The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-01-21

ident Taft today:
To the Senate and House OF Represents
In my annual message | reserved tho
subject OF the conservation OF our na.
Conal resources for disposition in il sue
cial message, as follows:
In several departments there IL pre-
sented the necessity for legislation took
Ing to the further conservation OF our
national resources. and the subject Is one
or such Importance as to require 4 more
detailed and extended discussion than
can De entered upon IN TINS COmrnuntra.
ton. For that reason | shalt 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
I OF suitable areas; upon the re-ClasSihca-
ton of the public domain with a view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral. coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government Dor
derlng on streams suitable for the utlll-
cation OF water power.
In 1860 we had a public domain OF l.N5.-
Gil. 2S8 acres. We have now 73I. 3,4 oSl
acres. confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the ard and seni-arid plains.
We have, In addition. BIS. O3J. y7s acres Of
land in Alaska.
Disbursement Of Public Lands.
The public lands were. during the ear,i.
est administrations. treated AS a national
asset for the liquidation OF the public
debt and as a source OF reward foe our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they were
donated in large amounts in aid or the
construction of wagon roads and rail.
ways, In order to open up regions IN the
west then almost inaccessible. An the
prinrina1 land statutes ,snra Arn.ta "a 49,
than A Quarter of a century ago rha
homesteah act. the e-emrtion and tlm-
oer-culture act. tie coal land aud 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. 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 prev
for the ursCrupulous and that 1t was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This p~roiigaI manner Of
disposition resulted in the passing OF
large areas OF valuable land ana MANY
or our national resources INTO the hands
of persons who felt little or no respoust-
in for promoting the national vel
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title to millions Of
dSlSS VI publlc ianuS was fr1uNIllenflY
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 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 has appeared In the public
prints in generalized form on this sub
ject, but there has been little practical
suggestion. 1t has been easv to saw that
the natural resources in fuel supply. III
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 san. per
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 reforms
Initiated by my distinguished predecessor
we're 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 OBJ
solete statutes so as to retain govern
mental control over that part Of the pub
liNdomain 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
public, OF the lands along the streams in
which the fall Of water can be made to
generate power to be transmitted in the
>-~~ a. 49,
point of its use. known as water power
sites.
The Investigations into violations OF the
public land laws and the prosecution OF
sand 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 ha'H\ been made on 1902
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover 229 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 IN the one hand suffi-
49, ~ ~
take them over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions on
the other which shall secure to the
public 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 to with
draw from the operation of existing
statutes tracts OF land. the disposition
OF which under such statutes would
be detrimental to the public interests.
II 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 condi-
lions. Unfortunately. has not
thus far fully acted on the
dations of the executive. and the ques-
ton as to what the executive is to
do Is under the circumstances. full OF
dif1culty. It seems to me that 1t is
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