The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-01-21
PRESIDENT RECOMMENDS
$3O,OOO,OOOOO OF BONDS

gress was delivered Friday. 1t fol-
flows in part:
In my annual message l reserved
tho subject of conservation OF our nat
upar resources for discussion in a
special message as follows:
In several departments there is
presented the necessity for legislation
looking to the further conservation of
our natural resources and the subject
il one OF such Importance as to re-
ouire a moro detailed and extended
discussion than can be entered upon
in this communication. For this rea-
son. | shall take an early opportunity
to send a special message to con-
gress or the subject of the improve
ment OF our Waterways; upon the
reclamation and irrigation OF arid,
semi-arid and swamp lands; upon the
preservation OF our forests and the
re-fOresting of suitable areas; and the
Reconsideration OF thu public domain
with a view oil separating from agri-
cultural settlement, mineral, coal and
phosphati lands and sites belonging
to the government on streams suitable
for tho utilization of water power.
In 1860 VIC had public domain Of
1,055, ,288 acres. We have now
731 ,754,081 acres, confined largely to
the mountain ranges and the arid and
semi-arid plains. We have in addi-
ton, 368,035,9 acres of land in
Alaska.
Tho public lands were, during the
earliest administrations, treated as a
national asset for tho liquidation of
public debt and source of reward for
our soldiers and sailors. Later on
they were donated in largo amounts
in aid OF the construction of wagon
roads and railways in order to open
up regions in the west then almost in
accessible.
LAND STATUTES OLD.
The principal land statutes were en-
acted more than quarter of a cen
fury ago The homestead act, the
presumption and timber culture act,
the coal land and the mining acts were
among these. The rapid disposition
OF public lands under the early stat
utes and the lax methods of distribu-
ton prevailing, due, think, to the be-
lief that these lands should rapidly
pass into private ownership, gave rise
to the impression that the public do
main was legitimate prey for the I'M
scrupulous, and that it was not con-
trary to good morals to circumvent
land laws. This prodigal manner of
disposition resulted in the passage of
large areas of valuable lands and
many OF our natural resources into
the hands of persons who felt little or
no responsibility for promoting the
national welfare through their devel-
opment. The truth is that title to
millions of acres of public lands was
fraudulently obtained, and the right
to recover large part of such lands
for the government long since ceased
by reason of statutes of limitation.
There has developed in recent years
a deep concern in the public mind re-
specting the preservation and proper
use of our national resources. This
has been particularly directed toward
tho conservation of resources of the
public domain. The problem is how to
save, how t. utilize, how to conserve
and still develope; for no sane per-
son can contend that it is for the COM
mon good that natures blessings are
only for tho unborn generations.
PROSECUTION OF LAND FRAUDS.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
initiated by my distinguished prede-
cessor. were tho vigorous prosecution
of land frauds ard the bringing to
public attention OF tho necessity for
preserving the remaining public do
main from further spoilation, for the
maintenance and extension of our for
est resources, and for the enactment
of laws amending the obsolete statutes
SO as to retain government control
over that part of the public domain
in which there are valuable deposits of
coal, oil and phosphate, and in addi-
ton thereto, to preserve control, un-
RI fox hi ~ he 10
of lands along the streams in which
tho fall of water can be made to gen.
crate power to be transmitted in the
forw of electricity many miles to the
form of electricity many miles to the
power" sites.
Investigations into violations OF
public land laws and prosecution Of
land frauds have been vigorously con
tinued under my administration, as
has been the withdrawal of coal lands
for classification and valuation, anC
tho temporary Withholding of power
sites.
Since March 4, 1909, temporary
Withdrawals of power sites have beer
mado on 1902 streams and these with
drawals therefore cover 229 per cen
moro streams than wero covered by
tho Withdrawals made prior to tina
date.
STATUTES DOES NOT MEET CONDITIONS
The present statutes, except so fal
as they dispose of precious metals ant
purely agricultural lands, arc no
adapted TO carry out the modern view
of the best disposition of public land
TO private ownership, under conditions
offering on the ono hand, sutlicien
inducement to private capital to tax,
them over for proper development
with restrictive conditions and on tn,
other, which shall secure to the public
that character of control which will
prevent n monopoly or misuse of tn,
lands or their products.
POWER OF SECRETARY.
Tho power of the secretary of tn