Milford chronicle., 1922-10-20
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ON EFFI-
GENT BASIS UNDER FALL
NINE BUREAUS WORK LIKE
CLOCK-WORK


ernment I have never heard mucl
about" said Jack as he and Rutl
were talking about the Department o
the Interior. 81 know that the Paten
Office is a part of that department be
cause Dad had something he invented
patented, and he did it through tha
department"
Uncle Ted walked into the room al
this point in the conversation, anC
both kiddies made a grand rush fol
him as he sat down in big arm
chair.
well, well, you children act as il
you were glad to see me. What's III
now?" Uncle Ted smiled as he waited
for an answer.
"We were just talking about the In
terror Department of the government
at Washington" replied Jack, "and
was saying that I didn't know much
about it. Won't you tell us a story
about it before we have to go to bed?''
Sure, 1 will, kiddies. There are
some very interesting things done by
the Interior Department. Albert Ba-
con Fall, former U. S. Senator from
New Mexico, took charge of that De-
partment as Secretary of the Interior
in March, 1921, as a member of Pres
ident Harding's official family. Owing
to the war, Secretary Fall faced some
serious problems in the various bur-
eaus. First of all, let me tell you just
what this department does. There are
nine bureaus: the general land Office,
having charge of all public lands; the
Indian Office, which has to do with all
affairs of the Indians; the Pension bu-
reau which looks after pensions for
veterans for all wars in which the
United States has taken part; the Pa
tent office, where patents on inven-
tions are granted; the Bureau of Edu-
cation, from where educational mat
ters in Federal territory are handled
and surveys made for the benefit of
our entire school system; and the Ge-
illogical Survey, one of the most inter-
esting bureaus. From this bureau
mineral and land Investigations are
made in every part of the United
States and possessions. Then there is
the Reclamation Service. This bur-
eau does some wonderful work in re-
claiming waste and desert land and
making it fit to live upon and to grow
crops. The Bureau of Mines is an
other. During the recent terrible
mine disaster in California, the Bu-
reau of Mines had men there, experts
in their line to assist in every way.
This bureau oversees the entire min
ing industry of the country. The Ma
tional Park Service directs all Of the
work in connection with the upkeep
of the national parks. In addition to
these bureaus the Interior Depart
ment runs the Howard University at
Washington, a college for colored men
and women, and st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital, national hospital for those
who are ill mentally.
when Secretary Fall took over
this work he was not content to sit
back in his chair and let the depart
ment run any old way. He got on a
train and he went all over the United |
States so that he might get into per-
sonal touch with all the land and re- |
clamation projects. During the war |
The attention of the department was |
naturally focused upon wartime pro- |
iects so that the development of pub
lie lands was neglected. This made |
It necessary for the department, not |
only to keep up with the days work
but to work very hard to make up for
lost time. When he went into Office,
Mr.. Fall found that hundreds Of peo-
ole were requesting their land patents
md that these cases dated way back.
He cut the red tape at once in this
natter so that the homestead division
S now handling the work of today
md not of yesterday or last week, as
t was in the past administration. Be-
,ause these people couldn't get their
and patents they were unable to get
oans of money so that they could buy
livestock and implements to work
heir land BY getting speedy action,
Ir. Fall assets in the hands of these
eople amounting to about $4O,OOO,-
90.
What has he done in the Pension
Dfice?" asked Jack.
"In that office, Jack, comparison
f the work done in 1921 with the s
ears 1920 and 1919, when the depart s
lent was under Democratic control,
; rather interesting. Mr.. Fall dispOs- s
d of 91,515 claims in the first year OF
is administration, as compared with {
5. 1896 in 1920 and 71,24O in 1913. But
ne most interesting part of these fig s
res is shown in the fact that this /
.ork was done with smaller force. y
he force for 1921 was S67 as against t
i2 in 1919.
"Tn the Patent Office, under the
ADMINISTRATION of Secretary Fall, =
cord year and a half has been not Il
|. The work has increased in this bu- n
,au over 20 per cent so far this year Il
7er the past year.
"Of great interest to the veterans
the late war is the information that
,der Mr.. Falls supervision during
70 last year 1878 acres of reclaimed
nd have been opened and distributed D
270 veterans. c.
'rWhile it may not be as important il
some other things, yet the keeping "
the great tracts of wonderful lands
# west such as Yellowstone Park, a
dor government control is won cl
yf11 thing. The present administra- in
N has accomplished some fine work h,
ere by stimulating interest in those Ii
rl1s. Nearly 10000 people visiting fiji
,lIowstone Park this year as against e1
o,lt 1000 in 1921 and $4,000 in 1920. W
IGTbe work of this department is Of nt
O greatest Importance to every cit
=, frono one standpoint or another, iii
4 we can point with great pride to he
y Tav in which the work of these m
,e bureaus is now being handled CO
Now run along to SUNDERLAND WI