The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-09
THE NATIONS
RESOURCES
SHOULD Be USED
Secretary Fall Recon-
mends Rapid Ex-
ploitation and Utili-
zation of Natural
Resources of t h e
Country

WaSQlnSCOIl, -DSC.f O."OSS dllQ
development of the country's nat
ural resources under control of the
interior department have con-
tributed in great measure to nat
ional stabilization and prosperity,
Secretary Fall declared today in his
annual report. The secretary list
ed the more outstanding Of these
contributions as opportunities for
home making upon public lands by
returned soldiers and other citi-
,zens; the discovery Of new oil
fields; development Of existing
fields and increasing production Of
oil and its products; the exploita-
ton of coal deposits, and the open
ing Of mines in the western states.
Incidentally. the interior secre-
tary declared. these developments
have resulted in very substantial
cash returns to the federal treas
ury and to the various states in
which these mineral resources have
been developed under leading laws.
The outstanding administrative
accomplishment of the department
during the fiscal year ended last
June 80 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 cur
rent in the former office, a situa-
ton which has not existed for
.raany years. the secretary said.
This, he added, has already result
ed in placing in the hands OF the
people assets valued at more than
sso.000.00n and has been done
without increase in force of that
Office and in the face Of greatly in
creasing work.
Wider extension Of the reclama-
ton policy in former arid lands
Of the west was recommended in
the report, which showed that
while funds were restricted for that
work the achievements OF the rec
iamation service justified the cen
.tinuation of the reclamation pol
icy. cne new irrigation project
was started despite lack of funds,
and the fetal value Of. crops raised
on reclaimed lands was estimated
at more than s475,000. 900. The
benefits in the way of making
homes, increase of food produc-
ton and addition to the national
wealth by the reclamation of lands
make that work of great value in
return to prosperity. the report as
serted.
Education of Indians. which falls
to the lot of the interior depart
ment, has been greatly promoted.
The attendance at Indian schools
for the past year was 5000 greater
than in any previous year. A spe-
cial effort to provide greater health
facilities to the Indian through
more hospitals and more extensive
nursing service was made.
More than 10000 pensions
claims were disposed of during the
year by the bureau of pensions, and
$4,000 applications for pensions,
the accumulation in March 1921,
were handled, practically bringing
that work to date The total
number of pensioners on the rolls
at the end of the fiscal year was
547,016, being 1a,037 less than the
previous year. The amount dis
bursed for pensions was s253.S07,-
$50. Increasing efficiency in this
service was attested to by the de-
crease in the cost OF adjudication
and payment.
A record breaking number Of
applications for patents in this
country was received by the pat
ent Office, more than 113.500 This
has caused great need of increas-
ed office forces, and if the increase
in the work continues at the rate
of the past three years. the direc-
tor reported. it may be necessary
further to augment the number of
employees. The patent Office is
institution, Mr.. Fall
pointed out, adding that last year
the receipts of the Office were
$4,000 greater than expenses.
The Fairgrounds of the nation.
its national park and monuments.
We're visited by record breaking
number of persons. More than L.
216.000 citizens Of every state and
territory in the union. it's posses
sions and many foreign countries
viewed the wonders of nature pre-
served in these parks.
Provision for storage of oil
drawn from government oil wells
in the west. to allow for keeping
greater quantities of crude oil. was
recommended in the report, in
order that the government, which
is forced to sell its oil royalties
monthly. may take advantage of
Iof L 4.