Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-12-06
WIDE EXTENSION
Of RECLAMATION
POLICY FAVORED
Secretary of the interior
Urges the Making of New
Homes and Increase OF
Food Production

IutGd in great measure to national
stabilization and prosperity, Sec
retary FAN declared today in his
Iunnual report. The secretary list
ed the more outstanding of these
contributions as opportunities for
home making upon public lands by
returned soldiers and other citl-
zens; the discovery of new oil
lands; development OF existing
fields and increasing production OF
oil and its prOductsi the eSploita-
ton of coal deposits, ana 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 trees
Jury and to the various states in
which these mineral resources have
been developed under leading laws.
The outstanding administrative
Accomplishment of the der ar ucnt
during the fiscal year ended last
June 80 was declared to he the
lreaching almost of current work
lin both the land office apd the PEN
sion office. Tho examination OF
final homestead proofs is current
lin the former office. a situation
(which has not existed fol many
years, the secretary said. This, he
ladded, has already resulted in plac-
ing in the hands of the people as
sets valued at more taau S3O,00O,-
loco and has been doue without in
lcrease in force Of that office and
in the fact Of greatly increasing
work.
New Project STATED
Wider extension OF The rec,aDa-
tion policy in former arid lands OF
the west was recommended in the
report, which showed ttlht Whlie
funds were restricted Lor that work
the achievements of he recianla-
ton service justified the contln-
luation of the reclamation policy
One new irrigation project was
started despite lack of funds, and
1.-THE total value of crops raised On
reclaimed lands was estimated al
more than 100000. The
benefits in the way OF making
lhomes. increase of food production
land addition TO the national wealth
by the reclamation of lands make
that work of great value IN return
to prosperity, the report asserted.
Education of Indians, winch falls
30 the lot Of the interior depart
ment, has been greatly promoted,
The attendance at Indian schools
for the past year was J90 greater
than in any previous gear. y
, special effort to provide greater
health facilities to the 4ndtan
Through more hospitals ana more
extensive nursing service was made,
More than 10000 pensions
claims were disposed of during the
wear by the bureau sf tensions,
and $4,000 applications Tor perl
sions, the accumulation In March
1921, were handled, practically
bringing that work UP to date. The
total number of pensioners on the
rolls at the end Of the fiscal year
was 547,061, being 19,0ST less than
the previous year. The amount
disbursed for pensions was $780,
807,583, Increasing efficiency IN
service was attested to by the de-
crease in the cost of adjudication
and payment.
Applications for Patents
A record breaking number CT ap-
plications for patents in this coun-
try was received by the patent Of
flee, more than 113,50Q. This has
caused great need of increased Of
flee forces. and if Tho increase IN
the work continues at the rate Of
the past three years. the Dlrector
reported. IL may be necessary fnd-
ther to augment the number OF
employees. The patent office is a
self institution, Nh
Fall pointed out, adding that last
year the receipts of the office were
$172,0O0 greater than expenses,
The Fairgrounds of the nation
,, it's national parks and monuments
were visited by record breaking
number of persons. More than
1.216.0OO citizens of evevv state
and territory in the union, its pcs
sessions and many foreign coun-
tries viewed the wonders of nature
preserved in these parks. :,
: Provision for storage OF on
drawn from government oil wells
= in the West, to allow for Keeping
! greater quantities of crude oil, was
) recommended in the report, in or
der that the government, which ls
: forced to sell its oil royalties
: monthly, may take advantage OF
: better markets by holding back iis
: stocks. Provision for more stor-
age tanks, such ms private compan-
! les have, in the fields, IS atsoluiely
, necessary, it was said. Under TINS
! system, Mr.. Fall stated, the govern
!, Iments oils tend to beat down the
, price in periods Of depression, to
, the injury OF the consumtr nc
the extent that the government is
obHged to take part in business, II
should through its influence to-
; ward sterilization rather than to-
ward decentralization of the indus
: try. he said,
: Royalties From Leases
Pointing out the government
| takes its royalties from Oil land
' leases in the form of crude oil, Mr.
! Fall said returns from this source
during the year amounted to $7,'
' 500 600. while in the fiscal yeai
: $50. 500, 900 was received by the
: Indian tribes from royalties on OF
l lproduced from Indian owner lands
r Reports of the governors or Al
: laska and Hawaii, summarized II
4 the interior report, review tn'
$ progress of the two territories dur
c ing the year.
j Governor Bone, OF Alaska, notet
that a steady increase in exports
8 and imports foreshadowed return
Y ing prosperity and said that VIII
: encouragement n strong tlde o
n immigration might nave set IN. "a
r added that however, until mlnlnt
/ was inaugurated on a large scal'
: ana Industries started the popula
ton could not be expected 10 IN
crease greatly. The governor SUD
;. mitted a long list of recommenda
tions urging that jurisdiction owe
! the whole of Alaska excepting TN
: fisheries be vested in the interio
I, department; that branch lines am
: spurs be built to the Alaska Kan
: road; that all law-enforcing. agen
3 cies be consolidated under the de
! partment of Justice; that contro
0 lof the fisheries be taken over ..
: the bureau of fisheries of the dc
+ nartment of commerce, and TIL
fr,Au,.al .., D.oe T...n