Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-01-21

sage on the conservation OF the ma
tion's resources sent to the senate
and house OF representatives by Pres
ident Taft today:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
uves:
In my annual message reserved the
subject of the conservation OF our ma
tional resources for disposition in u spe-
ci1 message, as follows:
!" 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 comnunca-
ton. For that reason l shall take
early opportunity TO send a special mes
sage to congress on the subject Of the
Improvement OF our waterways. upon the
reclamation and irrigation OF arid semi
arid and swamp lands: upon the preser-
walton of our forests and the re-forestinG
of suitable areas: upon the re-classihca-
ton of the public domain with view Of
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral. coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging TO the government bor-
dering on streams suitable for the utiii-
zation of water power.
In ls5o we had a public domain Of I.O6s.-
oil rs acres. We have now 73i ,a5i 0sl
acres. confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the arid and semi-arid plains.
We have. In addition. 36s. .O15. .g.s acres of
land In Alaska.
Disbursement Of Public Lands.
The public lands were. during the earii-
est administrations. treated as a national
asset for the liquidation OF the public
debt and rs n 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 rail-
ways. In order to open up regions In the
west then almost Inaccessible All the
principal land statutes were enacted moro
than quarter nj century nrn Tho
homestead act. the pre-cmption ard tim
bcr-cuiture act. the coal land and tho
mining acts were among these.
The rapid disposition Of the public lands
under the early statutes. and the lax
methods of distribution prevailing due. {
think. TO the belief that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise to the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that II was not
the land laws. This proi.Gai manner Of
disposition resulted In the passing OF
large areas OF valuable land and many
of~Sur national resources into the hands
oh Persons who felt little or no RESPONSE
biiity for promoting the national well
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth Ii that title to millions of
acres Of public lands was frsudui~ntiy
obtained and that the right to recover a
large part Of such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason of stat-
utes Of limitations There has developed
In recent years n dee0 concern In the
public mind respecting the preservation
and proper use Of our natural resources.
This has been particularly directed
toward the conservation Of the resources
Of the public domain. A vast amount OF
discussion has appeared In the public
prints In reneraiized form this SUBJ
ject. but there has been little practical
suggestion. II has been easy to say that
the natural resources in fuel supply. in
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
truisms. The problem. however. is how
TO save and how To utilize. how TO con-
serve and stiii develop. for no sane per-
son can contend that u In for the COM
mon good that natures blessings are
only for unborn generations.
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
Initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution of land
frauds and the bringing to public atten-
tion Of the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from further
spoiiation. for the maintenance and OK
te-sion Of our forest resources. and for
q ~ractment Of laws amending the OBJ
,'-ts statutes to retain govern
mental control over that part Of the pub
lie domain in which there are valuable
deposits of coal. of oil. and Of phosphate.
and. In addition thereto. to preserve con-
tIk, under conditions favorable to the
Uie. Of the lands along the streams In
which the fall of water can be made to
gen bate power to be transmitted In the
form OF electricity many miles to the
point OF Its use. known as water power
sites
The Investigations into violations Of the
public land laws and the prosecution OF
land frauds have been vigorously con-
all lFlt taf IN Inn h0 .
been the withdrawal OF coal lands for
classification and valuation and the tenn
porary withholding of power sites. Since
March 4. 1900. temporary Withdrawals Of
power sites have been made lo2
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover - per cent more streams than
were covered by the Withdrawals made
prior to that date.
The present statutes. except SO far
as they dispose of the pfecious metals
and the purely agricultctal lands. are
not adapted to carry out the modern
view of the best disposition of public
lands to private ownership. under con-
ditions offering on the one hand sum-
&cIent inducement to private capital to
flake them over for proper develop
fment. with restrictive conditions on
<the other which shall secure to the
Ipubiic that character of control which
Twill prevent a monopoly or misuse OF
rfhe lands or their products. The power
4of the secretary Of the Interior TO with
ddraw from the operation Of existing
Lstatutes tracts of land. the disposition
of which under such statutes would
rbe detrimental to the public interests.
IS not clear or satisfactory. This power
rhas been exercised in the Interest OF
1the public. with the hope that congress
Hmight affirm the action OF the eSecu-
Rive bylaws adapted to the new condi-
itions. Unfortunately. congress has not
thus far fully acted on the recommcn-
dations of the executive. and the aues-
zion as to what the executive IL 10
do In under the circumstances. full OF
difhculty. II seems to me that II Is
Nthe duty OF congress now. by statute.
40 validate the withdrn nwais which