The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06


the sympathy with, expansion and de-
Sciopment is SO strong that the danger
Is scoffed at or ignored Among solen-
Yific mon and thoughtful observ ers,
however, the danger has always been
present, but IL needed some one TO
bring home tile crying need for rem
edy OF this evil so as to impress Itself
on the public mind and lead to the
formation of public opinion and action
by the representatives of the people.
Theodore Roosevelt took up this TASK
in the last two years OF his second ad-
administration, and well did he per-
form II.
',As President OF the United States.
have, as 1T were, inherited this POI,
icy. and / rejoice In my heritage.
prize my high opportunity to do an
that an executive can do to help
great people realize n great national
ambition. For conservation is ma
1ionnl. 1t affects every man OF US
do IN the cause I shall do, not as Presi-
dent of a party, but as President oil
the whole people. Conservation IS not
question of politics. or Of factions,
or of persons. 1t is q question that
affects the vital welfare of all Of us
of our children and our childrcns
children. urge that no good can
come from meetings of this sort unless
them, and who are apparently striv-
ing worthily in the cause. all proper
motives, and unless we Judicially con-
slider every measure or method Pro-
posed with view to Its effectiveness
in achieving our common purpose and
wholly without regard to who proposes
it or who will claim the credit for its
adoption.
THE problems are of very great diff
Guilty and call for the calmest consid-
GRAFTON and clearest foresight. Many
of the questions presented have phases
that are new in this country. and 1t is
possible that in their solution we may
have to attempt hrst one way and then iIsa
however, is that satisfactory con-
clusion can only be reached promptly
If we avoid acrimony. imputations of
bad faith and political CONTROVERSY.
THE public domain of the govern
1nent Of the United States including
all the cessions from those Of the thir-
teen States that made cessions to the
United States and including Alaska:
amounted in all to about 1,s00,000,000
acres. OF this there is left as purely
government property outside of Alaska
something like 700,O00,0oo of acres. OF
this the national forest reserves in the
600 acres. The rest Is largely noun
tain or arid country, Offering some OPP
portunity agriculture by dry farm
ing and by reclamation, and containing
and natural gas. Then the government
owns many tracts of land lying along |
the margins of streams that have
water power, the use OF which is nee
essary in the conversion OF the power |
into electricity and its transmission"
Divides Subject.
The President divided his discussion
under the heads of % agricultural
+, containing metalliferous minerals: (3l
forest lands, (4) coal lands; .t5) oil and
gas lands; and CO. phosphate lands.
stating that it would conduce to bet
4. III
scented to take up each class and de-
scribe. first what has been done by
the last administration and the present
one in respect to each Kind OF land
its disposition; third. what was done
by the present Congress in this matter:
nnd, fourth. the statutory changes pro-
posed in the interest Of conservation.
He described all these subjects at
great length, under the different heads.
and in conclusion said:
Sat the risk of wearyfng my audi
ence / have attempted to state as
conservation as they apply to the pub
lie domain of the government, the con-
ditions to which they apply and the
proposed solution of them. In the out
set l alluded to the fact that conser-
walton had been made to include
great deal more than what have dis
cussed here. OF course, as ! have re-
ferred only to the public domain OF
y
untouched the wide field of conserva-
tion with respect to which heavy
responsibility rests upon the States
and individuals as well. But l thinks
the public attention has been reused !
to the necessity of change in our
general policy to prevent waste and
selfish appropriation to private and
controlled for the public benefit, those |
who urge conservation shall feel the
necessity of making clear how conser-
WALTON can be practically carried. out.
legal provisions and regulations to
remedy actual adverse conditions.
am bound to say that the time has
Gene for halt In general rhapsodfeA
mean every known good in the world
for, after the public attention has heen
reused SUCH appeals are OF doubtful
utility and do not direct the public TO
should take. or have their legislators
take in order to promote the cause
of conservation. The rousiniS OF emo
tions on a subject like this, which has
people affected. sitter a while ceases
TO be useful and the whole movement
will If promoted on these. lines, die.
for want of practical direction and OF
demonstration to the people that prac-
tical reforms are intended.
Not Final Step.
~ have referred to the course of the
last administration and of the pres
ent one in making Withdrawals of gov
eminent lands from entry under home
stead and other laws and of Congress
in removing all doubt as TO the valid
ity Of these Withdrawals as a great |
step in the direction OF practical con-
servation. But il is only one OF two |
necessary steps to effect what should
he our purpose. 1t has produced a
status quo and prevented waste and
disposition of the lands
until the method for their proper dis
position can be formulated But 1t Is
OF the utmost Importance that such
withdrawals should not be regarded
as the final step in the course of con-
not be allowed to spread that CON
servation IS the tying UP Of the natu-