Gilpin observer., 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-
eution and Redistribution Of the
Public Domain-Issuance Of RecIa-
nation 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 eff cient 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 unscrupulous and that it was no
crime to violate or circumvent the
land laws. 1t is to be regretted that
we, as nation, were so tardy to real
ixe 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.
ut 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
to 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.
I'm 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 ma
| tional 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. r,-
Mr.. 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 Services.
Concerning the reclamation service,
the report says in part:
I'm view of the Importance OF a
Il
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 bene-
fetal use of waters already ap-
propriated or capable of appropria-
ton to which rights may be 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. to an aggregate
of not exceeding $30.000,000, or SO
much thereof as may be needed"
Energetic reorganization of the In
dian bureau is in progress, says Mr..
Ballinger. and he recommends that
the Indian warehouses at New York.
Chicago, Omaha, st. Louis aud 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.