The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1909-10-05
[Af1'S CONSERVA.
TON SPEECH
Especial to Silver state.)

nation Of the arid and semi-arid lands
" irrigation was discussed at length
4 an address upon the conservation Of
HE country's natural resources by
President Taft, who was the guest Of
he people Of Spokane and the Inland
Empire on September %. He outlined
he governments policy regarding the
Preservation Of the natural forests, the
disposition of water power sites upon
bubble lands and the disposition Of coal,
Bill and posphate lands owned by the
government, and unreservedly indors-
"a the work Of Clifford Pinchot head Of
ahe forestry department, and Richard
IA. Ballinger, secretary Of the interior.
President Taft was introduced to an
audience Of 10000 by Marion e. Hay,
Governor Of Washington, who was pre-
&ented by Mayor Nelson s. Pratt. The
last named Official welcomed the presi-
dent to Spokane, the Inland Empire
nd the commonwealth bearing the
name of the father Of the country, and
In responding the first citizen Of the
Republic, who was the guest Of the
khamber Of commerce, said:
"I am glad to be in Spokane and de-
lighted with the reception, which
hwakens every fiber of gratitude in my
heart. Your distinguished mayor and
your distinguished governor have said
words Of welcome. Your governor has
said that you trusted Roosevelt, and
because you trusted him you trusted
zme. | am glad to accept that method
of reaching your confidence.
~ have come here to read a speech
on subject that l hope will interest
*you, but would good deal rather just
talk off the bat and say what hap
pens to come under the circumstances.
Ia voice: "Go ahead.') But this
speech has got to 60 abroad and yon
have got TO stand it,
After dealing with the government s
policy in the preservation of the ma
Etional forests, embracing total acre
[age Of 1877 ,00o, 900, and declaring that
the states should awaken to the inter
est the public has in forest preserva.
tion, in its equalization Of the water
supply and in its effect upon the elm
ate, the president took up the subject
Of irrigation, saying;
"The plan Of the government to re-
claim the arid and semi-arid lands,
manifested in the reclamation act, has
been carried out most rapidly by the
bureau charged with it's execution.
"I had the honor the other day in
Colorado Of opening the most ambitious
of these projects-which Is to bring
water into valley in Colorado known
as the Uncompaghre valley, with l5O,-
900 acres, and to put it in condi-
tion to grow fruit and cerials.
81 "There are 80 projects which have
been entered upon by the reclamation
bureau, and / believe all of them are
to be commended for their excellent
adaptation for the purpose for which
they we're erected and for the speed
with which the work has been done.
IN is said, however, that in the
planning Of a number Of these improve
msnts the enthusiasm of the project.
on has carried them to point where
they begin to feel embarrassed in the
matter Of resources with which to COM
plete the projects, and begin to show
that prudence was not closely observ-
cd by those engaged in executing the
act; that the projects were too many,
and more than could be completed in
reasonable time after their beginning
because Of lack of funds.
The reclamation act provides for
the expenditure Of funds made up of
the proceeds of the sale of public lands
and reimbursed from time to time by
the instalments to be paid by the set
va" 'aho up INC HiiSo'o" '""'
and 1t also provides that no part OF a
PROJECT is to be contracted for or be-
gun until the money 70 the completion
OF that part of the project contracted
ior shall be in the reclamation fund
Now it appears that it will take
sio,ooO,000 or more which is not avail
aole In the reclamation fund at pres
ent fully to complete the projects, and
also appears that q great number of
persons by reason Of the beginning of
'ne projects have been led into the
making of settlements, the expenditure
Oh time and labor with the hope and up.
On the reliance that such reclamation
enterprises would be carried through
IN reasonable time.
- think that there is no doubt that
+" was the intention of congress that
projects should not be multiplied in