The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-14
SPECIAL MESSAGE ON CON-
SERVATION rs RECEIVED
BY CONGRESS.
(continued from PaGe Ono

CONTINUED from Page Onc.)
lands without being convinced that
this is one OF the most important
methods OF conservation OF our ma
tural resources that the government
has entered upon 1t would appear
that over thirty projects have been
undertaken and that few OF them
are likely to be unsuccessful because
OF the lack OF water or for other rea-
sons, but generally the work which
has been done has been we'll done
and many important engineering prob
lens have been met and solved.
One difficulty which has arisen is
that too many projects. In view OF the
available funds, have been set on foot
The funds available under the recla-
nation statute are inadequate TO COM
Dletc these projects Within a reason.
able time. And vet the projects
have begun, settlers have been inylt-
er to take up. and in many instances
have taken up. land within the pro-
5ects. relying upon their prompt com
Dletion. The failure to complete the
projects for their benefit is. in effect,
a breach OF faith and leaves them In
most distressing condition.
| urge that the nation ought To af-
ford means 10 lift them out OF the
very desperate condition in which
they are now This condition does
not indicate any excessive waste, or
any corruption on the part Of the re-
clamntion service. II only indicates
an over-zealous desire 10 extend the
benefit Of the reclamation to as many
acres and as many states as possible
| recommend, therefore. that authority
be given to Issue not exceeding $780,
100000 OF bonds from time 30 time
as the secretary OF the interior shall
find Ii necessary, the proceeds to be
applied TO the completion of projects
already begun and their proper eE-
tension. and the bonds running ten
years or more, to be taken up by the
proceeds from the reclamation fund
which returns as the years go on, Will
increase rapidly in amount
There Ia no doubt at all that II
these bonds were to be allowed to
run ten years, the proceeds from the
public lands. together with the rnt-
ais for watr furnishd through the
completed enterprises, would quickly
create a sinking fund large enough
to retire the bonds within the time
specified. | hope that. while the sta
tute shall provide that these bonds
are to be paid out of the reclamation
fund, IL will be drawn in such a way
as to secure interest at the lowest
rate and that the credit of the United
States Will be pledged for heir re-
demption
| urge consideration OF the recon-
mendations OF the secretary of the In
terior in his annual report for amend
nents OF the reclamation act, Dropos-
ing other relief for settlers on these
projects.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain
not included in national forests be-
cause OF their isolation or their spe.
cial value for agricultural or min
eral purposes. It Is apparent. from the
evils resulting by virtue OF the i'm
perfectlons of existing laws for the
disposition of timber lands. that the
acts OF June 3. 1878. should be re-
pealed and law enacted for disposi-
tion of the timber to be subject to ap-
preparation under the agricultural or
mineral lands laws
What | have said is really an cpl
tome of the recommendations OF the
secretary of the interior in respect to
the future conservation OF public do
main in its present annual report.
He has given close attention to the
problem Of disposition of these lands
under such conditions as to invite
the private capital necessary TO their
development on the one hand and the
maintenance OF the restrictions neces~
Sary To prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations are incorpor-
ated In bills he has prepared, and they
are at the disposition of congress. I
earnestly recommend that all suggeS-
tions which he has made with respect
to these lands shall be embodied in
statutes and especially. that withdraw
ais already made shall be validated
so far as necessary and that doubt
as 10 the authority of the secretary
of the interior to withdraw lands for
the purpose of submitting recommen-
dations as to future disposition OF
them where new legislation if need
cd shall be made complete and un-
questioned.
The forest reserves OF the United
States, some 19O,000.00O acres in cX-
tent, are under control of the depart
ment OF agriculture. with authority
adequate to preserve them and to eX-
tend their growth so far as that may
be practicable. The importance of the
maintenance Of our forests cannot be
exaggerated. The possibility of a
scientific treatment of forests In order
that they shall be made 10 Yield a
large return In timber without really
reducing the supply has been demon
strated In other countries and we
should work toward the standard set
by them as far as their methods are
applicable 10 our conditions
1t has been proposed and bill for
the purpose passed the lower house
of congress, that the national govern
ment appropritte a certain amount
each year out of the receipts from the
forestry business Of the government
to institute refoTestation at the
sources of certain nayigable streams
to be selected by the geological sur
Ney, with a view to determining the
practIcability of thus improving and
the streams for federal
purposes. think moderate expend-
iturc for each year for this purpose
for period OF five or ten years would
be OF the utmost benefit TO the devel-
opment of our forestry system.
Upwards of -four hundred million
acres OF forest land in this country
are in private ownership but only