The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-12-03
|BAL[|NGER Tells
OF YEARS WORK
Report Of the Secretary Of the In
terror Received.
PROBLEM OF PUBLIC LANDS

TnOOe6M VI rU0llI lAWUS
Development Through Private Enter.
prise Under National Supervision
and Control Desired-Reclama-
ton Service Discussed.
Washington. Nov. sThe annual 70
bort to the president OF Richard A.
Ballinger. secretary Of the interior.
was made public to-day. and makes
Interesting reading. The report COW
srs portion Of the time under the ad-
ministration Of James n. Garfield. and
Mr.. Ballinger gives him credit for his
earnest and efiicient 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 tho
public domain was legitimate prey for
the INSCRIPTIONS and that II was no
crime to violate or circumvent the
land laws. II ID to be regretted that
We, a. nation, were SO tardy to real
Ize the Importance OF preventing 20
large measure OF our natural re-
sources passing into the hands OF land
pirates and spectators. with no view
o 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 II
Ia also true that actions to recover
such lands have In most instances long
since been barred by the statute Of
limitations. The principal awakening
TO our wasteful course came under
your predecessors administration. The
bold and vigorous prosecutions Of land
frauds. through Secretaries Hitchcock
and Garfield, have restored salutary
respect for the law. and the public
mind has rapidly grasped tho impor.
lance of safeguarding the further dis.
position OF our natural resources In
the public lands In the interest Of the
public good ~ against private greed.
Notwithstanding this. II II necessary
TO continue with utmost vigor. through
all available sources. tho securing OF
/! Information Of violations Of the public
land laws and to follow such viola
lions with rigid prosecutions.
Use Private Enterprise.
ION this present policy Of conserv.
Ing the natural resources Of tho pub
lie domain. while development II the
keynote. the best thought OF the day
In not that development shall be by M
tionai agencies. but that wise utiliza.
tion shall be secured through private
enterprise under national supervision
and control. Therefore. II material
progress In to be made In securing tho
best use OF our remaining public
lands. congress must be called upon
| I'd enact remedial legislation"
Mr.. Ballinger then gives In detail
his recommendation for tho classin-
cation OF public lands. and the fea-
lures OF measure which he advises
for the direction OF the disposal Of VA.
ter-power' sites.
The Reclamation eervlce.
Concerning the reclamation service,
the report says In part:
I'm view OF the importance Of 3
speedy completion Of existing projects
and their proper extension. and Of the
necessity In 1919 OF an adjustment b.
tween the states by which the major
portion Of the funds arising from tho
sale OF public lands within each state
and territory shall have been ex-
pended 10 far n practicable within
such state or territory. and In view
Of the importance Of making . bene-
ncial use Of waters already ap-
propriated or capable OF appropria-
ton TO which rights may DO lost
for nonuse. believe An urgent ap-
peal should be made to congress to
authorize the issuance OF certificates
Of indebtedness. or Of bonds against
the reclamation fund. 70 An aggregate
Of not exceeding s30. 900. 900. or %
much thereof n may be needed"
Energetic reorganization OF the In
dian bureau Is In progress. says Mr..
Ballinger. and he recommends that
the Indian warehouses ut New York.
Chicago. Omaha. ST. Louis and San
Francisco be closed M soon q pos
sible. A more advanced policy 70
specting the maintenance. improve
ment and operation Of the Yellow
stone and Yosemite national parks h
urged on the government.
Contracts Made on Feast Days.
The fixed date for Easter d prob
ably matter OF little concern In the
United States. but OF great impor.
lance In continental Europe. where