The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-16
d" MUST DEVELOP AS we'll
AS CONSERVE" BALLINGER
Continued From Page One.

question in a speech today before the
State Conservation Convention. But.
he added, lit must be wise conserva-
ton to appeal to me-"
Secretary Ballinger declared himself
out of sympathy with those radicals
who fear that all natural resources are
being used up without any considera-
ton for future generations.
Our country" he said lis the rich
est of all in natural sources Its soil,
its minerals. it's coal, It's iron, it's
granite, its limestone, it's water power
and it's climate possess immea surable
wealth, and, IL properly utilized, con-
tain sufficient resource to care for all
probable increase in the population of
our country in the years to come
Coal Supply Inexhaustible.
He said that while "the doctrainaires
figure that the coal deposits of the
United States and Alaska will be ex-
hausted in a period of about one hun
dred years, the fact is. that according
to the production of coal i'm the United
States at the Gle sc of 1908, only O.4 of
per cent of the original supply of
coal had been exhausted, leaving as the
apparent supply still! available 99.G per
cent of the original supply. or coal
enough to last, as some claim, for
period of 1000 years"
After long indifference on he part
OF the people as to the public domain"
he declared, "a deep concern has sud
denly arisen respecting the remnant of
the national estate, with a wholly ex-
aggerated notion of what should be
done with 1t by the government. There
is much talk about the cons ervation of
our national resources. and nebulnos
theories that sound good 20 the car.
but are impossible o. practical applica-
ton to existing conditions, are ad-
vanced. Bet veen the hysteria that
exists on the one side and the tend
ency to dispoils the public domain on
the other, we will, it is hoped, be able
to find the true policy of the govern
ment."
Greatest Obligation on States.
He expressed the opinion that "a
greater obligation rest upon the states
than upon the general government 10
laws to prevent waste IL
the utilization of national resources"
There has been a grossly exaggerated
notion among some people, he declared.
as to what the general government can
do in conserving the natural resources
that lie in the deposits of minerals, and
are contained in soils and the
streams. For the most part, he pointed
out. they have passed into private
ownership and are under the municipal
ownership OF the States.
1T seems to me-" e continued, that
we should not try to impose the \. .lcleI
burden of conservation on the. genreaI
government but leave 1t to the states
and to the municipalities to work out.
except in so far as nationa, interfer-
ence is necessary to protect national
interests; and I want to lie understood
as opposed to the theory that, because
the state has not exercised to the full
its powers in the matter of reforms.
lpso facto teh national government
must exercise them
The national government, he said.
cannot ''enter tn tate and dictate the
means or method CT the development
Cf its stream and river, except in so far
rs their navigation is concerned" Wise
in his opinion, implied
as full and free d development of our
natural resources as is consistent with
BUR civilization and needs" :
Must Still Develop.
But we must not forget" be assert |
ed that we are not through with the
policy of development. OF Building up
new communities and settlements, even
IN far-off Alaska. We have not reached |
hat period where we can say the re- |
nainder of our public lands shall be |
auctioned or to the highest bidder to
Increase the revenues of the national
reasury. They must still be used as |
inducements to increase thrifty settle |
nents and provide new homes to land |
ess settlers and to promote commerce
ind industrial pursuits In the most re-
note regions of the West
What the public domain needs to-
lay Is speedy survey OF all available
treas for settlement; an adequate and |
scientific classification OF the remainder
# the public lands. and such legisla-
ion as will enable a determination Of |
III private entries and ris--.lts in the in
crest Of the bona fide claimant with