The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1910-01-21

Washington.-Tho president trans.
mittcd TO congress a special message
on the subject of the conservation OF
the nations natural resources In
substance II was as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-.
lives
In my annual message I reserved the
subject uf thr conservation NJ uur ma
uonil resources Tor disposition In spo.
cinl m'HFugr, aH follows;
In several dopar mrnts there iH pre-
Hcntcd th, necessity Tor legislation iuuk-
INK To the further conservation VI uur
national rrHuurcoH. and the subject ~ ono
Of such Importance us 60 require more
detailed and extended discussion than
can Dc entered upon M this communion.
ton. For that reason I shall take an
early opportunity to send r. special mes
sage 60 congress on the subject ~ the
Improvement uf our waterways upon tho
reclamation AMI irrigation uf arid. Hrmi-
arid ana swamp lands upon the prenrr-
walton N our forests and the r".forcatlng
Of suitable areas, upon the re-CluHsiflcn-
ton Of the public domain with view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging 10 the government Dor
dcring on streams suitable for the utili-
zution of water power
IN lNN We hhN q puhWc domain OF lWHnt-
BLISS acres. We have now 59i.IltuSi
acres, confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the arid and somi-nrid plains.
We have. IN addition. 1iN. 0ii. gi6 acres Of
land In Alaska
Disbursement Of Public Lands.
The public lands were. during the carii-
est administrations. treated as a national
asset for the liquidation Of tho public
debt and ~ n source Of reward for our
a.Nf
donated IN large amounts In aid OF the
construction ~ wagon roads and rail-
ways. In order 10 open up regions In the
west then almost inaccessible. All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than u quarter Of century ago. The
homestead act tho presumption and tim
ber-culturo act, the coal land and the
mining acts were among these
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth II that title TO millions Of
acres Of public lands was fraudulentiy
obtained aud that the right 10 recover a
large part ~ such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason Of stat.
utcs OF limitations. There has developed
In recent years n deep 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. 4 vast amount nf
discussion has appeared In the public
prints In gcncrnlizcd form on this sub.
iect, but there has been little practical
suggestion. II has been easy to say that
tho 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 II In accord with this
proposition, as they are with most
trulsms The problem. however. In how
20 save and how 20 utilize. how 60 con-
serve and stlll develop. for no sane per.
son can contend that Il Ia 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
were tho vigorous prosecution OF land
frauds and the bringing to public attcn-
ton ~ 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 or laws amending tho oh
solotc statutes 50 nH 10 retain govern.
mental control over that part Of the pub
lic domain In which there are valuable
deposits OF coal. Of oil. and OF phosphate.
and In addition thereto. 10 preserve con-
troll under conditions favorable 10 the
public, Of the lands along the streams In
which the fnll OF water can be made to
ktNtfNlf IhMfI 70 ne transmitted IN the
form of electricity many miles 60 the
point Of its use, known as water power
sites.
The present statutes. except 40 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 10 private ownership. under con
ditions offering on the one hand sum
client 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
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 90 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 nfiirm the action Of the eNecu-
tive by laws adapted TO the new oondi-
lions Unfortunately. congress has not