Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-05


Congress in ST. Paul. Mimi. today Pres
ident Taft said:
Conservation as an economic and
political term has come to mean the
preservation of our national resources
for economical use. so as 10 secure the
greatest good to the greatest number
In the development of this country, in
the hardships of the pioneer. in the
energy of the settler. in the anxiety of
the investor for quick returns. there
was very little time. opportunity, or
desire to prevent waste OF those re-
sources supplied by nature which could
not be quickly transmitted into money;
while the investment of capital was so
great a desideratum that the people as
a community exercised little or no care
20 prevent the transfer OF absolute
ownership of many OF the valuable
natural resources to private individuals.
without retaining some kind of con-
troll of their use. The impulse OF the
whole new community was to encourage
the coming Of population. the increase
of settlement, and the opening up or
business. and he who demurred In the
slightest degree to any step which
promised additional development Of the
idle resources at hand was regarded
as a traitor to his neighbors and an
Instructor to public progress But now
that the communities have become old,
now that the flush of enthusiastic ex-
pansion has died away, now that the
would-be pioneers have come TO realize
that all the richest lands in the country
have been taken up, we have perceived
the necessity for a change of policy In
the disposition of our national resources
so to prevent the continuance OF
the waste which has characterized our
phenomenal growth in the past. To-
day we desire To restrict and retain
under public control the acquisition
and use by the capitalist of our natural
resources.
1.-The danger to the state and TO the
people at large from the waste and
dissipation of our national wealth is not
one which quickly impresses itself on
the people of the older communities.
because its most obvious instances do
not occur in their neighborhood. while
in the newer part of the country the
sympathy with expansion and develop
ment is so strong that the danger is
scoffed at or ignored. Among scientific
men and thoughtful observers. however,
the danger has always been present;
but IL needed some one to bring home
the crying need for "a remedy or TINS
evil. so as 10 impress itself on the
public mind and lead TO the formation
~ public opinion and action by the
representatives Of the people. Theodore
Roosevelt took up this task in the last
two years of his second administration,
and wen did he perform it
Rejoices in Heritage.
.As President of the United States
have, as II were, inherited this policy,
and rejoice in my heritage. l prize my
high opportunity TO do all that an execu-
tive can do to help great people realize
a great national ambition. For conserva-
ton is national. 1t affects every man of
US, every woman. every child. What /
dn N
President of a party, but as President of
the whole people. Conservation is not
question OF politics. or OF factions, or OF
persons. IL is question that affects the
vital welfare of all of us-of our cht{Afen
and our children's children. j urge>that
good can come from meetings of this
sort unless we ascribe to those Who take
part In them and who are apparently
striving worthily in the cause all proper
motives. and unless we judicially con-
slider every measure or method proposed
with view to its effectiveness in achiev-
ing our common purpose. and wholly
without regard TO who proposes IL or who
will claim the credit for its adoption.
The problems are of very great difficulty
and call for the calmest consideration and
clearest foresight Many of the questions
presented have phases that are new in
this country. and il is possible that in
their solution we may have 10 attempt
first one way and then another. What i
wish TO emphasize. however. is that
ed promptly If we avoid acrimony, i'm
putations Of bad faith and political con-
troversy.
THE public domain OF the government
Of the United States. including all the
cessions from those of the thirteen states
that made cessions to the United States
and including Alaska. amounted in all
TO about 1,S0o, 100000 acres. OF this there
Is left as purely government property out
side of Alaska something like 100000
OF acres or this the national forest re-
serves in the United States proper en-
brace 144.oO0.OO acres. The rest Is large
ly mountain or arid country. offering
some opportunity for agriculture by dry
ing metals as well as coal, phosphates,
oils and natural gas Then the govern
ment owns many tracts OF land lying
along the margins of streams that have
water power, the use Of which Is neceS-
sary in the conversion of the power into
electricity and its transmission.
81 shall divide my discussion under the
heads of ID agricultural lands: 90 min
eral lands-that Is. lands containing met
alliferous minerals: 81 forest lands: 90
coal lands: 90 oil andsgas lands, and 90
phosphate lands
II feel that il will conduce TO a better
understanding OF the problems presented
NJ take up each class and describe. even
been done b. the last administration and
the present one in respect TO each kind
OF land second. what laws at present
govern its disposition; third, what was
done by the present Congress in this mat
ter and fourth. the statutory changes
proposed in the interest OF conservation.