Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-08-30
Natural Resources Should
be Kept for Future Generations

trial development of the west, and fol-
the needs of our fleet In the Pacific
Coal mines should be leased not sold
and those who mine the coal should
pay back a part of the profit to the
people. 1t is the right and duty OF
the people to demand the most vigi.
liant trusteeship on that part of that
branch of the federal government il,
charge Of the fuel resources of the
| United States.
The Open Range.
II am here at the invitation of the
Colorado Livestock association. and
I desire to express my appreciation of
their steadfast stand for decency and
progress in the handling of public
lands and national forests. They
have met and overcome the relenting
opposition of some of the most in
fluential stockmen of the state; they
have won because they have been
right. want to express my appre-
citation of the work OF the American
National Livestock association. It
has been one of the really important
forces working toward effective rail-
way regulation, while it's support of
the policy Of federal range control has
given it large place IN national af-
fairs. AS an old time stockman,
realize that the present order of
things on the open range cannot con-
tinue, and that the sure way to pro.
tect the range itself, prevent the in
crease of big profit, promote the
equitable use of the grazing lands,
and foster genuine homestead settle.
ment, is to extend over the open range
a system or range control somewhat
similar to that now in effect on the
national forests.
Whatever system of range control
may be adopted in detail. there are
two things it must do. 1t must not
handicap or exclude the small man by
requiring him to spend more money
for fences than he can afford, and it
must leave every acre that can be
settled by bona-fde homesteaders
freely open to such settlement.
The Forest Reserve.
You progressive stockmen have
stood heartily by the conservation
movement, and with you have stood
many others throughout the west, to
whom large credit Is due, such as the,
lumbermen In Washington and Ore
gon, the irrigators in California, and
the supporters of the country life
movement in and around Spokane.
want to make my acknowledgements in
particular to the Colorado oFrestry
association, which has supported the
forest work of the government with
such unselfish zeal. The forest SER
Vice has enemies because it is effec-
tive. Some Of the best work has been
met by the bitterest opposition. For
example, 1t has done real service by
blocking the road against the grab.
bers OF water power, and again by
standing like a rock against the de-
mands OF bogus mining concerns to
exploit the national forests. I have
always done my best to help the gen.
u1ne miner. ! believe that one of the
hrst duties of the government is toll
encourage honest mining on the pub.
lie lands. But it is equally important|
To enforce the law firmly against that
dangerous class which,
makes it's living off the public through
fraudulent mining schemes.
Reclamation Service. :.
The National Irrigation congress is
% hold a session in the city of Pueblo
ate in September l am keenly sorry
hat I could not have accepted the
invitation to be prent. l must, how.
aver, be In the east at that time. But,
'1nce l cannot be present then to ex-
'ress my keen, long-held and deep-felt
interest in the reclamation of arid :
ands by the federal government, II
[es1re to do so now. There is no more
Hectlve instrument for the making of
ZONES than the United States recla-
nation service, and no government bu-
eau while I was president. had reach
q higher standard of efficiency. in.
egrlty, and devotion to the public,
7elfare. K
Like the forest service. the recla-
nation service has clashed with GER
aln private interests, and has had
, pay the penalty of it's service to,
re public in the form of bitter oppo. s
lt1on from those with whose profits t
has interfered. The cry has been
aised against it that the government
lust not do for it's citizens at a less {
ost what privates interests are ready
make them pay for at higher
rices. Now, I believe fully in the i
rivate development of irrigation pro- g
cts which the government cannot
adertake. There is large and le-
innate field for such work. But the #
'sential thing is to make homes on
e lands not to enable individuals to
ont from the necessities of the men G
no make those homes. There is no Il
ore warrant for Directing to the rec. G
nation of arid lands by the govern
ent than there would be to protest
'ainst the government for patentfng a
'rlcultural lands directly to the &C. :,
al settler, instead of through q mid a
eman, who could make a profit from
e transaction. The men who ASSERT
cir right to get something for them 2.
Ives at the cost Of the community
stead of by service to the commun.1
!, we have always had with us. and
'ubtless We always will. But there g
no reason Why Ne should yield to
EN-. The reclamation service has