The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-04
Conservation Policy Is Car
ried Out By Withdrawal
Of Public Lands
AUTHORITY TO DO THIS
is GIVEN BY CONGRESS
Roosevelt Withdrew Land From Set
tIement But He Had NO Authority
Hence Law Was Recently
Passed By Congress


today took the first step in his own con-
servation policy by signing orders OF
withdrawal covering S,4a5.731 acres OF
power site. phosphate and petroleum
lands.
The President also appointed the FIVE
engineer officers of the army who are
to constitute board which will pass
upon the reclamation projects to be com
pleted under the recent appropriation OF
$40, 100000 ~
1t is hinted that there are other I'M
portant announcements to come with re-
gard TO the conservation policies of the
present administration.
The President has summoned Secre-
tary of the Interior Ballinger for a con-
ference on Tuesday when various phases
of the work to be done in the near future
will be gone over.
The withdrawal orders signed by the
President today are the first specifically
authorized by law.
Mr.. Roosevelt as President inaugurated
the policy of withdrawing public lands
under the general theory of the right OF
the executive to do anything In the inter-
est of the people and public domain not
prohibited by law.
Taft Has Authority
President Taft mas acted in the same
way, but the right of the President TO
make these Withdrawals has been oN -s-
toned in suits now pending in the fed
eral courts, and the President secured
the passage of a bill by the last Con
gress giving him the authority he sought
to withdraw lands pending special leg
islation for tire disposal of them.
The bill was approved the day Congress
adjourned. President Taft also signed or
ders of withdrawal today covering pub
lie lands In national forests in Alaska
In which workable coal is known to sex-
list: and by his action ratified the order
of withdrawal made by direction OF Tor
mer President Roosevelt November u,
1906
The water power sites withdrawn by
President Taft cover a total of 1,4S4 49s
acres. The phosphate lands withdrawn
total 2.5941s acres and the petroleum
lands total 447,11s acres.
The areas involved in the power sites
withdrawn are as follows: Arizona lo',-
E5o acres, California Al SIS acres, Colorado
2o1 $40 acres, Idaho 23o,e1 acres, Montana
122,515 acres, Nevada 14,5o1 acres, New
Mexico 1886 acres, Oregon 1921 acres,
Utah as,s2 acres Washington 5o,4Ss
acres, Wyoming 1ossss acres.
Phosphate Lands
The phosphate land Withdrawals are:
A-t>@
Utah 7.5S acres, Wyoming 1851, ,S5l acres.
Petroleum land Withdrawals cover
the following: Arizona, 100000 acres;
California, 2,4S2.752 acres; Colorado 3D.
474 acres; Louisiana 314.720 acres; New
Mexico 41s,s01 acres; Oregon 74.S49
acres: Utah, 5S1, ,564 acres; Wyoming
155, ,461 acres. .vr.M
the President today to examine and re-
port upon reclamation projects which it
Is proposed to complete or extend with
funds provided for 1t in the act au-
thorizing the issuance Of $20o00,oo0 In
certificates of Indebtedness Is headed
by Lieutenant Colonel John Biddle who
was until recently the engineer COM
missioner of the District of Columbia
and who is now on duty at San Fran
cisco.
The other four members of the board
are Lieutenant Colonel VIM. G. IAngfitt
and Major Vim. H. Harts, Chas W.
Kutz and Harry Burgess all of the en-
gineer corps of tho army.
Col. Langfitt is the commandant of
the engineers school at Washington.
The officers will be directed to re-
port in person as early as practicable
to the Secretary of the Interior.
Taft Ii Final Arbiter
In the expenditure OF the $4,000. 900
the President Is made the final arbiter..
The President must approve each pro-
sject before any of the money can be
expended.
The act provides that no part of1"this
appropriation shall be expended upon
any existing project until it shall have
been examined and reported upon by
board of engineer officers of the army
designated by the President of the
United States and then only when IL
shall be approved by the President as
feasible and practicable, and worthy Of
such expenditures; nor shall any portion
Of this appropriation be expended upon
any other new projects
President Taft attended divine SER
vices at Grace Episcopal church In
ealem today where the fortteth ami
versary of the pastorate of Rev. ]. F.
Franks was celebrated.
Mrs. Taft. Miss Helen Taft and Cap.
tain A. w. Butt accompanied the Pres
1dent
The presidential yacht Mayflower ar
Rived at Beverly today and will remain