The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-30
TAFT WILL ASK
III. FOR s|0,00c,000
Promises Material to Pacific
Slope Irrigation Projects.
WILL FOLLOW ROOSEVELT
President Will Request Congress to
Assist In Redeeming Arid Lands
Announcement Is Wildly
Cheered.

Spokane, Wash, Sept. 29.-ln
speech on the conservation of natural
resources delivered here President
Taft declared that he would ask con-
gress to authorize the issuance of &c.,
100000 in bonds to complete irrigation
projects already begun in the west,
and ON which work had been stopped,
for lack OF funds. This has been the
hope OF many settlers in the arid re-
gions who had taken UP lands in ex-
pectation of procuring supply OF wa
ter to make them fertile, and the
presidents declaration was en-
Enthusiastically cheered.
The president declared that many
newspapers had drawn unfair infer
ences as to the attitude of his admin
istration on the general conservation
of natural resources.
To Follow Roosevelt.
1.-THE truth is,' he said, my admin
istration is pledged to follow out the
policies of Mr.. Roosevelt in this re-
gard, and while that pledge does not
involve me in any obligation to carry
them out unless l have congressional
authority to do so, it does require that
take every step to exert every legiti-
mate influence upon congress to en-
act the legislation which shall best
subserve the purpose Indicated
The president declared that Secre-
tary of the Interior Ballinger is in
accord with him as to the necessity
for promoting in every legitimate way
the conservation of natural resources.
The president also has praise for
Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot and re-
fs's to his wonderful work for the
conservation of the forests, support
ed by Mr.. Roosevelt"
Control Water Power Sites.
President Taft declared as to wa
Ter power sites that congress must au-
thorize the government to allot these
sites to private interests for develop
ment, the government retaining gen
eral control and supervision.
He declared, also, that he would
urge upon congress the necessity OF
an authoritative classification of pub
lie lands to prevent difficulties of the
past, such as the setting aside of coal
and mineral lands as agricultural
lands, and vice versa.
1.-THE natural forests, as reserved
by executive order, contain about 167,-
100000 acres of land in the United
States proper. All of this land is
now under the direct control of the
forestry bureau and is being preserved
from fire and from other destruction
and is being treated in accordance
with the best modern methods of
treating forests under the supervision
of Mr.. Pinchot, the chief forester, and
the head of the bureau of forestry in
the department of agriculture.
Praises Pinchot. .... ,.
II don't stop to discuss at length
the forestry question. The wonderful
progress made by Mr.. Pinchot. with
the earnest support of Mr.. Roosevelt
and Secretary Wilson, at times has
met the denunciation of persons in
this western country on the ground
that property was being taken which
congress intended for individuals, and
was being withheld from them.
But l think general opposition to
Mr.. Pinchot's plans has disappeared
and that the great body of the Amer
lean people recognizes the benefit of
the reform in reference to forestry,
and greatly regret that it was not be-
gun years before.
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 its execution.
There are some 30 projects which
have been entered upon by the recla-
nation bureau, and ! believe that all
of them are to be commended for
their excellent adaptation of the pur-
pose for which they were erected, and
for the speed with which the work
has been done"