The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-09-10

Conservation congress left his hear
ers In no doubt as to his position. In
substance his address was as follows:
Congress.
Conservation as an economic and po-
Hucal term has come to mean the preser-
walton of our natural resources for
economical use. as TO secure the great
est good to the greatest number.
The danger TO the state and to the peo-
pie at large from the waste and dissipa-
zion of our national wealth is not ono
which quickly impresses itself on the peo-
pie OF the older communities. because its
most obvious instances do not occur in
their ne!ghborhood. while In the newer
part Of the country the sympathy with
expansion and development is so strong
that the danger is scofred at or ignored
Among scientific men and thoughtful OBJ
servers. howeve-. The danger has always
been present. but 1t needed some one to
bring home the crying need for remedy
of this evil to impress itself on tho
public mind and lead to the formation OF
public opinion and action by the repre-
oentatives OF the people. Theodore Roose-
welt took up this task In the last two
years OF his second administration. and
we'll did he perform 1t.
AS presden, of the United States
have. as 1t were. inherited this policy.
and rejoice In my heritage prize my
high opportunity to do all that ex
0cutive can do to help great people
realize great national ambition. For
conservation is national 1t affects every
man of US. every woman. every child
What ! can do in the cause ! shall do
not as president of a party. but as presi-
dent of the whole people. Conservation
is not question OF politics. or OF fac
lions. or Of persons. II Is a question that
affects the vital welfare of all OF us-of
our children and our children's children.
l urge that no good can come from meet
fngs OF this sort unless ascrIbe to
those who take part in them, and who
are apparently striving worthily in the
cause. all proper motives. and unless
1udicinlly consider every measure or
method proposed with view to Its eTec-
tveness In achieving our common pur-
pose, and wholly without regard to who
proposes 1t who VIII claim the credit
for its adoption. The problems OF
very great difficulty and call for the
calmest consideration and clearest fore
sight Many OF the questions presented
have phases that new in this coun-
try. and It is possible that in their solu-
tton We may have to attempt first
way and then another. What wish to
emphasize, however. is that a satisfac-
tory conclusion only be reached
promptly II We avoid acrimony. imputa-
ttons of bad faith. and political contro-
versy.
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 1855. .c1.ro acres. or this there Is
aeft as purely government property out
side of Alaska something like 100 coo ooo of
acres OF this the national forest re-
serves In the United States proper en-
brace IA. 600 Co acres
shall divide my discussion under the
heads OF QD agricultural lands (2) min
eraI lands-that is lands containing
metailiferous minerals. (3J forest lands:
90 coal lands: (5) oil and gas lands and
<6) phosphate lands.
Agricultural Lands.
Our land laws for the entry OF agricul-
fural lands now follows:
The original homestead law, with the
requirements of residence and cultivation
for five years. much more strictly en-
forced than before.
The enlarged homestead act applying
20 non'rrgable lands only. requiring FIVE
years residence and continuous cult!ya-
tion OF one-fourth OF the area.
The desert-land act. which requires on
che part OF the purchaser the ownership
OF water right and thorough reclama-
sion OF the land by irrigation. and the
payment OF 81 IS per acre
The donation or Carey act. under which
the state selects the land and provides
for It's reclama ton. and the title vests in
the settler who resides upon the land and
cultivates II and pays the cost OF the
reclamation.
The national reclamation homestead
law. requiring FIVE years residence and
cultivation by the settler on the land ir-
rtgated by the government, and payment
by him to the government of the cost OF
the reclamation.
The present congress passed a bill OF
great Importance, severing the ownership
of coal by the government in the ground
from the surface and permitting home
stead entries upon the surface of the
Hand which, when perfected, give the
sett!er the right to farm the surface.
while the coal beneath the surface is
tained In ownership by the government
and may be disposed OF by It under other
laws
There is no crying need for radical re-
form In the methods OF disposing OF what
are really agricultural lands. The pres
ent laws have worked we'll The en-
Iarged homestead law has encouraged the
successful farming OF lands in the semi
arid regions,
Reclamation.
By the reclamation act a fund has been
created OF the proceeds OF the public
lands OF the United States with which to
construct works for storing great bodies
of water at proper attitudes from which.
by a suitable system of canals and ditch
es. the water is to be distributed over the
aric and subarid lands Of the government
TO be sold to settlers at price sufficient
TO pay for the improvements Primarily,
the projects are and must be for the I'M
provement OF public lands. Incidentally.
where private land Is also within reach
of fhe water supply, the furnishing at
cest or profit OF this water to private
owners by the government IS held by the
federal court OF appeals not to be a
usurpation OF power. But certainly this
ought not to be done except from sur
plus water. not needed for government
Land The total sum already accumula-
ted In the reclamation fund Is o.23.-
md oF a all huf Is 4e1 qs5 "A has
been expended. 1t became very clear to
congress at its last session. from the
statements made by experts. that these
- projects could not be promptly COM
pleted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
- m. pe,r future II was found more