The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-09-06


absolute title. As the government
owns one-third Of the coal supply.
considerable revenue might be raised
In this way.
President Taft goes into detail on
the subject OF coal lands in Alaska.
and concludes that the laws disposing
OF such lands are badly in need OF
amendment. Stating that prior to
the withdrawal Of the Alaska lands
By the previous administration 900
claims had been filed. most Of them
said 70 be illegal. Mr.. Taft specific
ally mentions the thirty-three Gun
ningham claims" He does not at
tempt to predict what will be the re-
suit Of the investigation now pending.
but wants II distinctly understood
that no private claims for Alaska coal
lands have as yet been allowed or per-
fected. and also that whatever the re-
suit as 70 the pending claims. the ex-
isting coal land laws OF Alaska are
most unsatisfactory and should be
radically amended" an opinion IN
which most people viii be inclined TO
agree.
OIL and gas lands are next treated.
As In the case Of coal. Utah as an
extensive oil area. These lands have
been withdrawn from entry and the
President favors a leasing law. In
stead Of parting with the lands abso-
lutely.
The sixth Of the subjects taken up
relates 20 phosphate lands. Utah
again being one Of the states in which
the much-desired rock Is found The
President believes that In the coming
years there will be an enormous de-
mand for phosphate for fertilizing
purposes, and would conserve the
supply by leasing the lands, instead OF
selling them.
Next comes the subject OF water
power sites. II has been charged that
an attempt was being made TO mo-
nopolize all such sites in the country.
and this charge IS the basis Of a good
many demands that the government
step IN and place them under control
In response to such demand the gov
eminent has made land Withdrawals
covering i35 rivers IN eleven states.
President Taft does not agree that
the government. being the proprietor
OF the riparian lands. has no authOrf-
" with reference 70 the disposition OF
tho water power in such rivers. In
other words. he does not believe Il
would be a violation OF states rights
II absolute control were claimed and
exercised by the federal government.
He takes notice Of the contention
that control OF the water-power sites
and the water should be vested In the
states and disposed Of for develop
ment 70 private lessees, under certain
restrictions to prevent extortion and
the abuses Of monopoly.
without expressing an opinion as to
the merits OF the controversy over fed
ersl or state control. the President an
ncunces his intention 20 submit the
/ whole matter to Congress and urge
that one or the other OF the two plans
be adopted.
The speech OF President Taft puts
him in the front rank as a conserva-
ZIONIST At the same time It cannot
| truthfully be said that he IS inclined
70 run wild on the subject. He be-
lieves in conservation. but not to the
point OF sitting development sum-
ming up at the conclusion Of his ad-
dress. no says:
Real conservation involves wise,
non-wasteful use I'm the present gen
Grafton, with every possible means Of
preservation for succeeding genera
tons; and though the problem to Sc
cure this end may be difficult. the
burden is on the present generation
promptly 20 solve Il and not to rur
away from It as towards. lest IN the
attempt to meet It we may make some
mistake. AS I have said elsewhere
tho problem is how 70 save and how
70 utilize. how to conserve and still
develop: for no sane person can con.
tend that It is for the common good
that natures blessings should be stored
only for unborn generations"