th e c o n d itio n s o f la b o r o f c h ild re n in th e
d iffe r e n t states. Such in v e s tig a tio n an d p u b ­
lic a tio n by th e N a tio n a l G o v e rn m e n t w o u ld
ten d to w a r d th e se c u rin g o f a p p r o x im a te ly
u n ifo rm le g is la tio n o f th e p ro p e r c h a r a c te r
a m o n g th e s e v e r a l states.
W h e n w e co m e to d e a l w ith g r e a t co rp o -
ra tion s, th e n eed fo r th e G o v e rn m e n t to a c t
d ir e c t ly is fa r g r e a t e r th an In th e case o f
lab or, because g r e a t c o rp o ra tio n s can b ecom e
such o n ly by e n g a g in g In in te r s ta te co m -
m erce, an d in te r s ta te
C o rp o ra tio n s .
c o m m e rc e Is p e c u lia r ­
ly
th e fie ld o f th e
G e n e ra l G o v e rn m e n t.
I t is an a b s u rd ity to
e x p e c t to e lim in a te th e abuses in g r e a t c o r ­
p o ra tio n s b y s ta te a ctio n .
I t Is d iffic u lt to
b e p a tie n t w ith an a rg u m e n t th a t such m a t ­
te rs sh ou ld be le ft to th e states, because
m o re th an on e s ta te pursues th e p o lic y o f
c r e a tin g on easy term s c o rp o ra tio n s w h ic h
a re n e v e r o p e ra te d w ith in th a t s ta te a t a ll,
but In o th e r sta te s w h o se la w s th e y Ign ore.
T h e N a tio n a l G o v e rn m e n t a lo n e can d e a l a d ­
e q u a te ly w ith th ese g r e a t c o rp o ra tio n s.
To
tr y to d e a l w ith th e m In an In te m p e ra te ,
d e s tru c tiv e , o r d e m a g o g ic sp irit w ou ld , In a ll
p ro b a b ility , m ean
th a t
n o th in g w h a te v e r
w o u ld be a c co m p lish ed , and, w ith ab so lu te
c e r ta in ty , th a t I f a n y th in g w e re a c c o m p lis h e d
It w ou ld be o f a h a rm fu l n atu re. T h e A m e r ­
The following ¡8 the text of the inea- ica n p eo p le n eed to c o n tin u e to sh ow th e
eage of President Ro sevelt to the 58th v e r y q u a litie s th a t th e y h a v e sh o w n — th a t
Is. m o d e ra tio n , g o o d sense, th e e a rn e s t d e ­
congress:
s ire to a v o id d o in g a n y d a m a g e , an d y e t th e
T o the Senate and H ouse o f R ep resen ta tive*:
q u ie t d e te r m in a tio n to p roceed , step by step,
T h e N a tio n continues to en joy n otew orth y w ith o u t h a lt an d w ith o u t h u rry, In e lim in a t ­
prosperity.
Such p rosperity Is, o f course, p ri­ in g o r a t le a s t in m in im iz in g w h a t e v e r o f
m a rily due to the high In dividu al a v e ra g e o f m is c h ie f o r o f e v il th e re is to In te rs ta te c o m ­
our citizenship, taken togeth er w ith our great m e rc e In th e c o n d u ct o f g r e a t c o rp o ra tio n s.
natu ral resources; but an Im portant fa c to r T h e y a re a c tin g in no s p irit o f h o s tility to
therein Is the w ork in g o f our long-continued w e a lth , e ith e r in d iv id u a l o r c o rp o ra te . T h e y
govern m en tal policies.
T h e people h ave em ­ a r e not a g a in s t th e ric h m an a n y m o re than
p h a tica lly expressed their app roval o f the prin ­ a g a in s t th e p o o r m a q .
On th e c o n tra ry ,
ciples underlyin g these policies, and th eir th e y a re fr ie n d ly a lik e to w a r d ric h m a n and
desire thut these princlr* s be kept substan­ to w a rd p o o r m an. p r o v id e d o n ly th a t each
tia lly unchanged, although, o f course, applied a cts in a s p irit o f ju s tic e an d d e c e n c y to w a rd
In a p rogressive « p ir it to m eet ch an gin g con­ h is fe llo w s .
G re a t c o rp o ra tio n s a re n e c e s ­
ditions.
sary, an d o n ly m en o f g r e a t an d sin g u la r
T h e en largem en t o f scope o f the functions m e n ta l p o w e r can m a n a g e such c o rp o ra tio n s
o f the N a tio n a l G overn m en t required by our su ccessfu lly, and such m en m u st h a v e g re a t
d evelopm en t as a nation in v o k e s , o f course, rew a rd s.
P u t th ese c o rp o ra tio n s sh ou ld be
Increase o f expense; and the period o f pros­ m a n a g e d w ith due re g a r d to th e In te re s t o f
p erity through which the country is passing th e pu b lic as a w h o le.
W h e r e th is can be
Justifies expen ditu res fo r perm anent im p rove­ d on e u n der th e p resen t la w s It m u st tye done.
m ents fa r g re a te r than W h e r e th ese la w s co m e sh ort, o th e rs should
C a u tio n A fta in a t
' vou,ld , , b e
w l“ f ,..ln be e n a cted to su p p lem en t them .
hard
tim e*.
