The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-14
PUBLIC LANDS A
THEME FOR TAFT
IN HIS MESSAGE
President Today Sends an I'm
portant Communication to
Congress, Dealing With Two
Large Projects.
TRAFFIC ON INLAND
WATERS REFERRED TO
This Great Project, Executive
Thinks, Should Have Its Be-
ginning on Improvements
To Ohio River.
MUST MAINTAIN FORESTS
HE SAYS THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS CANNOT BE ExAGGERAT-
MUST MAINTAIN FORESTS
THIS CANNOT BE ExAGGERAT-
ED-LAND FRAUDS ARE BEING
PROSECUTED NOW.
(American News Service)


Washington, Jan. 14.-President Taft
today sent to congress special mes
sage dealing with two important Ques-
tions-conservation Of natural resourc-
es and improvement of inland water
ways. The president conveys the
idea that there has been a lot of talk
regarding conservation, but up to the
present time there have been but few
practical suggestions on the matter re-
ceived by him. He suggests several
practical reforms relating to public
lands and states that during his term
OF office the prosecution of land frauds
instituted by President Roosevelt, have
been vigorously continued.
The president urges continuation of
improvements on the Ohio river. This,
he thinks, would be a wise beginning,
in the inland waterways improvement
project. The message is as follows:
Message Of President.
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives-In my annual message
reserved the subject Of the Conserve
tion Of our national resources for dis
cussion In special message.
Great Public Concern.
There has developed in recent years
q deep concern in the public mind re-
specting the preservation and proper
use Of our natural resources. This has
been particularly directed toward the
conservation OF the resources OF the
public domain. The problem 10 how
to save and how to utilize. how to con.
can contend that it II for the common
good that natures blessings are only
for unborn generations.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
initiated by my distinguished predeces-
sor were the vigorous prosecution Of
land frauds and the bringing to public
attention Of the necessity for preserv-
ing the remaining public domain from
further spoliation. for the maintenance
and extension of our forest resources
and for the enactment Of laws amend
ing the obsolete statutes so as to re-
tain governmental control over that
part Of the public domain in which
there are valuable deposits Of coal, of
oil and Of phosphate. and in addition
thereto. to preserve control under con-
ditions favorable to the public Of the
lands along the streams in which the
fail Of water can be made to generate
power to be transmitted in the form
Of electricity many miles to the points
Of its use. known as water power"
sites.
The Investigations into violations Of
the public land laws and the prosecu-
tion Of land frauds have been vigor-
ously continued under my administra-
coal lands for classification and valua-
tion and the temporary Withholding OF
power sites. Since March 4. 1909.
temporary Withdrawals Of power sites
have been made on 102 streams, and
these Withdrawals therefore cover 229
per cent more streams than were Gov
cred by the Withdrawals made prior
to that date. The present statutes.
except % far as they dispose Of the
precious metals and the purely agri-
cultural lands. are not adapted to carry
out the modern view Of the best dis
position Of public lands to private own.
ership under conditions offering ON tho
one hand sufacient inducement to pri-
vato capital to take them over for
proper development with restrictive
conditions on the other, which shall
secure to the public that character of
control which will prevent a monopoly
or misuse Of the lands or their pro-
ducts.
The power Of the secretary Of the
interior to withdraw from the opera
tioa Of existing statutes tracts Of land.
tie disposition Of which under such
statutes would be detrimental to the
public interest. II not clear or salts
factory. This power has been exer-
sised In the interest Of the public. with
the cope that congress might afdrm
the eotion Of the executive By laws
aAao4ed 70 the new conditions. I'm
fortunately. congress has not thus far
fully acted on the recommendations
Of the executive, and the question as
- what the executive IL to do II, un-
der the circumstances, full q difQculty.
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