The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-10-30
BALLINGER
RECOMMENDS
SECRETARY WANTS PROJECTS
STARTED COMPLETED FIRST.
FaVOrs the Issue of Bonds to Finish
Government Irrigation Projects
Will Recommend That Congress
Take Action at an Early Date.

Secretary Ballinger has returned
to Washington and resumed his duties
in the Interior department Wednes-
day he gave the press a statement Of
his ideas, plans and the recommended
tions he will urge upon congress. AS
the people of Caldwell and Boise Val
ley are vitality interested, we publish
in part Secretary Ballinger's state
ment, after his tour of inspection of
the government reclamation projects:
Secretary Ballinger states that dur
ing his trip ''most of the principal gov
eminent reclamation projects have
been visited, some of them by the SEN
ate committee on irrigation, the water
users and settlers upon the reclama-
ton projects have been conferred with,
as well as the government officers in
the field, respecting the existing prof.
ects, as well as questions which may
involve the improvement of the SER
vice and the advancement of the inter
ests of the settlers"
Respecting reclamation work, the
studies made by the secretary have in
spired him, the statement says, with
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 discuss
any phase of the controversy re-
garding conservation policies, which
has been described as existing be-
tween himself and Clifford Pinchot,
the government forester. He made it
plain that he will deal with conserva-
ton in his annual report, to which he
soon will give attention.
He declared himself in hearty ac-
cord with President Taft as to the
understanding of irrigation work only
where probable feasibility warrants
the expenditure of funds, and "inde-
pendent of local or political consid-
erations 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 adj
illustrative policies of the interior
department. In his report Mr.. Bal
linger declares he will place special
emphasis upon the right use and dis
position Of the coal, phosphate, oil
and other mineral deposits, water
power sites and other important nat
nral resources Of the public domain
The activities of the department, the
secretary declares, win also show IAN
aggressive and untiring effort to pre-
vent the illegal and improper dispo-
sition Of the public domain"
Mr.. Ballinger describes himself as
'keenly alive to the Importance of
the reclamation work in restraining
floodwaters and protecting the great
river basins Of the west from destruc-
tive floods,
He made special study of the con-
ditions on the Colorado and Rio
Grande rivers, involving the apphea-
ton and right use of the waters with
in American territory before their
passage into Mexico.
The condition of some of the In
dian schools inspected was described
by the secretary as disgrace to
the nation" He declared some OF
them were nothing but mere rat traps
foul with age and unsanitary de
is in full accord with the commissioner
of Indian affairs In his attempt to
overhaul the field service and secure
greater efficiency and more pro
nounced advancement Of the Indians
The secretary is very emphatic in
commentator of the personnel OF
the engineers and subordinates in tbs
reclamation service and for the higf
type of construction and durability o.
the work on the various projects, fol-
which they are responsible, as wei
as their great efficiency and integrity
The secretary is DESTROYS that tn