The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1910-01-21

and house of representatives by Pres
ident Taft today:
To the Senate aud House OF Representa-.
tives.
In my annual message I reserved tho
subject OF the conservation of our na-
tonal resources for disposition In IA spe-
cial message, as follows:
In several departments there Is pre-
sented the necessity for legislation look
Ing to the further conservation OF our
national resources. and the subject Is one
OF such Importance as to require n more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this conrnunica1
uon. For that reason l shalt take au
early opportunity ia send special mes
sage 10 congress on the subject OF the
Improvement of our waterways upon the
reclamation and irrigation of arid semi
arid and swamp lands. upon the preser-
walton OF our forests and the re-foresting
or suitable areas; upon the re-classihca-
ton OF the public domain With view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral, coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government Dor
uerlng on streams suitable for the utili-
zation OF water power
In lsb0 we had "A public domain of ,n55-
si1. 2S8 acres We have now T3l g53 oSl
acres. confined largely TO tile mountain
ranges and the arid aud semi-arid plans
land In Alaska
Disbursement of Public Lsnds.
The public lands were during the earIi-
est administrations treated as n national
asset Tor the liquidation OF the public
uebt and as source of reward for our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they were
donated in large amounts In aid of the
construction of wagon roads and rail
ways. In order to open up regions In the
west then almost inaccessible All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than quarter OF Il century nco The
homestead act. the presumption and tim
per-calture act. the coal land and the
mining acts were among these
The rapid disposition of the public lands
under the early statutes and the lax
methods of distribution prevailing due
think. to the belief that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
snip. gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
Tor the INSCRIPTIONS and that Il was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This prodigal manner of
disposition resulted in the passing of
large areas OF valuable land and MANY
of our national resources into the hands
of persons who felt little or no RESPONSE
bility for promoting the national well
rare through their development
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title to millions OF
acres OF public lands was fraudulently
obtained and that the right to recover a
large part of such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason or stat
utes of limitations There has deveIoned
In recent years a dec, concern in the
public mind respecting the preservation
and proper use of our natural resources
This has been particularly directed
toward the conservation of the resources
OF the public domain A vast amount OF
discussion IN
prints in generalized form on this sub
oect. but there has been little practical
suggestion. 1t has been easy to say that
the natural resources in fuel supply. IN
forests In water power and in other
public utilities, must be saved from
waste. monopoly, and other abuses. and
the general public is in accord with this
proposition. as they are with most
truisms. The problem, however. IS how
TO save and how to utilize. how to con
serve and still develop. for no sane p.r
son can contend that It is for the com
mon good that natures blessings are
only for unborn generations
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reform.
initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution OF LAND
frauds and the bringing to public atten-
ton OF the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from further
spoliation, for the maintenance and ex-
tension OF our forest resources and for
the enactment OF laws amending the oh
solete statutes so to retain govern
mental control over that part Of the puh
lie domain in which there are valuable
deposits of coal OF oil. and OF phosphate
and. in addition thereto. TO preserve con
troll. under conditions favorable to III.
public, OF the lands along the streams In
which the fal OF water can be made to
generate power TO be transmitted In the
az
point OF its use. known as water power
sites.
The Investigations into violations of the
public land laws and the prosecution of
land frauds have been vigorously con-
finued under my administration. as has
been the withdrawal OF coal lands for
classification and valuation and the tenn
porary Withholding OF power sites Since
March 4, 1903. temporary withdrawals OF
power sites have been made on 1902
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover 22s per cent more streams than
were covered by the Withdrawals made
prior to that date.
The present statutes. except so far
as they dispose of the precious metals
and the purely agricultural lands are
not adapted 10 carry out the modern
view OF the best disposition OF public
lands TO private ownership. under con-
ditons Offering on the one hand sufii-
clent lnducement TO private capital to
take them over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions on
the other which shall secure To the
pubic that character Of control which
Will prevent a monopoly or misuse of
the lands or their products The power
OF the secretary Of the interior 10 with
draw from the operation OF existing
statutes tracts OF land. the disposition
or which under such statutes would
be detrimental to the public interests.
Is not clear or satisfactory. This power
has been exercised in the interest OF
the public, with the hope that congress
might affirm the action OF the execu-
tive by laws adapted TO the new condf-
fions. Unfortunately. congress has not
thus far fully acted on the reeommen-
cations OF the executive. and the ques-
zion IS to what the executive is TO
do is under the circumstances fun OF
dif1eulty II seems to me that il is
the duty OF congress now. by a statute.
10 validate the Withdrawals which
have been made by the secretary Of the |
interior and the president and to use |
the secretary OF the interior temporar-
lily To withdraw lands pending subnais- +
sion 10 congress Of recommendations as /