78-13-A5
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1978
| << Previous Broadcast | Next Broadcast >> |
Land[edit]
Transcript[edit]Back when territories were first becoming states, the rule was that federal lands became the property of each new state to be disposed of as the state saw fit. Someplace along the line that policy just went the way of the buffalo. As the nation moved west and the younger states were admitted, Uncle Sam held on to the land. In the case of one of the latest, Alaska, the federal government holds about 96 percent. Federal lands range anywhere from 43 percent of California to 70 percent of Idaho and on up to 80 and 90 percent of the others. Uncle Sam is the biggest land lord in the country. Some dozen years ago, Washington pushed the panic button, claiming it was necessary to acquire land for outdoor recreation. We were told of the population explosion and how if we didn't provide for future recreational areas, our children would grow up in a paved over, totally urban America. Well, the population explosion fizzled, we have more schoolrooms than we need and you have to wonder about those mining claims in the mountains the government cancelled on top of all the other land grabs in the name of outdoor recreation. It was during that period that one of the Washington officials involved made a statement we should keep in mind. He said "In an earlier time the government encouraged private ownership of land in order to get it developed. Now it is necessary for the government to regain control of the land." When the recreation story ran out of steam, the environmental issue built up. We've had federal land planning bills presented and voted down in Congress, but our land-hungry bureaucracy never gives up. It is back with another bill, this time called the Land Diversity Bill. Up in Colorado, the Bureau of Reclamation intends to build a dam and reservoir for an irrigation project. It will harness the La Plata and Animas rivers. There is no quarrel with the project which will be of great benefit to agriculture. But the land that will be taken for a reservoir belongs to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and is used as winter range for anywhere from 50 to 200 elk, depending on who is talking. The Division of Wildlife insisted on an acre-for-acre replacement and has set its sights on a group of ranches. It has declared that if the ranchers won't sell voluntarily, their property will be taken by condemnation. The ranchers don't want to sell. One of the largest ranches has been in the same family for 78 years and is a haven for elk, wild turkey and other game because no hunting is allowed. In fact, the elk use the ranch as a migration route. There are ranches of good size for sale in the area, but the Division of Wildlife refuses to consider them. All seven or eight the Division has zeroed in on have been owned by the same families for 30 years or more. It would seem this is another example of the "arrogance of officialdom." This type of acquisition is going on in a dozen western states all in the name of a need for more wilderness areas. In such areas there are no roads or structures or vehicles or any kind allowed-- only a few backpackers will ever see them. Yes, there are natural beauty spots which should be so protected , but how many covering how much of our land? I hope the Colorado ranchers win this one. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
Details[edit]
| |||||||||||
Added Notes[edit] |
