The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-28

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President in his speech here declar-
ed that many newspapers had drawn
unfair inferences as to the attitude OF
his administration on the general con.
servation Of natural resources.
The truth Is, he said. my admin
istration is pledged 10 follow out the
policies OF Mr.. Roosevelt in this re-
gard, and, while that pledge does not
involve me In any obligation TO car
- them out unless ] have congres-
sional authority to do So It does re-
qurc that | take every step TO exert
every legitimate Influence upon con-
grcss TO enact the legislation which
s5al best subserve tho purpose indi.
Gated.
The President declares that Sccre.
tary of the Interior Ballinger is In ac-
cord 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
refers to his wonderful work for tho
conservation of the forests, support
cd by Mr.. Roosevelt"
President Taft declares as to wat.
er power sites that congress must au-
thorize the government to allot these
sites TO private interests for devel-
opment, the government retaining
general control and supervision
He declared also that he would urge
upon congress the necessity of an au-
thoritatiye classification Of public
lands to prevent difficulties of tho
past, such as the setting aside of coal
and mineral lands as agricultural
lands, and vice versa.
The President sat up on his train
until after midnight. debating his
speech. He consulted freely with
Secretary Ballinger before beginning
work on the address and again when
the rough draft had been completed
this morning.
Mr. Taft said:
Il am going to take up today the
subject OF the conservation OF our nat
ural resources. This has been given
d very wide scope. don't propose TO
cove: the whole ground today. ] shall
con0ne my attention 10 those parts OF
the policy which are certainly within
the Jurisdiction Of the national govern"
ment and especially concern The coun.
try west of the Missouri river
II refer, first, to the preservation of
the national forests; second, to the
lands by irrigation; third, to the dis
position of water power; sites upon
public lands, with proper restrictions
upon the use Of both In respect TO the
compensation. its extent In point of
time and The adjustment of rates To be
charged TO the public by the beneh-
ciary of the grant; fourth, TO the dis
position Of coal. oil and phosphate
h,r ha Will
such restrictions as will permit their
development for private profit, and yet
will prevent monopoly and eXtortion
in the sale Of the product,
The national forests, as reserved
by executive order. contain about
I67 100000 acres of land In the United
States proper All of this land is now
under The direct control of the forest
ry bureau and is being preserved from
fire and from other destruction and
Is being treated in accordance with the
best modern methods of treating for
ests. under the supervision of Mt
Pinchot, the chief forester and the
mead OF the bureau Of forestry in the
department of agriculture,
"1t appears that the government
tlmbcr land is only about one-fourth
IL the timber land owned by private
Individuals and that only three per
cnnt Of timber land owned by private
individuals is properly looked after
according 10 modern methods of for
estry. The destruction by fire of for
ests is estimated to be $50,0o0,0OO a
year 1t would seem, therefore, I'M
peratiye that the states should exer"
else their Jurisdiction over these for
csts 10 which ! have referred ana
which are held by private individuals
and require some system Of fire pro-
lection and the adoption OF the best
methods OF forestry. II would seem
hat the states have right 10 do this
because OF the general interest which
he public has in the preservation oil
he forests and In It's eQualizing of the
water supply and its effect upon the
climate. The regulation Of the water
supply. OF course, prevents erosion oil
.he soil and the wasteful destruction
II the best part of the soil which is
carried down the rivers with the
floods.
II do not stop 10 discuss at length
the forestry question. The wonderful
progress made by Mr. Plnchot, with
the earnest support Of Mr.. Roosevelt
and Secretary Wilson at times mas
met th& denunclation of persons III
this western country on The ground
that property was being taken wnich
congress intended for individuals and
was being withheld from them. But
think general opposition 10 Mr. Pm
chot's plans has disappeared and thai
the great body of the American peo
pie recognizes the benefit OF the re
form In reference 10 fcrestr%. ant
that they regret that II was not begun
years before. Congress has como
fully TO recognize the necessity ioi
pursuing forestry reform by making
liberal appropriations for the purpose
The forest lands OF the United states
ought to be surveyed and carefully
preserved, and It's jurisdiction In re
spect 10 them clearly defined.
The regulation OF forests In pr
vatc ownership within state bound
arIc6 Is net plainly within the scon'