The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-02
BALL|NGER REPORTS
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TELLS OF WORK OF HIS
 DEPARTMENT.
STILL AFTER LAND THIEVES
Urges Continuation of Vigorous Prose cuton and a Reclassification of the Public Doman-Issuance of Recia- mation Fund Bonds Advised-The Indian Bureau.

mation Fund Bonds Advised-The
 Indian Bureau.
 Washington, Nov. 29.-The annual report to the president of Richard A. Ballinger, secretary of the interior, was made public to-day and makes in- teresting reading. The report covers a portion of the time under the ad- ministration of James R. Garfield, and Mr Ballinger 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 interruptions and that it was no crime to violate or circumvent the land laws. It is to be regretted that. we, as nation, were so tardy to real ize the importance of preventing so large a measure of our natural re- sources passing into the hands of land pirates and spectators, with no view to development looking to the national welfare.
 Must Continue Prosecutions.
 Tt 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 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 the impor- tance of safeguarding the further dis position of our national resources in the public land in the interest of the public good as against private greed Notwithstanding this, it is necessary 10 continue with utmost vigor, through all available sources, the securing of information of violations of the public land laws and to follow such viola tions with rigid prosecutions.
 Use Private Enterprise.
 Tn this present policy of conserving the natural resources of the public do- main, while development is the key note, the best thought of the day is not that development shall be by na- tional agencies, but that wise utiliza ton 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"
 MT. Ballinger then gives in detail his recommendations for the classifi- cation of public lands, and the fea- lures of a measure which he advises for the direction of the disposal of water power sites.
 The Reclamation Service.
 Concerning the reclamation service, the report says in part:
 Tn view of the importance of a speedy completion of existing projects and their proper extension, and of the 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 pended so far as practicable within such state or territory, and in view of the importance of making a bene ticial use of waters already ap- propriated or capable of appropria- tion to which rights may be lost for nonuse, l 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, to an aggregate of not exceeding s30,000,000, or so much thereof as may be needed"
 Energetic reorganization of the h. dian bureau is in progress, says MT Ballinger, and he recommends that 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. ment and operation of the Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks is urged on the government