Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-02

years, and that there are large tracts
of productive lands on irrigation pro-
JectS for which there are no settlers,
the Secretary declared that until
measures have been put into effect
to solve these problems of settle
ment and development and the old
projects have been made self-sus-
tanning, the ACCESSIBILITY of UNDER
taking new projects would seem to
be conjectural and the entire matter
should receive the most serious at
tention and. consideration by Con-
gress If a basically sound and I'M
assailable permanent policy is ever
to be evolved"
The Secretary said a report would
be made to the present Congress en-
bracing recommendations under the
new reclamation law covering the
proposed charging off of approx
mately s26.000,000 in losses to be lev
led against unproductive lands,
which was suggested by the depart
ments fact finding committee.
eff this relief is approved by Con-
gress,'' the report declared. "it will
relieve the farmers from Indebtedness
they can not meet because of obsta-
cles such as land of little or no value.
Whether the loss to the government is
s26, 100000 or double that is not of
material concern when balanced
against the continuance of a mistaken
policy"
1.-TWO years" the secretary said. "are
not enough to correct the errors of in
experience. lack of vision, or mistaken
policy. 1t has, however. been long
enough to ,dispel the secrecy which
has SO long yelled the opera tions of
federal reclamation We are now en-
tering new era in the history of rec
lamation. 1t lies within the power
of the Congress to determine an equit-
able and economically sound policy
which will remedy existing evils and
make impossible the recurrence of
conditions which have demoralized the
federal reclamation service"
The secretary said that the depart
ment had been cautious. in beginning
application of the $4,330,000 for pro-
jects and extensions appropriated by
the last Congress because of expert
ences with old projects, and held up
entirely the s3,6Oo.OOO Baker project
in Oregon. In this, he said, he had
the approval of the attorney general,
and the project will be held up until
Congress has had time to review the
departments former action.
In the interest of proper reclamation
development. the secretary said, the
government should have the active CO.
operation of the states to the extent
that the states should take over the
projects on their completion and as
sumo responsibility for their settle
ment. This, the secretary added, the
states have declined to do. and under
the proposed revised policy such a
refusal by a state would be taken as
evidence against the feasibility OF q
proposed project.
Alaska was described as a territory
whic is rapidly becoming a lost pro-
vince" and where opportunity for ex-
pansion had been curtailed by bureau
officials made hesitant by limited au-
thority." The maximum population of
$4,000 whites had shrunken to 10000
(estimated) and production from its
natural resources wavered and receded.
The situation, Secretary Work DE-
clared, called for prompt and SYM
pathetic study by Congress of
Alaska's natural resources and their
possibilities; of its methods of gov
eminent and their effect, and the
question whether governmental con-
troll should be constructive in type
or continue to cultivate dependency,
or be removed entirely. The sug-
gestion that all the governments
activities in Alaska be merged into
one department was committed to
the immediate attention of Con-
gress.
To abandon the Alaskan railway,
as has been suggested, the Secretary
said, would be a reversion of the
American policy of progress despite
that the roads upkeep is expensive
and out of proportion to it's earn
ings. Suggestions that the bed of
the railroad be converted into a
truck highway were characterized as
impracticable because of Alaskan
weather conditions.
The natural shrinkage of the pub
lie domain, the Secretary reported.
had made possible the closing of A.
of the departments 81 land offices,
and the savings effected in admins
tration amounted to more than half
a million dollars.
The Secretary recommended
change in federal policy to secure
permanent preservation of grazing
lands on the public domain. The
gratuitous use of the public domain
as an unrestricted range for live
stock, he said, had resulted i'll over
grazing and large areas. were almost
denuded of native grass Legislation
authorizing establishment of graz
ing districts by presidential procla-
nation was recommended so that
grazing can be controlled by a sys-
tenn of permits.
Attention was also called to the
present homestead laws limiting
stock raising on tracts of $40 acres.
This was said to be impracticable
and the secretary urged repeal of
t. homestead stock-raising act.
Cooperation of the states with the
government in administering the af-
fairs Of the Indians was urged, es-
pecially with regard to education
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