The new era., 1910-01-27

AHu MUSE Ol representatives ny res
ident Taft to-day:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
In my annual message 1 reserved the
subject of the conservation OF our ma
tional resources for disposition in ID spe-
cial Esessase. as follows:
NAveral departments there is pre-
senteF the necessity for legislation look
ing 10 the further conservation of our
national resources, and the subject Is one
of such Importance to require more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon in this communica-
ton. For that reason l shalt take an
early opportunity to send a special mes
sage to congress on the subject of the
Improvement of our waterways. upon the
reclamation and irrigation of arid. semi
arid and swamp lands: upon the preser-
walton of our forests and the re-foresting
of suitable areas: upon the re-classitica-
ton of the public domain with a view OF
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral. coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government bor-
dering on streams suitable for the utiii-
Zation of water power.
In 1860 we had a public domain of l.O55.-
91i,2sS acres. We have now 73l .a54 OSl
acres. confined largely to the mountain
ranges and the arid and semi-arid PLAINS.
We have. in addition. 36S. OBS g75 acres OF
land in Alaska.
The public lands We're. during the earlI-
est administrations. treated as a national
asset for the liquidation of the public
debt and as n source OF reward for our
soldiers and sailors. Later on they
donated in large amounts in aid OF the
construction of wagon roads and rail
ways in order to open up regions in the
west then almost inaccessible All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than n quarter Of century ago The
hNY ptnoI nOt
ber-culture act. the coal land aud the
mining acts We're among these.
The rapid disposition of the public lands
under the early statutes, and the lax
methods of distribution prevailing due,
think. to the belief that these lands
should rapidly pass into private owner
ship. gave rise to the Impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that it was not
contrary to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This proigai manner OF
disposition resulted in the passing OF
large n, ,eas OF valuable land and many
of oulOational resources into the hands
OF persons who felt little no responsi-
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
! large part of such lands for the govern
q
ptes OF limitations. There has developed
in recent years a deC0 concern in the
public mind respecting the preservation
and proper use OF our natural resources.
This has been particularly directed
,oward the conservation OF the resources
II the public domain. A vast amount OF
discussion has appeared in the public
,rints in generalized form on this sub
ect, but there has been little practical
suggestion. 1t has been easy to say that
40 in fue SIp IN,
orests. in water power. and in other
,ublic utilities. must be saved from
waste, monopoly. and other abuses and
he general public is in accord with this
roposition, they are with most
rusms. The problem. however is how
4 save and how to utilize. how to con-
! erve and still develop, for no sane per-
on can contend that IT is for th COM
non good that natures blessings are
" My for unborn generations,
Noteworthy Reforms.
,, Among the most noteworthy reforms
q ,itiated by my distinguished predecessor
- 'ere the vigorous prosecution OF land
- rauds and the bringing to public atten-
Q. on of the necessity for preserving the
smaining public domain from further
II, poliation. for the maintenance and ex-
l ,nsion of our forest resources, and for
lie enactment of laws amending the OBJ
-,lete statutes so as to retain govern
nnental control over that part of the pub
apositS of coal, OF OIL and of phosphate.
nd 20 ad''on nond,,as Thereto to preserve con,
11olic, ~ he lands along the streams in
hich tOifall of water can be made to
enerate power to be transmitted in the
,rm OF electricity many miles to the
,int of Its use. known as water power
tes.
The Investigations into violations of the
ibic land laws and the prosecution OF
nd frauds have been vigorously con-
nued under my administration, has
len the withdrawal OF coal lands for
assifcation and valuation and the tenn
,rary withholding of power sites. Since
arch 4. 1909. temporary Withdrawals Of
,wer sites have been made 1902
@reams and these Withdrawals therefore
. yer 900 per cent. more streams than
.ere covered by the Withdrawals made
ior to that date.
The present statutes. except so far
NC they dispose of the precious metals
Id the purely agricultural lands, are
Vt adapted to carry out the modern
ew of the best disposition of public
nds to private ownership, under con-
tons offering on the one hand suhi
EH ent inducement to private capital to
Ike them over for proper develop
-ent, with restrictive conditions on
other which shall secure to the
a bile that character of control which
habll prevent a monopoly or misuse of
y, aro c lands or their products The power
olor. the secretary OF the interior TO WITH
llnGaw from the operation of existing
-atutes tracts of land. the disposition
which under such statutes would
iva detrimental to the public interests.
;, - IN not clear or satisfactory. This power
been exercised in the interest of
ing Jht ,er,,, a. ,o,ian 81 ,b a,s,,,
Ist. 1b'lt "i'ii w 'i' 'eti'' VI 'he oN''u-
tonIc by laws adapted to the new condt-
ms, Unfortunately. congress has not
Nth ,us far fully acted on the recommen-
nction of the exacutiye and the utes-
IN to what the executive is to
Nat is under the circumstances fun OF
hculty. 1t seems to me that 1t is
- duty of congress now by n statute.
validate the Withdrawals which
Ave been made by the secretary of the
crior and the president and to use
can secretary OF the interior temporar-
q. TO wiO.Iraw lands pendinE submis-