The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-29

that it will promote local develop
ment by. the settlement of home
makers. the policy we champion is
to serve all the people legimately
and openly. instead of permitting
the lands to be converted, illegiti-
mately and under cover, to the pri-
vate benefit of a few. Our forest
policy was established so that we
might use the public forests for the
permanent public good. instead of
merely for temporary private gain.
The reclamation act, under which
the desert parts of the public do
main are converted to higher uses
for the general benefit, was passed
so that more Americans might have
homes on the land.
These policies were enacted into
law and have justified their enact
ment. Others have failed, SO far,
to reach the point Of action. Among
such is the attempt to secure public
control of the open range and thus
to convert its benefits to the use of
the small man, who is the home
maker, instead of allowing it to be
controlled by few great cattle and
sheep owners.
I urge that the broad plan for the
development of our waterways, rec
commended by the Inland Waterways
Commission, be put in effect without
delay.
l urge that provision be made for
both protection and more rapid de-
velopment of the national forests.
Otherwise, either the increasing use
OF these forests by the people must
be checked or their protection
against fire must be dangerously
weakened. If we compare the act
ual fire damage on similar areas on
private and national forest lands
during the past year, the govern
ment fire patrol saved commercial
timber worth as much as the total
cost of caring for all national for
ests at the present rate for about
ten years.
The remaining public lands should
be classified and the arabic lands
disposed of to home-makers. In
their interest the timber and stone
act and the Communication clause of
the homestead act should be repeal
ed, and the desert-land law should
be modified in accordance with the
recommendations of the public lands
commission.
The use of the public grazing
lands should be regulated in such
ways as to improve and conserve
their value.
Rights to the surface Of the pub
lie land should be separated from
rights to forests upon it and to min
erals beneath it, and these should
be subject to separate disposal.
The coal, oil, gas, and phosphate
rights still remaining with the gov
eminent should be withdrawn from
entry and leased under conditions
favorable for economic development.
1t is of the utmost Importance
that bureau of mines be establish
ed in accordance with the pending
bill to reduce the loss of life in
sources and to investigate the meth
DDS and substitutes for prolonging
the duration of our mineral supplies.
Both the need and the public de-
mand for such bureau are rapidly
becoming more urgent. 1t should
cooperate with the states in supply
ing data to serve as a basis for state
mine regulations. The establish
ment of this bureau will mean mere
ly the tranfer from other bureaus
of work which it is agreed should
be transferred and slightly enlarged
and re-organized for these purposes.
urge that an appropriation of
at least $4,000 be made to cover
the expenses of the national conser-
walton commission for necessary
rent, assistance, and travelling ex-
penses. This is a very small sum.
l know of no other way in which
the appropriation Of so small sum
would result in so large a benefit
to the whole nation.
Theodore Roosevelt
The White House, January %, 1909.