B attle-
Y e t w e m u st n e v e r fo r g e t th e d e te r m in in g
F x tra v a g a n e e .
„h i,*, and fo r ts, public
fa c t o r In e v e r y k in d o f w o rk , o f h ead o r
buildings and im proved
hand, m u st be th e m a n 's o w n g o o d sense,
w n te rw a y a are in vestm ents which should be
c o u ra g e an d k in d lin ess. M o re Im p o rta n t than
m ade when w e h ave the m on ey; but abundant
uny le g is la tio n is th e g r a d u a l g r o w th o f a
revenues and a la rg e surplus a lw a y s in vite
fe e lin g o f
re s p o n s ib ility a n d fo r b e a ra n c e
extra va ga n ce, and constant care should be
a m o n g c a p ita lis ts an d w a g e w o r k e r s a lik e ; a
taken to guard againi*t unnecessary increase o f
the ordin ary expenses o f governm ent. T h e cost fe e lin g o f re s p e c t on th e p a r t o f each m an
o f doing G overn m en t business should b** ju gu ­ fo r th e r ig h ts o f o th e rs ; a fe e lin g o f broad
lated w ith the same rig id scrutiny as the cost co m m u n ity o* In terest, n o t m e r e ly o f c a p it a l­
is ts a m o n g th e m selves, a n d o f w a g e w o r k e r s
o f doing a p riva te business.
In the vast and com plicated m echanism o f a m o n g th e m s e lv e s , but o f c a p ita lis ts an d
our modern c lv llb .'d life, the dom inant note w a g e w o r k e r s in th e ir re la tio n s to each o th er,
Is the note o f In du strialism ; and the relations an d o l b oth in th e ir r e la tio n s to t h e ir f e l ­
o f cap ita l and labor, low s, w h o w ith th em m a k e up th e b o d y p o l­
T h e r e a re m a n y c a p ta in s o f In d u stry,
C a p ita l a n d L a b o r . and esp ecially o f or­ itic .
g a n ized ca p ita l and o r­ m a n y la b o r lead ers, w h o r e a liz e this.
T
h
e
bu3in®ss o f In su ran ce v i t a lly a ffe c ts
gan ized labor, to each oth er and to the public
a t large come second in im portance on ly to th e g r e a t m ass o f th e p e o p le o f th e U n ite d
the Intim ate questions o f fa m ily life .
Our S ta te s an d is N a tio n a l an d n o t lo c a l In Its
a p p lic a tio n . I t In v o lv e s
p ecu liar form o f govern m en t, w ith Its nharp '
in s u ra n c e .
a m u ltitu d e o f tra n s ­
division o f au thority betw een th e N a tio n and .
a c tio n s
am ong
th e
the several states, has been on the w hole |
fa r more ad van tageou s to our d evelopm en t ^ p e o p le o f th e d iffe r e n t sta te s a n d b e tw e e n
th a n a m o re s tr o n g ly c e n tr a liz e d g o v e r n ­ A m e ric a n co m p a n ie s and fo r e ig n g o v e r n ­
m en t.
H u t It is u n d o u b ted ly respcylslble f o r * m ents. I u rg e th a t th e C on gress c a r e fu lly
m uch o f th e d iffic u lt y o f m e e tin g w ith a d e ­ co n s id e r w h e th e r th e p o w e r o f th e B u reau
q u a te le g is la tio n th e n ew p ro b lem s p resen ted o f Co’rp o ra tlo n s ca n n ot c o n s titu tio n a lly be
b y th e to ta l c h a n g e In In d u s tria l c o n d itio n s e x te n d e d to c o v e r In te r s ta te tr a n s a c tio n s In
on th is c o n tin e n t d u rin g th e la st h a lf c e n ­ Insurance.
tu ry.
In a c tu a l p ra c tic e It h as p r o v e d e x ­
T h e D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e h as g ro w n
c e e d in g ly d iffic u lt , an d in m an y cases im ­ In to an e d u c a tio n a l in s titu tio n w ith a fa c ­
possible, to g e t u n a n im ity o f w is e a c tio n u lty o f 2000 s p e c ia lis ts m a k in g resea rch In to
a m o n g th e v a rio u s sta te s on th ese su bjects. a ll th e scien ces o f p rod u ction . T h e C on gress
F ro m th e v e r y n a tu re o f th e case, th is is a p p ro p ria te s , d ir e c tly an d in d ir e c tly , $<1,000,-
e s p e c ia lly tru e o f th e la w s a ffe c t in g th e ,
000 a n n u a lly to ca rry
e m p lo y m e n t o f c a p ita l In h u ge m asses.
A g r ic u ltu r e .
on
th is
w o rk .
It
W it h re g a rd to la b o r, th e p ro b le m Is no
rea ch es
every
stfite
less Im p o rta n t, b a t It is sim p le r.
A s lon g an d t e r r it o r y In th e U n ion a n d th e Islands
ns th e s ta te s re ta in th e p r im a r y c o n tro l o f o f th e sea la te ly c o m e .u n d e r ou r fla g . C o ­
th e p o lic e p o w er, th e c irc u m s ta n c e s m u st be o p e ra tio n Is h ad w ith th e s ta te e x p e rim e n t
a lt o g e t h e r e x tr e m e w h ic h re q u ire In t e r fe r ­ s ta tio n s, a n d w ith m a n y o th e r In s titu tio n s
en ce by th e F e d e r a l a u th o ritie s , w h e th e r In ad d In d ivid u a ls.
