The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-11
Charges Arouse a Marked
Sensation at the National
Irrigation Congress.
SECRETARY STARTS
TO DELIVER SPEECH
After Address Delegates May Fire
Some Questions Concerning
Land Entry.

SPOKANE. Wash. Aug. u.-Publica-
ton OF the story regarding the alleged
grab OF water power sites in Montana,
following che restoration to entry by
Secretary Ballinger of lands Withdrawn
BY President Roosevelt, has created a
profound sensation here, where the Ma
tional Irrigation Congress is in session.
All the delegates to the congress are
discussing the story, and it IS believed
Ballinger viii be called for an expla-
nation when he appears this afternoon
TO defend himself against the attacks
which have been made upon him. A
feeling of expectancy pervaded the con
vention han this morning. In the reso-
buttons committee, the effect of the
story printed yesterday has already
been felt Z. D. Vincent, Of Arizona,
has presented resolutions declaring;
This convention indorses the Roose-
Welt policies and acts looking toward
the conservation of natural resources,
and their preservation for the use Of
the people"
The resolution continues along that
line. deprecating reactionary tendencies
leaning toward the abandonment Of
that great principle"
Roosevelt Policy,
1t also indorses as part Of the Roose-
Welt policy the reclamation and for
estrv services.
The California delegation presented a
similar resolution, and Wenzeli L.
Hcische. OF Nebraska, presented one
declaring:
The good work Of the reclamation
service is done in the interest Of the
public. and we demand it be kept free
from political disturbances OF any
The election of former Governor Par
dee, of California as permanent chalr-
man of the resolutions committee is re-
garded as a defeat for Ballinger.
General Smith Talks.
General otis smith, Of the United
states Geological Survey, spoke on The
Classification Of the Public Lands" He
said:
The necessity for classifying the pub
lie lar.ds is not a recent discovery. The
earliest land legislation in this country
both contemplated differences in the
quality and character Of the pubic
lands and planned for descriptions based
on field examination. Yet even the hon
est administration of the land laws has
ever been subject TO criticism arising
from the fact that no adequate provision
was made for land classification.
utilization is the keynote of the pres
ent public land policy and by utiliza-
ton I mean not that kind Of local de-
-velopment that is promoted by the land
skinner" but rather a development
whose plan weighs national needs and
calculates future demands ana whose
accomplishment win serve our country s
developulent>in the next century as well
as in THE present decade. Utilization
IS opposed TO both non-use and waste.
photographic ana topographic survey
whi51l are now in progress under IN
stBucdons Of the Secretary Of the IN
terror have as their purpose the coHec-
ton OF information that may be pre-
scented to Congress in aid of legislation
looking toward the best utilization OF
the water powers on the public domain
Reports on the mineral or nOn-mineral
character Of coal, oil, and phosphate
lands OF which the survey has made
actual field examination are now being
transmitted to the General Land Office.
Another line Of activity rs the segre-
cation of nOn-irrigable lands under the
terms Of the enlarged homestead act
survey data whereby within the few
months since the passage Of this law
The Secretary OF the Interior has been
able 70 designate 162 milton acres Is
in itself "A 1orceful argument for an
adequate land classification.
Coal Land Classification.
The classification and valuation Of
coal land is a special phase OF public
land work 10 which the Geological Sur
4 "a
geologic Investigations Of the last three
deld seasons have not only furnished
z knowledge Of the quantity and quality
Of the coal on the public domain, but
have rendered possible the present pol
icy Of, obtaining coal prices for coal
lands. The General Land Ofdce now de-
ponds on the Geological Survey to fur
nish detailed valuations for every 40
acre tract Of coal land that is placed on
the market. In the two and a half
months following the adoption Of the
revised scheme OF valuation the reports
10 the General Land once released 10
agricultural entry approximately 200, 001
acres IN Colorado, Wyoming, and Mon
taua and placed selling prices on nearly
10000 acres or coal land with an aggre-
gate valuation OF over Sl5,O0OO9O
The ideal land classification is that
based on field examination, scientific
and detailed enough 10 include every
natural resource, the ideal land legisIa-
ton IS that which fully recognizes the
principle of relative worth and the
ideal land administration IS that which
will assure the reservation or the dis
position Of the land for its highest use. %
A large number OF other addresses
We're delivered during the morning and
Richard A. Ballingers Secretary OF the
Interior, opened the afternoon session
with the important speech Of the day.
Speaker of Afternoon.
The principal other speaker Of the az
ternooL was former Governor Parde'
OF California.
Commenting on the Reclamation Ser
vice. Condemning the policies Of Presi
dent Roosevelt as useless agitation, ex
pressing confidence that the present Ad
mluistratiOu viii not disturb business
and coudemning the eight-hOur day. El
--.----- -