The state herald., 1910-09-09

owners by the government IL held by the
federal court Of appeals not to be q
usurpation Of power. But certainly this
ought not to be done except from sur
plus water. not needed for government
land. The total sum already accumula-
| ted in the reclamation fund 10 $0. 0.T3.-
25S22. and of that all but $6,lsl. 1854 has
| been expended 1t became very clear to
congress at Its last session, from tho
statements made by experts. that these
80 projects could not be promptly COM
| pleted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
| In tho near future. 1t was found, more
| over, that there are many settlers who
| have been led into taking up lands with
| the hope and understanding Of having
water furnished In short time, who are
| left In most distressing situation. 1
recommended to congress that authority
| be given to the secretary OF the Interior
to issue bonds in anticipation of the as
| sured earnings by the projects. so that
| the projects, worthy and feasible, might
| be promptly completed, and the settlers
| might be relieved from their present In
convenience and hardship. In authorizing
the issue OF these projects. congress lin
| tied the application OF their proceeds to
| those projects which a board of army en-
gneers, 20 be appointed by the president
| should examine and determine to be
feasible and worthy of completion. The
| board has been appointed and soon will
| make Its recort
| Suggestions have been made that the
| United States ought 10 aid In the drain
age OF swamp lands belonging to the
states or private owners. because, II
| drained, they would be exceedingly val
liable for agriculture and contribute to
| the general welfare by extending the
| area OF cultivation. | deprecate the agi-
| tation In favor of such legislation. 1t is
| inviting the general government into
| contribution from its treasury toward en-
| terprises that should be conducted either
by private capital or at the Instance OF
the state, In these days there is n dispo-
sltion to look too much to the federal
government for everything. ! am liberal
in the construction OF the Constitution
with reference to federal power: but
am firmly convinced that the only safe
course for us to pursue Is to hold fast
10 the limitations OF the Constitution and
to regard as sacred the powers of the
states. We have made wonderful prog
ress and Mt the same time have pre-
served with judicial exactness the re-
strictions OF the Constitution. There Is
an easy way in which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial inhibition, to-wit. by appropria-
tions from the national treasury for un-
constitutional purposes. It will he sorry
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually dlsregarded In this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called metal
llferous minerals The rules OF owner
ship and disposition of these lands were
first fixed by custom In the west. and
then were embodied In the law. and they
have worked. on the whole. so fairly and
well that I do not think It is wise to
attempt TO change or better them.
Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more important in the
matter of conservation than the treatment
of our forest lands. II was probably the
ruthless destruction OF forests In the
older states that first called attention to
halt in the waste OF our resources. This
was recognized by congress by an act
authorizing the executive to reserve from
entry and set aside public timber lands
ms national forests Speaking generally.
there has been reserved OF the existing
forests about seventy per cent Of all
the timber lands OF the government.
within these forests dncludlng 5000 900
acres in two forests in Alaska) are i9e.-
900 900 Of ncrcs OF which is60o1.0o0 OF
acres are In the United States proper and
Include within their boundaries some
thing like % c,o zoo Of acres that belong
TO the state OF 10 private individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests.
total OF about lii.O00ooO acres OF forests
belonging to the government which is
being treated In accord with the prlnci-
pies Of scientific forestry.
The government timber In this roun-
try amounts To only one-fourth Of all the
timber. the rest being In private own
ershlp only three per cent. OF that which
Is In private ownership Is looked after
properly and treated according To mod
ern rules of forestry, The usual de-
structive wnste and neglect continues In
the remainder OF the forests owned by
private persons and corporations, II is
estimated that fre alone destroys tO.no0-
0oa worth OF timber year, The
management Of forests not on public
land is beyond the Jurisdiction OF the fed
eral government, II anything can he done
by law II must be done by the state leg
,slhtures. I believe that II II within their
constitutional power to require the en-.
forcement of regulations In the general
public interest. as 10 FIRE and other
causes Of waste In the management Of
forests owned by private individuals and
corporations.
! have shown sufficiently the conditions
Ms 20 federal forestry TO indicate that no
further legislation II needed Mt the mo-
mcnt except AN increase In the fire pro-
lection TO national forests and nn act
vesting the executive with full power To
make forest reservations In every state
where government land Is umber-cov.rei.
or where tho land is needed for forestry
purposes.
Coal Lands.
The next subject. and on. most impor-
tan, for our consideration. is the dlsposi-
tion Of the coal l2pds In tn. United
States and In AlasNn, First ms 10 those
In the United States. At the beginning
~ this administration they were clASSi-
Ned coal lands amounting TO b,7d,0oo
acres. and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes Of classification H.
sG7.ooo acres Since that time there have
been Withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 5iGN 900 acres making
total withdrawal Of N.bib.0fo acres
Meantime. OF the acres thus withdrawn,
ii.ssi 90 have been classified and found
not to contain coal, and have been re-
stored TO agricultural entry. and tNiooo
acres have been classified ms coal lands
while ~ ~ ooo acres remain withdrawn
from entry and avail, classification. In
addition $4,000 acres have been clazsi.
Ned ne coal lands without prior withdraw.
nl thus increasing the classified coal
lands TO io.iesOoo acres,
Under the laws providing for the d-po-