Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-06

U!ont or tho counlryS natural resources under control of the interior department k2vo contributed in great measure to na-, tlonal stabilization and prosperity Sec retary Fall declared today in his an- nual report The secretary listed the more outstanding of these contributions as opportunities for home making upon public lands by returned soldiers and and other citizens: the discovery of new oil fields: development Of existing fields and increasing production Of oil and its products; the exploitation of coal de- |. poEits, and the opening of mines in the western states.
 Incidentally, the interior secretary de- ciared these developments have resulted in very substantial cash returns to the federal treasury and 10 the various states in which these mineral resources hayo been developed under leading laws.
 Land oTice and Pension oEice
 The outstanding administrative ac consDlishment Of the department during the fiscal year ended last June 50 was declared to be the reaching almost of current work in both the land office and the pension office. The examination of final homestead proofs is current in the former office. situation which has not existed for many years, the secretary
  suited placing in the hands of the people assets valued at more than SSO,- OOe.0o0 and has been done without in- crease in force of that office and in the face of greatly increasing work
 Reclamation Of Arid Lands
 wider extension ot the reclamation policy in former arid lands of the West was recommended in the report, which ff. .y- rl for the work the achievemeuts of the reclamation service justified the contin- uation of the reclamation policy On new irrigation project was started despite the lack of funds, and the total value of crops ra he'd on reclaimed lands was es- tinated at more than 475,o00.0o0. The benefits in the way. of making homes, in- er6sse of food production and additiv. . ths national wealth by the reclamation otilaRds make that work of great value in return to prosperity. the report as- serted
 Education of Indians, which falls to the Iot os the interior sdepartmefIt, has bean greatly promoted. The attendance at Indian schools for the past, year was 5000 greater than in, any previous year. A special effort to provide greater health facilities to the Indian through ,, more hospitals and moro, extensive nursing servlcs was made.
 1sO,OOO Pension Claims
 More than tl3e,00o penSrons claims were disposed of during the year by the Bureau of Pensions and 99,o00 applica- tions fof pensions,' the accumulation fr March, 1921, were handled, practically bringing that work up to date. The to- tai number of pensioners 0n the rol!' at the end of the fiscal year was 547,O16 being l9,037 less than the previous year Tho amount disbursed for pensions wal S253, 3,SO7,5S3. Increasing efficiency il this service was attested to by the de crease in the cost of adjudication ant payment.
 Ils,50O Applications for Patients
 A record breaking number of applica tions for patents in. this country wal received by the patent office, more thai 1lS,5OO. This has caused great need o increased office forces, and if the in crease in the work continues at the rat of the past three years, the director re ported, iL may be necessary further t augment the number of employees, Tn patent office is a self-supporting institu Iion, MT. Fall pointed out adding tha last year the receipts of the office wer tI72,O00 greater than expenses
 National Parks
 The playgrounds of the nation, its na tional parks and monuments, were visit cd by a record breaking number of per sons More than 1,2l6,00O, citizens e every state and territory in the uhioT It's possessions and many foreign coun tries viewed the wonders of nature pre- served in these parks 1'aN1
 Provision for storage of oil draw from government oil wells in the west, t ( crude oil, was recommended in the re mort. q Ina order that the governmen which is forced Ito Sell itV oil royaltie monthly, may take advantage of bette markets by holding back it's stock Provisions for more storage tanks, sue as private companies have, in the field Is absolutely necessary it was-said, U1 der this system, Mir. Fall stated, the go' ernpents oils tend to beat, down tf prices in periods of depression to the il Jury of the consumer. To the extent thi the rovernment is obliged to take part business, it should through It's 1influent toward mobilization rather than towal aernoTanzation of the industry, he said
 Royalties from Oil Land Leases
 Pointing out the government takes l royalties from oil lands leases in Il form Of crude oil, MT. Fall said return from GnlS BouFee 1aurlftts the year amour cd to SJ, ,S00, ,0o0, while in the fiscal yei S3z,500, ,00O was received by the India tribes from royalties on oil product tr0m Indian owned lands.
 Aiaska and Hawaii
 Reports of the goernors of Alssl md Hawaii, summarized in the interi report, review the progress of the tV territories during the year.
 Governor Bone, of Alaska, noted tn a steady increase in exports and 1T ports foreshadowed returning prosperi and eaid that with encouragement vtrcng tide of immigration might ha' set in He added that, however, un nlinlng was inauguFeted on a lar scals and Industries started the pop latlcn could not be expected to increa greatly. T he governor submitted
 tong list of recommendations urgil that jurisdiction over tho whole
 Alasla excepting the fisheries be vest ln inc interior department: that bran lines and spurs be built to the Alas railroad that an laW-entorcing age cles be consolidated under the dspartme 0f justice that control of the fisheries taken over by the bpeau of fsheies
 lbe depatSnent of commercs, und t lormuiation of coloniEation DIal,