Mexico Missouri message., 1910-01-20

V2tlen OF Our Forests.
WAshington.--The president trans
united to congress a special message
on lhe subject of the conservation of
the Nations natural resources. In
substance it was as follows:
ToAtne Senate and House of Representa-
M by annual message reserved the
s4pJfct of the conservation of our ma
H4ual resources for disposition in spe-
u&faf message, as follows:
lNsFdn 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
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this communlca-
ton. For that reason 1 shall take an
early opportunity to send a special mes
" ege to congress on the subject of the
provement of our waterways; upon the
slamation and irrigation of arid, semi
ys4fsf and swamp lands; upon the preser-
on Of our forests and the re-foresting
81 fuitable areas; upon the re-clcssifica-
of the public domain with view of
rating from agricultural settlement
Aral, coal and phosphate lands and
belonging to- the government bor-
ghg on streams suitable for the utili-
Avn of water power.
SRl 1850 we had a public domain OF 1,055,-
II fHJS acres. We have now 7S1, 1854 0S1
69lls. confined largely to the mountain
syes and the arid and semi-arid plains
have. in addition. 36S ,975 acres Of
I'd in Alaska.
4 Disbursement of Public Lands.
fPifhe public lands were, during the earli-
BLSt administrations, treated as a national
YSYasset for the liquidation of the public
m debt and IA a Of ard fn- ot,,.
" 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 regioAs in the
west then almost inaccessible. All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than quarter of a century 3go. The
homestead act, the pre-emptioniland tim
ber-culture act, the Icoal land and the
mining acts were among thesoj
~, Fraudulent Titles.
The truth is that title to millions of
acres Of public lands was ffaudulently
obtafhed and that the right to recover a
large Iart OF such lands for lthe govern
ment iohs since ceased by n lsou of stat
utes of Ii7nitations. There pms developed
in recent years a deep q III bern in the
public mind respecting r preservation
and proper use OF our nv On resources.
THIS has been pftrf oIy directed
coward the conservatiost ofle resources
bf the public domain. "A vast amount of
discussion has appeared in the public
prints in generalized form on this sub
fleet, but there has been little practical
fsuggestion. 1t has been easy to say that
4 the natural resources in fuel supply, in
4 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
70 save and how to utilize, how to con-
serve and still develop, for no sane per-
: . san can contend that it is for the COM
pn good that natures blessings are
NVsy for unborn generations.
IN Noteworthy Reforms.
y ~ mong the most noteworthy reforms
!, !, tiated by my distinguished predecessor
ne the vigorous prosecution of land
auds and the bringing to public atten-
N of the necessity for preserving the
1maining public domain from further
boliation. for the maintenance and ex-
nsion of our forest resources, and for
e enactment of laws amending the OBJ
blete statutes so as to retain govern
ental control over that part of the pub
80 domain in which there are valuable
eposits of coal, of oil. and Of phosphate,
nd in addition thereto, TO preserve con-
roll under conditions favorable to the
hblic, OF the lands along the streams in
hich the fall of water can be made ia
enerate power to be transmitted in the
Norm OF electricity many miles TO the
boint Of Its use, known as water power
siteH.
The present statutes, except so far
Has they dispose of the precious metals
Fand the purely agricultural lands, are
not adapted TO carry out the modern
view OF the best disposition OF publiS
Il lands to private ownership, under CON
ditions Offering on the one hand suffi-
Client inducement to private capital tC
take them over for proper develop
mefit with restrictive conditions or
the other which shall secure to tbs
public that character OF control which
4 Will prevent a monopoly or misuse Of
y the lands or their products. The power
s OF the secretary of the interior to with
draw from the operation OF existing
g. statutes tracts OF land. the disposition
Of which under such statutes woult
be detrimental to the public interests
Is not clear or satisfactory. This power
has been exercised in the interest O.
the public, with the hope that congress
might aftirm the action of the execu
tive by laws adapted to the new condI
tions, Unfortunately, congress has no