The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
BALLNGFR TALKS
ON CONSERVATION
Declares Homestead Law ABB
surd When Applied to For
eSts and Mineral Lands
FavOrs Private Development OF
Water Power Under Fed
eraI Control

PROVIDENCE. r. J.. Jan. 29.-Alaska
is prize package. the fun value of
which no man can estimate now. said
Secretary Ballinger before the Conser-
walton club Of Rhode Island and the
Economic club of Providence tonight
The secretary said the homestead
statute signed by President Lincoln
was one OF the most beneficient ever
enacted for the upbuilding Of this coun-
rE and was Of especial value in rela-
tion 10 the farms of Kansas, Nebra ska.
Iowa and other places in the west, but
was an absurdity in the forest lands
OF oregon. which We're so thickly tim
hered as TO be almost impene,-a bic and
almost equally absurd when applied to
The valuable mineral lands Of Alaska.
BalHnger said that while he believed
in conservation he did rot believe con-
servation meant bottling up natural re
sources.
lie said in part:
DO not believe that conserva-
uon which merely preserves the
resources of the nation interests
The public. but / do believe the
public is interested in conservs-
tion which through development
saves them from waste and i'm
proper use
some people. I fear. have a notion
mat to conserve our national re
sources We must pickle them or
bottle them up. All kinds Of eN-
IRENE notions are likely 10 be ad-
Nanced by those who take an inn
practical view Of this subject
was confronted recently By the
suggestion that the government
nulld homes on public lands. stock
them and rent them TO applicants
and become the landlord Of the
pGbiic donna in
Ir is all right TO place reasonable
restraints upon the use of our nat
ural resources to prevent the mis-
chiefs which result from monopoly
and greed and eXtOTtion. but when
you attempt TO regulate a mans
private business or declare how he
shall use his property so that he
can no longer exercise d reason
able independence over il he may
as well surrender his business and
his property TO the state and let
The state operate II.
Individuality and incentive for
industry viii certainly disappear
under any system OF public regula-
ton and control that imposes a
strictly governmental guardian
ship over The citizen. The Ameri-
can system OF government cOntem-
plates the freest possible exercise
or individual liberty consistent
with the public good, and in dis
natural resources and the super
vision. regulation and control that
IS proper 10 be exercised by federal
or state authority TINS principle
should be constantly recognized.
After ali, the question of con-
serTauon IS question of prac-
uclug with our resources frUgality
ana economy PronlgacN and wan
Ton waste Of our inheritance in
This particular. Of course. is to be
restrained wherever and whenever
when the loss affects the future
happiness Of mankind.
our nations future in the high
est degree is involved in the per
petuation of our wealth and the
ability OF Our people 10 live in
happiness and prosperity in all
generations to come Therefore.
we can justly say that no man can
gratify his lust for wealth or his
ambition for power by destroying
IAo opportunities Of others TO live
and enjoy their share of the
bounties Of nature.
The soils Of the country that pro-
ouce fooostuns should be included
I'm conservation with the forest
mine and water resources.
Water power resources should
boz devel oped through private en-
terprise under government control
10 save the coal and the forests
from being consumed for fuel
In view OF the national interest
iu these resources ii is incumbent
upon congress 10 give TO the exec
uriVe branch Of the government
sufficient power and authority to
protect against the continued
waste and destruction of the public
domain. And il Is the earnest de-
termination Of this administration
that it may be clothed with suf-
hcient authority and equipped
with the necessary machinery to
accomplish ali that is possible
through federal agencies in this
particular