The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07

court the final consideration of issues as to the title of government land and would, think, obviate a good deal of the subsequent litigation that now arises Ill our western courts. The bill is pending, l believe, in the House, having been favorably reported from the committee on public lands, and I recommend it's en- actment
 One of the difficulties in the interior de- partment and in the land office has been the delays attendant upon the considerd- ton by the land office and the Secretary of the Interior of claims for patents of public lands to individuals. I am glad to say that under the recent appropria- tions of the Congress and the earnest el . forts of tine secretary and his subordi- mates, these arrears have been disposed of. and the work of the department has been brought more nearly up to date h respect to the pending business than ever before in it's history. Economies have been effected where possible without legis~ lativc assistance, and these are shown in the reduced estimates for the expenses of the department during the current fiscal year and during the year to come.
 Conservation
 The subject of the conservation of the public domain has commanded the at tention of the people within the last two CT three years.
 AericuIturaI Lands There IS no need for radical reform in the methods of disposing of what are really agricultural lands. The present laws have worked we'll The enlarged homestead law has encouraged the suc- cessfu farming of lands in the semi arid regions
 Reclamation
 The total sum already accumulated Tn the fund provided by the act for the re- clamaton of arid lands is about S69, 4is O5S. .76, and of this all but s6,241, ,05S .76 has been allotted to the various projects, of which there are 90. Congress at its last session provided for the issuing of certih- cates of indebtedness not exceeding S2O GOO 600, to be redeemed from the reclama- ton fund when the proceeds of lands sold and from the water rents should be suf- ficient. Meantime. in accordance with the provisions of the law, l appointed a board of army engineers to examine the projects and to ascertain which are feas- ible and worthy of completion. That board has made a report upon the subject which I shall transmit in a separate message within few days.
 Conservation Address In September last conservation con- gress was held at St. Paul. at which I delivered an address on the subject of conservation so far as it was within the jurisdiction and possible action of the | federal government. In that address | assembled from the official records the statistics and facts as to what had been l done in this behalf in the administration | of my predecessor and in my own, and l it contained the executive measures which | I believed to be wise in order to secure | the best us In the public interest of what remains of our national domain. There was in this address very full discus | sion of the reasons which lead me to the l conclusions stated. For the purpose of saving in an official record comprehen- sive resume of the statistics and facts gathered with some difficulty in that ad- | dress, and to avoid their repetition in the body of this message, l venture to make | the address accompanying appendix | The statistics are corrected to November 15 last.
 Specific Recommendations | For the reasons stated In the conserva- | ton address I recommend:
 l l. That the limitation now imposed upor | the executive which forbids his reserv- | ing more forest lands in Oregon, Wash l ington. Idaho, Montana and Colorado bt
 repealed.
 %. That the coal deposits of the govern | ment he leased after advertisement invit- ing competitive bids, for terms not ex. | ceedine 50 years, with q minimum renta and royalties upon the coal mined, tt be readjusted every 10 or 12 years, ant with eonditons as tv maintenance wnlcf will secure proper mining and as to as sirnment which will prevent combination. fo monopolize control of the coal in an,
 one district or market. do not thinI