Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-14
The Presidents Message.

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Congress proceed Immediately to dispose
OF the TAFT. Ballioger conservation pro
grsmme without waiting the outcome OF
the congressional investigation OF the
BslliDger-Pinchot dispute, President
Taft today transmitted his special mes
sage to Congress on The conservation OF
natural resources.
The president recommends legislation
providing for the conservation Of the
public lands; The safeguarding Of power
sites along rivers 10 the public domain;
the validating OF the Withdrawals from
entry made by the secretary of the in
terror under tbs disputed "supervisory
power" a detailed classification OF pub.
tic lands according to their use; the dis
position OF the agricultural aud mineral
resources OF the same portions OF the
public lsndssspsrately ;the rapid compile
ton OF the reclamation prfj ec.s now un-
der way, aud a $50, 600, 900 bond issue to
finish and extend these projscls; the ex.
len.ion OF the activities OF the forest ser
vict; the conservation OF the soil; and
the Carrying out OF 40 extensive pro-
CANINE of in'ald waterways improve
ment.
All OF these matters with the exception
OF the forest and inland waterways rec.
ohmenC a,.oos, the president says, have
en- embodied In series of bills pre-.
pBred by Secretary OF the Interior Bil-
linger. The bills are now on the presi.
dents desk awaiting Introduction into
Congress.
The message reviews at length the bis.
tory of public land law, setting forth
that the protest statutss have len 10
operation for over quarter Of century
and that not until the nation had been
deirauded out Of millions OF ore or land.
The president says that under his sd-
mioistraiiop, there have been continued
tie vigorous Investigations Into public
land frauds that we're Initiated by bis
"distiDguished predecessor" and that
the withdrawal of coal lands and power
sites from entry has been particularly
continued.
Aioog this line the president rec
ommends that Congress validate with
drAwsIs made by the secretary OF the In.
terror, and authorize the secretary to
make such Withdrawals.
The separation OF the right to mine
from the sgricultu al rights, to the pub
lie lands, aDd the disposition of these
rights separately is also recommended,
The president says the geological survey
should be empowered to classify all
lands according to .h-ir principal value.
The message urges $50, 600, OOO
boud issue to continue the reclamation
work 10 the west and gives high praise
to the mel engaged in the projects.
An experimental reforestation at the
head OF nsvigsble streams by the forest
service Is recommended, and new law
Is urged Tor the disposition Of timber on
small areas not included in the national
forests.
Ga the subject Of inland waterways
The president comes out fatty 10 favor
Of The Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri
river improvements, recommending that
Congress include an appropriation for
carrying on The work in the river and
hsrbor bill. The president recommends
the leasing, for oerms OF City years, Of
public land power sites, at reasonable
rental, and with equitable provision for
renewal, to prevent the absorption oil
these lands by a power monopoly, q
$50, 900, 900 bond issue to continue the
reclamation projects now under con-
sruction In the Hest, the removal OF
timber from forest lands, not in the nat
ionsl forests, aud the disposition OF these
lands as agricultural or mineral tracks,
A moderate appropriation for expert
mental refnrestanoo at the heads Of Ger.
tain usvigable streams.
An appropriation In the rivers and
harbors oil for the improvement OF the
upper Mississippi, the Missouri, and
the Ohio rivers.
"These recommendations are incor.
porated In bills the secretary OF the 10
interior hsr prepared, and these are at
the disposition Of Congress.