Show dept of interior soil conservation program started secretary of 0 the interior harold L ickes announced this week that the master masten soil soll conservation plan devised for conserving and protecting the tremendous natural ic sources of the vast public domain domian administered by the department ot of the interior has emerged from the organization stage into a functioning program now swinging into full fledged activity throughout the western states the new work tor for com batting soil aou and water losses and improving land use practices on more than acres of land represents another important contribution by the department of the interior toward the nations national defense efforts secretary ickes said within eight I 1 aff over sole sola responsibility tor for safeguarding ing public lands against the ravages ravaged of uncontrolled erosion 71 projects covering nearly 44 million acres have been set up and are progressing rapidly the conservation programs program Is ts department wide in scope it Is under the immediate direction of lee muck assistant to the secretary in charge of land utilization andis and la being carried out by the several land management bureaus and services of the department ot of the interior for the first time in the history of the he united visited states secretary ickes stated our great land lahd reserve Is being operated under an all inclusive plan that will guard the rich soil water and forest wealth of tile the country against exploitation and misuse during the long period when transfer of public land to private ownership policy of the federal government the interior lacked authority and funds with which adequately to protect chesere adur sources ces As a result improper uso use and overgrazing brought about a sort serl out state of deterioration consequently the land management agencies of the department are faced with an enormous task ot of rehabilitation in the aggregate the acreage under the jurisdiction of the department of the interior constitutes a major part of the principal watersheds of the west from which flow the streams on which irrigation depends it makes up tile the primary range resources andis the key to the safe private lands with which it is intermingled not alone ford for the people of tho west must our landed estate be guarded against wastage and deile desiccation cation every citizen of the united states has a stake in these lands they are of vital present and future value to the economic and social welfare of the entire country countr protection of natural resources is necessary to the success of the present all out national defense program few people stop to think what ahat is back of our preparedness effo effort rt the outcome of the whole undertaking will depend upon how we utilize our talents and our resources euryth everything ing that comes from the soil even the soil itself and the minerals that lie beneath it are essential elements in the task that lies ahead no army no power powe r plant no industrial or preparedness pa redness endeavor can operate without the food and raw materials th that at come from the public lands wo we are learning that we can use our inherent sources of wealth and at the same time defend ours ourselves for all future needs the main objective F sought in the erosion control work being applied to millions of acres Is optimum uso use and maximum returns to thousands of citizens depending upon the public doma domain in for a livelihood without impairing its ita productivity citing progress already made in soil and moisture saving operations mr aluck reports itis even now apparent that the higher degree of efficiency an and d economy bei being ng seel secured red in attacking erosion problems has allm eliminated overlapping and duplication of effort and makes possible a more effective technical management of t the he federal estate broad working plans based on surveys conducted by alie the different bureaus in co operation cooperation with the department ment as well as other interested d agencies are formulated formulate doii on the tha basw of 0 entire watersheds all field activity Is carried out tit in conformity with tile the overall plan which integrates control practices on public land with similar activity on private property mechanical moistures moi measures used asod in com baiting so soil it and moisture conservation problems include construction of floodwater flood water retention and spreading structures contouris con furrow ing to hold water on oil the land water facilities developments such as as stock tanks gully control stream bank revetments and now new fences along with range management practices a and nd seeding of areas where vegetation has as been damaged or destroyed |