The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-01-21

sage on the conservation Of the na-
tons resources sent to the senate
apd house OF representatives by Pres
tAent Taft today:
To the sensts and House Of Represents.
tives:
In my annual message I reserved the
subject OF the conservation OF our na-
tional resources for disposition In y spe-
ctal message. AZ follows:
In several departments there 10 pre-
sented the necessity for Legislation look
iaI to the further conservation OF our
A'lonal resources. and the subject II one
d such Importance as TO require . more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon In this communica-
ton. For that reason I shall take an
early opportunity to send q 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-ciassifca-
ton OF the public domain with 4 view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government bOr-
dertnx on streams suitable for the utili-
xation Of water power.
In 1850 We had q public domain OF 1 u.s.
SILL acreA. We have now 73l 80 0sl
acress confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the arid and semi arid plains
We have. in addition. 36s 035 97b acres Uf
land in Alaska.
Disbursement Of Public Lands.
The public lands were. during the earl.
est administrations. treated As a national
asset for the liquidation Of the public
debt and a. q 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 quarter Of century ago The
homestead act. the pre-emption and rim
ber-culture act. tire coal land and tho
mining acts were among these
The rapid disposition Of the public lands
under the early statutes. and the lax
methods Of distribution prevailing. due, I
think. to the belief that these Ianda
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the unscrupulous and that it was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This proi!gat manner OF
disposition resulted In the passing OF
large areas Of valuable land and many
Of our national resources into the hands
Of persons who felt little or no RESPONSE
hixky for promoting the national vel.
through their development.
Fraudulent ,rities.
The truth IL that title to millions Of
acres Of public lands was frauduientIy
obtained and that the right to recover q
large part OF such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason of stat
utes Of limitations. There has deveIoped
In recent years a dee- 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 Eeneraiixed form on this SUBJ
1ect 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 II 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-
tion 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
0olete statutes 10 As 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-
troll. under conditions favorable to the
puSic. of the lands along the streams In
WI h the fall Of water can be made to
o. kn -
H. E0f electricity many miles to the
~ 4, OF its use. known as water power
sites.
The Investigations into violations Of the
public land laws and the prosecution Of
land frauds have been vigorously con-
tinued 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. 1909, temporary withdraw OF
power sites have been made loz
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover 70 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
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 sum-
cient inducement to private capital to
take them over for proper develop
ment, with restrictive conditions on
the other which SIR II secure to the
public that character Of control which
will prevent 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 execu-
tive by laws adapted to the new condi-
ttons. Unfortunately. congress has not
thus far fully acted on the recommen-
dations of the executive. and the ques-
tion as to what the executive is to
do is under the circumstances. full Of
diniculty. 1t seems to me that ii Is
the duty Of congress now. by a statute.
to validate the Withdrawals which
have been made by the secretary of the
inferior and the president and to use
.