The new era., 1910-09-15

srs in no doubt as to his position. In
substance his address was as follows:
Gentiemen of the National Conservation
Congress:
Conservation as an economic and po-
ltical term has come to mean the preser-
Natton of our natural resources for
economical use, 90 as to secure the great
est good to the greatest number.
The danger to the state and to the peo-
Die at large from the waste and dissipa-
zion Of our national wealth is not ono
which quickly impresses itself on the peo-
Die of the older communities. because its
most obvious instances do not occur in
their neiKhborhood. while in the newer
BART of the country the sympathy with
expansion and development is SO strong
that the danger Is scoffed at or ignored.
Among scientific men and thoughtful OBJ
servers however. the danger has always
oeen present; but 1t needed some one to
bring home the crying need for a remedy
of this evil SO as to impress itself on the
public mind and lead to tho formation OF
public opinion and action by the repre-
csntatives of the people. Theodore Roose-
Welt took up this task in the last two
years of his second administration. and
we'll did he perform 1t.
Al president of the United States I
have. It were. inherited this policy.
and rejoice in my heritage. I prize my
high opportunity to do all that an ex-
Scutive can do to help great people
eeAlfse a great national ambition. For
conservation is national. 1t affects every
imam of us. every woman. every child.
What can do in the cause l shall do,
not az president of = party. but as presi-
dent OF the whole people. Conservation
In not q question of politics. or of fac
lions, or of persons. 1t IL question that
Affects the vital welfare of all of us-of
our children and our children'ss children.
I urge that no good can come from meet
angs OF this sort unless we ascribe to
those who take part in them, and who
are apparently striving worthily in the
cause. all proper motives. and unless we
1udicially consider every measure or
method proposed with view to Its enec-
dveness in achieving our common pur-
pose. and wholly without regard to who
proposes II or who will claim the credit
4or its adoption. The problems are of
very great difficulty and call for the
caimest consideration and clearest fore
slight Many of the questions presented
have phases that are new in this coun-
try. and It is possible that In their solu-
thon we may have to attempt first one
way and then another What wish to
emphasize. however. Is that q satisfac-
tory conclusion can only be reached
promptly II we avoid acrimony. imputa-
lions of bad faith. and political contro-
wersy.
The public domain of the government
sf the United States. including all the
cesstons from those of the thirteen states
that made cessions to the United States
and including Alaska. amounted in all to
about 1.S0o. 100000 acres. OF this there 10
left as purely government property out
eide OF Alaska something like 100 .000. 900 Of
Acres. OF this the national forest re-
serves in the United States proper en-
brace IA, 900 900 sacres. -. tfstr
Aeads of ~ agricultural lands: (O min
SrAi lands-that is. lands containing
aaetailiferous minerals; (3) forest lands:
~ coal lands: (5) oil and gas lands and
% phosphate lands.
Agricultural Lands.
Our land laws for the entry of agricul-
tural lands are now as follows:
The original homestead law. with tho
requirements of residence and cultivation
for five years. much moro strictly en-
forced than ever before.
Tho enlarged homestead act. applying
TO nonirrigable lands only. requiring nve
years' residence and continuous cultiva-
don of one-fourth of the area.
The desert-land act. which requires on
the part OF the purchaser the ownership
OF water right and thorough reclama-
zion Of the land by irrigation. and the
payment of $l.2S per acre.
The donation or Carey act, under which
the state selects the land and provides
Tor its reclamation. and the title vests in
tie settler who resides upon the land and
eultivates It and pays the cost of the
reclamation.
The national reclamation homestead
law. requiring i've years residence and
cultivation by the settler on the land ir-
etgated by the government and payment
~ him to the government Of the cost of
the reclamation.
Tho present congress passed bill of
great Importance. severing the ownership
ct coal by the government in the ground
2nrpSVv hA rfn a nd hAn a.
otead entries upon the surface of the
hand. which. when perfected. give the
0ettier the right to farm the surface.
while the coal beneath the surface Is re-
tained In ownership by the government
and may be disposed of by It under other
hws.
There is no crying need for radical re-
term In the methods of disposing of what
are really agricultural lands. The pres
Sut laws have worked well. The en-
successful farming Of lands in the semi
arid regions.
Reclamation.
BY the reclamation act fund has been
created of the proceeds of the public
lands of the United States with which to
construct works for storing great bodies
of water at proper attitudes from which.
BY q suitable system of canals and ditch
90, the water Is to be distributed over the
arid and subarid lands of the government
60 be sold to settlers at price sufficient
70 pay for the improvements Primarily.
the projects are and must be for the i'm
Drovement of public lands. Incidentally.
where private land Is also within reach
Of the water supply, the furnishing at
csat or profit OF this water to private
owners by the government Is held by the
FEDERAL court OF appeals not to be a
0surpatioE of power But certainly this
ought not to be done except from sur
plun water. not needed for government
hand. The total sum already accumula-
ted In the reclamation fund Is $60.N3,-
&SA. and of that all but $6.4el.9b5.A has
been expended. 1t became very clear to
congress at Its last session. from the
statements made by experts. that these
- projects could not be promptly COM
peeted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
n the near future. 1t was found, more
over. that there are many settlers who
have been led into taking up lands with