The Elk Mountain pilot., 1909-11-04
WANTS FUND TO SPEEDILY COM.
PLETE ALL EXISTING RECLA-
NATION PROJECTS.
HIS POLICY IS OUTLINED
CONDITION OF SOME INDIAN
SCHOOLS is DISGRACE TO
THE NATION.

Washington.-Secreta Ballingel
of the Department of the Interior. who
has Just returned to Washington after
an extensive tour OF inspection OF the
public domain and interests in the
Far West under the jurisdiction OF
his department. has given out state
ment which is regarded as declara-
ton of his policy as to these matters.
Most interesting in his statement is
his declaration in favor OF the issuance
OF bonds, under authority OF congress,
against the reclamation fund so that
means may be speedily acquired TO
complete all existing projects.
The statement is written in the
third person and takes up the various
features OF the departments work.
devoting particular attention to the
various reclamation enterprises and
especially to water power sites on the
public domain.
The secretary reiterates without
fear OF contradiction" the statement
hitherto made in his behalf. that
since his incumbency no water power
sites on the public domain heretofore
withdrawn, have been secured by pri-
vate parties. and that he has energet-
ically made every effort. by temporary
Withdrawals. to segregate existing
power sites on the public domain. in
order to enable congress to legislate'
for their more prudent disposition
Secretary Ballinger states that dur
ing his trip. most OF the principal
government reclamation projects have
been visited, some of them with the
senate committee on irrigation. The
water users and settlers upon the re-
clamation projects have been con-
ferred with, as well as the government
officers in the field respecting exist.
ing projects, as well as questions
which may involve the Improvement
OF the service and the advancement OF
the interests OF the settlers"
The secretary declined to discuss
any phase OF the controversy regard.
ing conservation policies which has
been described as existing between
himself and clifford Pinchot. the gov.
ernment forester. He made 1t plain
that he will deal with conservation In
his annual report, to which he soon
will give attention.
In his report. Mr.. Ballinger declares.
he will place special emphasis upon
the right use and disposition OF the
coal, phosphate. oil and other mineral
deposits. water power sites and other
important natural resources of the
public domain. The activities OF the
department, the secretary declares,
will also show ''an aggressive and un-
firing effort to prevent the illegal
and improper disposition of the public
domain"
Mr.. Bailinger describes himself as
"keenly alive to the importance OF the
reclamation work in restraining flood
waters and protecting the great river
basins OF the West from destructive
floods. He made a special study Of
the conditions on the Colorado and Rio
Grande rivers. involving the appropri-
alton and right use Of these waters
within American territory before their
passage in Mexico"
The condition of some Of the Indian
schools inspected was described by the
| secretary as "a disgrace to the ma
ton" He declared some of them
were nothing but mere rat traps. foul
with age and unsanitary.
He is in full accord with the COM
missioner OF Indian affairs in his at
tempt to overhaul the field service
and secure great efficiency and
more pronounced advancement OF the
Indians.
The secretary is emphatic in his
commendation of the personnel of the
engineers and subordinates in the re-
clamation service. and for the high
type OF construction and durability OF
the work on the various projects. for
which they are responsible, as well as
their general efficiency and integrity.
The secretary is desirous that the
work shall be prosecuted with such
dispatch as to enable the government
to avail itself OF the appropriation
and beneficial use of waters in the
Western states, where large undertak.
ings may be availed of and which.
he says. are generally not within the
ability Of private enterprise.
Former coioradan Shot.
Goldfield, Nev.-Webb II. Parkison,
broker. was shot and killed here
Thursday evening by woman who
claimed to be his wife. 1t had not
been known here that Parkison was
I Ill T. t.x