The new era., 1910-09-15
TAFT FIRM FRIEND
OF COMSERVA TON
His Address Before ST. Paul consress Leaoes No Doubt
His Position Count-y's Duty Plain. He Declares
Most En,phahcaLy.


| ited the application Of their proceeds to
those projects which board OF army en-
gtneers, to be appointed by the president.
should examine and determine to be
feasible and worthy Of eomplstion. The
board has been appointed and soon will
mako its report ,NsEn
euggestions have been made that the
United States ought TO aid in the drain
age OF swamp lands belonging 20 the
staten or private owners. because II
drained, they would be exceedingly val
liable for agriculture and contribute to
tho general welfare by extending the
area of cultivation. I deprecate the agi-
tation in favor Of such legislation. 1t 10
inviting the general government into
contribution from its treasury toward en-
terprises that should be conducted either
by private capital or at the instance OF
the state. In these days there Is dispo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. I am liberal
in the construction OF the Constitution
am firmly convinced that the only safe
course for US to pursue Is to hold fast
to the limitations OF the Constitution and
to regard as sacred the powers of the
states. We have made wonderful prog
ress and at the same time have pre-
served with judicial exactness the re-
strictions of the Constitution. There II
an easy way in which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial inhibition. to-wit. by appropria-
tions from the national treasury for un-
constitutional purposes. 1t will be a sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded in this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
By mineral lands mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called metal
liferous minerals. The rules Of owner
ship and disposition Of these lands were
first fixed by custom in the west. and
then were embodied in tho law. and they
have worked. on the whole. SO fairly and
well that do not think 1t is wise to
attempt to change or better them.
Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more important in the
matter of conservation than the treatment
of our forest lands. II was probably the
ruthless destruction Of forests in tho
older states that first called attention to
was recognized by congress by an act
authorizing the executive to reserve from
entry and set aside public timber lands
as national forests Speaking generally.
forests about seventy per cent of all
the timber lands OF the government
Within these forests Qncluding 26000. 900
acres in two forests in Alaska are l92.-
000. 900 Of acres. of which 166.000000 OF
acres are in the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like ., 00o.0o of acres that belong
to the state or to private individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests. z
total Of about 1Aooo,ooo acres of forests
belonging to the government which is
being treated in accord with the princi-
pies Of scientific forestry.
The government timber In this coun-
try amounts to only one-fourth of all the
timber. the rest being in private own
ership. Only three per cent. of that which
Is in private ownership Ii looked after
properly and treated according to mod
ern rules of forestry. The usual de-
structive waste and neglect continues in
the remainder of the forests owned by
private persons and corporations. II Is
estimated that fire alone destroys $50.0o0.-
900 worth of timber a year. Tho
management of forests not on public
land fs beyond the Jurisdiction of the fed-
eral government II anything can be done
by law It must be done by the state leg
,elatures believe that It Is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
forcement of regulations in the general
public interest. as to FIRE and other
causes of waste in the management of
forests owned by private individuals and
corporations
as to federal forestry to indicate that no
further legislation Is needed at the mo-
ment except an increase In the fire pro-
lection to national forests and an act
vesting the executive with full power to
make forest reservations in every state
where government land is timber covered.
or where the land is needed for forestry
purposes.
Coal Lands.
The next subject. and one most impor-
tant for our consideration, Is the disposi-
ton OF the coal lands in the United
States and in Alaska. First. as to those
in the United States. AT the beginning
Of this administration they were classi.
ned coal lands amounting to 5.476, 900
acres, and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes of classification H.
Ss7. 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.e4s.oO acres making
| total withdrawal of 95.515000 acres
Meantime. of the acres thus withdrawn,
| 1871 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal. and have been re-
| stored to agricultural entry, and 4.356. 900
acres have been classified as coal lands
| while 7s.7SS, 900 acres remain withdrawn
| from entry and await classification In
addition 1886 900 acres have been classi-
| fed as coal lands without prior withdraw
| al. thus increasing the classified coal
| lands to 10.16S000 acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-
sition OF coal lands. the minimum price
at which lands are permitted to be sold
is $40 an acre; but the secretary of the
Interior has the power to AK a maximum
price and sell at that price. BY the first
regulations governing appraisal. ap.
proved April s, 1907. the minimum was $40.
as provided by law. and the maximum
was 500. and the highest price actually
placed upon any land sold was SIS. I'm
der the new regulations. adopted April 10.
1909. the maximum price was Increased to
1900. except in regions where there are
large mines. where no maximum limit is
fixed and the price is determined by the
estimated tons of coal to the acre. The
highest price fixed for any land under
, this regulation has been $eoS. The ap-
praisal value of the lands classified as
coal lands and valued under the new and
old regulations is shown TO be as follows:
4.So3. .92i acres. valued under the old regu-
latitns at $77.644a2s. an average of $1s an
acre; and 1854. .702 acress classified and
valued under the new regulation at 1884,
2o3 242. or a total of 1o.16s.6 .623 acres. val
q o.