The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-09-29
TAFT SPEAKS ON
CONSERVATION
President Makes Address to
Audience In Spokane
GOOD WORD FOR BALM GER
Clifford Pinchot's Work Is Praised,
and the President Says That
Congress Must AlIot Water
Power Sites.

Spokane, Wash, September &.-In a
speech on the conservation of natural
resources, delivered here today, Presden.
Taft declared that he would ask Congress
to authorize the issuance of %0000,o00 In
bonds to complete irrigation projects al
ready begun in the west and on which
work had been stopped for lack of funds.
The President declared that many news
papers had drawn unfair differences as
to the attitude of his administration ON
the general conservation of the natural re-
sources.
1.-The truth" he said, lis that my ad-
ninistration is pledged to follow out the
policies of Mr.. Roosevelt in this regard
and while that pledge does not involve
me in any obligation to carry them out
unless l have congressional authority to
do so, 1t does require that l take every
step, to exert every legitimate influence
upon Congress to enact the legislat ton
which shall best subserve the purpose
indicated"
The President declared that Secretary of
the Interior Ballinger is in accord with
him on the necessity for promoting the
He also praised Chief Forester Clifford
Pinchot and referred to his wonderful
work for the conservation of forests, sup.
ported by Mr.. Roosevelt
a President Taft declared as to water
power sites that Congress must authorize
the government to allot these sites to
private interests for development. the
government retaining general control and
supervision.
He declared also that he would urge
upon Congress the necessity of an au-
lucrative classification of public lands 10
prevent difficulties of the past, such as
the setting aside of coal and mineral
alnds as agricultural lands and vice versa.
The President sat up in his train until
after midnight debating his speech. lie
consulted freely with Secretary Ballin-
ger.
Mr.. Taft said:
Taft's Address.
1.-The subject of the conservation of our
natural resources has been given very
wide scope | don't propose to cover the
whole ground today. l shall confine my
which are certainly within the jurisdiction
of the national government and especial
ly concern the country west of the Mis-
souri, river.
II refer first. to the preservation of the
natural forests; second, to the reclamation
of the arid and semi-arid lands by irri
cation; third, to the disposition of the
waterpower sites upon lands. with proper
restrictions upon use, 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 beneficiary
of the grant; fourth, to the disposition OF
coal, oil and phosphate lands owned by
tho government, with such restrictions as
will permit their development for private
profit, and yet will prevent monopoly, and
extortion in the sale of the product
1.-The national forests as reserved by ex-
ecutive order contain about 167, 600, 900
acres in the United States proper. All of
this land is now under the direct control
of the forestry bureau, and is being pre-
served from fire and 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
Lumber Properly Handled.
''It appears that government timber
land is only about one-fourth the timber
land owned by private individuals. Is
properly looked after, according to mod
ern methods of forestry. The destruction
by fires is estimated to be $50 600, 900 a
year.
ut seems, therefore. imperative that the
states should exercise their. jurisdiction
over these forests to which 1 nave re-
ferred to and which are held by private
individuals, and require some system of
fire protection and the adoption of the
best methods of forestry.
at would seem that the states have a
right to do this because of the general in
terest which the public has in the preser-
walton of the forests.
81 do not stop to discuss at length the
forestry questions. The wonderful pro-
gress made by Mr. Pinchot with the earn
est support of Mr.. Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Wilson at times has met the denun-
citation of persons in this western country
on the ground that property was being
taken which Congress intended for indi-
viduals and was being withheld from
them.
Opposition Dies Out
But l think general opposition to Mr.
Pinchots plans has disappeared. and that
the great body of the American people
recognize the benefit of reform in regard
to forestry and greatly regret that 1t was
not begun years before. Congress has
come fully to recognize the pursuing of
forestry reform by making liberal appro-
priations for the purpose. The forest
lands of the United States ought to be
surveyed and carefully preserved and
it's jurisdiction in respect to Them clearly
defined
1.-The regulation of forests in private
ownership within state boundaries is not
plainly within the scope of federal juris-
diction, and it should be undertaken by
the states. | do not think the states have
improved the opportunity which has
been given they by way of example by
the forestry bureau of the United States
1.-THE question whether the federal
government, with the purpose of equal
ling the flow of water in naviga bic
streams and to promote navigation
during the entire year. may enter upon
a plan of regulating existing foresos
and registering certain denude terri
tory in the states, ! need not discuss.
The subject would require a wider dis
cussion than | could give it.
1.-THE plan of the government to re-
claim the arid and semi-arid lands
manifests in the reclena tion act, has
been carried out most rapidly by the
bureau charged with it's execution"
How Tunnel Was Begun. !.
Here the President described his ex-