The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-24
LANES REPORT IS STRONGLY IS FAVOR
 OF CONSERVATION

VVaShinetou Dec. 24-The import ant results to be attained through the
 proper development of the natural re- sources of the United States and a broad policy of consersation for those resources is thoroughly outlined by
 Franklin K Lane, Secretary of the Interior, in his annual report to the President. The report is replete with suggestions for the sbetterrnent Of the country through the medium Of the Department of the Interior.
 Early in the report Secretary Lane takes up what he terms a serious situation in the West, where he dnds that there exists a feeling that that great section of the country is not accorded the consideration by the na- tional government that it merits
 4-Thers is a very simple reason for this impression" reads the report we have a.dventured upon a new noIicv os administering our affairs and have not developed adequate maeh1n- 'erv as vet We have called Q. halt on methods of spoliation which existed, to the great benefit of many, but we have failed to substitute methods, sane. heaIthful and progressive, by which the normal enterprise of an ambitious people can make full use of their own resources. We abruptly closed opportunities to the monopo- list. but did not open them to the developer"
 The putting into force of the land policy caused dismay and discontent in the West, the report states, but the policy of using land for the purpose for which it is best fitted is being gradually understood and appreciated. Referring to the great areas of un- developed land, the report indicates Alaska as the most undeveloped and neglected piece of land in the coun- e low fIa-,r the amount paid to Russia for the land have been made there and it is estimated that there are 50,000 acres of land that can be converted into homes for people as sturdy as those of New England
 The Secretary says:-
 sIn my judgment the way to deal with the problem of Alaskan resources is to establish a board of directors to have this work in charge Into the hands of this board or commission would give all the national assets in that Territory, to be used primarily for her improvement"
 The repoF@, which is comparatively brief contains two interesting predic- tions, which are indicated, rather than made outright One is that the time is not far distant when coal of too low a grade ito stand storage or trans portation will be converted into elec- L widely distributed for lighting, heat and power;'' the other, that the gigantic force now wasting itself in the rivers of the country will be so controlled by dams as to provide heat, light and power to the people and that within a generation I believe the people will be as alive to the value of public ownership of hydro electric power plants as they are to- day to municipal1y owned water works
 Vigorous suggestions looking to the conservative development of the coal lands of the West are made by Secre- tary Lane-
 : Similar suggestions are offered as to the development of petroleum, phosphate and potash Secretary Lane's idea is that such deposits ought to be developed under the leasing sys- Rem, as in the case of coal, the gov ernment reserving necessary supplies and taking a modest royalty.
 As to oil, he says:-''We should, I believe, stimulate the search for oil and protect the prospector I feel that we are not sufficiently rewarding the pioneer. The United States will ee&d oil for it's navy. as well as coal, and probably in increasing quantities as the modern oiI-burning or gas- burning sor gas-burning engines are recognized.
 ~England's adventure in this direc- tfon will presumably force other na- lions into like enterprises. Under these conditions it would seem of the highest expediency that the govern ment make such offers as will induce the proving of our lands, and trese | proved lands retain sufficient to make | our ships independent of the world
 Paterson. N. J.-Standard Oil com | nzrv reurazt for reduction in va111a ose |