New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-29
The VINWASHiNCTON

! nor law for such a course. In the case OF
Valdez Arm and Orca Bay the land for q
mile hack from the shore was expressly
excluded from the forest reservation.
There is no provision of law authorizing
the leasing Of lands In a forest reserve for
| railway terminals or course, that might
prove no obstacle to an administration of
| tho forest service which withheld from set
tlement all lands II believed should not pass
to private ownership, on the plea that such
| lands were needed for ranger stations
and other administrative purposes when no
| such use was contempla ted. but such de-
vices. even in the public interest, arc con-
| trary to President Tafts conception or ex-
| ecutive authority and propriety. There are.
| however, many sincere economists who be-
| leve in the policy there implied. il can
| he argued with much show of reason that
| even in the case OF railway terminals 1t
would be far better for the people Of
Alaska, and incidentally for those OF the
rest Of the country, to place the land on a
perpetual leasehold. subject TO revalua-
ton. or readjustment Of the rentals every
| ten or twelve years. President Roosevelt
| pointed out quite conclusively that by ac-
curing control of waterfrontegs railways
had acquired virtual control OF water trans
portation In the United States. 1t was, Of
course. TO obviate such an eventuality in
Alaska that Congress enacted the law
whereby eighty rods Of frontage must be
retained by the government adjoining on
either side Of every 1e0 rods passed to pri-
vate ownership, and with the further pro-
vision that neither shore nor riparian
rights shall go with the land. President
Taft believes these provisions are abun-
dant to prevent monopoly OF the water
| frontage. as doubtless they are; but they
are not adequate TO conserve, for the people
| Of Alaska, for instance. such future value
as shall be created by the settlement Of
the territory and which would be so con-
served by law which substituted a leas-
ing system fer permanent patenting OF all
public lands As has been said II will he
Impossible TO induce President Taft to
make such law, or 30 TO strain existing
law as 10 cover course OF action not
contemplated by the lawmakng branch OF
the government. but there is nothing to
prevent all sincere conservatlonists from
seeking the enactment Of such n law.
MR.. TAFT OPTIMIST.-Wth that sin
sular and unfailng optimism which is one
OF MS chief characteristics. President Tai,
hoping. almost against hope, that thos,
"hom he regards as genuine advocates or
conservation despite the fact that tbo,,
nave long permitted their resentr,an,a
pfeJuolces to divert them from nror,o.,--
conservation policies. VIII. now thu, ho 10
proved that they have nothing ~ rsa nc las
10 controller Bay. forget Their 49,.
erieVances and devote their snera,,a,
10 assisting him to secure gennin. '"els'es
'"'ioh legislation. a determined Oo'iser-
gun now and carried on with ,,rr nol., ne
energy. would undoubtedly result In th,
enactment Of both coal land leasing and
Alaska commission legislation at the revt
> session And the enactment Of such lerjs
iatlon would not only make possible the
prompt and proper development of Alaska.
but 1t would remove the opportunities OF
those who solely to rerve their selfish ends
nave been able TO forestall all proper Iegis-
iat1on affecting the territory by cries Of
fraud. In word, the President believes
this is a most opportune time for all gin
cere conservationists to quit hghting and
go 10 work. G. G. n