The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-01-21

tons resources sent TO the senate
and mousse OF representatives by Pres
ident Taft today:
In my annual message reserved the
subject OF the conservation OF our na-
tional resources for disposition In "A spe-
cial message. as follows:
In several departments there Is pre-.
scented the necessity for legislation Took
ing to the further conservation OF our
national resources. and The subject Is one
of such Importance as To require more
detailed and extended discussion than
can be entered upon In This comfnunir:t-
ton. For that reason I shall fake an
early opportunity Ia 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- forpsiing
of suitable areas: upon the re-ciassif,ca-
ton of the public domain with a view ut
separating from agricultural settlement
mineral. coal and phosphate lands and
sites belonging to the government hur-
dering on streams suitable Tor The utiIi-
zation of water power.
In 1850 we had ~ public domain of i.rSa.-
sil,2ss acres, VIZ have now III. zsat ISL
acres. confined largely 10 the mountain
ranges and tho arid aud semi-artd plains.
We have In addition. BIS. osa s7s srrrs nr
land in Alaska.
Disbursement Of Public landx.
The public lands were. during the earii-
est administrations. treated as a national
asset for the liquidation of the public
debt and as a source OF reward foe our
soldiers and sailors. later on they were
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 inaccassihie. All the
principal land statutes were enacted more
than quarter NJ "A century AGO Th.
homestead act, the prescription and tim
ber-culture act. the coal land aud the
mining acts were 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 10 the impression that
the public domain was legitimate prey
for the INSCRIPTIONS and that Il was not
contrary TO good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This proi!gai manner ~
disposition resulted In the passing ~
large areas Of valuable land and many
OF our national resources into the hands
OF persons who felt little or no RESPONSE
hility for promoting the national well
fare through their development
Fraudulent Titles.
The truth Is that title to millions Of
acres of public lands was fraudulen,ly
obtained and that the right to recover n
large part of such lands for the govern
fnent long since ceased by reason af stat
utes OF limitations. There has developed
public mind respecting the preServatio
and proper use nj our natural resources
This has been particularly directed
toward the conservation NJ the resources
OF the public domain vast am"unt ot
discussion has appeared In the public
prints In ceneraiized form on this sub
ject. but there has hasn little practical
suggestion. II has been easy Ia say that
the natural resources in fuel supply, IN
forests. In water power. and In other
public utilities. must be saved from
waste. monopoly. and either abuses. and
the general public is In accord with this
proposition. as they are with most
truisms. The problem. however, is how
TO save and how 10 utilize. how TO con-
serve and sim develop. for no sane per.
son san contend that II IL for the com
mon good that natures blessings are
only for unborn generations.
Noteworthy Reforms.
Among the most noteworthy reforms
Initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution OF land
frauds and the bringing to public atten,
ton OF the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from furih.,
spoliation, for the maintenance and ax.
tension of our forest resources. and 10,
the enactment of laws amending the oh
solete statutes as 10 retain govern
mental control over that part Of the pub
lie domain In which there are vaiuabi.
deposits OF coal. OF oil. and of phosphate
and In addition thereto to preserve con
troll, under conditions favorable TO tn.
public. of the lands along the streams Il
which the fall of water can he made I.
generate power To be transmitted In tn,
form of electricity many miles to tn
point of Its use. known as water power
sites.
The Investigations into violations of tn
public land laws and the prosecution o
land frauds have haen vigorously con
tinued under my administration. ms ha
been the withdrawal Of coal lands 10
classification and valuation and the tern
porary withholding of power sites. Sine
March 4. 1909. temporary Withdrawals o
power sites hare been made 10
streams and these Withdrawals therefor
cover 30 per cent. more streams thai
were covered by the Withdrawals mad
prior to that date.
The present statutes. except so IA
as they dispose of the precious metal
and the purely agricultural lands. ar
not adapted To carry out the moder
view of the best disposition of publ
lands to private ownership. under con
ItAtuuA oHrFinE the ottr manu- sum
cient inducement to private capital I
take them. over for proper develop
ment. with restrictive conditions o
the other which shall secure to TIL
public that character of control whic
will prevent a monopoly or misuse q
the lands or their products The pows
Of the secretary of the interior 10 with
draw from the operation of existtn
statutes tracts of land. the dispositio
OF which under such statutes Moul
be detrimental TO the public interest
u not clear or satisfactory. This pows
has been exercised In the interest {
the public. with the hope that congre.
might aflirm the action of the exect
tive by laws adapted TO the new cond
tions. Unfortunately. congress has NJ
thus far fully acted ON the recommer
dations Of the executive. and the Ques
tton ~ 10 what the executive 10
do ID under the circumstances. full {
diniculty. II seems TO me that IL
the duty OF congress now. by \ statut
- validate the Withdrawals whic
have been made BY the secretary Of N
- AnA "a soa