The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-05
CQAsERYERs HEAR IhEI

c0NcFRVFRc HFAR TAFT
- CONTINUED from First Page.)
politics. or of factions. or of persons.
1t Is question that affects the vital
welfare of all of us--of our children
and our childrens children, l urge
that no good can come from meetings
of this sort unless we aseribe to those
who take part In them, and who are
apparently striving worthily in the
cause, all proper motives, and unless
we judicially consoles every measure
or method proposed with view TO
its effectiveness In achieving our com
mon purpose, and wholly without re-
gard to who proposes 1t or who will
claim the credit for IT'S adoption. The
problems are Of very great difficulty
and call for the calmest consideration
and clearest foresight. Many of the
questions presented have phases thar
are new in this county. and II is pos
sible that in their solution We may
have to attempt first one way and
then another. What / wish to en-
phasize. however, is that a satisfactory
conclusion can only be reached
IA
tations of bad faith and political con-
troversy.
Domain 1906, 000, 600 Acres.
The public domain of the govern
ment Of the United States, including
all the cessions from those of the thir-
teen States that made cessions To the
United States and including Alaska.
amounted in all to about 1900 600 600
acres. OF this there is left as purely
government property outside OF Alas
ka something like TOO, 100000 of acres.
OF this the national forest reserves
/ in the United States property embrace
144.000,06o acres. The rest Is largely
mountain or arid country. offering
! some opportunity for agriculture py
dry farming and by reclamation, and
/ phosphates. oils and natural gas. Then
| containing metals as we'll as coal,
the government owns many tracts OF
land lying along the margins OF
| streams that have water power. the
| use of which Is necessary in the con-
version of the power into electricity
| and it's transmission.
/ No Government Drainage.
/ Suggestions have been MADE thai
the United States ought to aid in the
drainage OF swamp lands belonging
| to the States or private owners, be.
cause, II drained. they would be ex
| ceedingiy valuable for agriculture ant
| contribute to the general welfare b,
extending the area Of cultivation.
depreeate the agitation IN favor Of
such legislation. 1t Is inviting the gen,
eral government into contribution
| from its treasury toward enterprise.
| that should be conducted either by
| private capital or at the instance oil
the State.
| Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more Important ir
the matter of conservation than the
treatment of our forest lands 1t was
probably the ruthless destruction o.
forests in the older States that frs
of our resources. This was recog
nized by congress by an act authoriz
ing the executive to reserve from en-
try and set aside public timber land
| as national forests Speaking gen
/ orally. there has been reserved of tn,
existing forests about 10 per cent o
all the timber lands OF the govern
| ment.
Useful Instead of Eloquent.
/, Real conservation involves wise
hon wastefal use In the present gen
Grafton, with every possible means 0
preservation for succeeding genera
tions; and though the problem TO sc
cure this end may be difficult. tn
burden IL on the present generation
promptly to solve it and nor to rul
away from 1t as towards. lest in tn
lattempt to meet IL We may make som
mistake. The problem is how to say
and how to utilize. how to conserv
and still develop: for no sane person
can contend that 1t is for the common
good that natures blessings should b
/ FA~ = f.~.c
l beg Of you, therefore. In your De
liberations and In your informal dis
cussions. when men come forward Z
suggest evils that the promotion O
conservation is to remedy. that yo
invite them to point out the rpeci
fic evils and the SPECIFIC remedies. tina
!. you invite them to come down to de
tails In order that their discussion
! may flow into channels that shall b
!, useful rather than into periods tina
shall be eloquent and entertaining
without shedding real light on tn
| subject The peopie should be show
exactly what Is needed in order thu
they make their representatives.
congress and the State legislature I
their intelligent bidding"
u The gossip OF the western deiega
lions arriving for the c6nservAtfo
congress. is that the West IL pre-
pared to form bolt against tn
Pinchot policies of Federal contrt
! OF resources.
1t Is said that II the congress /
, any way votes for Federal control. tn
, Western States under the leadershi
OF Senator Reed Snoof. of Utah, wi
bolt and organize q separate move
. ment for State control OF resources
Smoot is father OF bill in the senat
Aturning Federal water powers owe
i fto the States.