T h e w o r ld is c a r e fu lly
th e w a y o f s a fe g u a r d in g th e r ig h ts o f la b o r sea rch ed f o r n ew v a r ie t ie s o f g ra in s , fru its ,
o r In th e w a y o f s e e in g th a t w r o n g Is not grasses, v e g e ta b le s , tre e s and shrubs, su it­
d o n e b y u n ru ly p erson s w h o s h ie ld th e m ­ a b le to v a rio u s lo c a litie s in our c o u n try ;
s e lv e s b eh in d th e n a m e o f lab or.
I f th ere an d m a r k e d ben efit to ou r p ro d u cers has r e ­
Is re sista n ce to th e F e d e r a l cou rts. In t e r fe r ­ sulted.
en ce w ith th e m a ils, o r In te r s ta te c o m m erce,
T h e a c t iv it ie s o f o u r a g e tn lin es o f r e ­
o r m o le s ta tio n o f F e d e r a l p ro p e rty , o r If
search h a v e re a c h e d th e t ille r s o f th e soil
th e s ta te a u th o ritie s In so m e c ris is w h ich an d In sp ired th e m w ith a m b itio n to k n o w
th e y a r e u n ab le to fa c e c a ll fo r h elp , then m o re o f th e p rin c ip le s th a t g o v e r n th e fo rc e s
th e F e d e r a l G o v e rn m e n t m a y I n t e r fe r e ; but
o f N a tu re w ith w h ic h th e y h a v e to deal.
th o u g h such in t e r fe r e n c e m a y be caused
N e a r ly h a lf o f th e p eo p le o f th is c o u n try
by a c o n d itio n o f th in g s a ris in g ou t o f t r o u ­
d e v o te th e ir e n e rg ie s to g r o w in g th in g s fr o m
b le co n n ected w ith som e q u estio n o f lab or, th e soil. U n til a recen t d a te lit t le has been
th e In te r fe r e n c e I t s e lf s im p ly ta k e s th e fo rm
d o n e to p r e p a re th ese m illio n s f o r t h e ir life
o f re s to r in g o r d e r w ith o u t r e g a r d to th e
w ork .
In m o st lin es o f hu m an a c t iv it y c o l­
qu estio n s w h ich h a v e cau sed th e b re a c h o f
le g e -tr a in e d m en a re th e lead ers.
The
o r r d e r — fo r to k eep o r d e r Is a p r im a r y d u ty
fa r m e r had no o p p o rtu n ity f o r s p ecia l t r a in ­
and In a tim e o f d is o r d e r and v io le n c e a ll in g u n til th e C o n gees m a d e p ro v is io n fo r it
o th e r qu estio n s sink In to a b e y a n c e u n iil 40 y e a rs a g o .
D u rin g th ese y e a rs p ro g re s s
o r d e r h as b een resto red .
has been m a d e and te a c h e rs h a v e been p r e ­
M u ch can be d o n e b y th e G o v e rn m e n t In p ared . O v e r 5000 stu d en ts a re in a tte n d a n c e
la b o r m a tte rs m e re ly by g iv in g p u b lic ity to a t our S ta te A g r ic u ltu r a l c o lle g e s . T h e F e d ­
c e rta in con d itio n s. T h e B u rea u o f I*a b o r has e r a l G o v e rn m e n t ex p en d s flO.OQp.OOO an n u ­
d on e e x c e lle n t w o rk o f th is k in d in m a n y a lly to w a r d th is ed u c a tio n and fo r resea rch
d iffe r e n t d ire c tio n s .
I sh a ll s h o r tly
la y In W a s h in g to n and In th e s e v e ra l sta te s and
b e fo re you In a spe- te rrito rie s .
T h e D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e
R u rea u o f Ijt b o r .
c ia l m e s s a g e th e fu ll h as g iv e n fa c ilit ie s fo r p o s t-g r a d u a te w o rk
r e p o r t o f th e In v e s ti­ to 600 yo u n g m en d u r in g th e la s t seven
g a tio n o f th e B u rea u o f I«a b o r In to th e C o lo ­ yea rs, p r e p a r in g th e m fo r a d v a n c e d lin es
ra d o m in in g s t r ik e , . as th is Is a s t r ik e In o f w o rk In th e d e p a rtm e n t an d In th e s ta te
w h ich c e rta in v e r y e v il forces, w h ic h a re in stitu tio n s.
m o re o r less a t w o rk e v e r y w h e r e u n d er th e
T h e fa c t s c o n c e rn in g m e te o r o lo g y an d Its
co n d itio n s o f m o d e rn in d u s tria lis m , b eca m e r e la tio n s to p la n t an d a n im a l lif e a re b e ­
s t a r t lin g ly p ro m in en t.
I t Is g r e a t ly to be in g s y s te m a tic a lly In q u ire d Into. T e m p e r a ­
w ish ed th a t th e D e p a rtm e n t o f C o m m e rc e tu re an d m o is tu re a re c o n tr o llin g fa c to r s In
an d L a b o r. th ro u g h th e L a b o r B u reau , should a ll a g r ic u ltu r a l o p era tio n s.
