The Washington herald., 1910-12-09
Secretary Places the Total
at Nearly Billion Acres.
PUTS MATTER UP TO CONGRESS
Head of Interior Department, in
His Annual Report, Discusses Pub
lie Lands, Wster Power, Alaskan
Coal, National Parks, and RecIa-
matIon-WouId Abolish Appeals.

TO pubic land problems, giving statistics
to show that there now is remaining I'M
appropriated and unreseryed III, sS6. 4O9
acres of public land in the United States
and Alaska
Heretofore. says the Secretary. It has
been the policy of Congress to dispose
Of the public lands TO those who were
disposed to make the best use of them.
none OF which were disposed OF with a
view to securing revenue for govern
mental support Even the coal lands
we're sold at nominal figures, and until a
few years ago they were not entered
even at that figure, except where mar
ket facilities made the land salable for
their product
The movement TO conserve the national
resources in this national estate OF lands
that is. TO secure the Wisest and most
lasting benefit TO the nation IN their use
is a matter with which Congress must
deal New or amendatory legislation
respecting our public lands should be
direct, simple. effective, and relate
principally to the proper form OF disposi-
ton of the withdrawn lands-Water-
power sites, oil lands, coal lands, and
rights OF way over public lands.
Nearly Billion Acres.
The Incorporated public lands OF the
public-land States and Territories amount
to about 7l2.oOo0oo acres. and, as COM
pared with the private lands in these
various States, are a small percentage
OF the territory thereof. and the federal
government, says the Secretary. should
not undertake or assume the entire bur
den OF the conservation Of the natural
resources of the States in which they
are situated.
The area OF public and Indian lands
included in original entries and filings
during the fiscal year 1910 is 35.S9l. 90
acres. which is an increase Of 6,SsS, 1858
acres over the area entered during the
year 1903. The area patented during the
hseal year 1910 is 1885. 1501z acres. Of
which amount 100, 5sS acres was disposed
OF under the homestead laws
For the survey of public lands Con-
gress at its last session increased the
appropriation authorizing the abandon
ment OF the old contract method. The
surveys now are being made at reduced
cost by the forces IN the field and at
very great increase OF speed.
In vfew Of the conflict between water
power Withdrawals and applications for
rights Of way for purposes OF irrigation, |
as well as the development OF power, the
department is granting. after field in
vestigation, rights Of way for irrigation /
where the value of the site is found to
be higher for the reclamation Of arid |
lands than for the development OF COM |
mercial power.
Lands BEING Investigated
All the coal lands in Alaska not located !
prior to November u. 1906. are under the |
bond Of Withdrawals. Those located prior |
To said date are for the most part under |
investigation on charges OF !
fraud or irregularities, &C. A class OF /
entries, known as the Cunningham en- |
tries, made in 1907. have provoked wide /
discussion and popular interest largely /
because OF their alleged value and |
method Of attempted acquisition.
The Secretary directs attention 10 the /
contained in his report /
for 1903 for coal land legislation and /
points out the difficulties 10 be encoun- |
tered In the operation OF leasing sys- |
tenn But he favors a general leasing |
system for oil and gas lands which has /
worked satisfactorily among the Five |
Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma, and recon- |
mends a liberal policy on the part Of
the government for the opening up of |
the OIL ldIiNaS III Ad4liSi ma
water-pOvveE Sites.
AS 70 water power the Secretary has |
this to say: There Is now withdrawn
from disposition. pending legislation con-
corning water-power sites. approximately /
! $4,000 acres OF the public domain.
A large amount Of space is devoted 10 /
projects. from which source 1
up to June so. 1910. the total receipts were /
S65 a. 79 No new projects were under /
taken since March. 1863. Up TO the pres
ent time about 10000 acres OF land In I
Indian reservations have been reclaimed |
by irrigation works. Of which amount |
1S2640 acres are being irrigated by In /
dams, and $3.50 acres by white lessees /
and purchasers.
Would Abolish Appeals.
Mr.. Ballinger recommends that the 4
Board of Pension Appeals be abolished 1
from July j, 1911, and its duties trans /
ferred to the ONCE of Assistant Attorney /
General for the Interior Department. He /
also asks that Congress give careful con-
sidera ton 10 previous recommendations |
that the number of pension agencies be /
decreased or abolished. with view to
Congress is to be commended for set
ting apart vast areas for national parks. |
Of which at present there are more than /
4, 500. 900 acres. In order that creditable /
progress may be made in each OF the ma
tional parks, concludes the Secretary, /
after the development OF all necessary |
plans for road and other construction |
for the convenience of travel and tour
lists. liberal appropriations will be re-
quired and a departmental organization
for administrative purposes perfected.
capable of efficient field administration |
and of careful inspection of all public |
works and the conduct Of concession
aries.
Cruiser Going TO Honduras.
i