The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-28
President Taft Tells the People
OF Spokane, WASH,
That He Will Urge an Issue of
$1O,OOO,OOO by Congress.
SAYS HE is PLEDGED
To Fellow Roosevelt in COnser-
walton of National Resources.
Says a Good Word for Both Bal
linger and PlRchOt.

Spohdne, wash, sept. 2S.-In a speech
on the conservation of natural re-
sources delivered here today, President
Iaft declared that he would ask con-
gress to authorize the issuance of $1O,-
100000 in bonds to complete irrigation
projects already begun in the west and
! on which work had been stopped for
lack of funds.
This has been the hope of many set
tiers in the arid regions who had taken
up lands in the expectancy of procur-
ing a supply. Of water to make them
fertile and the presidents declarations
was enthusiastically cheered.
The president declared that many
| newspapers had drawn unfair infer
ences as to the attitude of his admin
istration on the general conservation of
natural resources.
THE truth is" he said my admin
istration is pledged to follow out the
policies of Mr.. Roosevelt in this re-
gard and while that pledge does not in
Volve me in any obligation to carry
them out unless 1 have congressional
authority to do so, it does require that
take every step to exert every legiti-
mate influence upon congress to enact
tne legislation which shall best sub
serve the purpose indicated"
The president declared that Secre-
tary of the Interior Ballinger is in ac-
cord with him as to the necessity for
III every leRll1rnaJe way. the
conservation of natural resources.
The president also has praise for
Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot and re-
fers to his wonderful work for the
conservation of the forests, supported
by Mr.. Roosevelt"
AS to Water Power Sites.
President Taft declared as to the wa
ter power sites that congress must au-
thorize the government to allot these
sites to private interests for develop
ment, the government retaining gem
eral control and supervision. He de-
clared also that he would urge upon
congress the necessity of an authorfta-
tive classification of public lands to
prevent difficulties OF the past such as
the setting aside of coal and mineral
lands as agricultural lands and vice
versa -. .s--r 4
The president sat up on his train uu-
til 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. Tart said: Il am going to take
up today the subject of the conserva-
tion of our natural resources. This
mas been given very wide scope. I
don't propose to cover the whole
ground today. L shall confine my at
tention to those parts of the policy
which are certainly within the juris-
diction of the national government and
especially concern the country west of
the Missouri river.
"I refer first to the preservation of
the national forests; reclamation of
the arid and semi-arid lands by irriga-
ton; third, to the disposition of water
power sites upon public lands. with
proper restrictions upon the use both
in respect to the compensation. it's ex-
tent in point of time and the adjust
ment 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 the
government, with such restrictions as
will permit their development for pri-
nopoly and extortion in the same
product.
The National Forests.
1.-THE national forests as reserved by
executive order contain about 167 mill
lion acres of land of the United States
proper. All of this land is under the
direct control of the forestry bureau
and is being preserved from fire and
from 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 and the head of the
bureau of forestry in the department
of agriculture.
1T apepars that the government tim
Der land is only about one-fourth of
the timber land owned by private in
dividuals and only per cent of timber
land owned by private individuals IS
plOIserly lOOf&e1 ollSI, dCCOrulng 10 MOD
ern methods of forestry. The destruc-
ton by fire of forests is estimated to
be $50 GOO a year. 1t would seem,
therefore, Imperative that the state
should exercise the jurisdiction over
these forests to which 1 have referred
that are held by private individuals,
and require some system of fire pro-
lection ard the adoption of the best
methods of forestry. 1t would seem
that the states have a right to do this
because of the general interest which
the public has in the preservation OF
the forests and in its equalizing of the
water supply and it's effect upon the
The regulation Of the water
the soil and the possible destruction
of the best part of the soil. which is
carried down the rivers with the floods.
PincIlot's Work.
II don't stop to discuss at length
the forestry question. The wonderful
progress made by Mr.. Pinchot with the
earnest support of Mr.. Roosevelt and
Secretary Wilson at times has met the
of persons IN this western
country on the ground that property
was being taken which congress In
tended for individuals ana was being
withheld from them. But think gen
eral opposition to Mr.. Pinchot's plans
his disappeared and that the great body
of the American people recognizes the
Ienef1t of the reform in reference to
forestry and greatly regret that it was
I OF begun years before. Congress has
come to recognize fully the necessity
of pursuing forestry reform by making
liberal appropriations for the purpose.
The forest lands of the United States
z.-~w1,+ f, l,o c1-ruoyed ND rarafnT1u r,ra-