T h e seasons o f
c o m p ile and a rr a n g e f o r th e C o n gress a list th e c y c lo n e « o f th e C a rib b ea n Sea and th e ir
o f th e la b o r la w s o f th e v a rio u s states, and
p a th s a re b ein g fo r e c a s te d w ith In c re a s in g
sh ou ld be g iv e n th e m ea n s to In v e s tig a te and a ccu ra cy .
T h e cold w in d s th a t co m e fro m
re p o rt to th e C on gress upon th e la b o r c o n d i­ th e n o rth a re a n tic ip a te d a n d t h e ir tim es
tio n s In th e m a n u fa c tu r in g .»nd m in in g r e ­ and In ten sity
to ld to fa rm e rs , g a rd e n e rs
g io n s th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try, b o th as to an d fr u ite r e r s In a ll so u th ern lo ca lities.
w a g e s , as to hou rs o f la b o r, as to th e lab or
W e sell $260,000,000 w o rth o f a n im a ls and
o f w o m e n and ch ild re n , a n d as to th e e ffe c t
In th e v a rio u s la b o r c e n te rs o f Im m ig r a tio n a n im a l p ro d u cts to fo r e ig n co u n trie s e v e ry
fr o m abroad.
In th is In v e s tig a tio n esp ecia l y ea r. In a d d itio n to s u p p ly in g ou r o w n p e o ­
a tte n tio n should be p aid to th e c o n d itio n s o f p le m o re c h e a p ly and a b u n d a n tly th a n an y
c h ild la b o r and c h ild -la b o r le g is la tio n In th e o th e r n a tio n Is a b le to p r o v id e fo r Its p e o ­
S u ccessfu l m a n u fa c tu r in g d ep en d s p r i­
s e v e r a l states.
Such an In v e s tig a tio n m ust p le
n e c e s s a rily ta k e in to a c c o u n t m a n y o f th e m a r ily on ch ea p food , w h ic h a cco u n ts to a
c o n s id e ra b le e x te n t f o r ou r g r o w th in th is
p ro b le m s w ith w h ic h th is q u estio n o f c h ild
T h e D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e ,
Is b o r Is co n n ected .
T h e s e p ro b le m s can be d ire c tio n .
a c tu a lly m et. In m ost cases, o n ly by th e by c a r e fu l in sp ectio n o f m eats, g u a rd s th e
s ta te r th e m s e lv e s ; b u t th e la c k o f p rop er h e a lth o f o u r p eo p le an d g iv e s c le a n b ills
le g is la tio n In on e s ta te In such a m a tte r as o f h e a lth t o d e s e r v in g e x p o rts ; It Is p rep a red
c h ild la b o r o fte n ren d ers It e x c e s s iv e ly d i f f i ­ to d e a l p r o m p tly w ith Im p o rte d diseases o f
cu lt to esta b lish p r o te c tiv e re s tr ic tio n upon a n im a ls, an d m a in ta in th e e x c e lle n c e o f our
T h e re
th e w o rk In a n o th e r s ta te h a v in g th e sam e flock s and h erds In th is resp ect.
In d u stries, so th a t th e w o rst ten d s to d r a g sh ou ld be an a n n u al census o f th e liv e s to c k
o f th e N a tio n .
d o w n th e b e tte r.
F o r th is reason. It w ou ld
be w e ll fo r th e N a tio n a t le a s t to e n d e a v o r
W e s ell a b ro a d ab ou t $000.000,000 w o r th o f
to secu re c o m p re h e n s iv e in fo r m a tio n as to p la n ts an d th e ir p ro d u cts e v e r y y ea r. S tren -
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Text of Paper Delivered to
58th Congress.
CAUTIONS AGAINST EXTRAVAGANCE
Irrigation, Forests, Public Lands, Alaska
and Our Island Possessions Re­
ceive Due Consideration.
uous e ffo r ts a re b e in g m a d e to Im p o rt fr o m
fo r e ig n co u n trie s sucli g a in s as a re su itab le
to ou r v a r y in g lo c a litie s .
S even y e a rs a g o
w e b ou gh t th r e e -fo u r th s o f ou r r ic e ; b y h e lp ­
in g th e r ic e g ro w e rs on th e G u lf co a s t to se ­
cu re seeds fr o m th e O rie n t su ited to th e ir
| co n d ition s, and by g iv in g th e m a d e q u a te
1 p ro te c tio n , th e y n ow su pply h om e dem an d
an d e x p o r t to th e Islan ds o f th e C arib b ean
S ea an d to o th e r r ic e - g r o w in g cou n tries.
, W h e a t an d o th e r g ra in s h a v e been im p o r t­
i ed fr o m lig h t - r a in fa ll co u n trie s to ou r lands
in th e W e s t an d S o u th w est th a t h a v e not
| g ro w n crop s becau se o f lig h t p re c ip ita tio n ,
! re s u ltin g In an e x te n s iv e a d d itio n to our
c ro p p in g a re a an d ou r h o m e -m a k in g t e r r i­
to r y th a t can n ot be lr lg a te d .
