US Presidency
1929

Conservation of our oil and gas resources against future need is a national necessity. The working of the oil permit system in development of oil and gas resources on the public domain has been subject to great abuse. I considered it necessary to suspend the issuance of such permits and to direct the review of all outstanding permits as to compliance of the holders with the law. The purpose was not only to end such abuse but to place the Government in position to review the entire subject. We are also confronted with a major problem in conservation due to the overgrazing on public lands. The effect of overgrazing ( which has now become general ) is not only to destroy the ranges but by impairing the ground coverage seriously to menace the water supply in many parts of the West through quick run off, spring floods, and autumn drought. We have a third problem of major dimensions in the reconsideration of our reclamation policy.