Evening star., 1938-12-19
Report by |tkes Notes
Rise in Sentiment
For Conservation
Secretary Tells President
He Is Pleased With
PubIic's Attitude

PUBLIC S Attitude
Sentiment for conservation of the
Nations vast store of natural re-
sources not only registered "a great
advance" in the last year. Secretary
of the Interior 1ckes today informed
President Roosevelt, but the people
have shown their willingness to
support intelligent and energetic ac-
ton on the part of the Government
to this end"
to preserve the natural resources
from public exploitation is the key
note" Mr.. Ickes said, of the reports
of the bureaus and agencies of the
Interior Department which he
transmitted to the White House for
the 1898 fiscal year.
Tying the whole problem in with
that of national defense, the cabinet
officer reported one of the greatest
needs is curb on "unrestrained
production" of mineral resources,
often resulting in deterioration of
stocks on hand before they are used.
Favors Legislation.
"A way would be opened to en-
able the Government to check this
overproduction." he added, If we
could determine the Nations re-
quirements of the principal min
erals. I am in favor of legislation
which will permit this department
to make this determination in the
interests of national defense, as well
as in the interests of conservation.
High lights on the road of progress
the Secretary summarized as fol-
lows:
"A court victory for the Govern
ment in the Elk Hill oil case wherein
the United States sought to be de-
clared the owner of valuable mineral
lands; the establishment of the
Olympic National Park in Washing
ton; the salvage of the old Chesa-
peake g. Ohio Canal between
Washington, D. c., and Cumberland,
Md. for recreational purposes and
the pending purchase of important
sugar-pine groves adjacent to the
Yosemite National Park in Cali
fornia stand out as major triumphs
on the side of true conservation"
Pleased Over Attitude.
Secretary Ickes told the Presi-
dent he was gratif1ed to report that
it is becoming more evident that
the people are beginning to heed
our warnings that, although our re-
sources are bountiful, they are not
limitless'
He summarized in his letter of
transmittal the work and progress
of the various bureaus which will
be detailed at length in the pub
lished departmental report covering
the whole of the fiscal year.
The construction program of the
Bureau of Reclamation was the
largest in history. Not only was the
base of the massive Grand Coulee
Dam on the Columbia River COM
pleted on March 81. year ahead Of
schedule, but at the close of the
mence on Shasta Dam, second larg-
est concrete dam in the world. 1t
is one of the key structures of the
Central Valley of California project.
Helium Production Rises.
With the United States possessing
virtual monopoly of the worlds
helium supply, Mr.. Ickes reported
the Government plant at Amarillo,
Tex, produced an increase of 1,30O,-
600 cubic feet over the previous year.
He refused to authorize exports of
helium for the servicing of German
dirigibles because, as he stated, he
was mot pursuaded that the supply
sought was not of military impor-
tance.".
Approximately 10000 cubic feet
of the gas. however, were delivered
for medicinal and scientific purposes.
Recreation in the national park
system set a new high attendance
record for the year, he noted, with
total of 1928 ,688 visitors. More
than 100000 acres of land were
added to the park system.
The National Park Service also
was responsible for the maintenance
and operation of 21,122,615 square
feet of floor space occupied by Gov
ernment Offices in the District of
Columbia. OF this total, Mr.. Ickes
reported, 18,303,567 square feet were
in 46 Government-ow buildings
and 1891 ,047 square feet in 81 pri-
vately owned buildings. This is
about the same proportion of rented
Government space as in former
years, the addition of new Govern
ment buildings doing little to relieve
the problem
Fewer Mine Accidents.
The General Land Office for the
second successive year returned IS
to the Treasury for each dollar ex-
pended for administration.
A reduction in mine accidents also
was reported during the year, with
a total of 1,146,854 persons trained
in mine safety courses.
Self-government was extended to
81 Indian tribes and of this number
81 tribes were incorporated under
Federal charters. With the Indians
increasing at twice the birth rate
for the Nation as whole, Indian
land areas were increased during the
fiscal year from 49,OOO,OO0 acres to
81 ,540,3 ,307 acres.
The Office of Education reported
more than 100000 high school stu
dents enrolled and 100000 persons
enrolled in night and part-time
schools.