T e n m illio n
bushels o f first-cla ss m a c a ro n i w h e a t w ere
g ro w n fr o m th ese e x p e rim e n ta l Im p o rta tio n s
last y ea r. F r u its su ita b le to ou r so ils and
c lim a te s a re b e in g im p o rte d fr o m a ll the
co u n trie s o f th e O ld W o r ld — th e fig fro m
T u r k e y , th e a lm o n d fr o m Spain, th e d a te
fr o m A lg e r ia , th e m a n g o fr o m In d ia . W e
a re h e lp in g ou r fr u it g r o w e r s to g e t th e ir
crop s In to E u rop ean m a rk e ts by s tu d y in g
m e th o d s o f p re s e rv a tio n th ro u g h r e fr ig e r a -
tlon . p a c k in g an d h a n d lin g , w h ich h a v e been
q u ite su ccessfu l.
W e a re h e lp in g ou r hop-
g r o w e r s b y im p o rta n t v a r ie tie s th a t ripen
e a r lie r and la te r th an th e k in d s th e y h a ve
been ra isin g, th e re b y le n g th e n in g th e h a r ­
v e s tin g season.
T h e c o tto n crop o f th e
c o u n try is th re a te n e d w ith r o o t rot, th e b o ll-
w o rm , an d th e b o ll w e e v il
O ur p a th o lo g is ts
w ill find Im m u n e v a r ie tie s th a t w ill resist
th e r o o t disease, an d th e b o llw o r m can he
d e a lt w ith , but th e b o ll w e e v il Is a serious
m e n a c e to th e co tto n crop.
I t Is a C en tra l
A m e r ic a n In sect th a t has b eco m e a c c lim a te d
In T e x á s an d has d o n e . g r e a t d a m a ge. A
s c ie n tis t o f th e D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e
has fou n d th e w e e v il a t h om e in G u a tem a la
b ein g k ep t In ch eck b y an an t, w h ic h has
been b ro u g h t to ou r c o tto n flejd s fo r o b ­
s e rv a tio n .
I t Is h op ed th a t it m a y s e rv e a
g o o d purpose.
T h e soil's o f th e c o u n try a re g e t t in g a t t e n ­
tio n fro m th e fa r m e r ’ s sta n d p oin t, and In ­
te r e s tin g resu lts a re fo llo w in g .
W e h ave
d u p lic a te s o f th e s o ils th a t g r o w th e w r a p ­
p e r to b a c c o In S u m a tra a n d th e fille r to-
b a cco In Cuba. I t w ill be o n ly a qu e stio n o f
tim e w h e n th e la r g e am ou n ts p a id to these
c o u n trie s w ill be p aid to our ow n people. T h e
r e c la m a tio n o f a lk a li la n d s is p ro gressin g,
to g iv e o b je c t-le s s o n s to ou r p eop le in m e th ­
ods by w h ic h w o rth le s s la n d s m a y bo m ad e
p ro d u c tiv e .
T h e in sect fr ie n d s an d en m les o f th e f a r m ­
e r a re g e t t in g a tte n tio n . T h e en em y o f the
San Jose scale w a s fou n d n ea r th e G reat
W a ll o f C h in a, an d is n ow c le a p in g up a ll
ou r orch a rd s.
T h e f ig - fe r t iliz in g in sect Im ­
p o rte d fr o m T u r k e y has help ed to establish
an In d u s try In C a lifo r n ia th a t am o u n ts to
fr o m 50 to 100 ton s o f d rie d fig s an n u a lly,
an d Is e x te n d in g o v e r th e P a c ific Coast. A
p a r a s itic fly fr o m South A f r ic a Is k eep in g
in s u b je c tio n th e b la c k scale, th e w o rs t pest
o f th e o ra n g e a n d lem o n In d u stry In C a li­
fo rn ia .
C a re fu l p r e lim in a r y w o r k is b e in g done
to w a rd s p ro d u c in g ou r o w n silk. T h e m u l­
b e rry Is b ein g d is trib u te d in la r g e num bers,
e g g s a re b e in g Im p o rte d an d d is trib u te ^ . Im ­
p ro v e d reels w e re im p o rte d fr o m E u rope
la s t y ea r, an d tw o
e x p e rt
r e e le rs w ere
b ro u g h t to W a s h in g to n to r e e l th e crop o f
cocoon s an d te a c h th e a r t to ou r o w n p e o ­
ple.
T h e c ro -re p o rx ln g s ystem o f th e D e p a r t ­
m en t o f A g r ic u ltu r e Is b e in g b ro u g h t clo ser
to a c c u ra c y e v e r y y e a r.
I t has 250.000 r e ­
p o rte rs se le c te d fr o m p e o p le In e ig h t v o c a ­
tio n s in life .
I t h as a rra n g e m e n ts w ith
m ost E u rop ea n co u n trie s fo r In te rc h a n g e
o f estim a te s , so th a t ou r p eo p le m a y k n ow
as n e a r ly as p ossib le w it h w h a t th e y m ust
c o m p e te
D u rin g th e 2 % y e a rs th a t h a v e elapsed
sin ce th e p assage o f th e r e c la m a tio n act
ra p id p ro g re s s has been m a d e in th e su r­
v e y s an d e x a m in a tio n s o f th e op p o rtu n ities
f o r r e c la m a tio n In th e 13 s ta tes an d th ree
te r r ito r ie s o f th e a rid W e s t.
