LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C., November 20, 1929.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit my annual report on the operations of the Interior Department for the fiscal year 1929, ended June 30, 1929.

This report, dating from July 1, 1928, covers the administration of the Hon. Hubert Work, as Secretary, until his resignation on July 24, 1928, and the administration of the Hon. Roy O. West, from July 25, 1928, to March 4, 1929. I am pleased to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of their work as evidenced by the condition of the department when I took office on March 4.

The past year's achievements, as shown by the reports of the bureaus, Territories, and independent establishments under this department's jurisdiction, may be found summarized in this report under the heading, The Year's Work in Brief.

In the Foreword I have attempted to state the policies formulated for the future. Five of this department's bureaus deal directly with Federal lands. The future of the public domain, with its attendant problems of water conservation and the conservation of mineral resources, is consequently a major responsibility. In other bureaus, changing national conditions have necessitated a shift of emphasis. In the Foreword of this report I have endeavored to indicate the perspective in which I view the various lines of service in which the Department of the Interior is engaged and the directions in which these activities will move.

Very respectfully,

The PRESIDENT.

RAY LYMAN WILBUR,
Secretary.

1

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

THIS

OF THE INTERIOR

PART I: FOREWORD

HIS is a period of changing emphasis in the work of this department. Some of the great bureaus, particularly the Bureau of Pensions and the General Land Office, have overtaken the peak of their administrative load under existing legislation. Other bureaus, such as the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation, have ahead of them large tasks for completion. One activity, that of the Indian Service, has before it a definite and unique goalthat of working itself out of a job. Its program calls for a large economic saving to the country by increased present expenditures to enable the Indian population to eventually become self-supporting. On the other hand, the National Park Service and the Office of Education look forward to constantly increasing fields of activity. The Territorial administration of Hawaii and Alaska is vested in this department and their problems present an expanding opportunity. The work of this department and its component organizations embraces a more diversified field than that of other Government departments. The public domain, water power, oil, pensions, the work of mapping the country, reclamation of arid lands, the national parks, the Government's part in the educational work of the country, care of the persons and property of over 350,000 Indians, contact with two great Territories and the administration of four eleemosynary institutions and six collateral activities-these all bring their varied problems into one administrative area. The correlation of their work, establishment of a proper perspective on their various interests and financial requirements, and the establishment of major policies devolve upon the Secretary of the Interior. These policies for the ensuing year may be briefly stated as follows:

PERSONNEL

The morale of the men and women of this department is on a constantly rising plane. At the head of each bureau there is now a man enthusiastic about his work and upon whom rests the responsibility for having his bureau function. The same efficiency and initiative will be expected of their subordinates as would be the case in a commercial organization and, so far as legal and financial restrictions will permit, recognition and advancement will be based upon the same standards. This department is organized on a basis whereby, with but few exceptions, the administrative unit is a division or a branch responsible to a bureau chief, styled commissioner or director. These, in turn, are responsible to either the First Assistant Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the solicitor, or the chief clerk.

The department embarks on the coming year with some changes in its personnel.

In recognition of the increasing importance of the legal questions coming before the department, Mr. Edward C. Finney, First Assistant Secretary, a lawyer of unparalleled experience in the administration of the public land laws, was asked to assume the responsibilities of the solicitor for the department, and now occupies that post. Former Governor and Senator Joseph M. Dixon, of Montana, was appointed to the office of First Assistant Secretary. His experience in western problems and in Washington legislation and administration have fitted him for his present supervision over the Bureau of Reclamation, the Geological Survey, and the Indian Service. John H. Edwards continues as Assistant Secretary. His responsibilities include the Territories, the Office of Education, the National Park Service. the Bureau of Pensions, the General Land Office, and the eleemosynary institutions located at Washington.

There have been important changes in the leadership of the bureaus. Death brought one of them. Former Gov. William Spry, of Utah, Commissioner of the General Land Office, died at his post. His faithful administration of the General Land Office under three administrations entitled him to a high place in the records of this department; the respect held for him by his associates and the affection he commanded among the men and women whom he led have not been surpassed in this department. He was succeeded by former Gov. C. C. Moore, of Idaho.