The Glenwood post., 1910-01-22

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
In my annual message reserved the
subject of the conservation OF
tional resources for disposition in d spe-
cial message, as follows:
In several departments there Is pre-
sented the necessity for Legislation look
i, ing to the further conservation of our
national resources. and the subject Is
of such Importance as to require a more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in tins communica-
ton. For that reason shall take an
early opportunity TO send n special mes
sage to 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
of 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 bor-
dering on streams suitable for the utili-
zation of water power.
In 1860 we had public domain of n55-
91l, 28S acres We have now 73l 354 OSl
acres. confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the arid and semi arid PLAINS.
We have. in addition, 36s. .035. .9l5 acres Of
land in Alaska.
Disbursement of Public Lands.
The public lands were during the earli-
asset for the liquidation of the public
debt 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 a century ago The
homestead act, the presumption and tim
ber-culture act, the coal land and the
fhasa
The rapid disposition of the public lands
under the early statutes and the lax
methods of distribution prevailing, due I
think. to the belief that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that it was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This prod;gal 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 no respons-
bility for promoting the national well
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title to millions of
acres of public lands was frauduIently
obtained and that the right to recover a
large part of such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason Of stat
utes OF limitations. There has developed
in recent years deeo 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. vast amount OF
discussion has appeared in the public
prints in generalized form on this SUBJ
5ect. 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 per-
son can contend that 1t is for the COM
mon good that natures blessings are
only for unborn generations.
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
Initiated by my distinguished predecessor
we're the vigorous prosecution of land
frauds and the bringing to public atten-
tion of the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from further
spoiiation. for the maintenance and ex-
tension Of our forest resources, and for
the enactment of laws amending the OBJ
soete statutes SO as to retain govern
mental control over that part of the pub
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 the
l public. of the lands along the streams in
which the fall of water be made to
Z 0iterate power to be transmitted In the
t1.fm of electricity many miles to the
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-
tinued 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, 1909. temporary Withdrawals OF
power sites have been made on 102
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 to carry out the modern
view of the best disposition of public
lands to private ownership. under con-
ditions offering on the one hand sum-
cienf inducement to private capital to
take them over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions on
the other which shall secure to the
public that character OF control which
VIII prevent q monopoly or misuse of
the lands or their products. The power
OF the secretary of the interior to with
draw from the operation of existing
statutes TRACTS OF lana, the olSpositlon
OF 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 pUolic. with the hope that congress
might aff1rm the action of the execu-
tive by laws adapted to the new condi-
tons. Unfortunately. congress has not
thus FAR fully acted on the recommen-
dattons of the executive. and the ques-
ton as to what the executive is to
do Is under the circumstances. full of
din1culty. 1t seems to me that It 10
the duty of congress now. by a statute.
to 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-
ANAo withdraw lands pending submits
to congress OF recommendations a.