New-York tribune., 1909-09-29
TAFT ON CONSERVATION
PLEDGED TO ROOSEp ELI
POLICIES, HE SAYS.
VIII AsA Congress for Legisiat'o"
TO Put Them in Force-FGUors
$1,000, 900 Irrigation Bonds.

snoksne. wash. Sept. 2s.-President Taft IN
A speech here to-day. outlined the polcy OF MS
administration on the conservation OF hatural
resources. He said that while he was pledged
% tbe policies OF Mr.. Roosevelt, such a pledge
did not involve him in any obligation TO carry
out these policies without authorization from
Congress He added that he would take every
stem and exert every possible influence on Con-
eress 20 have IL enact legislation which would
best serve the purposes and requirements OF the
situation.
President Taft created much enthusiasm when
he announced that he would urge Congress to
authorize the Secretary OF the Interior TO issue
Sl0OO0000 bonds for the completion OF lrrlga-
tion projects on which work has been suspended
because Of lack OF funds and failure Of the pro-
jectors to observe the limitations of the reclama-
ton act Hardships have been suffered by many
settlers through the suspension of work, and
Senator Borah. OF Idaho and other Western
Congressman have told the President that a
bond issue was the only way by which justice
could be done. Mr.. Taft declared that Congress
did not intend that the government should
undertake projects which could not be paid for
out of the proceeds OF public land sales but
added that he had been impressed in his visit
10 the West with the necessity for immediate
relief
The National Irrigation Congress recently met
in Spokane, and the Ballinger-Pinchot contTo-
versy arose here. President Taft to-day gave
credit 20 both Mr.. Pinchot and to Mr.. Ballipger.
He referred 10 the wonderful work of Mr..
Pnchot. and said that while the work had been
denounced at first, it was generally real
lied that the reforms begun by the chief fores-
ter were not only necessary. but should have
been begun ten years ago. The President de-
! fendsd the reopening OF lands by the present
| administration a compliance with existing
LAYS. and declared that Mr.. Balllngers views
were in strict accord with those of the admins
| traton.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
| President Taft dictated his conservation
speech on the train last night. sitting up until
nearly O'Clock 10 complete the task. He arose
/ at d o'clock to-day TO correct the manuscript
and both before and after framing the address
he consulted freely with Secretary Ballnger
who has been with him since his arrival in Den
yer a week ago and will continue as a member
| of the party far Seattle The Presidents
speech follows:
| I going 10 take up to-day the subject Of
the conservation of our natural resources This
| has been given very VIDE scope l dont pro-
! pose to cover the whole ground to-day. I shall
confine my attention TO those parts Of the policy
| which are certainly within the jurisdiction OF
! the national government and especially concern
/ the country west of the Missouri River.
| I refer, first. 10 the preservation Of the ma
tional forests; second. 10 the reclamation OF the
arid and semi arid lands by irrigation; third, 10
The disposition of water power sites upon public
| lands with proper restrictions upon their US.
| both in respect TO the compensation. its extent
| in point Of time. and the adjustment Of rates 10
| he charged 10 the public by the beneficiary of
| the grant: fourth, to thu disposition of coal, oil
| and phosphate lands owned by the government,
| with such restrictions as will permit their de-
! velopmeat for private profit and yet will pre-
pErO figr he pf Nc
product.
The national forests. as reserved by executive
| order contain about 161.m0HH 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 Ere and
! from other destruction and Is being tr- ated in
| accordance with the hest 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 Agr-
| culture.
. MR.. PINCHOTs WORK COMMENDED.
| don't stop 10 discuss al length the forestry
| question. The wonderful progress made by Mr..
! Pnchot. with the earnest support Of Air. Roose-
| welt and Secretary Wilson, at times has met the
denunciatOn 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 / think general opposition 10 Mr.. Pinchot 5
1 plans has disappeared and that the great body
| Of the American people recognizes the benefit
OF the reform in reference 10 forestry and great
| ly regrets that il WAS not begun years before.
Congress has come fully 10 recognize the neceS-
| slty OF pursuing forestry reform by making lib
! eral appropriations for the purpose. The forest
| lands Of the United States ought TO be surveyed
and carefully preserved and its Jurisdiction in
! respect To them clearly defined
I The regulation Of forests in private ownership
| within state boundaries Is not plainly within the
scope Of federal jurisdiction. and II should be
! undertaken by the states ! don't think that the
| states have taken up the matter with rs much
energy as they should and have not improved
the opportunity which was given them bv way
OF example by the forestry bureau OF the United
States.
The question whether the federal government
with the purpose Of equalizing the flow OF water
! in naNigahle streams. and 20 promote navigation
! regulating existing forests and reforestng Ger
tain denuded territory in the states 7 need not
now discuss. The subject would involve wider
discussion than have time to give IT,
ARID LAND RECLAMATION.
The plan Of the government to reclaim III,
arld ana Senli-arid lands manifested in the re.
TIdnatloh act has been carried out most rapidly
oY the bureau charged with its execution
hSd the honor the Other day In Colorado ri
opening the most ambitious of these projects
at cast the most difficult of them-the Gunni
son tunnel, which is to bring water into a Ualla,
an Colorado known as the ITncompabere VaIley.
WIN some one hundred and fifty thousand acres
! cereals. ~ ''
There arc some thirty projects which bav,
Deen entered upon by the reclamation bureau
ana J believe that all Of them are TO b. com
! mcndcd for their excellent adaDtatidn q, -
purpose for which they were erected ana 20
| inc Speed with which the work has been dopo
~ IS beileFcd however. that in the planning a
a, HaiilotI ol tlese improvements the enthusiasm
| OF the projectors has carried them 10 Doin
where they begin to feel embarrassed in ~
mater OF resources with which 10 complete IN
| projects ana begin 10 show that prudence wa
| Iot observed by those engaged i'm execi,fin,
mem; that the projects were too mans, and 49,
tHah eould be completed I'm A reasonable tim