The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-01-20

n mouse OF representatives by Pres.
ident TAFT today:
To the Senate aud House OF Representa-.
In my annual message ] reserved The
subject OF the conservation OF our ua-
tonal resources for disposition IN IA Spe-
cial message. AZ follows:
In several departments there is pre-
Bented the necessity for Legislation took
ing to the further conservation or our
national resources, and the subject Is one
Of such Importance as to require q more
detailed and extended discussion imam
can be entered upon I'm this communica-
ton, For that reason I shalt take an
early opportunity Ia send n special mes
sage to congress on the subject OF the
Improvement of our waterways. upon the
ana irrigation OF arid. semi
arid and swamp lands. upon the preser-
walton of our forests and the re- foresttng
OF suitable areas; upon the re-classihca-
ton of the public domain with a view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral, coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government Dor
dering on streams suitabIs for the utiIi.
cation OF water power.
In 1860 we had a public domain OF LOSS
oil 2SS acres. We have now T3l. 354 USl
acres, confined largely 10 the mountain
ranges and the arid aud semi-arid plains.
We have, I'm addition. Bis O35. US acres nr
land in Alaska.
Disbursement OF Public Lands.
The public lands were, during the cart
est administrations treated as "A national
asset Tor the liquidation OF the public
debt and as a source OF reward foe our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they were
donated In large mounts in aid or the
construction OF wagon roads ana rail
WAYS, In order 10 open up regions Ia the
west then almost inaccessible. All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than a quarter or a century ago The
homestead act. the presumption and TIM /
ber-culture act. the coal land aud the
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 heller that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise TO the impression that
the public domain wa. legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that 1t was not
contrary 10 good morals tn CircumVeut
the land laws. This proiigai manner uf
disposition resulted in the passing or
large areas OF valuable land and many
of our national resources into tn. hands
OF persons who felt little or no RESPONSE
bility for promoting the national well
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth Is that title to millions OF
acres OF public lands was fraudulently
obtained and that the right to recover y
large part OF such lands for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason or stat
utes OF limitations There has developed
In recent years a dec 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 |
lt.A.V.,f>a TO-. --nA-A L. 49, - l.. |
prints In generalized form on this sub
ject, but there has heeu little practical
suggestion. II has been easy to say that I
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
proposition. as they are with most
truisms. The problem. however. is how
TO save and how 10 utilize, how To con
serve and stiil develop. for no sane per-
son can contend that II is 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-
ton OF the necessity for preserving the /
remaining public domain from further
BDOlldtlOn, Tor tne maintenance ana Sy-
tension OF our forest resources. and FIR
the enactment OF laws amending the OBJ
solete statutes so as to retain govern |
mental control over that part OF the pub
lie domain In which there are valuabie
deposits of coal, OF oil. and OF phosphate.
and. In addition thereto. to preserve con
troll, under conditions favorable to the
public, of the lands along the streams In
which the fall of water can be made to
generate 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-
tinued under my administration. as has
been the withdra wal OF coal lands for
classification and valuation and the tenn
porary Withholding of power sites. Since
March 4. 1909. temporary Withdrawals %
power sites ha,N been made on l2
streams and these Withdrawals therefore
cover 200 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 precious metals
and the purely agricultural 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 suth-
Clent iuuuctTle0t To pElNatt ctIlidi w
take them over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions on
the other which shall secure 10 the
public that character of control which
will prevent a monopoly or misuse OF
the lands or their products. The power
of the secretary of the interior 70 with
draw from the operation Of existing
statutes tracts of land. the disposition
of which under such statutes would
be detrimental 10 the public interests.
is not clear or satisfactory. This power
has been exercised in the interest OF
the public. with the hop that congress
might affirm the action OF the execu-
tive by laws adapted to the new condi-
tions. Unfortunately. congres has not
thus far fully acted on the
dations OF the executive. and the dres-
ton as to what the executive is TO
do Is under the circumstances full OF
a. svlty.-Is-seeu Ato-me-that-it-lS
the duty OF congress now. by a statute.
bave been made by the secretary OF the
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