The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-21

with the president, Mr.. Ballinger said
he did not know, but added that il the
president should visit there they
would probably get together
Grabbing Of Coal Lands.
Perhaps the most important Ques-
ton that the secretary of the interior
will have to deal with in Alaska is that
involving the grabbing of coal lands.
Under the present system of land entry
valuable coal lands have been illegally
acquired by corporations and individu-
ais. and action by the department of
the interior will probably be necessary
to save the government heavy losses in
that direction
The Alaskan situation is well under
stood by Secretary Ballinger. who has
spent some time in the territory and
his experience and knowledge OF Alas
kan affairs are among the qualifica-
tons which led Mr.. Taft to select him
as a member of the cabinet.
A better administration of affairs in
Alaska is to be one of the particular
aims of President Taft's administra-
ton. For some years conditions in
the territory have been bad. Presi-
dent Roosevelt instituted a number OF
reforms, but President TAFT is anxious
to put an effective stop to many abuses.
Work Of Reclamation Service.
The value of the reclamation service
and the magnitude of the work it is
accomplishing are also thoroughly ap-
preciated by both Mr. Taft and Mr..
Ballinger. and from what the latter
said today OF his plans, that service
will receive its full measure Of recog-
nitfoN and encouragement ct the
fore he starts on his western tour See.
fore hestarts on his western tour Sec.
rotary Ballinger will study the recla,
nation service carefully, 50 that he
may the more quickly got in touch
with actual conditions on the various
projects. His experience in the state
OF Washington and as commissioner OF
the land office here has given him an
excellent general knowledge OF recia-
nation matters that will stand him
in good stead in working out the ad-
ministrative policies OF his depart
ment
A number OF great reclamation prof.
ects will be completed or nearly com
pleted by the time Secretary Ballinger
starts west next summer. One Of
these is the great Gunniston tunnel in
western Colorado, which runs six
miles through a mountain 2OOO feet
high. When completed, 1t will carry
1900 cubic feet of water per second.
In Idaho the secretary will see two OF
the highest earthen dams In the world,
where an artificial reservoir near
Boise is being filled from the waters
of the Boise river. In Arizona is the
famous Roosevelt dam across the Col
orado at Yuma. In Washington the
waters from the famous Yakima valley
reservoirs will be used for irrigation
purposes next summer
Land Entry in Idaho.
Another question that Mr.. Balm
ger will probably take up while he Il
in the west is the system OF land entry
prevailing In Idaho. The laws affect
ing the public lands OF Idaho are loose.
ly drawn and have been the cause Of
great Injustice to poor settlers who
have f1ocked to that state from various
sections OF the country. attracted BY
the belief that the land laws are poor
mans laws. when, As matter OF fact,
the poor man had little chance under
them until Senator Bcrah Of Idaho took
the matter mp and brought about relief.
C1d~ The laws I settler toOE IN