El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-24


NJ Declaring that farmers who To-
:ate under the various projects
in the arid districts Of the west are
genuine pioneers in new field Of
work, Frankling K. Lane, secretary Of
the interior, in his annual report, sub
>=1tted today, suggests that they be
given a longer time than 10 years in
which to pay for their lands.
Upon the success Of their work,
says the secretary, depends the reScu-
ING of a great territory" OF the recla-
nation projects, Mr.. Lane says:
The west can use prOfltably and
wisely 500, 000 600 in the next 10 years
to the advantage of the whole country.
if the government viii place upon a
leasing basis these western resources
with which we have been dealing it can
have an increased fund for the con-
tinuance of this work and an increased
assurance Of the return Of its ad'-
Vances."
The secretary Of the interior outlined
in his report to the president, a broad
policy in the conservation Of the vast
natural resources of the United states
which yet lie within the regulatory
pow of the government and pointed
TO the important results that may be
achieved through the development OF
these resources under proper supervis-
ion.
Makes No Recommendation.
Comparatively, the report is brief
It. likewise, is wholly unique, in that
II contains not a single recommends
tiOn. Suggestions for action, which
secretary Lane observes emphaUcally
is what the country desires and needs,
are numerous; but he prefers to pro-
pose general policies to the making
Of flat recommendations.
Two notable and interesting predic-
lions are indicated rather than made
in the report. One is that the time is
not far distant when coal of too low
a grade ito stand storage or trans
pOrtariOn viii be converted into electri-
CITY at the mouth of the mines and
and power the other that the gigantic
force now wasting itself in the rivers
of the country viii be so controlled by
dams as to provide heat light and
power to the people.
In the opening lines Of the report,
secretary Lane takes up a serious sit
uatiOn which obtains IN a great section
Of the country. There exists a feeling
In the west" says he, that its affairs
and needs have not been given that
consideration at the hands Of the ma
UOnal government which they merit.
This feeling IS not confined to Specu-
latOrs or eXplOiters. It is the senti-
ment of many who are without selfish
motive and regard the matter wholly
from the standpoint Of national growth
There is one very simple eXplana-
tiOn for the existence Of this feeling.
we have adVentured upon a new policy
of administering our affairs and have
not developed adequate machinery. We
have called halt on methods Of splia-
ton which existed, to the great benefit
Of many, but we have failed to substi-
tute methods, sane. healthful and pro-
gressive by which the normal enter
prise Of an ambitious people can make
full use Of their own resources. We
abruptly closed opportunities to the
monopolist hut did not open them TO
Land Policy Causes Dismay.
Tbs land policy put into force, he
says, caused dismay anC discomfort"
The congress had been most generous
in its disposition Of the public lands
They were given to the railroads and
to the states. To classify them was too
difficult a task. They would classify
themselves when they arrived in indi-
vidual ownership. And so the door
was opened for monopoly and for
fraud"
IF the government did not appreci-
ate the invaluable nature Of its assets
there were men who did. The nation
wanetd home makers, but found its
lands drifting into the hands of cOrpo-
rauOns. which were Withdrawing them
from the market A reaction was in
evitable. If lands were to be with
drawn from public service why might
not the government do the withdraw
ing itself2"
A new policy was evolved, the secre-
tary pointed Out. that Of using the land
for the purpose to which it is best fit
ted. ITO this policy he SAYS Il be-
lieve the west is now recOnciled. The
west no longer urges a return to the
hazards OF the land is land policy. But
# does ask action. Already the con-
Eress has recognized the appOsiteness
Of this policy, but it is for yourself and
congress further to extend this thought
into our legislation.
Land waste in Alaska.
THE largest body of unused and neg
lected land i'm the United States is
Alaska. In the 46 years Intervening
since its purchase we have given it lit
tie more than the most casual concern,
yet its mines, fisheries and fUrs alone
have added to our wealth the grand
sum of $500. 100000 For almost a gen
Grafton it was the rich harvest field of
single company. Individual fortunes
have been made in that country larger
than the price paid to Russia for thu
whole territory. It has Been estimated
that here are 5O,0OO,OOO acres of this
land that VIII make homes for people
as sturdy as those of New England.
Whether this is so or not, it would ap-
pear that Alaska can be made self sus-
tanning asTicultUrally-
This vast and unsurpassed asset lies
almost undevelOped. A territory noe
fifth the size of the United States con-
tains less than a thousand miles OF