Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-06-20
THE PRESIDENT TO EDITORS
Roosevelt Delivers Notable Address
at jamestown. We.
Speaks Before the Delegates to the National
Editorial Association--To Touches Upon
Important National Questions.


Joined In prosecuting the Offenders
against the law: but both the law and
ia administration were defective and
needed 20 be changed. Three years ago
public lands commission was appoint
Cd TO scrutiniEe the law and the facts
and % recommend a remedy Their ex-
animation specifically showed the ez-
iatencc OF great frauds upon the public
domain. and their Recommendation for
changes In the law were made with the
design OF conserving the natural re-
sources OF every part Of the public land
by putting Il 10 It's best use. Attention
was especially called 90 tho prevention OF
settlement by the passage OF great areas
OF public lands into tho hands OF a few
men. and TO the enormous waste caused
by unrestricted grazing on the open
range: a system OF using the natural
forage on the public domain which
amounts 20 putting a premium on its
destruction. Tho recommendations OF the
public lands commission were SOUND, for
they were especially In tho interest OF
the actual home maker: and where tho
small home maker could not utilize the
land. II was provided that the govern
ment should keep control OF IL 10 that
IL could not be monopolixed by q few
wealthy men. Congress has not yet
acted upon these recommendations, exc
cept for the repeal OF the Ubiquitous
neu-land law. But the recommendations
arc no just and proper. so essential to our
national welfare. that believe they will
surely ultimately be adopted
In 1891 congress authorized the presi-
dent TO create national forests In the
public domain. These forests reserves re-
manned for a long time In charge Of
the general land once. which had no
mon properly trained In forestry. But
another department. that Of agriculture.
| possessed the trained men. In other
words the government forests were with
h. for
esters without forests. Waste OF EFFORT
and waste OF forests inevitably followed.
| Finally the situation was ended In 1906
! by the creation OF the United states
forest service. which has stopped the
waste. conserved the resources OF the
national forests, and made them useful;
30 that our forests are now being man
| aged on a coherent plan, and In n way
that auguFs well for the future.
The mineral fueia OF the eastern United
States have already passed into the
| hands OF large private owners. and those
OF the west are rapidly following. This
should not be, for such mineral resources
| belong in a peculiar degree to the whole
| people. Under private control there In
much waste from the shortaighted
methods OF working. and the complete
| utilization IL often sacrificed for greater
immediate profit. The mineral fuels un>
der our present conditions are as essen.
tial TO our prosperity as the forests viii
always DO. Tho difference Is that the
supply IL definitely limited. for coal does
| not grow and trees do. IL In obvious
that the mineral fuels should be con-
served, not wasted, and that enough OF
them should remain in she hands OF
the government 60 protect the people
against unjust or extortionate prices so
far as that can still be done. What has
been accomplished In the regulation OF
the great oil fields Of the Indian terri
tory offers q striking example OF the
good results OF such policy. Last
summer. accordingly. I withdrew most
OF the coai-bearing public lands temper
ariiy from disposal. and asked for tho
legislation. necessary to project the pub.
lie interest by the conservation OF the
mineral fuels: that II. for the power TO
keep the fec In the government and to
lease the coal, oil. and gas rights under
proper regulation. No such legislation
was passed, but I stiil hope that we shall
Preserve Mineral Resources.
In addition TO treating Alright for the
benefit OF the whole people the forests
and the mineral beds. we should SINH
larry try to preserve for the benefit OF all
tho people the great stretches OF pub
lie domain some three hundred million
acres In all. which are uni3t Tor cultiva-
ton by present methods and valuable
only for the forage which they supply.
This vast area Is now open 20 the free
grazing OF cattle, sheep. horses and
goats. without restriction or regulation.
when population has increased. as Is
now the case. such utter lack OF man
agement means that the public domain ia
turned over to be skinned by men whose
only concern IA 20 get what they can
out OF Il al the moment. without any
regard 20 whether or not Il Is ruined 50
far as the next generation Il concerned.
In other words, the range II not NO much
used as wasted by abuse; and as an
Incident conflict and bioodshed fire.
auentiy arise between opposing users
! With the rapid settling Of the west the
range - more and more overgrHLed
Moreover. much of Il can not be used
to advantage unless Il IS fenced fOi
, fencing Is the only way by which 10 kceT
, In check the absentee owners OF nomaf
Hooks which roam hithcr and thither
utterly destroying the pRsturage and
J leaving waste behind. so that thelI
presence "a compatible with the presenci
: OF home makers.
Prevention Of FRAUDS.
: For several years we have been do
! Ing everything la our power 20 prevent
, fraud upon the public land. What cas-
: be done under the present laws Is nov
| being done through the joint action o.
. the Interior department and the depart
I meBt o. justice. But fully 70 accomplish
/ the prevention OF fraud there IL need o
NNrN-AAA4A1AA N-1tNAA1NNN
: hufieient appropriation 10 permit the De
. pnrtmeut Of the interior 70 examine Ger
4 tain classes OF entries on the GROUND
Z before they pass into private owner
: ship. The appropriation asked for las
4 winter, II granted would have put al
! end 70 the aquandeFinE OF ths publ
4 domain, while Il would have prcyenie,
. any mead Of causing hardship to ind
! vidnal settlers BY holding up their claims
However. the appropriation was no
given uR and In consequence II Is no
possible 10 secure. AZ I would like q
: secure. the natural resources 81 the pub
= Ne land from fraud. waste aud encroach
4 ment
4 80 much TOR what We are trying 10 q
o IN aiiinfnH our pubic lands for the pub
y lie; Ia securing the use OF the water IN
y forage. the coal and The timber Tor th
: public. II All fous movenenta my chic
{ adviser. and the man trst to suggca
z I "a me the courses Wticn have actual
4 proved % benearial was Mr.. -0iffor
Rinchof ihe chief % tho national flores