Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-10
Alaskan Railway Was !.
Important Legislation
Secretary Lane Reviews Laws Affecting Public Domain and Var
ious Governmental Projects; Generous Appropriations for the
Indians. ..UMw s*%
Indians.

Secretary Lane, of the Interior De
partment, expressed himself today a!
pleased with the record made by thu
Sixty-tnird Congress on legislation at
fecting the work OF The Interior De
partment and the public affairs under
it's administration.
mo single congress in a decade
said the secretary, 'has passed ant
considered so much constructive leg
islation for the development of the
west, he encouragement of pioneers
and settlers, and the economical ad
ministration of the many interests
handled by this department.
. Leasing Alaskan Lands.
Probably the biggest item in the
list is the legislation for the building
OF the Alaskan railway, and the open
ing and leasing of Alaskan coal lands
The country will come to look back
upon this legislation as inauguratin.
a work that will rank in importance
with the construction OF the Panama
Canal.
"The extension of time for recla,
nation settlers to pay their water
AASAI SAo 6Ooy CAAC uCSCi l-l0Lu dNLS ~
relieve and encourage settlers who
are striving to make homes in the
arid sections, the temporary oil leas.
ing bill for the relief of the oil situa.
ton, the authorization of establish.
ment Of ten mine experiment bureaus
and Is additional mine-rescue stations.
the appropriations for extension of
the work Of the Bureau of Education
in rural and industrial sections, are
all progressive measures. In it's ev.
cry act in relation to the public do
main and the work of this department,
the congress just adjourned has evinc-
ed a desire to further the interests
and encourage the efforts of the real
home builder and the man or woman
anxious to aid in the country's devel-
opment, and has frowned upon the
speculative and exploiting class.
Conservation Of Resources.
"Real progress has been made to-
ward true conservation of our natural
resources. Although the leasing bills
for opening up the coal, oil, phosphate
and potash lands and water power
sites to development failed in the SEN
ate because Of obstructionistic tao
tics, the favorable action by the house
upon these measures and the passage
of the law opening the surface of phos-
phate and potash fahds to homestead.
ing, and providing that the mineral
deposits in these lands shall remain
withdrawn until further action by cor
gress, is highly significant of the pur-
pose of congress to complete this pro-
gram at an early date.
"The Indian appropriation bill failed
to pass because of a controversy over
the demand of the Choctaw Indians
in Mississippi tina. they be enrolled
and given a share Of the tribal funds
of the Choctaw Indians of Oklahoma.
A joint resolution passed by congress
extends the appropriation of the cur
rent year for Indian purposes. While
the failure of this bill will necessarily
cause some embarrassment to the In
dian office, it will not lead to any
neglect of the Indians or Of their prop
erty or interests, which will be fully
cared for"
Affecting Public Domain.
Among measures Of Importance re-
latlng 10 the puD!tc uOuldIA anu tne
affairs of the Interior department,
which have been enacted by the Sixty
third congress-, Secretary Lane men
toned the following:
The Alaskan railway law, and the
appropriation at the last session which
gives the administrator about $780,
900 available for work, during the COM
ing year.
The Alaska ~coal-leasing law. APP.
preparation of $14,O00,O00 to be ex'
pended on reclamation work in 1916.
Authorization of a new building for
the interior department, estimated to
cost $25OO,O0O, of which $1,5OO,OO Is
appropriated this year. This new build
ing, to be, erected at F. and Eight
eenth streets, Washington, will con-
tain quarters for all the bureaus OF
the department except the Patent
Office, the Bureau. Of Education and
the Pension Bureau.
An appropriation of 100000 for the
construction of new laboratories for
the Bureau OF Mines at Pittsburgh.