Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-14

missioner OF the general land ONCE they
call him-and his office is one of the old
est in the government. Last year ii cele-
brated it's centennial. Still, for all its
age, il is one Of the most human. one of
those offices that touch the people most
intimately, in all the public service.
II is Uncle Sans home-making office.
-
Time was when the general land Office
was mere selling agency, through which
Uncle Sam disposed OF his surplus lands.
first with the basic idea of getting money
out of them to pay the revolutionary war
debt. and later on the more far-sighted
plan OF getting the lands and resources
IN the west put to work for the benefit
and upbuilding of the nation.
This new commissioner believes that
nc man on the acre outweighs in eco
ionic value the intrinsic worth of the
.tefe. TIE value of our natural resources
dependent Upon and subordinate TO the
occupation and use by the people
Ills belief and his policy are based on
practical knowledge OF conditions on the
pubic domain and profound study OF
them All his life he has lived in public
land states He has battled with the
desert, suffered the terrors of Death val
through forests as prospector. miner
md true pioneer; he knows his west. but.
what IL more. he has breadth OF vision.
There is nothing sectional In his outlook
on the great problems which he has to
Solve.
II novelist We're seeking character
% represent the real modern westerner
ne could do no better than to study Clay
general Land Office If a sculptor were
seeking model for a statue OF The
Westerner" he should go no farther than
his oig-boned. Rrave-faced and virile
vounR lawyer-miner He personities the
vest. and his life and career until he be-
carne q national character are paralleled
ny the lives and careers OF thousands of
other Americans who are building and
directing the affairs OF the young com
monveaiths toward the setting sun
Born ON a Michigan farm in 1874. OF a
:-anspianted New England family. his
.arl,. life was the duplicate OF that of so
many who have later won high place In
,he nation. There is the common school
education the summer work that aided
him through high school. the teaching
Tat furnished him the funds TO go
through the state agricultural college
from which. by TIE way. he was gradu-
ated in ls95-all these things of the con-
Nentionai biography OF the prominent
Americans are found in the annals of his
life.
That pioneer blood which. generations
ago. led his forebears TO New England
ard sent his more Immediate ancestors
ri along definite racial lines stir
red in him and he. too. heard the call of
tho west and went to Colorado. There
Ne continued To teach school, the while
studying a postgraduate student al
tie University of Colorado Town super
.utendent and city superintendent. he be-
came known in Colorado a successful
educator
In the meantime. however, he got in
terested in irrigation projects, acquired
some money and seemed on the broad
road 10 wealth. But here came the
great turning point in his life. He felt
that he was not yet ready for wealth.
He wanted more learning. more intel
lectual equipment for successful living
So he abandoned the fair prospects be-