The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-11-05
BALLINGER
POLICY
SECRETARY STATES DEPART.
MENT POSITION ON WA
TER RIGHTS
Denies That There Has Been Waste
During His Administration or That
the Department Has Disposed of
Power Sites to Private Interests
Various Matters Touched Upon.

Washington, Oct. 30.-Secretary Bal.
niger, who has returned to Washing
ton after an extensive tour of inspec-
ton of the public domain and interests
in the Far West under the jurisdic,
ton of his department, gave out
statement which is regarded as a dec
laration of his policy as to these mat
tiers.
The statement is written in third
person, and takes up the various fea-
lures of the departments work, devot-
ing particular attention to the various
reclamation enterprises, and especial
ly 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 with
drawn have been secured by private
parties, and that he has theoretically
drawals, to segregate existing power
sites on the public domain, in order to
enable the 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
reclamation projects have been con-
ferred with, as we'll as the government
officers in the field, respecting exist
ing projects and questions which may
involve the improvement of the serv-
ice and the advancement of the inter
ests of the settlers"
Enthused Over Reclamation.
Respecting reclamation work, the
studies made by the secretary have in,
spired him, the statement says, with
an ambition to complete existing prof
ects as rapidly as business prudence
and moneys available will permit, and
he is earnestly in favor of securing
authority from congress for the issu-
ance of bonds against the reclamation
funds to give the service the means
whereby all existing projects can be
speedily completed and necessary ex-
tensions undertaken"
The secretary declined to dis
any phase of the controversy regard
ing conservation policies which has
been described as existing between
h
eminent forester. He made it plain
that he will deal with conservation in
his annual report, to which he soon
will give attention.
He declared himself in hearty ac-
cord with President Taft as to the
where probable feasibility warrants
the expenditure of funds, and 'inde-
pendent of local or political cons idera-
tions, every measure is to be adopted
on the ground that it will be useful
for the whole country"
The secretary expresses confidence
that when his attitude is known, the
public, both the people and congress,
will be in hearty accord with the ad-
ministratiOn policies of the interior de-
partment.
To Deal With Mineral Deposits.
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 do
main"
Mr.. Ballinger 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 disastrous
floods. He made a special study of
the conditions on the Colorado and Rio
Grande rivers, involving the appropri-
alton and right use of the waters with
in American territory before their pas
sage into Mexico
AS regards the Imperial valley in
California, which takes it's irrigable
waters from the Colorado river, Mr..
Ballinger believes those interested in
the Imperial valley, in order to obtain
permanent water supply, ultimately
will have to take their waters from
the Laguna dam. He says the depart
ment stands ready to do whatever it
can to facilitate the establishment of a
permanent supply for the people of
this valley. A great deal of misunder-
standing exists regarding the depart
ment's attitude, the secretary says,
adding that the government has at
present no control over or connection
with the private companies interested
in the canals and irrigation systems
supplying the Imperial valley.
The condition of some of the Indian
schools inspected was described by
the secretary as disgrace to the ma
ton" He declared some of them were
nothing but mere rat traps. foul with