Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-02
CONSERVE OIL SUPPLY THROUGH
Permanent GOVT. COMMISSION

to date, and that improved methods
of administration in the General
Land Office had effected . saving OF
about $4,000 during the year In It's
operating expenses.
Declaring the problem Of directing
federal guardianship Of 225.O00 In
dams is one of great concern to him,
the Secretary urged that centralized
with decentralized respon-
sibility is essential in the Indian SER
vice. because of the distance between
the bureau in Washington and ITS
wards.
States should be impressed" he
said. that ultimately the Indian
problem is theirs to solve. and the
governments participation should
eventually be cooperative rather
than initiative in character"
Describing the growing popularity
Of the national park system-visited
last season by record crowds in spite
of conditions adverse to travel.-Mr.
Work said he hoped Congress would
see fit to create an outdoor play
ground, readily accessible to the mill
lions of persons from densely popu-
lated centers of the East. He OBJ
served that the Western states so
far have virtually monopoly on ma
tional parks, the only one in the East
being Lafayette National Park in
Maine. A committee has inspected
proposed sites for a national park In
the Southern Appalachian Mountain
region. and its Recommendation will
be presented to the present Congress.
An outstanding accomplishment in
the Bureau Of Mines during the year
was said by the Secretary to be the
development of close cooperation
with the British Mines Department,
whereby the results of British eX-
periments and research directed to-
wards greater safety in mining will
be available to American engineers,
and the results of Bureau of Mines
studies will be available to the Eng
lish. 1t was in this connection that
he made his only direct reference to
the oil situation:
1.-THE production Of oil from the
public lands, exclusive of the naval
petroleum reserves. amounted TO
nearly 100000 barrels during the
year, from which the government OBJ
tanned nearly 100000 barrels Of
royalty oil, valued at slightly more
than $12,000,000," he said. "Of this
quill, ~ pei CCAL was IcluIHcu tO tic
states, either directly or through the
Reclamation Service, and the re-
naming 10 percent went to the Fed
eral Treasury to cover the cost Of
supervision. The actual cost is about
one-third this amount, the remainder
being available for general expenses
of the government. Supervising the
production and guagins of the 49,
100000 barrels cost the government
only $250O00.
THE formation Of permanent
Federal oil commission. to include
the Secretaries of War. Navy, In
terror and Commerce. to study the
conservation of our oil deposits and
more thorough and economic meth
DDS of recapture, to be comprehend
ed in national continuing oil policy,
is an urgent necessity in the inter-
ests of the public"
IN his discussion of territorial at
fairs. Mr.. York said the governments
activities in Alaska and in Hawaii
should be handled under one depart
ment in the interest of economy and
efficiency. The present system, he
added. causes duplication of effort,
overlapping of functions, and extrav-
aSance in expenditures. but the CO.
ordination of allied activities would
avoid lost motion and confusion"
Because of it's strategic CONNER
cial position in the Pacific, Hawaii
must have adequate harbors, said the
report, which added:
This development is proceeding
with excellent cooperation between
federal and territorial departments,
but at best is hardly keeping pace
with the rapid increase Of trans Pa
chic trade in which American ships
are participating each year in grow
ing numbers. This harbor work
dovetails into the scheme of national
defense and should not be neglected"
Discussing the need for a Bureau
Oh Public Works. the report recited
mat such bureau could coordinate
governmental industrial organiza-
lon. efficient and economical in time
OF war or emergency, to bring in
stantly INTO action the whole unified
engineering and public works func-
tlons OF the government. 1t would
enable the governmental service 10
attract and hold the highest type of
technically trained men by Offering
; more permanent and attractive work.
In asking for Congressional au-
thority to effect certain reorganiza-
tions within the Interior Department,
Mi. Work declared that much had
been done already toward eiiminat-
ing duplication. but that other nee
essary steps could not be taken with
out legislative enactment. As a
proof of the saving which resulted
from the reorganization steps taken
thus far he cited the appropriation
FOR his department for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1925, which is
$29O.473,724 or $35,39S,3J3 less than
Tor the preceding year. SAn appro-
priation of $267,7S5,596 Is asked for
the year closing June 1925