The San Francisco call., 1909-11-29
Especial Disp0ich 10 The Call

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S.-Secretary
Of the Interior Richard A. Ballinger, in
his report to the president for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1909. discusses in
fun the coal land question. the debated
policy in regard to public lands. water
and power rights and all the national
Issues involved in the disposition of the
public domain for which the secretary
has been criticised so freely. especially
throughout the western states, since
his term Of Office began
After pointing out that all the prin-
cipal land statutes We're -ena cted more
than 25 years a go and that they do not
meet the requirements of more modern
life, Ballnger says:
The liberal and rapid disposition Of the
public lands under these statutes and the
lax methods Of administration which for a
long time prevailed naturally provoked the
feellng that the public domain legiti-
mate prey for the INSCRIPTIONS and that ii
Tas no crime 70 violate or circumvent the
The bold and vigorous prosecutions Of land
frauds. through Secretaries Hitchcock and
CARRIED have restored a salutsry respect for
me law and The public mind has rapidly
Rrasped the Importance Of safeguarding the
further disposition Of our natural
II material progress is to be made in
s,'IId sesgrng f.a the best use of-eur remaining
TO enact remedial legislation.
PROPOSES COAL LEASES
The outcry against Ballinger's policy
IN regard TO coal lands the secretary
meets in the following manner:
As regards new legislation. the present
coal land laws respecting the states and
territories. as well as Alaska should be sup
planted by act fully meeting existing
as vel IS future conditions.
believe the most advantageous method
VIII be found in measure authorizing the
lesse OF sale of the coal deposits in the
lands. subject 10 forfeiture FOR failure 10
exercise the rights granted, under such
reasonable regulations may be I'm
The above suggestions with reference to
the disposition Of coal deposits are equally
applicable 10 the oil and gas fields in the
public domain. and similar legislation as 10
mended
SUGGESTS RECLAMATION BONDS
In order to hasten the completion o.
reclamation works now under con-
struction and begin the building OK
projects sOrely needed, the secretary
recommends the issuance of $4,000 600
or less Of certificates of Indebtedness.
or bonds, against the reclamation fund.
redeemable on call within a period not
exceeding 10 years. Ballinger also rec
ommends that he be allowed TO with
draw temporarily land for irrigation
works, or susceptible OF irrigation.
pending the installation of construc-
experimental farms
WATER POWER REGULATION
In order to give the federal govern
ment control OF water power sites the
secretary recommends that the sites be
disposed OF only under condition that
the title thereto be reserved IN the
national government and only an ease
ment for a period not exceeding 20
years be granted for the purpose of de-
veloping and transmitting power am
for water storage
ROADS FOR HETCH HETCHY
The report devotes more space TO a
consideration of the Yosemite park
than 10 any other Of the national play
grounds He says:
Private toll roads should be extinguished
and all roads in the park placed under the
control Of and maintained by the govern
ment. Extensions Of road construction are
many Of the natural wonders Of the Yo
semitic and its adjacent valleys. such the
Hefch Hetchy and Grand Canyon Of the
Tuolumne. and new road is feasible and
most desirable along the south crest Of the
valley canyon Glacier point
In the Yosemite national park special at
tentlon is directed to the necessity for the
establishment Of a permanent water and
the tourists and campers and those stationed
in the park.
PLAN TO TAX RAILROADS
Ballinger says that the railroads have
6,057 400 acres of land within fhe limits
OF national forests. and as these landc
have never been surveyed they are no.
taxable. Ballinger points out that they
would bring in an annual tax of $780,
600 and wants TO survey the territory.
The secretary goes on record a,
strongly in favor of discontinuing the
United States Indian warehouses at
New York, Chicago, St Louis. Omaha
and san Francisco" and to clear up the
business that would pass through them
under the annual contract system.
In the matter of pensions the report
shows that $161.s7S,7oS was paid out
from the fund during the year, and that
ss.e13O825I3 has been expended in pen
sions by the United States since its foup-
dafion There are no veterans of the
war of 1912 alive now, but 595 widows
of veterans OF this war still survive ia