, 1922-10-22

lions Tor forest roads were very large
ly increased and the requirement Of
local cooperation contained in Section
) Of the Good Roads Act was repealed.
Large Appropriations for Roads.
The total sums available for this
class OF work In Wyoming for the
present n the coming fiscal year
amount to $559.000.0O. Immediately
upon tile passage of this Legislation
Mr.. Mondell began urging increased
activity in the construction or the
completion OF all the roads which
nave been mentioned. particularly urg-
Ing the very great Importance of the
Dayton-Kane road.
Indian Reservation Roads.
The Highway Act above referred TO
also contained a provision under
which sums allotted to the state out
of the general federal appropriation
for roads became available for the
construction of roads within Indian
Reservations without contribution of
state or local funds. Under this pro-
vision the State Highway Commission
has already submitted a project on the
Wind River Reservation INT in the no
distant future, out OF these funds, the
entire main highways of the reserva-
ton. particularly those leading from
Lander and Rlverton northwest, will
be constructed and maintained. Fur
Their legislation Is now pending which
Mr.. Mondell is giving his earnest sup
port, and which will continue the ap-
preparations for the general road sys-
tenn In the states, for Indian Reserva-
tion and forest Reserve roads.
Fort Mackenzie.
In the early period of Mr.. Mohdell's
service army posts were maintained at
Fort Mckinney, near Buffalo, and at
Fort Custer, on the Big Horn, in Mon
tana. Following the policy of %consoll-
dalton, and in the case of Mckinney
the abandonment of posts far from
railroads, these two posts were aban-
doned. In cooperation with Senator
Warren, Mr.. MondeIl secured the leg
islation which resulted in the estab-
lishment of Fort Mackenzie, near
Sheridan. While there was a fine
tract Of public land available, none of
the land afforded Just the site which
was desired for the actual constrcc-
ton of the fort. Mr.. Mondell was in
strumental in securing the agreement
and legislation under which nearly a
section of state school land, adjacent
to the reservation, was secured on
which the fort was erected. and was
active in securing appropriations for
the building and development of the
fort, at a cost of a million and a quar-
ter dollars.
Fort Mackenzie Hospital.
After the World War, when the need
of much hospital space became APP
parent, Mr.. Mondell endeavored to Sc
cure the approval of the War Depart
ment to turn Fort Mackenzie over to
the Public Health Service for a hos
pital. Failing to secure the approval
of Secretary of War Baker, a pro-
vision was inserted in u general hos
pital bill, at Mr.. Mondelfs instance,
under which Mackenzie was trans
ferred and dedicated to hospital pur-
poses, and an appropriation made for
necessary repairs and improvements.
The sum of $4,000, apportioned out
Of this appropriation, not proving TO
be sufficient, Mr.. Mondell secured an
estimate and an appropriation through
n recent deficiency bill, of an addl-
tional 100000 for further enlarge
ment and development. Still more re-
Gently, Mr.. Mondell was given assur-
ances in connection with the consider
alton of further hospital authoriza-
tons and appropriations of the very
considerable enlargement and extern
sion of Fort Mackenzie.
Weather Bureau at Sheridan.
Mr.. Monden was also instrumental
in securing the construction by the
Weather Bureau Service of a Weather
Bureau Station at Sheridan.
Coal and oil Leasing Legislation.
At the time of the first discussion
of the proposal to retain coal and oil
lands in public ownership and lease
them on a royalty basis, Mr.. Mondell
was not favorable to this plan. 1t
became apparent, however, that the
sentiment of the country as reflected
in Congress was favorable to the leas-
ing plan, and Mr.. Mondell then set
about securing the best possible form
of legislation and the best possible
provisions for the states in which
these lie and for the West
generally. During the long-drawn-out
discussion of the general subject,
which lasted nearly ten years, Mr..
Mondell at all times insisted on the
most favorable treatment for the
homestead settler on such lands and
for the small oil locator and applicant.
The Fight for Royalties for Wyoming
for Schools and Roads,,
Nj. Mondell particularly turned his
attention to an effort to secure for the
states containing public coal and oil
lands a goodly portion Of the rents
and royalties, and this contest he
maintained for years almost single
handed, before committee and or the
floor of the House. 1t was not to be
expected that he would get support
for his argument from outside the
public land states, but he got very lit
tie support from public land states
themselves, because most of the public
lang states did not anticipate any con-
siderable revenues from these sources,
and they were interested in having
the moneys flow into the Reclamation
Fund. Out of this long-drawn-out con-
test Mr.. Mondell finally secured an
agreement under which the states Sc
cured 20 per cent of the oil royalty
funds that had been ~impounded and
GIL nar cant of oil fnfnra rents and