Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-11-08
BALLINGER AS
CONSERVATIONIST
Make Full Explanation OF His
Cancellation OF With
drawn Order.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. s.
Secretary Ballinger's widely dis
cussed revocation OF the famous
CARRIED order" withdrawing from
settlement 1900, 600 acres of public
land, and the substitution therefor of
a withdrawal order Withholding from
settlement 100000 acres, today was
declared by Mr.. Ballinger to have
been wholly promotive-not subver-
sive-of the conservation policy.
A lengthy explanation of his can
cancellation of the Garfield with
drawal was given to the press by
Mr.. Ballinger, who asserted it was
illogical step in the preservation of
the policy of conservation OF the
water power on the federal domain,
and one which Mr.. Garfield must
have taken himself had he remained
in Office.
The first order was a blanket
withdrawal, issued to meet the emer-
gency and without taking time to
ascertain just where the power sites
were located" said Secretary Bal
linger. Intelligent prosecution of
the policy demanded that as soon as
possible thereafter the sites be To-
Gated and the lands not needed to
protect them be restored to entry.
1t would be an unwarranted refiec-
tion on Secretary Garfield to assume
that he would not have done precise
ly what / did. ascertain as soon as
practicable where the power sites
were actually located and issue a new
order Withdrawing them from settle
ment and restoring to entry all lands
not needed for that purpose.
Il found that by utilizing the geo.
logical survey, instead of the re-
clamation survey. which had been
employed by my predecessor. could
secure accurate information as to
the location of the power sites. On
consultation with the legal officers
OF my department / found that /
could make withdrawal orders ret
Toactive, that is, that l could issue
withdrawal orders later that would
effectually protect any power sites
within any entries which might have
been made in the interim. The ret
roactiye provision of the subsequent
Withdrawals operated completely to
conserve the sites.
Has Given Away No Power Site.
Not a single power site has pass
ed ont of the possession of the gov
eminent during this administration.
LAS a matter of fact, the with
drawals ordered by me protected so
per cent more power sites than were
conserved by the Garfield order. This
implies no criticism of the Garfield
order, and merely shows that the
Garfield order was tentative.
my first withdrawal order waG
dated May 4, 1909, and the last
which included many OF the lands
formerly withdrawn, June 10, 1909
but each OF these orders contained
the language All existing claims, al.
ings and entries are temporarily sus
pended As q matter of fact, there
was not q single fling made on .
power site during the interim. Or
the other hand. the restoration Il
entry of over 1000. 900 acres Of lane
not needed to protect the power site
allayed widespread discomfort and
thus avoided unnecessarily makinl
entries for the conservation policy
Since June 10 I have made rs add
tiOnal Withdrawals Inc entirely new
territory"
Secretary Ballinger stated that Mi
orders OF Withdrawals do not protec
power sites within forest reserve.
and added in explanation that previ
ously he had offered to include pow
or sites on forest reservations bu
that the offer was declined on tn.
ground that the forest service eoulG
take care Of such sites. The secretarj
(Contfnund -, D., T7G-bE =