The Washington herald., 1910-12-09

made pubic, deYoteS considerable space
to public land problems. giving statistics
to show that there now is remaining I'M
appropriated and unreserved III, 9S6. 400
acres of public land In the United States
and Alaska.
Heretofore. says the Secretary. IL 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 10 securing revenue for govern
mental support Even the coal lands
were sold at nominal figures, and until a
few years ago they we're not entered
even at that figure, except where mar
ket facilities made the land salabIe 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 20 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 DISPOSE
ton OF the withdrawn iands-water-
power sites, oil lands, coal lands. and
rights OF way over public lands
Nearly Billion Acres.
The inappropriate public lands OF the
public-land states and Territories amount
to about 7i2,O0O.O00 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 %, S9l. %
acres, which Is an increase Of 6S9s, l6o-..S
acres over the area entered during the
year 1903. The area patented during the
fiscal year 1910 is l0,9s3.l5 acres, of
which amount 7. 404.5sS acres was disposed
OF under the homestead laws.
For the survey OF public lands Con-
gress at It's last session increased the
appropriation authorizing the abandon
nent of the old contract method The
surveys now are being made at reduced
cost by the forces in the field and At a
very great increase Of speed.
In view 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 20
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 z. 1906. are under the
bond OF Withdrawals. Those located prior
to said date are for the most part under
departmental investigation on charges OF
fraud OF 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 TO the
recommendations contained in his report
for 1909 for coal land legislation and
points out the difficulties 10 be encoun-
tered in the operation Of leasing sys-
TEN. 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 lands in California
water-power sites.
As TO water power the Secretary has
this 10 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 TO
reclamation projects. from which source
up to June 80. 1910. the total receipts were
S65. 714,179. No new projects were under
taken since March, 1909. Up 10 the pres
ent time about 10000 acres OF land in
Indian reservations have been reclaimed
BY irrigation works, of which amount
1S264O acres are being irrigated by In
dams, and 42,OS0 acres by white lessees
and purchasers.
Would Abolish Appeals.
Mr.. Ballinger recommends that the
Board Of Pension Appeals be abolished
from July /, 1871, and its duties trans
ferred to the office Of Assistant Attorney
General for the Interior Department He
also asks that Congress give careful con-
that the number Of pension agencies be
decreased or abolished, with view to
economy.
Congress is 10 be commended for set
ting apart vast areas for national parks,
of which at present there are more than
100000 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.