Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-15
CONSERVATION MESSAGE
URGES THIRTY MILLION
DOLLAR BOND ISSUE


lliIU ifttUS iitN itfil NlENfOlNiA con-
tinued under my administration. n,
has been the Withdrawal of coal land,
for classification ana valuation. ano
the temporary Withholding of power
sites.
since March 4, 1909. temporary
Withdrawals Of power sites have beer
made on 102 stream ana these with.
| draWals, therefore, cover 229 per cent
more streams than were covered by
the Withdrawals made prior to thai
date.
THE present statutes, except SO far
as They dispose of precious metals
and purely agricultural lands, are not
adapted to carry out the modern view
of the best disposition Of public lands
90 private ownership, under condi-
tons offering, on the one hand, suf-
! ficient inducement to provide capital
ia take them over for proper develop
ment, with restrictive conditions, and
on the other which shall secure to
the public that character Of site which
win prevent a monopoly or misuse
Of the lands or their products.
! THE power of the secretary of tho
interior 10 withdraw from the operas
ton or existing statutes tracts Of
lands, the disposition Of which under
such statutes would be detrimental to
the public interest, is not clear or sat
isfactory, This power has been exer-
cised in the interest OF the people with
the hope that congress might affirm
the action OF the executive by laws
adapted to the new conditions.
unfortunately congess has not thus
far fully acted on recommendations
of the executive. and the question as
to what the executive Is TO do. Is, an
der the circumstances, fun of diff
culties. 1t seems to me that ii is the
duty of congress now, by a statute. to
validate withdra walls which have been
made by the secretary of interior and
president. and TO authorize the secre-
tarN OF the interior temporarily to
Withdraw lands pending submission to
congress of recommendations AS to
legislation to meet conditions on emer-
gencies as they arise.
zone OF the most pressing needs in
the matter OF public lane reform is
that lands should be classified accord
ing to their principal value or use.
This ought to be done by that depart
ment whose force is best adapted to
that work. 1t should be done by the
interior department through the ge-
illogical survey. Much Of the confu-
sion, fraud and contention which has
in the past has arisen from
the lack of an official ana determine
tive classification of the public lands
and their contents.
ssTt IL. NON npnpDc.1 T., Ifet..e, ,f |
agricultural lands as such. and at the
time to reserve for other dispo-
sition the treasure of coai, oil. asphalt
natural gas and phosphate con-
therein. This may be best ac-
complished by separating the right TO
mine from the title to the surface
the necessary use of so much
of the latter as may be required for
The eXtracation of the deposits. The
surface might be disposed of as agri-
cultural lands under the genera agri-
cultural statute, while the coal or
)ther mineral could be disposed Of by
ease on royalty basis with provisions
'equiring a certain amount Of devel-
,pmcnt each year; ana in order 10
prevent the use ana cession of such
with others of similar character
10 as to constitute r. monopoly forbid
len by law. the ease should contain
provision subjecting to for
the interests OF persons partic-
in such monopoly. such law
apply to Alaska as web as to
he United States.
ut is exceedingly difficult To frame
statute to retain government control
s... t 49, lL.YLILA.g.l No.
capital ia such a manner as
o secure the governmental purpose
nd at the same time not frighten
way investment of the necessary cap-
tai. Here it may be necessary by
avs that are really only experimental
o determine from their practical OPP
ration what Is the best method OF se-
uring the result aimed AT.
THE extent of the value or phos-
hate is hardly realized ana with the
eed that there VIII be for it as the
roll on. and the necessity for
ertilizing the lands shall become more !
cute, this viii be Il product which
ill probably attract the greed Of mo-
opolists. d
With respect to the public land .
lies along the streams ~ regu- :
lr opportunity To convert water
over into transmissible electricity.
important phase OF the public {
omain question is presented. There
re valuable water power sites :
trough an public land states. =.
."T cannot conceive how the power
! streams flowing through public =
tnds can DE- made available at all eX-
apt by using the land itself as the e
tc for the construction of the plant y
y which the power Is created and ,
inverted and securing "a right of way :
lercoVer for transmission lines TN p
er these conditions. if the govern
.cnt owns the adjacent lands-indeod =
the government is the riparian own y
il may control the use Of water D.
over hv imposing proper conditions
d The disposition of land necessary in IA
be- reation and utilization of water NJ
over. q
Development In electrical appii- g
for the conversion of water r
into electricity TO be transmit ii
"a long distances has progressed so y
r that il is no longer predetermined o
NJ is d certain inference thai in the 80
power OF water flowing in the o.
res ms 20 "a ftrec extent Nill take the b
ace OF natural fuels. o.