44

If now we divide the number of flood days by the number of storms, the result will be the number of days per storm. Applying this to each of the series in the above table, the following result is reached: Days of flood per storm, 1884-1895 and 1896-1907.

The algebraic sum of the above percentages is 149 and the average is 28.75, which sums up the effect of deforestation on run-off from 1884 to 1907, inclusive.

It would not be difficult to bring a much larger volume of evidence to show the value of forests and the necessity for their preservation, but sufficient has been said by me to indicate the following:

1. That this bill practically covers the contentions which have been made by forestry experts for the past twenty years.

2. That it has not only been recommended by the President and government officials who have had connection with this work but by the Conservation Commission, the meeting of governors, and by a larger number of business associations and other organizations than any legislation which has come to Congress for many years.

3. That in instituting this policy we are simply following the example of older nations, whose experience has proven not only its desirability but its necessity.

4. That the criticisms which have been made against this policy arise from two sources, those who hesitate about insti- . tuting a project which must necessarily involve large amounts of money eventually, and those who have a superficial knowledge of the subject and have concluded that there is no connection between forestry and stream flow. There is no necessity to answer the first class of criticisms; that is a matter of opinion. The answer to the second, however, has been conclusively made by Professor Swain, Mr. Pinchot, Mr. Bailey Willis, and Professor Leighton.

5. The constitutionality of this project has been passed upon by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives; but I have shown that its value is not in any way limited to the constitutional provision which is admissible in this case, but extends to many other industries, and industries to be developed, so that its effect will be more widespread than any legislation which has recently been acted on by Congress.

6. This legislation has been repeatedly proposed in various forms during the past twenty-five years, and bills similar to this have passed the Senate twice by unanimous, or practically unanimous, votes.

7. It has been shown that it is a part of the conservation policy which is advocated and believed in by almost everyone who has given any thought or study to the subject. It will furnish a basis for a general governmental conservation policy. All political parties have advocated it. The way to commence conservation is to conserve something. The method of doing it is by adopting this act. The time to do it is now.

74965-8090

Walter Mulford

PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION.

[Senate Document No. 188, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session.]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SUBMITTING THE PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION APPOINTED OCTOBER 22, 1903, TO REPORT UPON THE CONDITION, OPERATION, AND EFFECT OF THE PRESENT LAND LAWS, AND TO RECOMMEND SUCH CHANGES AS ARE NEEDED.

[Senate Document No. 154, Fifty-eighth Congress, third session.]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SUBMITTING THE SECOND PARTIAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION, APPOINTED OCTOBER 22, 1903, TO REPORT UPON THE CONDITION, OPERATION, AND EFFECT OF THE PRESENT LAND LAWS.

THE PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION APPOINTED OCTOBER 22, 1903, TO REPORT UPON THE CONDITION, OPERATION, AND EFFECT OF THE PRESENT LAND LAWS, AND TO RECOMMEND SUCH CHANGES AS ARE NEEDED.

MARCH 7, 1904.-Read, referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I submit herewith the preliminary report of the Public Lands Commission appointed by me October 22, 1903, to report upon the condition, operation, and effect of the present land laws, and to recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practicable disposition of the public lands to actual settlers who will build permanent homes upon them, and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective use of the resources of the public lands. The subject is one of such great importance and great intricacy that it is impossible for the Commission to report in full thereon at this time. It is now ready, however, to suggest certain changes in the law as set forth in the accompanying report. I commend these suggestions to the favorable consideration of the Congress.

WHITE HOUSE, March 7, 1904.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

PARTIAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 7, 1904. SIR: This Commission, appointed October 22, 1903, to report to you upon the condition, operation, and eflect of the present land laws, and to recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practicable disposition of the public lands to actual settlers who will build

permanent homes upon them, and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective use of the resources of the public lands, respectfully submits the following partial report:

MEETINGS OF COMMISSION.

During the month of December, 1903, the Commission sat in the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office to receive recommendations and hear the arguments of all who might appear before it. Notice of these sittings was published through the press and special invitations to be present were extended to the public lands committees of the Congress. Senators and Representatives and others appeared before the Commission.

In January, 1904, Messrs. Pinchot and Newell, of the Commission, attended the meetings of the National Livestock Association and of the National Woolgrowers' Associatien in Portland, Oreg., and participated in the sessions of those associations. Returning, they also visited Sacramento, Cal.; Reno, Nev.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colo.; Cheyenne, Wyo., and conferred with governors, State land boards, public officials, and citizens generally, and discussed the questions under consideration by the Commission. Upon the return of Messrs. Pinchot and Newell to Washington the meetings of the Commission were resumed.

MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEM.

In approaching the question of attaining the largest practicable disposition of the public lands to actual settlers, and the equally important question of securing the most effective use of these lands, we appreciate that extremely difficult and far-reaching problems are involved. The public lands embrace in area very nearly one-third of the entire extent of the United States and are widely scattered, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific and from Canada to Mexico, including every variety of topography and climate. Excluding Alaska there are 23 States and 3 Territories containing public land. This includes approximately from 5 to 95 per cent of the area of these States.

Often in any one State the conditions are so diverse that the man who argues for certain points is usually found to base his argument upon conditions which exist in his locality. If not limited by geographical environment the view point is almost always that of a special Industry such as sheep or cattle raising, irrigation, etc., and the arguments are based upon a knowledge of conditions which affect that industry. It is this condition which has led to the presentation before the Commission of irreconcilable statements of exisiting conditions, and the divergence of opinion as to the remedies to be adopted. Certain able men insist that the public land laws are sufficient, and that however the lands are disposed of they will ultimately be put to the best use.

Others go to the other extreme and assert that nearly all of the public land laws should be repealed or modified, that they are incompatible with good administration, and that the lands now being disposed of are held in such a way that they will never furnish homes to people who might otherwise enjoy their use.