C on stru ction
h as a lr e a d y b een be-
I r r ig a t io n .
gu n on th e la r g e s t and
m ost Im p o rta n t o f the
Ir r ig a tio n w ork s, and p la n s a re b e in g c o m ­
p le te d fo r w o rk s w h ic h w ill u tiliz e th e funds
n o w a v a ila b le .
T h e o p e ra tio n s a re b ein g
c a rrie d on by th e R e c la m a tio n S e rvice, a
co rp s o f e n g in e e rs selected th ro u g h c o m p e ti­
tiv e c iv il- s e r v ic e ex a m in a tio n s .
T h is corps
In clu d es e x p e rie n c e d c o n s u ltin g
a n d co n ­
s tr u c tin g e n g in e e rs as w e ll as v a rio u s e x ­
p e rts In m e c h a n ic a l an d le g a l m a tte rs , and
Is com p osed la r g e ly o f m en w h o h a ve spent
m ost o f th e ir liv e s In p r a c tic a l a ffa ir s con-
le c te d w ith ir r ig a tio n .
T h e la r g e r p ro b lem s
h a v e been s o lved , an d it now' rem a in s to
e x e c u te w ith ca re, econ om y, and th o ro u g h ­
ness th e w o r k w h ic h has been la id out. A ll
Im p o rta n t d e ta ils a re b e in g c a r e fu lly c o n ­
s id e re d b y b o a rd s o f c o n s u ltin g en gin eers,
se le c te d f o r th e ir th o ro u g h k n o w le d g e and
p r a c tic a l e x p erien ce.
E n ch p r o je c t Is taken
up on th e gro u n d by c o m p e te n t m en
and
v ie w e d fr o m th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e crea tio n
o f p ro sp erou s h om es, an d o f p r o m p tly refu n d -
in g to th e T re a s u ry th e cost o f con stru ction .
T h e r e c la m a tio n a c t has been fou n d to be
r e m a r k a b ly c o m p le te a n d e ffe c tiv e , and flo
b ro a d In Its p ro visio n s th a t a w id e ra n g e o f
u n d e rta k in g s has been p ossib le u n der It. A t
th e sam e tim e, e c o n o m y Is g u a ra n te e d by
th e fa c t th a t fu n d s m u st u ltim a te ly be r e ­
tu rn ed to be used o v e r a ga in .
I t Is th e c a rd in a l p rin c ip le o f th e fo r e s t-
re s e rv e p o lic y o f th is A d m in is tr a tio n th at
th e re s e rv e s a r e fo r
F o re s ts .
use.
W h a t e v e r In te r ­
fe r e s w ith th e use o f
th e ir resou rces Is to be a v o id e d b y e v e r y
p ossib le m eans.
B u t th ese resou rces m ust
be used In such a w a y as to m a k e th em
p erm a n en t.
T h e fo r e s t p o lic y o f th e G o v e rn m e n t Is
Just n o w a su b je c t o f v iv id pu b lic In terest
th ro u g h o u t the W e s t
an d to th e p e o p le o f
th e U n ited S ta tes In g e n e ra l. T h e fo r e s t r e ­
s e rves th e m s e lv e s a re o f e x tre m e v a lu e to
th e p resen t as w e ll as to th e fu tu re w e lfa r e
o f a ll th e W e s te rn p u b lic -la n d states. T h e y
p o w e r fu lly a ffe c t th e use and d isp osa l o f
th e pu b lic lands. T h e y a re o f specia l Im ­
p o rta n c e because th e y p re s e rv e th e w a te r
su p p ly and th e supply o f tim b e r f o r dom estic
purposes and so p ro m o te s e ttle m e n t under
th e r e c la m a tio n act.
In d eed , th ey a re es­
s e n tia l to th e w e lfa r e o f e v e r y on e o f the
g r e a t In te re s t o f th e W e s t.
F o re s t re s e rv e s a re c re a te d fo r tw o p rln -
clP »1 purposes.
T h e first Is to p re s e rv e th e
w a te r supply.
T h is Is th e ir m ost Im p o rta n t
use.
T h e p rin c ip a l users o f th e w a te r thus
p re s e rv e d a re Ir r ig a tio n ra n ch ers an d s e t­
tlers, c itie s an d to w n s to w h o m th e ir m u ­
n ic ip a l w a te r su pplies a re o f th e v e r y first
Im p orta n ce, users an d fu rn is h e rs o f w a te r
p ow er, and th e users o f w a te r fo r d o m estic,
m a n u fa c tu rin g , m in in g , an d o th e r purposes.
A ll th ese a re d ir e c tly d e p e n d e n t upon th e
fo r e s t reserves.
T h e second reason f o r ‘ w h ic h fo r e s t r e ­
serves a re c re a te d Is to p re s e rv e th e tim b e r
su pply fo r v a rio u s classes o f w ood users.
A m o n g th e m o re Im p o rta n t o f th ese a re s e t­
tle rs under th e r e c la m a tio n a c t an d o th e r
acts, fo r w h o m a ch ea p an d a c c e s s ib le sup­
p ly o f tim b e r fo r d o m e s tic uses Is a b s o lu te ly
n ec e s s a ry ; m in ers an d p ro sp ecto rs, w h o a re
in serious d a n g e r o f lo s in g t h e ir tim b e r sup­
p ly by fire o r th ro u g h e x p o rt b y lu m b er c o m ­
panies w h en tim b e r la n d s a d ja c e n t to th e ir
m in es pass In to p r iv a te o w n e rs h ip ; lu m b e r­
m en, tra n s p o rta tio n com p an ies, b u ild ers, a n d
c o m m e rc ia l In te re s ts In g e n e ra l.
