Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-14
The Presidents Message.


Washington, Jsn. IA Urging that
Congress proceed Immediately to dispose
OF the TAFT. BalIiuger conservation pro
grsnme without waiting the outcome OF
The congressional investigation OF the
BsliDger- PiDchot dispute, President
Tai. today transmitted his special mes
sage to Congress on The conservation OF
natural resources.
The president recommends legislation
providing for the conservation of the
public lsnds; !be safeguarding OF power
sites along rivers in the public domain;
the validating of the Withdrawals from
entry made by the secreIary of the in
terror under tbs disputed "superVisory
power" detsilcd classification Of pub.
tic lands according to their use; the dis
position Of the agricultural and mineral
resources of the same portions OF the
public lsndsssparately;t he rapid compile
ton of the reclamation PR sc:s now un-
der wey, aud a $50, 600, 900 bond issue to
finish and extend these projects; the ex.
leDsion of the activities of the forest ser.
yice; The conservation OF the soil; and
the Carrying out OF an extensive pro.
gramne Of io'aId 1stsIways improve
men'.
AL OF these matters With the exception
OF the forest and inland waterways rec.
onnent a.ons, the president says, have
b EN- EN- bodied in series of bills pre-.
pared By Secretary OF the Interior B,l-
llnger. The bills are now on the presi.
dents desk awaiting introduction into
Congress-.
The message reviews at length the bis-
tory of public land law, setting forth
that the protest statntss have ken 10
Operation for over quarter of century
and that not until the nation had been
delrsuded out of millions OF ore or land.
The president says that under his ad-
mioistralion, there have been continued
the vigorous Investigations Into public
land frauds that we're initiated by his
"distiDgushed predecessor, and that
the withdrawal of coal lands and power
sites from entry has been particularly
co atinued.
Aioog this line the president rec.
ommends that Congress validate with
trawsls made by the secretary OF the In.
terror, and authorize the secretary to
make such Withdrawals.
The separation OF the right to mine
from the agricultu'sl rights, to the pub.
lie lands, aud the disposition of these
rights separately is also recommended.
The president says the geological survey
should DO empowered to classify all
lands according to .h.ir principal value.
The message urges $50, 600, 0CO
boud issue to continue The reclamation
work in the west and gives high praise
to the mel engaged in the projects.
An experimental reforestation at the
head Of navigsble streams by the forest
service is recommended, and new Law
is urged for the disposition Of timber on
small areas not Included in the national
forests.
Ga the subject of inland waterways
The president comes out fatty 10 favor
of The Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri
river improvements, recommending that
Congress include an appropriation for
carrying on The work in the river and
harbor bill. The president recommends
the leasing, for terms OF fifty years, oil
public land power sites, at reasonable
rental, and with equitable provision for
renewal, TO prevent the absorption Of
these lands by power monopoly, q
$40, 900, 900 bond issue to continue the
reclamation projects now under con-
ruction In the weat, the removal Of
timber from forea! lands, not in the nat
onsl forests, aud The disposition of these
lands as agricultural or mineral tracks,
A moderate appropriation for expert
mental refnrestauoo st the heads Of GER
tain navieab le streams.
An appropriation in the rivers and
marlboro DILL Tor the improvement OF the
upper Mississippi, the Missouri, and
the Ohio rivera.
"Tbese recommendations are incor.
porated in bills the secretary of the in
interior hsg prepared, and these are at
the disposition of Congress"