Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1916-01-07
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR is
SUES ANNUAL REPORT
WANTS MORE IRRIGATION
ADVOCATES FURTHER Development
OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS and
WATER CONTROL

(By Chas. A. Nystrom, Secretary
Angostora Irrigation Association.
The annual report of the Secretary
of the Interior, which has just been
issued, is full of suggestions of interest
to US in this western territory. Frank
lin K. Lane, the Secretary, is himself
western man, and understands west.
ern problems. In him we have q
staunch friend and supporter. in our
efforts to develope the vast resources
Of the west and middle west. He has
studied irrigation, mining, and forestry
at first hand, and is in position to
speak advisedly.
This report covers the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1915, and is directed to
the Presidsnt. His policies are so
clearly set fourth in clear out English,
a style 80 direct and forceiul, that we
copy some of his leading statements
word for word as follows:
Washington, November 20, 1915.
Sir: In presenting an outline of the
years work, make bold to express the
hope that no other policies of the gov
ernment may be allowed to stay the
Internal development of this country.
There is fear, how general 1 do not
know. that this government will halt
in carrying out its full and needed
program of legislation Affecting home
affairs because of the immediate need
for strengthening our national defens-
es. This Apprehension arises, am con-
6dent, out Of no lack of sympathy with
the plan to increase the army and the
navy, but out of feeling that the gov.
ernment In both executive and legis-
lative branches will be SO immersed in
matters military and naval as to over
look these matters of less dramatic
and perhaps less immediate concern.
Any such course, am sure, would of.
fend the most deep seated instinct in
our people"
In this plea, he voices the apprehen-
sion Of our people in the southern
Blaoh Hills. We Have every reason to
believe that had not the European war
come In to engross the attention Of our
Congress in dealing with the problems
growing out of this war, our big Ango.
stura irrigation project in Custer and
Fall River counties would now be un.
der construction. And we very much
fear further delay for the reasons sug.
gested by the secretary.
Mr.. Lane further states: "The waters
that flow idly to the sea could be made
to support not less than 5OOOO,OOO peo
pie II turned upon the land that other
wise will remain psstureland or ether
wise altogether worthless The demon
stration has been given that the lands
Of little rain can be made more fruitful
than those where the rainfall is abun-
dant. Land and water we have; the
problem of bringing them together IL
one only of money"
The secretary also makes q plea fol
the passage of the two bills advocated
by him last year, which both passe
the house but we're killed in the senate
These bills we're the water power bill
governing the use of public lands fol
hydro-eleotric development, and tn,
general development till, providing fol
practicable methods of disposing of on,
oil, gas, coal, phosphate. and potas |
without danger of monopoly or non
use. The royalty from oil, gas, coal
aud water power developed on publ,
lands should be used for the reclaim
ing of the arid country aud when need
ed no longer for this purpose, then tt
bs divided with the states, according Il
Mr.. Lanes suggestions. This woult
add materially tc the one hundred mil
lion dollar reclam alton fund now tie,
up In the big federal irrigation pro
iects, thus permitting number G
new ones to be started pending the re
payment Of funds already invested b
the reclamation service. It is cont
IDENTIFY believed that this same bill vii
come up for passage at this session q
congress, and that with som, amend
msnts IL will pass.
A plea for the control of the grea
river systems of the country is ais
made. He believes they should be pu
to practical use just what We in Sout
Dakota, have been advocating, an