The Bismarck tribune., 1920-12-07
P0PUL.AT TI0rN
0 N FAR M Is.
GRAVE A J. lSSU E
Secretary Of Interior Points
With Alarm to Small In
creases in Ten Years m.
ADVOCATES HOME BILL b
Federal Government Needs More
Authority to5Soive Rural sa
Problems of Nation ",

Washington, Dec. Need of a, far
sighted government policy with re-
spect to many of the country's in-
ternal affairs is. emphasized in the
annual report of Secretary Payne,
made public today at the Interior de-
partment. Lack OF a definite, aim was
said to affect particularly the ad-
ministration Of activities in Alaska,
in dealing with the Indian tribes, in
preservation of the national parks
and forests and again in handling
the greater Reconstruction problems
Of maintaining a high agricultural
production. s %, f...sr
l4'' 5lO Miles Of Railroad
u On. the subject of alaska, the Sec
retafy said Ithe primal problem was
Transportation and advocated the Op-
Grafton of d government owned steamT
ship line in order to insure develop
ment of the territory's resources. Two
lines now serve the region, butt Mr..
Payne indicated their service was not
satisfactory. He suggested their con-
solidatiOn as a means of improving
the service but this apparently was
-.
The government railroad in Alas
ka to be total OF $40 miles in length
will be completed and in operation
in 1922, Mr.. Payne reported. He add
ed that it tapped fields of untold min
eral wealth and praised the work Of
the engineers in the progress made
Much BoOtlegging n
The governors report declares that
Intoxicating liquor is finding it's way
into Alaska from British Columbia
in large quantities and "bootlegginy
seems to be increasing as private
stocks of liquor are exhausted" The
governor reported that "distillation
processes were becoming we'll known
adding to the menace which he said
existed. He urged however that pro-.
visions of the Volstead Act with re-
spect to the use of whiskey for
medicinal purposes be extended to
Alaska, claiming that many lives
could have been saved had whiskey
,
Of the pneumonia and influenza cpl.
denies in the territory. T.,
Small Increase 70
OF internal problems in the United
States, Secretary Payne mentions as
one Of the greatest Importance the
question of domestic reconstruction as
related to farming. The secretary
cited census figures showing that the
rate of increase of population on
farms was only one fifth as great as
that of the nation as whole. He be.
ieved this foreshadoWed dangerous
condition in the future.
"rhe difficulty" he continued, "is
hat people do not like to live alone,
)ut prefer to live in towns and vii
ages and enjoy the conveniences and
comforts of modern life which are be-
,ond the reach of a scattered popula-
ion living on large farms. Can this |
)e remedied by the ownership and |
he formation of neighborhoOd asso-'
;iations? Small farms bringing the |
people nearer together and intensive
cultivation of these farms may be the |
lnswer." .. " !
Rural Homes Bill |
Secretary Payne advocated passage |
# the Smo0t rural homes bill' which !
,e said would give the Interior de-
,artment an opportunity to dc much |
work in farming develop
nent and to take steps to aid the |
estoration of farming population
through increased land ownership by |
hose who work the laid. n
The government had spent to June
% total of S125,00O,000 on reclama-
ion projects, the secretary reported,
md approximately 2,150,O0G acres of
and have been made ariable through |
he reclamation efforts of the govern |
nent. d |
. The Secretary declared that the gov
rnment should come forward with A
scheme of reclamation
levelopement to meet the earnest |
esire of thousands of landless men
nd women who have become a part
Continued on Page ~