Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-12-24
BROAD POLICY FOR
INTERIOR Dept
OUTLINED
SECRETARY FRANKLIN X. LANE OF
THE DEPARTMENT or THE INTE-
RI0R, IN HIS ANNUAL R[PJRT TO-
PRESIDENT, TELLS OF CHANGED
POLICY he HAS INAUGRATED.
MAKES TWO VERY
NOTABLE PREDICTIONS

Washington, Dec 24.-With bold
strokes Franklin X. Lane secretary
tof the interior, today outlined, in his
annual report to the president, a
broad policy in the conservation of
1.-THE vast natural resources of the
! United States which yet lie within the
regulatory powers of the govern.
ment and pointed to the important re-
the development of these resources un.
der proper supervision.
Comparatively, the report is brief
1t, likewise, is wholly unique, in that
lit contains not single recommends
ton.
Two notable and interesting predic-
tions are indicated rather than made
in the report. One is that the time is
not far distant when coal of too low a
grade "to stand storage or transpor-
tation will be converted into electric
ty at the mouth of the mines and
widely distributed for lighting, heat
and power: the other, that the gigan-
tic force now wasting itself in the riv-
ers of the country will be so controll-
ed by dams as to provide heat light
and power to the people and that
within a generation | believe the
people will be as alive to the value of
public ownership of hydro-electric
power plants as they are today to
municipally-owned water-works."
In the opening lines Of the report,
Secretary Lane takes up a serious sit
uation which obtains in great sec
ton of the country. There exists a
feeling in the vest says he, that its
affairs and needs have not been given
that consideration at the hands of the
national government which they mer
it. This feeling is not confined to
spectators or exploiters. 1t is the
sentiment of many who are without
selfish motive and regard the matter
wholly from the standpoint of national
growth. -
"There is one very simple eXplana-
ton for the existence of this feeling.
We have adventured upon new poll
cy of administering our affairs and
have not developed adequate lnachin-
cry. We have called a halt on meth
DDS of spoliation which existed to the
great benefit of many, but we have
failed to substitute methods, sane,
healthful and progressive, by which
the normal enterprise of an ambitious
people can make full use of their own
resources. We abruptly closed oppor-
tunities to the monopolist, but did not
open them to the developer ~
Vigorous suggestions looking to the
development of the coal
lands of the west are made by Score
tary Lane. ut is certainly not for
the public interest,"" the report says
that our coal deposits shall be open
ed rapidly and ruthlessly, | can not
feel however, that We should sacri-
fee any present need for fuel or will
ingly surrender ourselves to a de-
mand for exorbitant prices because OF
a fear that some day the coal supply
may be exhausted. Already there has
been developed a substitute for coal in
The flowing stream. The turbine con-
verts melted snow into heat and light
which can be distributed over con- |
stantly widening area. think we
have now arrived at that point in
scientific achievement which justifies !
he belief that the wheels of industry !
will not cease, nor our houses go un- !
lighted or unheated, so long as dams !
nay be built upon our streams. Water !
will be, indeed already is, the great .
,st conservator of coal.
Similar suggestions are offered as .
O the development of petroleum,
phosphate and potash Secretary
4ane's idea is that such deposits
ugbt to be developed under the leas-
ng system, as in the case of coal
Secretary Lane expresses frankly
is dissatisfaction with the operation
f the homestead law as to the tim
er lands. He says the homestead
r." after getting patent to the land,
sells it for $4,000 or $2O,-
90 to some lumber company, without
laking an effort to comply with the
pirit of the law. Thus, the govern
lent closes the timber and the land
nd does not gain a real home maker.
uch homesteaders add nothing to the
ealth of the nation. The law should
unish them in fact, as frauds. There
, a remedy for this condition OF