The Ordway new era., 1909-12-03
BALL|NGER TELLS
OF YEARS WORK
report of the Secretary of the In
terror Received.
1ROBlEM OF PUBLIC LANDS
Development Through Private Enter.
prise Under National Supervision
and Control Desired-RecIama.
ton Service Discussed.

Washington. Nov. 2. !Fas annual re.
port to the president Cr Richard A.
bhlllnger. secretary Of the interior.
was made public today, and makes
interesting reading. The report Gov
ers portion of the time under the ad.
ministration of James h. Garfield, and
Mr., liallinger gives him credit for his
earnest and efficient services.
Secretary Ballinger comments on
the old public land statutes. and con.
tinues:
The liberal and rapid disposition of
the public lands under these statutes
and the lax methods of administration
which for long time prevailed nat
Urally provoked the feeling that the
public domain was legitimate prey for
the INSCRIPTIONS and that It was no
crime to violate or circumvent the
land laws. II is to be regretted that
we. as nation. were so tardy to real
l2c the importance OF preventing so
large measure of our natural re-
sour""s passing into the hands of land
pirates and spectators. with no view
to development looking to the national
welfare
Must Continue Prosecutions.
1T may be safely said that millions
Of acres OF timber and other lands
have been unlawfully obtained. and it
Is also true that actions to recover
such lands have in most instances long
since been barred by the statute OF
limitations. The principal awakening
10 our wasteful course came under
yOur predecessors administration. The
bold and vigorous prosecutions Of land
frauds through Secretaries Hitchcock
and Garfield. have restored Il salutary
respect for the law. and the public
mind has rapidly graspcd the impor
tanCe of safeguarding the further dis
position OF our natural resources in
he public lands In the interest Of the
public good as against private greed
Notwithstanding this. 1t is necessary
to continue with utmost vigor. through
all available sources. the securing Of
Information of violations OF the public
and laws and to follow such viola
lions with rigid prosecutions.
Use Private Enterprise.
"On this present policy Of conserv'
ing the natural resources Of the pub.
lie domain. while development Is the
keynote. the best thought OF the day
Is not that development shall be by ma
fiOnal agencies. but that wise utiliza.
tion shall be secured through private
enterprise under national supervision
and control. Therefore. If material
progress is to be made in securing the
best use OF our remaining public
lands. congress must be called upon
TO enact remedial legislation"
MIR. HallinGcr then gives in detail
his recommendation for the clnssili
cation of public lands. and the fea
lures OF n measure which he advises
Tor the direction of the disposal of wa
tcr-powcr sites.
The Reclamation Service.
Concerning the reclamation service
the report says in part:
I'm view of the Importance of Il
speedy completion of existing projects
and their proper extension. and OF tho
necessity In 1912 of an adjustment be
tween the states by which the major
portion of the funds arising from the
sale of public lands within each state
and territory shall have been eX
pcndcd so far as practicable within
such state or territory, and In view
of the importance of making bene
fetal use of waters already ap
propriated or capable of appropria
tion to which rights may be lost
for nonusc, believe an urgent ap
neal should be made 10 congress tC
authorize the issuance of certificates
Of Indebtedness. or of bonds against
the reclamation fund. TO an aggregate
of not exceeding s30.0o0.0OO. or sc
much thereof as may be needed.
Energetic reorganization of the In
dian bureau is in progress, says MI
Ballinger. and he recommends tha'
the Indian warehouses at New York
Chicago, Omaha, St. Louis and San
Francisco be closed as soon as pos
sible. A more advanced policy re
specting the maintenance, improve
mept and operation Of the Yellow
stone and Yosemite national parks Is
urged on the government.
Contracts Made on Feast Days.
The fixed date for Easter Is prob
ably a matter Of little concern IN the