El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-08
Report Of Secretary of the
Interior Deals Largely
With Alaska.

Washington. ID. c., January S--En-
larged application Of the leasing prin-
ciple as applied to the public domain,
especially a liberal leasing law for the
development of the mineral resources
Of Alaska. particularly its coal lands ana
immediate consideration by congress OF
the whole subject OF water power ue-
velOpment and control, are the most
important recommendations contained
in the annual report Of secretary OF
the interior Fisher
A general Overhauling OF conditions
in Alaska is needed. the secretary says.
He faVOrs a law for the 'retlreneht q
government employees, placing II on the
ground of good business policy he
urges the creation Of bureau OF ma
tiOnaI parks each OF them at present
being "a separate and distinct unit LOT
administrative purposes Inere IS alSo
serious need. he declares, for the en-
largement Of the work OF the bureau
"The great public movement for the
conservation Of our national reSIrces,
saws secretary Fisher, sis not in any
way opposed to prompt and wise 9e -
velOpment of the public domain ne
essential thing IS to see tnat uncet ~
guise of settlement we do not p6llllt
more exploitation, which in the last
analysis retards both settlement ana
DEVELOPMENT He recommends. mere
fore. certain notifications OF eNlslln az.
laws relating to the public CONAN 50
as to permit its proper development
Many of the restrictive provisions
which now irritate and hamper me
bona fide settler and Industrial ploheeIi
should be removed. he says
Should Protect the SETTER.
THE man on the ground snouid De
the object OF our soIlcltuoe' anu -
would place upon his shoulders any uH-
necessary burden.
In regard to agricultural lanu SCI
Tiers secretary Fisher holds that the
11r~ uhgnIureIW
tivatiOn but should permit the IsidN-
alton of the rule requiring EesluellSe
during the first two years, IN sum
cases on account OF condltlons tuelo
being no reason whatever for insist
ing upon the requirement. OF aclu@i
residence at the outset"
Some modification Of the law III -
gard to repayment of reclalndllou
charges is recommended and cnanse
in the law is proposed TO peIIil4t sl-S
settler at any time after IlNe year
from the date of entry and a!teI ne
has lived for three years upon nIs lS-ilN'
to acquire title TO the property
mo land should be open 20 nome
stead entry" he declares except "a Ia
which is really suitable for homes, anu ~
then the homemal1er should be aided IN
every proper way.
Public Range Should he Leased
erlv ~, sdRinistered under the existing
law Tt should be leased for grazing
purposes under the broad admlnlsll a
tive discretion OF the secretary o. tH5
interior, so that the leases can pc
adapted to actual conditions and the
legitimate interests of the sheep ana
cattlemen. At present the range itself
is being destroyed and both sheep and
cattlemen are coming to the convic-
ton that their own interests VIII be
better subserved by leasing law.
In fact. the enlarged application OF
the leasing principle to the public do
main generally Will. in my judgment
more effectively promote development
and protect the public interest than
the present system. Certainly coal OIL
gas. asphalt nitrate and phosphate
lands can be more appropriately devel-
oped by leasehOld than by the present