the
Surveyors-General in their respective
divisions. The method thus adopted, it
is hoped, will bring the field force more
compactly together; will enable the
agents to appreciate that they have as
their chief one directly in authority to
whom they can appeal for instruction,
support and advice, and at the same
time the method will place the chief of
the division in such position that he
can organize and direct from his local
headquarters the work of investigation
throughout his entire division. He will
be able to concentrate his men or de-
tail them as may seem to him most de-
sirable in the matter of investigating
the disposition of public land. 1t has
also been the purpose of this rear
rangement to make 1t possible to in
crease the number Of agents employed
in the several districts in which the
field work Is of the most important
character and in which close investiga-
ton is necessary to be carried on to
prevent fraud and illegal entries, and
dispose of suspended cases as rapidly
as possible. 1t is also the purpose of
the Commissioner to so detail and con-
centrate the force as to keep the De-
partment advised of the principal land
frauds and illegal efforts to acquire title
to the public lands and secure evidence
to convict those guilty of such offenses.
The Commissioner in his instructions to
the chiefs of divisions and special
agents will make 1t plain that it is his
intention to so use this force as to pro-
tect the bona fide settler and entryman
in the acquisition of his just rights. II
is appreciated that the principal frauds
affecting the public domain involve the
arid. timber and coal belts, and that the
most vigilance is necessary to keep
these lands from being wrongfully APP
propriated. Every effort will be Du,
forth to protect the Governments in
terests In this respect. 1t is to be I'M
derstood, however, that the policy
adopted by the Department does not
mean that the agricultural regions will
be omitted from surveillance by the
special agency force. but It is desired
to relieve the honest settler in these re-
gions from the sggravation. resulting in
general suspensions and field investiga'
lions which cannot now be, made with
out larger force Of special examiners
The assignments of special agents are
subject to change, Encouragement and
concentration in the various division:
as will by experience prove most ad.
vantageous. The Commissioner has
been greatly gratified In being able tc
secure for Chief Of the, Special Service
Division Mr. Harry II. Schwartz, who
has had practical experience in the
field and who has made a splendid rec.
ord in the execution Of that line OF
work, and who is also possessed of lie.
gal training. Mr.. Schwartz was TO,
several years Chief of, Field Division
with headquarters at Helena. Mont.
and resigned from the force on Jan.
to take the position of Assistant United
States Attorney, detailed to assist in the
prosecution of fraud cases in the Mon
tana district. He will henceforth oc'
cupy the position Of Chief of the Specia
Service Division, with headquarters al
Washington, d. C..
The New Arrangement.
The field divisions and assignment Of
chiefs. as now arranged by the Com
missioner, are as follows:
Field Division No. ALL land dis
tricts in Oregon, Burns, Lagrande
Lakeview, Portland, Roseburg and Thu
Dalles; and in Washington, North va
kima, Olympia, Seattle and Vancouver
Chief, Edward w. Dixon, Portland, Ore
Field Division No. 2-All land dis
tricts in California, Eureka. Independ
ence, Los Angeles, Oakland. Redding
Sacramento, Susanville, Visalia; all ir
Nevada, Carson City. Chief, Louis r
CLAWS. Oakland. Cal.
Field Division No. 3-Land districts
in Washington, Spokane, Walla Waila
Waterville; in Idaho, Boise, Coeu
dAlene, Haley, Lewiston and Black
foot. Chief, F. NJ. Goodwin, Spokane
Wash.
Field Division No. All land dis
tricts in Montana, Billings, Bozeman
Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Lewis
town, Miles City. Missoula, Glasgow
Chief, Louis L. Sharp, Helena, Mont.
Field Division No. 5--All land dis
| tricts in Colorado, Del Norte, Denver
Durango, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison
| Hugo, Lamar, Leadville, Montrose
Pueblo, Sterling; all in Utah, Salt LAX,
| City and Vernal. Chief, NJ. d. McEniry
Denver. Colo.
Field Division No. ALI land dis
tricts in Arizona, Phoenix; all in New
| Mexico, Clayton, Las Cruces, Roswell
and Santa Fe. Chief, F. c. Dezendorf
Santa Fe, N. M.
| Field Division No. ALI land dis
tricts in Wyoming, Buffalo, Cheyenne
Douglas. Evanston, Lander, Sundance
in South Dakota, Rapid City; all in Ne
braska, Alliance, Broken Bow, Lincoln
North Platte, O'Neill and Valentine
Chief, w. B. Pugh, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Field Division No. S-All land dis
tricts in Minnesota, Michigan and Wis
consin. Chief. S. ]. Golfer, Duluth
MINI.
Field Division No. 9-All land dis
tricts in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida
Louisiana. Mississippi and Missouri
Chief, S. w. Williams, New Orleans La
Field Division No. 10-A1l land dis
tricts in North and South Dakota, ex
cept Rapid City. Chief, George {
Hunt, Fargo, N. Oak. PAT
District of Alaska22H.n1 X. Love
Juneau, Alaska.