The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-01-19

sage on the conservation OF the ma
tons resources sent TO the senate
and house OF representatives by Pres
ident Taft today:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
Z tives:
In my annual message I reserved the
subject OF the conservation OF our ma
tional resources for disposition in a spe-
cial message. follows:
In several departments there Is pre-
sented 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
,foetalied and extended discussion Than
can be entered upon IN tins cornmunic:-
ton. For that reason | shalt take an
early opportunity 10 send 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-foreStlng
OF suitable areas. upon the re-clasSiiIca-
ton OF the public domain with a view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral. coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging TO the government bnr-
oering streams suitable for the utiiI-
cation of water power.
In 1850 we had a public domain Of 1G75.-
sll.2SS acres. We have now 81 25i 0Sl
ranges and the arid and semi-arid plains
we have. In addition. 3Gs 035 S15 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 source OF reward for our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they were
donated i'm large amounts in aid OF the
OF dc
ways in order to open up regions in the
west then almost inaccessible All the
principal land statutes We're enacted more
than n quarter Of centurv ago The
homestead act fhe pre-ernpfion and nm
ber-culture act. the coal land aud the
mining acts Were among these
The rapid disposition OF the public lands
under the early statutes. and the lax
methods OF distribution prevailing. due. (
think. 20 the belief that these lands
ehouid rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that il was not
contrary 20 good morals to circumvent
the lard laws. This proI:Cai manner Of
disposition resulted in the passing OF
large areas Of valuable land and many
OF our national resources info the hands
Of persons who felt little RESPONSE
bility for promoting the national well
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title TO millions Of
acres Of public lands was fraudulenfiy |
obtained and that the right to recover a |
large part Of such lands for the govern
meDt long since ceased by reason Of stat |
utPs Of limitations. There has daveroped |
in recent years a de- concern in the |
public mind respecting the preservation |
and proper use of our natural resources |
This has been particularly directed |
ard ha of
OF the public domain a vast amount Of |
discussion has appeared in the public |
prints IN gcneralized form on this sub |
ject. but there has heen little practical |
suggestion. II has been easy to saw that I
the natural resources in fuel supply. in |
forests. in water power. and in other |
s'uhlic utilities. must be saved from |
waste. monopoly. ard other abuses and |
:he general public is in accord with this |
proposition. as they are with most |
truismS. The problem. however is how ,
70 save and how TO utili-n how TO con-
serve and still develop. for no sane per- |
son can contend that IL 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
We're the vigorous prosecution OF land |
frauds and the bringing to public atten- |
zion OF the necessity for preserving the /,
remaining public domain from further |
spoiatiOn. for the maintenance and ex-
tension Of our forest resources and for |
the enactmen; of laws amending the OBJ !
Eoete statutes to retain govern |
mental control over that part of the pub |
Tic domain in which there are valuable !
deposits of coal. of oil. and of phosphate. |
and, in addition thereto. to preserve con- |
t-ol. under conditions favorable to the |
.ubliC. 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 wafer power !
sites.
The Investigations into violations OF the
public land laws and the prosecution OF
land frauds have been vigorously con-
unued under my administration. as has
been the withdrawal Of coal lands for
classification and valuation and the tenn
porary withholding of power sites Since
March 4. 1893 temporary withdrawals of |
power sites have been made l02 /
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover 80 per cent. more streams than
were covered by the withdrawals made
prior to that date.
The present statutes. except so far
as they 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-
cient 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 4 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 that congress
might affirm the action of the eNecu-
tive by laws adapted to the new condi-
tions. Unfortunately. congress has not
thus far fully acted on the recommen-
dationS OF the executive. and the Ques-
ton to what the executive is to |
do is under the circumstances. full OF
difficulty. 1t seems to me that il is |
the duty OF congress now. by a statute. |
to validate the Withdrawals which
have been TTlads ~ the secretary of the |
interior and the president and to use |
the secretary OF the interior temporar- |
lily to withdraw lands pending subrnis-
sion TO congress o. Recommendations "a |