The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-21

ue complete text or the special mes age on the conservation Of the na- ions resources sent to the senate md house of representatives by Pres. dent Taft today:
 Q the Senate and House of Representa-
 lives:
 xn my annual message reserved the 'ubJect of the conservation Of our na- ional resources for disposition Tn d spe- tal message. as follows:
 In several departments there Is pre- iented the. necessity for Legislation look ng to the further conservation of our iatfonal resources. and the subject is one # such importance as to require a more ietaiied and extended discussion than an De entered upon in thS cornInuntC;l- Ion. For that reason I shall take au arly opportunity 10 send special mes- age to congress on the subject of the improvement Of our waterways: upon the 'eclamation and irrigation of arid semi lrfd and sWarrp lands. upon the preser- ration of our forests and the re- foresting suitable areas: upon the re-ciaSsifica- ion Of the public domain with q view of separating from agricultural settlement mineral. coal and phosphate lands and ites belonging to the government bor- terlng on streams suitable for the utili- ;ation of water power.
 In 1860 we had public domain os l. a55. = u.2SS acres We have now 7SI. .314 OBI cres, confined largely to the mountain anges and the arid aud semi-arid plains Ve have. in addition. 36s 03tl. yl5 acres of and in Alaska
 Disbursement of Public Lands. The public lands were, during the earli- st administrations. treated as a national ! sset for the liquidation of the pubic ebt and as source of reward for our o1diers and sailors. Later on they were onated in large amounts ir, aid Of the onStructton of wagon roads and rail iays, In order to upen up regions in the test then almost inaccessible. All the rfncipal-land statutes were enacted more nan a quarter of q century nco The omestead act, the pre-emption and tim- er-culture act. the coal iand and the ming acts were among these
 The rapid disposition of the public lands 's nder the early stafutes and the lax lethods of distriAu:ion prevailing. due. link. to thn belief that these lands lc 1oclld rapidly pass into private owner
 $pS gave rise to the impression that sslS Gibic domain was legitimate prey or the urscrupulous and that it was not ontrary to good morals Go circumvent Ahe land laws. This pro1;gai manuer ot disposition resulted in the passing or \ urge areas of valuable land and many Wt our national resources into the hands
 
 lily for promoting the national well trre through their development.
 iy Fraudulent Titles.
 T eThe truth is that title to millions of
 ,res Of public lands was frauduently
 ,tained and that the right to recover a Srge part of such lands for the govern eUent long since ceased by reason of stat
 .es of limitations There has deveIoped
 recent years a deen concern in the
 iblic mind respecting the preservation
 I'd proper use of our natural resources his has been particularly directed A ward the conserva ton of the resources SA tle public domain A vast amount or Fcussion has appeared in the public Hints in generalized form on this sub lfSest, but there has been li.tle practicai Suggestion. It has been easy to say that ss'sye natural resources in fuel supply m g@,rests, in water power, and in other T,1blic utilities. must be saved from ~hste, monopoly. and other abuses and k general public is in accord With this Exposition, as they are with most nisms. The problem. however, is how
 save and how to utilize, how to con
 rye and still develop. for no sane per
 In can contend that it is for the com
 pn good that natnre's blessings are
 Ely for unborn generations.
 f Noteworthy Reforms.
 Among the most noteworthy reforms @tiated by my distinguished predecessor re the vigorous prosecution of land 91osuds and the bringing to public atten- n of the necessity for preserving the public domain from further - tliation, for the maintenance and ex- -ision of our forest resources, and for sSsis enactment of laws amending the ob- fsH9'ete statutes so as to retain govern lMi'ntal control over that part of the pub .nS domain in which there are valuable . ,osits of coal of oil, and of phosphate ta d, in addition thereto. to preserve con SS l, under conditions favorable to the ad olic of the lands along the streams in vUich the fall of water can be made to power to be transmitted in the - m of electricity many miles to the ..= mt of it's use, known as water power'' ::: The Investigations into violations of the .=. S= pile land laws and the prosecution Of = Id frauds have been vigorously con =:: lued under my administration. as has -:;: ltn the withdrawal Of coal lands for :::: DlsSlcation and Valuation and the tenn .T. I;ary withholding of power sites Since - hrcl {, 1902 temporary withdrawals of vcr sites have been made on 102 -l cams and these withdrawals therefore "A Yer 229 per cent more streams than sfe covered by the withdrawals made pr to that date.
 Inc present statutes, except so far ,. they dispose of the precious metals .tthe purely agricultural lands. are
 -l~ adaptcd to carry out the modern ,a Iw. of tho best disposition of public .T ds to private ownership. under con VI pns offering on the one hand suffi-
 ntl inducement to private capital to
 ics them over for proper develop ~r nt. with restrictive conditions on lother which shall secure to the
 Mic that character of control which
 iNprevent a monopoly or misuse of Hands or their products. The power -- she secretary of the interior to with
 EGwa from the operation of existing k12l which under such statutes would Wdetrimental to the public interests.
 ki0t clear or satisfactory. This power = @ gbeen exercised in the interest of
 Eippbl with the hope that congress
 1ht affirm the action of the eXecu- le &l 6y laws adapted to the new condi- G6 ISs% Unfortunately. congress has not
 far fully acted on the recon. men. EH2htpns of the executive. and the ques- Hfa5tas to what the executive is to g6{s under the circumstances, full of
 I5culty. It seems to me. that it is 5V9 R1uty of congress now. by statute. 1T Validate the withdrawals which
 k been made by the secretary of the < 1rfor and the pres HiaasoAbs13 to use 1secretary of the interior temPorar<
 ko withdraw lands pending suhmis-
 to congress of recommendations as