¡
A lth o u g h th e w isd o m o f c r e a tin g fo r e s t r e ­
serves is n e a rly e v e r y w h e r e h e a r t ily r e c o g ­
n ized , y e t In a fe w lo c a litie s th e re h a v e been
m is u n d e rs ta n d in g an d co m p la in t.
T h e fo l­
| lo w in g s ta te m e n t is t h e r e fo r e d e s ira b le :
1
T
h
e
fo
r
e
s
t-r
e
s
e
r
v
e
p
o
lic
y
can
be
su
ccessfu l
1
j o n ly w hen It has th e fu ll su pport o f th e p e o ­
ple o f th e W e s t. I t c a n n o t s a fe ly an d sh ou ld
j n ot in any case, be im posed upon th e m
a g a in s t th e ir w ill,
nut n e ith e r can w e a c ­
cep t th e v ie w s o f th ose w h oso o n ly in te r e s t
in th e fo r e s t Is te m p o r a r y ; w h o a r e a n x io u s
to reap w h a t th e y h a v e n ot sow n an d th en
m o v e a w a y , le a v in g d e s o la tio n b eh in d th em .
■ On th e c o n tra ry , It is e v e r y w h e r e an d a lw a y s
th e In terest o f th e p e rm a n e n t s e ttle r an d
the p erm a n en t business m an. th e m an w ith a
s ta k e In th e c o u n try, w h ic h m u st be c o n ­
sid ered , an d w h ic h m ust d ecid e.
T h e m a k in g o f fo r e s t re s e rv e s w ith in r a i l ­
road and w a g o n -ro a d la n d -g ra n t lim its w ill
h e re a fte r, as fo r th e past th re e yea rs, be so
m a n a g e d as to p re v e n t th e issue, u n d er th e
a c t o f June 4, 1807, o f base fo r e x c h a n g e o r
lieu s e le c tio n (u s u a lly ca lle d s c r ip ).
In a ll
cases w h e re fo r e s t re s e rv e s w ith in a rea s
c o v e re d by land g r a n ts a p p ea r to be essen ­
tia l to th e p ro s p e rity o f settle rs , m in ers, o r
oth ers, th e G o v e rn m e n t la n d s w ith in such
p roposed fo re s t re s e rv e s w ill, as In th e re c e n t
past, be w ith d r a w n fr o m sale o r e n tr y p e n d ­
I in g th e co m p le tio n o f such n e g o tia tio n s w ith
; tlie o w n ers o f th e land g ra n ts a s w ill p r e v e n t
th e c re a tio n fef s o -c a lle d scrip.
i
I t w as fo r m e r ly th e cu stom to m a k e fo re s t
re s e rv e s w ith o u t first g e t t in g d e fin ite an d
d e ta ile d in fo rm a tio n as to th e c h a r a c te r o f
land and tim b e r w ith in th e ir bou n d aries. T ills
m eth o d o f a c tio n o fte n re s u lte d in b a d ly
chosen b ou n d aries an d co n seq u en t in ju s tic e
to s e ttle rs an d oth ers.
T h e r e fo r e th is A d ­
m in is tra tio n a d o p te d th e p resen t m e th o d o f
first w ith d r a w in g th e lan d fr o m d isp osa l,
fo llo w e d b y c a r e fu l e x a m in a tio n on
th e
grou n d and th e p re p a ra tio n o f d e ta ile d m ap s
and descrip tion s, b e fo re a n y fo r e s t re s e rv e
is created .
I h a v e r e p e a te d ly ca lle d a tte n tio n to th e
con fu sion w h ic h e x ists In G o v e rn m e n t fo r e s t
m a tte rs because th e w o rk Is s c a tte re d a m o n g
th re e In d ep en d en t o rg a n iz a tio n s . T h e U n ite d
S ta tes is th e o n ly one o f th e g r e a t n a tio n s
In w h ic h th e fo r e s t w o r k o f th e G o v e rn m e n t
Is n o t c o n c e n tra te d u n d er one d e p a rtm e n t,
in consonance w ith th e p la in e s t d ic ta te s o f
g o o d a d m in is tra tio n and c o m m o n sense. T h e
p resen t a r r a n g e m e n t Is bad fr o m e v e r y p o in t
o f v ie w .
M e r e ly to m e n tio n it Is to p r o v e
th a t It should be te rm in a te d a t once.
