The Washington herald., 1910-08-29
PRESIDENT TAFTS CAMPAIGN LETTER

preservation OF FORESTS me reclamation
OF arid lands OF the government. and the
proper treatment aid disposition OF our
government coal lands, phosphate lands,
OIL and gas lands. and OF the lands known
as water-power sites al the points on the
streams where the water power must be
converted In order to be useful. During
Mr.. Rooseyeit's administration millions
OF acres OF lands included within the
classes described were withdrawn in the
United States proper and in Alaska, in
order 10 await proper legislation. Doubt
arose as 10 the Executive power TO make
these Withdrawals. and therefore as to
their legality. should they be contested
In court The present administration
continued the Executive Withdrawals. but
suggested. as a matter Of wise precau-
ton. securing from Congress express
power 10 make them. BY Republican ma
iorities in both Houses a withdrawal bill
for this purpose was enacted, and now
over f0.000000 OF acres have been re-
withdrawn Of lands included within the
classes described. Much Of the land re-
served as coal land IS valuable for agri-
culture. and therefore Congress adopted
an entirely feasible and useful plan by
which the homestead laws were applied
10 the surface Of the land. while the coal
In the ground Is still reserved as the
property Of the government. This Is a
new departure in our land laws, and is
highly 10 be commended. IN addition 10
this, II was deemed necessary. in order
that certain reclamation projects Of the
government should be completed within
a reasonable time, that an issue of SO
o00.9Oe bonds should be authorized with
which 10 secure water for the settlers
upon government lands within the prom
ise of the project the bonds 10 be re-
deemed by the water rents for the service
rendered.
In this way hundreds OF settlers who
have been patiently waiting for the COM
pletiOn OF the projects and suffering great
privation viii be rehabilitated. At the
same time. the law authorizing the bond
issue prevents the expenditure OF any
Of the proceeds OF the bonds in any OF the
projects until a board Of army engineers
shall report the same as worthy and
feasible. Moreover. additional provision
has been made in the appropriation laws
for money with which TO carry OF sur
veys OF unsurveyed public landI a cry
ing need In certain states and in Alaska.
Thus It IS not too much to say that most
important steps have been taker toward
the proper conservation OF our resources
in the legislation Of the present Congress.
There remains 10 be considered and set
tied the question OF tire method OF dis
posing OF these lands so that the govern
ment may retain sufficient control 20 pre-
vent monopoly IN their use. and 20 Sc
cure the pJblic against extortlOn for coal,
oil. gas. phosphate, or water power on
the one hand. and yet may give 70 pri-
vate capital sufficient inducement 70 bring
about a normal development Of the
wealth contained IN these lands to aid
in the building up OF the country. Neither
the Democrats Of the House nor the
though their platform formally declared
in favor Of conservation. have taken any
active part or can be counted upon 20
assist materially in the solution Of these
complicated questions.
Another subject OF pressing Importance
is that or the Improvement OF our water
ways. The present Congress has enacted
a rivers and harbors bin, appropriatlng
more than 100000 for the carrying out
Of number OF well-detined plans FOR the
permanent Improvements Of rivers and
harbors within a certain period. and IN
addition authorizing contracts 10 be en-
tered into subject to future appropriations
by Congress. aggregating over $4,000. 600.
The bin was subject 20 criticism in that
II stu continued the old piecemeaI sys-
TEN and appropriated something for near
ly every project recommended by the
army engineers. It Is hoped and be-
lieved that IT. the next session and there
after the engineers will so make their
recommendations as 20 indicate the pro-
jects OF greater Importance. so that ade-
quate sums may be appropriated for their
completion within reasonably short time
and the piecemeal policy OF extending
the construction OF improvements OF this
kind indefinitely for years may be aban-
doned.