Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-04
MATERIAL and
HUMANE FACTS
Side BY Side
ANNUAL Report of In
terror Department Is
Conglomeration Of
Statistics

WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-lPl-The
news that the union armies of the
sixties had been cut 5000 in n year
by the toll of time is placed in a
maze Of statistics alongside the ma
terial fact that there are 10000, 900
acres Of coal lands in the United
States and Alaska, capable of pro-
ducing 200, 00O. 900 tons. in the annu-
nj report Of Secretary West Of the
Interior department.
Humane and material considera-
tions both find space in the bulky
volume which contains information
sufficient 70 give many a member Of
congress enough work to keep him
busy for the short session, with its
reports on Indian affair, reclama-
ton, national parks and n myriad Of
other subjects which this busy
branch Of the government must deal.
Speaking in figures going up to
tire hundreds Of millions involved IN
its multitude Of activities. the de-
partment's bureau Of pensions shows
that il distributed from the govern
ment's chest last fiscal year the sum
of S24f,222.9 $40, of which S22S, 65,672
was paid IN pensions 10 veterans
and their dependents, while Sli,76l.-
Gle went 10 retired government em-
ployes.
Emphasizes Humanity
Besides these figures which 80 Ger
tainly show the passing Of an old
order, the report shows that l64.-
70s Spanish war veterans, whose
membership as a whole still is ro-
bust, have been taken under the gov
ernment's protecting wing. but the
largest army Of American veterans-
those Of the world warts being
looked out for by the independent
veterans bureau.
The report OF Secretary West EN-
phasizes the humane along with the
material effort under his own direc-
ton and that of Or. Hubert Work.
who resigned 10 become head OF the
republican national committee
Stressing the need for n new def
mite policy for the administration
Of Indian affairs and reporting a
general healthy condition on the fed
eral reclamation projects, Secretary
West declares that those two sub
iects represent the most pressing
subjects under the interior depart
ment.
THE department locks to the es-
adjustment Of closer cooperation be-
tween the states having Indian pop
ulations and the federal govern
ment," the report continues. prob
ably states should ultimately assume
complete responsibility for the In
dams within their borders. but pend
ing that time there il much 20 be
done BY the. federal service"
Settlers on % Of the "a reclama-
tion projects repaid S5.299.l49 during
the year and Secretary West attrib-
utcs this 10 the general prosperity
on the subjects and to the new terms
of payment established for delin-
uuents under the relief act of 1926.
Crops valued az Sl33.207 ,2lO have
been grown on the projects compris-
ing l,956,9iO irrigable acres devel-
oped at a cost Of Si75,1l6.9l5, while
settlers are still needed on 100000
acres. Works under construction in
volve an expenditure OF 100000 900
out Of the Bureau Of "Reclamation's
fund of 5$166, 100000.
Studies by the geological survey
disclosed that in this country and
Alaska, 65 developed oil and gas
fields are producing 33,000,000 bar
rels OF oil annually. Ii added that
there are four million acres Of oil
shale from which sixty billion bar
rcls Of oil may he produced.
The national park service has un-
der consideration establishment Of
flying fields in the national parks
and Secretary West has called a
conference OF park and railroad Off
cials TO make plans for the develop
mont.