Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1912-01-08
Walter I. Fisher, Secretary
of the Interior, Sub
mits His Annual
Report.
DISCUSSES THE
ALASKA PROBLEM
Deals Also With Long List
of Other Matters Rela-
tive to His De
partment.
ISSOcidted Press Dispatch

-iNSOttditd IFtSS DtSYdICH
WASHINGTON. Jan Enlarged
application OF the leasing principle as
applied to the public domain. especially
a liberal leasing law for the develop
ment of the mineral resources Of Alas
ka. particularly it, coal lands. and inn
mediate consideration by congress sf
the whole subject of Water-power de
vclopment and control, are tfe most
important recommendations contained
n the annual report Of Secretary of the
Interior Fisher made puolic tcday.
\ general overhauling of conditions
i'm Alaska is needed, the secretary says.
He favors "a law for the retirement of
government employees placing il on the
ground of good business policy He
Urges the rcation of a bureau of IA
tionaI parks. each of them at present
being II separate and distinct unit for
administrative purposes" There is
also serious need. he declares for the
enlargement of the work Of tho bureau
of mines.
The great public movement for the
conservation of our national ycsourc-
es." says Secretary Fisher. els not i'm
any way opposed To- prompt and wise
development OF the public domain. The
essential thing is To- see that under the
guisc of settlement. we do not permit
mere exploitation. which in he last
analysis retards both settlement and
development" He recommends. there
fore. certain notifications of existing
laws relating 10 the public domain So
AIS To- permit its proper development.
Many of the retrictive provisions
which now irritate ana hamper the
bona fde settler ard Industrial pioneer,
should he removed. he says
The man on the ground should be
the object ot our soiicitude. ana We
should protect him against those who
would place upon his shoulders ANY un-
necessary burden"
In regard to agricultural land sett-
lers. Secretary Fisher holds that the
law should insist absolutely upon cul-
tivation but should permit the relax
alton of the rule requiring rcside1cc
during the first two years in some
cases on account of con-litiors there
being no reason whatever for insist
ing upon the requirement or actual
residence at thr outset"
Some modification Of the law in re-
gard To repayment of reclamation
charges is recommended and Il change
in the law is proposed to permit the
settlers at any time after five years
from the date Of entry and after he
has lived for three years upon his
land. to acquire title to the property.
No land should he open To home
stead entry" he declares. except that
which is really suitable for homes; and
then the homemakcr should be aided
in every proper way.
The timber ana stone act should be
Immediately repealed. and also the act
authorizing the cutting OF timber on
mineral lands. They hold out con-
stapt invitation to abuse and to more
exploitation.
The public range can not he prop
erly administered under the existing
law. II should be leased Tor grazing
purposes under the broad alministra-
tive discretion of the secretary of the
interior. 80 that the loeaseS can he
adapted to actual conditions and the
legitimate interests of the sheep and
cattle At present the range it
self is being destroyed and both sheep
and cattle men are coming to the con
Viction that their own interests will be
better subseryed by a leasing law.
In fact. the enlarged application of
the leasing principle to the public DO
main generally viii. in my judgment,