Arizona republican., 1909-10-28
SAYS OF RECLAMATION
He Favors Bond Issue to En- able Service to Complete Work Under Way and to Undertake the Extensions Where Feasible.

| Washington, Oct. 21.-Secretarv
 Baliinser. who returned to Washing
 ton last night. after an extensive
 tour in the far west, today gave out
 statement which is regarded as a
 declaration of his policy. The state-
 ment is written in the third person
 and takes up various features of the | departments work. devoting particu- lar attention to various reclamation I enterprises and especially water DOW CT sites on the public domain. The secretary reiterated without fear of contradiction" the statement hither-
 to made in his behalf. that since his
 incunibency no water power sites on
 the public domain. heretofore with
 drawn. have been secured by private
 parties, and he has energetically made every effort by temporary with draw
 ais to segregate the existing power sites on the public domain. in order
 to enable congress to legislate for their more prudent disposition
 NIT. Ballinger states that during his tour most of the principal gov ernment reclamation projects have 1 been visited. some of them with the senate committee on irrigation Water users and settlers under reclamation projects have been conferred with, as we'll as questions which may in-
 volve an improvement of the service and the advancement of the interests of settlers
 Respecting reclamation works. the studies made by the secretary have inspired him. the statement says,
 with an ambition to complete the existing projects as rapidly as busi- ness prudence and the money avail able will permit. and he is earnestly in favor of securing authority from congress for the issuance of bonds against the reclamation funds to give the service means whereby all the existing projects may be speedily completed and the necessary exten- sions undertaken
 The secretary declined to discuss any phase of the controversy regard ing conservation policies that has been described as existing between himself and Pinehot. He made it 1 plain that he will deal with conserva- tion in his annual report, to which l he soon will give his attention.
 He declared himself in hearty ac- cord with President Taft as to under ! taking irrigation work only where the | probable feasibility warrants the ex- penditures of funds, and independent | of local or political considerations. I every measure to be adopted on the | whole country" The secretary expresses confidence | that when his attitude Is known. the | Hi A-t tt,A md o<-s. will be in hearty accord with the I terior department.
 Mir. Bsllinger declares that he will place special emphasis upon the right use and disposition of coal. phosphate. oil and other mineral deposits. water sources power sites and other important natural resources of the public domain. The activities of the department the secretary declares. also will show an aggressive and untiring effort to pre- vent the illegal and improper disposi- tion of the public domain" Mir. Bal | finger describes himeslf as "keenly | alive to the importance of the reclam- | ation work in restraining flood waters | and protecting the great river basins | of the west from disastrous floods. He made a special study of the condi- | tions of the Colorado and Rio Grande | rivers, involving the appropriation and right use of the waters within Amer | ican territory before their passage in- to Mexico.
 As regards the Imperial valley. in | California. which gets its waters from the Colorado river. MT. Ballinger be- lieves those interested in the valley, in order to obtain a permanent water supply ultimately will have to take their waters from the Laguna dam. ! He says the department stands ready to do whatever it can to facilitate the establishment of a permanent water supply for the people of this valley. |
 great deal of misunderstanding exists regarding the departments at titude. the secretary says. adding that the government has no control over or connection with the private companies interested in the canals and irrigation systems supplying the Imperial val ley
 The condition of some of the Indian schools inspected was described by the secretary as a disgrace to the nation" He declared that some of them were nothing but mere rat traps. foul with age and unsanitary. He is in full ac- cord with the commissioner on Indian affairs in his attempt to overhaul the field service and secure greater ef- ficiency and more pronounced ad- vancement of the Indians.