Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-05
PRESIDENT ENFORCES PLANS
Million Acres Of Power Sites and
Mineral Lands.
APPOINTS RECLAMATION BOARD
Confirms ROosevelFs Former Policy
of withdrawal-Presid Final
Arbiter-Board Must
Approve.

BEVERLY, Mass. July 4-President Taft
took the first step in the enforcement OF
his own conservation policy yesterday
by signing orders OF withdrawal covering
s.495, IA acres OF power site. phosphate and
petroleum lands. The president also APP
pointed five engineer officers OF the army.
who will constitute a board TO pass on
the reclamation projects to be completed
under the recent appropriation OF $4,000
900. II is limited that there are other inn
portant announcements to come with re-
gard to the conservation policy OF the
present administration. The president has
summoned Secretary Ballinger for a con-
ference Tuesday.
The withdrawal orders signed by the presi-
dent yesterday are the first specifically
authorized by the new law. Mr.. Roosevelt
as president inaugurated the policy OF
Withdrawing public lands under the gen.
ersl theory OF the right Of the executive
to do anything in the interest Of the public
domain not prohibited by law. President
Taft has acted in the same way.
Forest Lands Withdrawn.
President Taft also signed orders OF
withdrawal yesterday covering public lands.
and lands in national forests in Alaska,
in which workable coal Is known to occur.
in full force and effect the order of with
drawal made by direction OF former Presi-
dent Roosevelt on November II, 1905.
The water power sites withdrawn by
President Taft cover q total OF LEA 40s
acres. The phosphate lands withdrawn to-
| tai 25s4113 acres. and the petroleum lands
AAI7.iis acres, to all the areas involved in
the power sites withdrawn are as follows:
| Arizona. lO7 $50 acres; California, E,S19
acres; Colorado, 2O1,54S acres; Idaho, 2So,s7l
/ acres; Montana, IL, 515 acres; Nevada, IA
5O1 acres; New Mexico. 1855 acres; Oregon.
IN acres; Utah, s79.s2 acres; Washing
ton. s.. GSs acres; Wyoming. lOs,Sss acres.
! The phosphate land acreage Withdrawals
are: Florida, q. 100 acres; Idaho, l1O2, 81
acres: Utah, l07 545 acres, and Wyoming,
!, sM, SOL acres.
Petroleum land acreage Withdrawals COW
cred the following: Arizona, 10000; Cali
fornia. 2.ls2, 750; Colorado. H.474; New
Mexico. 41s9el; Louisiana, 417,72O; Oregon.
IA $40; Utah, 5s1. 564; Wyoming, 2o5,461
Board of Engineers.
The hoard of engineers appointed by the
to couplete or extend with funds provided
for in the act which authorized the Issuance
| of Sa0O00OOO in certificates Of indebtedness
| is headed by Lieutenant Colonel John
president today to examine and report upon
reclamation projects which 1t is proposed
Biddle, who was until recently the engineer
commissioner of the District of Columbia
and who is now on duty at San Francisco.
The other four members OF the board are
Lieutenant Colonel William c. Langfett and
Majors William w. Harris. Charles w.
Kutz and Harry Burgess, all of the engi-
neer corps OF the army. Colonel I4angfett
In Washington.
| In the expenditure of the s200O0.OOO the
president Is made the final arbiter. He
must approve each project before any of
the money can be expended. The act pro-
fvides that No part Of 1tfAs appropriation
shall be expended upon any existing pro-
iect until 1t shall have been examined and
reported upon b, a hoard of engineer Off
GERS of the Signated by the presi-
dent of tn states, and until IL
| shall be the president as
feasible a. and worthy Of such
expenditur, nv portion of this
appropriat, ded On any new
project"
General Will l.. Marshall, W on
yesterday was appointed consulting e-si-
neer of the reclamation service, has n
requested by the president to lend such
aid to the commissioner of engineers as is
/ compatible with his new duties.
/ President Taft attended services at Grace
Episcopal church in Salem today. where
the fortieth anniversary of the passionate
of Rev J. P. Franks was celebrated Mrs
Taft, Miss Helen Taft and Captain Butt
accompanied the president.
The presidential yacht Mayflower arrived
at Beverly today and will remain through.
out the summer.