Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-15
President Points Out Necessity
of Relief for Settlers Who
Have Suffered by Slow Pro-
greSS Of Work,
NO DANGER OF WATER
POWER MONOPOLY
Government Has Ample Power
to Prevent Realization Of
Fears Of Clifford Pinchot
That Trust viii Grab Sites

lby Morning J0urnai sDecih iscnseu WireI
Washington. Jan. 1i.--President
Tafts special message on conservat-
tion ON natural resources sent to
congress today follows:
"To the senate and house OF repre-
sentatives.
"ln my annual message | reserved
the conservation of our natural re-
sources for discussion OF this message
as follows;
In several departments there is
presented the necessity for legislation
looking to the further conservation
Of our national resources and the SUB
iect Is OF such Importance as TO re-
auire more detailed and extended
discussion than can be entered upon
In this communication. For this rea-
son | shall take an early opportun-
ity to send a special message to con-
gress on the subject OF Improvement
of our Waterways upon the reclaim
alton and irrigation Of arid, semi-arid
ANA swamp lands, upon the preser-
walton OF our forests ana the refor-
tsting OF suitable areas; upon the
rehabilitation of the public domain
with q view os separating from agri-
cultural settlement, mineral, coal and
phosphate lands and sites belonging
to the government bordering on
streams suitable for utilization of wa
ter power
In 1860 we had q public dominion
of l0.055,9If.2SS acres We have now
73t,364,0S1 acres confined largely TO
the mountain ranges ana the arid and
seml-arid plains. We have an addi-
tional 36S,035,915 acres OF. land in
Alaska.
"The public lands during the early
administrations were treated as a ma
tional asset for the liquidation of pub
lie debt ana 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 railways in order to open regions
of the west almost inaccessible.
THE present land statutes were en-
acted more than q quarter of a cent
ury ago. The homestead act, the pre-
pmption and timber culture act, the
coal land and the mining acts were
lmong these. The rapid disposition
Of the public lands under the early
statutes ana the land methods of dis
ribution prevailing, due | think to
the belief that these lands rapidly
pass into private ownership, gave rise
10 the impression that the public do
main was legitimate prey for unscrup-
llous, and that it was not contrary
10 good morals TO circumvent land
laws This prodigal manner of dis
position resulted in the passing OF
argr areas OF valuable lands and
many OF our natural resources into
Inc hands OF persons who felt little
,r no responsibility for promoting the
rational welfare through their devel-
pment The truth is that title to
Millions Of acres Of public lands was
obtained and the right
o recover p large part Of such lands
or the government long ceased by
easons BY statutes of limitation.
There has developed in recent
ears "a deep concern in the public
mind respecting the public reserva-
ion and the proper resources. This
as been particularly directed toward
be conservation of resources of the
ublic domain. The problem is how
hey save. and power TO utilize. how
+, conserve and still Go develop. for
believe pO sane person can contend
1at it is tor the common good that
aturos blessings are only for unborn
cnemtons
Among the most noteworthy re-
,rms initiated by my distinguished
rodocessor were the vigorous prose-
tlion Of land frauds and the bring
ig to public attention OF the neces-
ty of saving tho remaining domain
-om spoilation, for the maintenance
nd extension OF our forest resources.
nd for the enactment Of laws
mendng the obsolete statutes so as
retain government control over
iaf part of the public domain in
hich There are valuable deposits of
pal. OH and phosphate, and in addi-
on To preserve control under condi-
ons favorable 20 the public. of lands.
long the streams in which the fall
water can be made to generate
over TO be transmitted in the form
electricity many miles to the points
its use, known as water power
tes.