The Detroit times., 1910-01-15

powers should have the attention OF
our scientists that We may conserye
Drain wet soils. ditch swamp soils.
IeNes river overflow soils, grow trees
on thin soils. pasture hillside soils. ro-
tate crops IN all soils. discover meth
DDS for cropping highlands soils. md
grasses and legumes for all soils feed
grains and mill feeds on the farms
where they originate. that the soils
from which they come may be enrich
ed. =
a work OF the utmost Importance to
INFORM and Instruct the public on this
chief branch or the conservation OF our
resources is being carried on success
tully In the department OF agriculture;
put IL ought not TO escape public at
tention that state action In addition to
| that or the department OF agriculture
ltas FOR instance In the drainage OF
swamp lands) 10 essential TO the best
above indicated.
The act by which. In semi arid parts
OF the public domain, the area or the
homestead has been enlarged from l60
20 $40 acres has resulted most bene-
ihSsa.y inx an N the extension OF dry farm farm.
mas been made OF the possibility.
through variation In the character
and mode OF culture. OF raising sub.
such a supply OF water as has been
neretoiore thought TO be necessary for
But thero are millions OF acres OF
completely arid land In the public do
main which. by the establishment Of
reservoirs for the storing OF water and
made much more fruitful and produc-
tive than the best lands in a climate
where the moisture comes from the
portance OF this method of artificial
distribution OF water on the arid lands
by the passage OF the reclamation act.
ates the fund to build @ puSs the worRs aRsS need
ed TO store and furnish the necessary
water. and II was left to the secre-
,ary OF the interior to determine what
those suggested. and to direct the re-
clamation service. with the funds at
Land and through the engineers In its
| employ. to construct the works.
No one can visit the far west and
the country OF arid and semi-arid lands
without being convinced that this Is
the conservation OF our natural re-
sources that the government has en-
tered upon IL would appear that over
that few OF these are likely to be un-
successful because OF lack OF water, or
Tor other seasons. but generally the
/. well done. and many important engi-
neering problems have been met and
solved.
One OF the difficulties which has
arisen Is that too many projects In
View OF the available funds. have beer
set on foot The funds available un-
DER the reclamation statute are made
quate TO complete these projects with
IN reasonable time. And yet the pro-
iects have been begun: settlers have
been invited TO take up and. In many
instances. have taken up. the public
land within the projects, relying upon
their prompt completion. The failure
TO complete the projects for their bene-
NJ Is. In effect. breach of faith and
leaves them In a most distressed con-
dition. | urge that the nation ought
10 afrord the means to iift them out Of
the very desperate condition in which
tnev now arc. This condition does not
indicate any excessive waste or any
corruption on the part OF the reclama-
tion service, II only indicates an over
jealous desire TO extend the bene nj Of
rreramation rec Ia s,at 20 as many acres and as
therefore. that authority be given TO
issue. not exceeding $30. 600. 900 or bonds
from time to time as the secretary OF
proceeds to be applied TO the compile
ton or the projects already begun and
their proper extension, and the bonds
running ten years or more to be taken
up by the proceeds OF returns to the
reclamation fund. which returns, as
the years go on, Will Increase rapidly
In amount.
U. $. Credit shouId Re Pledged.
There Is no doubt at all that IL these
years. the proceeds from the public
lands. together with the rentals fo-
water furnished through the completed
enterprises s,s s,, would quickly create "a a
the bonds within the time specified. J
hope that. while the statute shall pro.
out Of the reclamation fund. 1t will be
drawn In such way as to secure in
terest at the lowest rate. and that the
credit of the United States will be
MI Il 1Ua fnr ho{ raAa fnn
urge consideration OF the recon-
mendations OF the secretary OF the In
terror In his annual report for amend
ments OF the reclamation act propos-
ing other relief for settlers on these
projects.
Respecting the compa ratively small
timDercd areas on the public domain
not included In national forests be-
cause OF their isolation or their special
value for agricultural or mineral pur-
poses IL is apparent from the evils re-
sultina nv virtue OF the impertections
OF existing laws for the disposition or
timber lands. that the acts OF June 3.
acted for the disposition OF the timber
at public sale. the lands after the re-
moval Of the timber to be subject TO
appropriation under the agricultural or
mineral land laws.
What I have said is really an cpl
tome OF the recommendations OF the
the future conservation OF the public
domain In his present annual report.
He has given close attention to the
problem OF disposition of these lands
under such conditions as to invite the
private capital necessary to their de-
velopment on the one hand. and the
maintenance OF the restrictions neces-
sary to prevent MONOPOLY and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations are incorpor
ated in bills he has prepared. and they
are at the disposition OF the congress.
earnestly recommend that all the sug-
gestions which he has made with re-
spect to these lands shall be embodied
I'm statutes. and. especially. that the
Withdrawals already made shall be
validated so far ~ necessary and that
the authority OF tho secretary Of the
interior to withdraw lands for the pur-
pose of submitting recommendations az
to future disposition OF them where
new legislation is needed shall be
made complies and unouastioned.
The forest rcservas OF the United
States. some 100, 900. 900 acres In extent.
nre under the control OF the depart
ment OF agriculture. with authority
adequate TO preserve them and TO ex
tend their growth so far as that. may
he practicable. The Importance OF the
maintenance of our forests can not be
exaggerated. The possibility OF a scien-
tihc treatment OF forests 30 that they