As I
h a ve re p e a te d ly reco m m en d ed , a ll th e fo r e s t
w o rk o f th e G o v e rn m e n t sh ou ld be c o n c e n ­
tra te d In th e D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u ltu r e ,
w h ere th e la r g e r p a rt o f th a t w o rk Is a lr e a d y
done, w h e re p r a c t ic a lly a ll o f th e tra in e d
fo re s te rs o f th e G o v e rn m e n t a re em p lo y e d ,
w h e re c h ie fly In W a s h in g to n th e re Is c o m ­
p re h en sive firs t-h a n d k n o w le d g e o f th e p ro b ­
lem s o f th e re s e rv e s a c q u ire d on th e grou n d ,
w h e re a ll p ro b le m s r e la t in g to g r o w th fr o m
th e soli a re a lr e a d y g a th e re d , an d w h e re a ll
th e scien ces a u x ilia r y to fo r e s tr y a re a t hand
fo r p ro m p t and e ffe c t iv e c o -o p e ra tio n . T h e s e
reasons a re d e c is iv e In th e m selves, but It
should be a d d ed t h a t th e g r e a t o rg a n iz a tio n s
o f c itize n s w h o se In te re s ts a re a ffe c te d b y th e
fo re s t reserves, such ns th e N a tio n a l L i v e ­
stock A s so cia tio n , th e N a tio n a l W o o lg ro w e rs *
A sso cia tio n , th e A m e r ic a n M in in g C on gress,
th e N a tio n a l I r r ig a t io n C on gress, an d th e
N a tio n a l B o a rd o f T ra d e , h a v e u n ifo rm ly ,
e m p h a tic a lly , and m o st o f th em re p e a te d ly ,
exp ressed th e m s e lv e s In fa v o r o f p la c in g
a ll G o v e rn m e n t fo r e s t w o rk in th e D e p a r t ­
m en t o f A g r ic u ltu r e becau se o f th e p e c u lia r
a d a p ta tio n o f th a t D e p a rtm e n t fo r it.
It
Is true, also, th a t th e fo r e s t s e rv ic e s o f
n e a rly a ll th e g r e a t n a tio n s o f th e w o rld a re
u n der th e r e s p e c tiv e d e p a rtm e n ts o f a g r ic u l­
tu re, w h ile In b u t tw o o f th e s m a lle r n a ­
tion s and In on e c o lo n y a re th e y u n d e r th e
d e p a rtm e n t o f th e in te rio r.
T h is is th e
resu lt o f lo n g an d v a r ie d e x p e rie n c e a n d It
a g re e s fu lly w ith th e re q u ire m e n ts o f g o o d
a d m in is tra tio n in ou r o w n case.
T h e c re a tio n o f a fo r e s t s e rv ic e in th e D e ­
p a rtm e n t o f A g r ic u lt u r e w ill h a v e fo r Its
Im p o rta n t re s u lts :
F ir s t — A b e tte r h a n d lin g o f a ll fo r e s t w o rk .
b ecau se it w ill be u n der a s in g le head, and
1 because th e v a s t an d in d isp en sa b le e x p e r i­
ence o f th e D e p a rtm e n t In a ll m a tte rs p e r ­
; ta in in g to th e fo r e s t reserves, to fo r e s tr y In
g e n e ra l, and to o th e r fo rm s o f p ro d u ctio n
fro m th e soil, w ill be e a s ily a n d ra p id ly a c ­
cessible.
S econ d — T h e
re s e rv e s th e m s e lv e s , b ein g
h an d led fro m th e p o in t o f v ie w o f th e m a n
In th e field. In stead o f th e m a n in th e o ffic e ,
w ill be m o re e a s ily an d m o re w id e ly u sefu l
to th e p eo p le o f th e W e s t th a n has been th e
case h ith e rto .
T h ir d — W ith in a c o m p a r a tiv e ly s h o rt tim e
th e re serves w ill b eco m e s e lf-s u p p o rtin g . T h is
Is im p o rta n t, b ecau se c o n tin u a lly an d ra p id ­
I ly in c re a s in g a p p ro p ria tio n s w ill be n eces­
I sa ry fo r th e p r o p e r c a re o f th is e x c e e d in g ly
Im p o rta n t In te re s t o f th e N a tio n , an d th e y
! can and sh ou ld be o ffs e t by retu rn s fr o m th e
N a tio n a l fo re s ts .
U n d e r s im ila r c ir c u m ­
' stan ces th e fo r e s t possessions o f o th e r g r e a t
j n a tio n s fo r m an Im p o rta n t sou rce o f reven u e
! to th e ir go v e rn m e n ts .
E v e r y a d m in is tr a tiv e o f f ic e r co n cern ed Is
‘ co n v in c e d o f th e n e cessity fo r th e proposed
co n s o lid a tio n o f fo r e s t w o rk in th e D e p a r t­
m en t o f A g r ic u ltu r e , and I m y s e lf h a v e u rg ed
It m o re th an on ce in fa r m e r m essages. A g a in
I co m m en d It Jo th e e a r ly and fa v o r a b le c o n ­
T h e in te re s ts o f
! s id e ra tio n o f th e C on gress.
th e N a tio n at la r g e an d o f th e W e s t In p a r ­
tic u la r h a v e s u ffe ie d g r e a t ly b e c a u s a ^ f th e
d ela y .
In co n n ectio n w ith th e w o r k o f th e fo r e s t
reserves I desire a gain to urge upon the
Congress the im portance o f a u th o rizin g the
j
Presid en t to set aeide
G a m e P re s e r v e s .
certain portions o f these
I
reserves or oth er pub­
lic lands as gam e refu ges fo r the p reserva ­
tion o f the bison, the w a p iti and other large
beasts once so sbundant In our woods and
m ountains and on our g re a t plains, and now