Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-29
TAFT Outlines Conservation Policy

:tiOn Policy
deposits of coal are so great that when
they are developed they will doubtless
furnish coal to the entire Pacific coast.
They have been reserved from filings
since 1906. There are some 400 claim
ants Under the evidence adduced most
of these claims will prove to be de-
fective,
Coal Lands Alluded To
at seems wise in the disposition of
coal lands, and, indeed of all mineral
lands, having agricultural value, to
separate the surface of the land from
its mineral contents and then either to
lease the right to take coal from the
land at a specified compensation per
ton-that is, to provide a system of
royalties-or to sell the deposits of the
land outright to the coal miner. In
every case, restriction by way of for
feiture ought to be included to prevent
a monopoly of ownership. This is the
great object of a change in the method
of their disposition.
''Some provision should be made with
reference to the disposition of the pho )
phate land. This land, which is found
in wyoming and in Idaho, contains the
wonderful fertilizer which it will soon
be necessary to use on much of the
land in the United. States, and as the
need for the use Of this fertilizer on
much land is growing, we should see
to it, if possible, that the product be not
subject to monopoly or sold outside OF
the United States.
'The oil lands of California, as well
s,-f4 vol X
the coal lands, have been withdrawn
from settlement in order to await the
action of congress; and 1 expect to
recommend to congress legislation on
the lines above indicated, with the gem
eral purpose of enabling the secretary
of the interior in the administration of
the land laws to secure more benefit to
the public and greater certainty in the
security against the monopoly of re-
Action Up to Congress
What, however, l wish to make as
plain as possible is that these purposes
cannot be accomplished unless congress
shall act. The executive can recon-
mend, but the legislature must enact.
There has been a good deal of dis
cussion in the newspapers as to the at
titude of the present administration to-
ward the general policy of conservation
of resources, and some very unfair and
altogether urfounded inferences have
been drawn. The truth is, 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 I have congressional
authority to do so, it does require that
I take every step and exert every legit-
innate influence upon congress TO enact
the legislation which shall best sub
serve the purposes indicated.
II do not think that congress, If prop
erly approached, will object to adopting
legislation of the general character
which have outlined. In the past 1t
has aided the forestry service by what
seemed to be ample appropriations. 1t
has in a measure provided for classi-
fication of lands by the head of the
geological bureau. These are both inn
portant steps. 1 hope nothing will pre-
vent our taking the further steps need
ed when congress meets.
Secretary of the Interior Ballinger'
upon whom will fall the duty of cxecut-
ing the new provisions of the law, is in
entire accord with me as to the ne
cessity for promoting in every legiti-
mate way the conservation of the re-
sources which I have named, and he
can be counted upon to use the great
Influence which he must have as sec
retary of the interior to this proper end.
Indeed, it will be found that in his re-
ports as commissioner of the general
land office he brought these matters to
the attention of congress, and urged
the adoption of a general policy along
the lines I have indicated"
Speech Written on Train
President Taft dictated his conserva-
ton speech on the train last night, sit
ting up until nearly 1 O'Clock to COM
plete the task. He arose at 6 a. m.
today to correct the manuscript, and
both before and after framing the ad-
dress he consulted freely with Secre-
tarv Ballinger, who has been with the
president since his arrival in Denver a
week ago and will continue as mem
Der of the party as far as Seattle.
Since his entry into the west and the
testimony of his own eyes as to the
miracles wrought by touch OF water
upon the virgin land, the president has
become an enthusiastic exponent of 1r-
rigation, and declared today that no
one could visit this section of the coun-
trv without being convinced of the ne
cessity of a proper treatment of the
arid lands.
In addition to making one of the sew
en- or eight important utterances he set
out to make on this trip, Mr.. Taft today
had some new western experiences.
Arriving here at $50 a. M, he break
tasted as the guest of the citizens, en-
ioyed an automobile ride of more than
an hour about the city, made a brief
address to a gathering of Grand Army
veterans and school children, reviewed
a military and civic parade, lunched at
the chamber of commerce, had a motor
and trolley ride into Coeur dAlene,
Idaho, where he made a brief address;
visited Hayden lake, Idaho, one of the
show bits of scenery in the Inland
empire; was served with an all-game
dinner at Bozanta Inn, across the
Idaho line, and returning to the city
at $50 o'clock, left for North Yakima,
Wash, where he will arrive early to-
morrow morning.
Headed for Seattle
From North Yakima the president
goes direct to Seattle, reaching there at
8:15 tomorrow night, to spend two days
in and about the Alaska Yukon Pacific
fair.
The luncheon attended by the presi-
dent today was decided novelty. The
Hall of the Doges" at Davenport's was
decorated with thousands of apples.
There were courses served in apple
dishes, and other courses in which ap-
pies played a leading role. The fruit
for the orchard bower and apple feast
was obtained from. the exhibits of the
interstate fair, which closed here last
week, and some of the specimens were
marVels to behold.
President Taft's train has been