Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-01-21

WashingtOn.-The president trans
mitted to congress a special message
on the subject of the conservation of
the nations natural resources. In
substance it was as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
lives:
In my annual message I reserved the
subject of the conservation of our ma
tional resources for disposition in a spe-
cial message. as follows:
In several departments there is pre-
Bented the necessity for legislation look
Ing to the further conservation of our
national resources. and the subject is one
of such importance as to require a more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this COmmunica-
ton. For that reason 1 shall AXE an
early opportunity to send a special mes
sage to congress on the subject of 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-fOrestinR
of suitable areas; upon the re-classifca-
ton OF the public domain with a view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral, coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government Dor
dering on streams suitable for the utili-
cation of water power.
In 1860 we had a public domain OF 1,055,-
s11, 2S8 acres. We have now 731, 354, OS1
acres, confined largely to the mountain
canges and the arid and semi-arid plains.
We have. in addition, 36S, OBS, 975 acres OF
land in Alaska.
Disbursement of Public Lands.
The public lands were, during the earli-
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 Of the
construction of wagon roads and rail-
ways. in order to open up regions in the
west then almost inaccessible. All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than a quarter Of a century ago. The
homestead act, the presumption and tim
ber-cuIture act. the coal land and the
mining acts were among these.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title to millions Of
acres Of public lands was fraudulentIy
obtained and that the right to recover a
large part OF such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by rS1sOn of stat
utes of limitations. There has developed
In recent years a deep 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 OF
discussion has appeared in the public
prints in generalized form on this sub
tect. but there has been little practical
suggestion. 1t has been easy to say that
the natural resources in fuel supply, in
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 are
only for unborn generations.
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution Of land
frauds and the bringing to public atten-
ton of the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from further
spoliation, for the maintenance and ex-
tension of our forest resources, and for
the enactment of laws amending the OBJ
soletG 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 the
public. of the lands along the streams in
which the fall of water can be made to
generate power to be transmitted in the
form of electricity many miles to the
point of its use, known as water power
sites
The present statutes. except so far
as the dispose of the precious metals
and the purely agricultural lands. are
not adapted to carry out the modern
view of the best disposition of public
lands to private ownership. under con-
ditionS offering on the one hand sufh-
Client inducement to private capital to
take them over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions on
the other which shall secure to the
public that character of control which
will prevent a monopoly or misuse of
the lands or their products. The power
OF the secretary of the interior to with
draw from the operation of existing
statutes tracts of land. the disposition
Of which under such statutes would
be detrimental to the public interests.
is not clear or satisfactory. This power
has been exercised in the interest OF
the public. with the hope hat congress
might affirm the action of the eXecu-
tive by laws adapted to the new condi-
lions. Unfortunately. has not