The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-01-19


sage on the conservation ut the ma
tons resources sent to the senate
and mousse of representatives by Pres.
ident Taft today:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-.
tives:
In my annual message reserved the
subject OF the conservation OF our IVA
tional resources for disposition in spe- |
Cial message, as follows:
In several departments there is pre-
scented the necessity for legislation took
ing to the further conservation OF our
national resources, and the subject is one
of such Importance as to require 4 more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this coin1nunlc'I~
ton. For that reason l shalt take an
early opportunity to send "a spccia, mes
sage to congress on the subject or the
improvement of our waterways. upon the
reclamation and irrigation OF arid. semi
arid and swamp lands. upon the preser-
walton of our forests and the re-foresting
of suitable areas: upon the re-classhca-
ton of the public domain with view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral, coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government Dor
dering streams suitable tor tile utl't-
cation of water power.
In 1860 we had a public domain of l0.5,-
OIL 2SS acres. We have now 73.% 54,0Sl
acres, confined largely 10 the mountain
ranges and the arid and semi-arld plains.
We have in addition. 36s .o35,375 acres 1T
land in Alaska.
Disbursement Of Public Lands.
The public lands were, during the ear'i
est administrations, treated as a national
asset for the liquidation of the public
debt and as a source OF reward for our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they were
donated in large amounts in aid or the
construction of wagon roads and rail
n regions
west then almost inaccessible An the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than a quarter of n century AGO ThA
homestead act the presumption and TIM
ber-culture act, the coal land aud the
mining acts We're among these.
The rapid disposition Of the public lands
under the early statutes. and the lax
methods of distribution prevailing. due.
think, to the belief that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship, gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the urscrupulous and that it was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws This prodiga! manner Of
disposition resulted in the passing Of
large areas OF valuable land and many
of our national resources into the hands
of persons who felt little no respoust-
bility for promoting the national well
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
acres OF public lands was fraudulently
obtained and that the right to recover a
large part of such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason of stat
utes of limitations. There has developed
in recent years a deen 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. A vast amount at
discussion has appeared in the public
prints in generalized form on this sub
ject. but there has been little practical
suggestion. 1t has been easy to say that
tho natural resources in fuel supply, II,
forests. in water power, and in other
public utilities. must be saved from
waste. monopoly, and other abuses. and
the general public is in accord with this
proposition. as they are with most
truisms. The problem however. is how
to save and how to utilize, how to con
serve and still develop, for no sane per
son can contend that 1t is for the com
mon good that natures blessings ar.
only for unborn generations.
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution OF lane
frauds and the bringing to public atten
ton of the necessity for preserving thu
remaining public domain from furthe
spoliation, for the maintenance and ex
tension of our forest resources, and To-
the enactment of laws amending the oh
solete statutes so as to retain govern
mental control over that part of the pub
lie domain in which there are valuable
deposits of coal. of oil. and Of phosphate
and, in addition thereto. to preserve con
troll, under conditions favorable to tn
public, of the lands along the streams II
which the fall of water can be made t.
generate power to be transmitted in tn
form of electricity many miles to tn
noipt nf rs use. known water power
sites.
The Investigations into violations OF tn
public land laws and the prosecution q
land frauds have been vigorously cor
tinued under my administration as ha
been the withdrawal of coal lands ia
classification and valuation and the ter
porary withholding of power sites. Sine
March 4, 1909, temporary Withdrawals {
power sites have been made on II
streams and these Withdrawals therefor
cover 229 per cent more streams tina
were covered by the Withdrawals mad
prior to that date.
The present statutes. except so fa
as they dispose Of the precious meta
and the purely agricultural lands. a,
not adapted to carry out the moder
view of the best disposition or publ
lands to private ownership. under cor
ditions offering on the one mana sun
cient inducement to private capital
take them over for proper develop
ment with restrictive conditions {
the other which shall secure to tt
public that character of control whit
will prevent monopoly or misuse
the lands or their products The pow
OF the secretary Of the interior to witt
draw from the operation of existlr
statutes tracts of land. the dispositlt
of which under such statutes wou
be detrimental to the public interest,"
is not clear or satisfactory. This pow
has been exercised in the interest
the public. with the hope that congre
might affirm the action of the exec
tive by laws adapted to the new conc
lions. Unfortunately congress has n
thus far fully acted on the recomme
dations of the executive. and the que
ton as to what the executive is
do is under the circumstances. full
difficulty. 1t seems to me that IT
the duty OF congress now. by a statu
to validate the Withdrawals viii
have bean made by the secretary of t
interior and the president and to u
the secretary or the interior tempora