Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-18
Is Making an Inspection of
All Reserves
STRENUOUS LIFE LED BY
PINCH0T'S CHIEF
RECLAMATION BY EDUCATION is
CABINET MANS SLOGAN
Imperial Valley Projects viii Not Be
Interfered With-Yuma Improve-
ments to Be Ready for Busi=
ness Next Spring
n ICHARD A. BALLINGER
X secretary of the interior,

h secretary of the interior,
=" spent yesterday in Los
turning his face east
ward last night again to com
plete, in the next two weeks, one
of the most remarkable tours of
personal inspection ever made by
a cabinet officer in the history of
the government.
Secretary Ballinger paused
long enough to take a satisfying.
look at Los Angeles and to give
one interview. In this interview
he said, among many other
things:
This is the era of the west.
She is coming into her own.
Reclamation, as it is being ac-
complished by the government,
means more than any one gen
Grafton can begin to appreciate.
"It is the aim of the govern
ment in all its work not only to
accomplish immediate beneficial
results, but to furnish to private
enterprises a model for their
guidance and to give to them en-
couragement and scientific aid,
you. may state positively the
deDartment of the interior has
no plans at present for assuming
or interfering with the private
project now furnishing water in
the Imperial valley.
"In all probability the Yuma
project will be completed this
winter. I believe it is planned
to throw the reservation depend
ing on this project open for set
tlement Immediately thereafter
The present administration is
working to cut down expense in
every branch. In the department
of the interior alone the estimate
for the present fiscal year will be
100000 less than it was last
year.
Los Angeles surprises me
Saw for me that the city IS Sc
beautiful and so attractive that
shall return again soon for an
other visit"
Much in Public Eye
Secretary Ballinger, since the contro-
versy into which his department was
thrown with Chief Forester Plnchol
has been elaborately pictured IN news
I,oners and magazines, particularly
those of the west. He has been de-
scribed as naughty, austere, ponpous
attorney, a theorist, corporation pet
and an aristocrat. He has peeh re
neatedly accused of becoming d party
To plan by which the water power
sites of all the government reserves ~
the country might be delivered to the
trust. ,,, .,,,
Perhaps Secretary Ballinger's tril
west If it has done nothing else, has
nelned dispel these illusions. A mar
who will leave the comfort OF WASH
ington Office, the luxury of hotel, the
convenience and speed OF a FulliiidI
naIace car. the accommodations fur-
oished nv the inns and private homes
Of email towns, to mount range pony
and ride more than 500 miles in short
stages in order that he may come into
personal touch with and master the de-
tails of engineering work of vast pro
nortions because it is to come dlrectly
Under his supervisions, is somethlhs
more than a pompous lawyer
TalIinper has done this. FOr IWI
months he has been making his way
from one government reclamation prof.
ect TO another from one Indian reser-
walton to another, from post to posi-
and from camp to camp IN order te
familiarize himself with the details
of the work President Taft has intrust-
ed to his care.
While the newspapers have been ac-
cusing him, the secretary has been oul
among the chain men and bridge build
ers of his force. finding out what the
conditions are. What use he will make
of the information he has derived re-
mains for the future to tell
Seeks Information
But at present Secretary Ballingel
must at least be credited with a sin
cere wish to know what he is doing
Accompanied by his secretary Mr.
Ballinger arrived from the north yes
terday morning and registered at Hote
Alexandria He was taken in charge
by his solicitor general, Oscar Lawler
who is in Los Angeles on visit, and In
Continued on Page Two.