The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-07
Much Interest Attached to the
Bill for Electric Rights
of Way.
sURVEYoR-GENERAL APPROVES.
A Measure That Will Cause an Indus
trial Revolution IN Interior
Towns.

Electricians and progressive men in the
towns OF the San Joaquin and Sacramento
valleys are watching with considerable in
terest the bill recently introduced by Rep
reseRtatiye Bowers in Congress to amend
the act OF March. 1891, granting right of
way upon public lands for reservoirs and
canal purposes. The reason for this in
tense interest Is said to be that the amend
ment is a measure demanded by the de-
.velopment OF present conditions or, more
correctly, by the advancement of science
in the application of electricity to manu-
featuring and agricultural enterprises.
Congressman Bowers amendment has
been iavorably reported by the House
Committee on Public Lands, and conse-
quently is ON fair way to adoption by
Congress. It contains the following addi-
ton:
Section 2. That the Secretary of the Interior
be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered
under general regulations TO be fixed by him,
TO permit the use OF right OF way TO the extent
or twenty-five feet, together with the use OF
necessary ground, not exceeding forty acres,
upon public lands and forest reservations OF
the United states by any citizen or association
Of citizens OF the United States for the purpose
OF generating, manufacturing or distributing
electric power.
The Secretary of the Interior has stated
that he saw no objection 10 Bowers
amendment, provided that the right of
way desired be authorized by his depart
ment, particularly regarding the use of
ground for the generating plants.
Such generally favorable consideration
has given those interested good reason TO
hope for tie passage OF the amendment.
These men are mostly interested in the
cities along the eastern side Of the San
Joaquin Valley and the northern and east
ern districts of the Sacramento. ether
districts, notably Yolo County and the re-
gion around the lakes OF Lake County, are
also Watching the progress of this meas
ure. 1t Is held by the interested parties
that the amendment will cause a revoiu-
tion IN manufacturing industries, and
even n agricultural operations III the great
valleys OF California.
Under present conditions the long
stretches of Government land and Govern
ment reservations in the SieTras form an
ImtiassabIe barrier between the sources OF
power IN the mountains and places where
it may be utilized for the benefit OF the
people
Win S. Green, United States Sur
yeyor-General III this City, Is a hearty sup
porter OF the amendment providing for
rights of way for electric power eonduits
through Government lands.
's1t is very good thing and ] am in
favor OF II, he said yesterday. "There
are many arguments which can be adj
vanced IN its support, and here IN Cali
fornia l am convinced IL will be one of the
most beneficial measures that could be
taken for the benefit OF the State. This
right OF way provided for in Congressman
Bowers amendment does not give the
land away. The party or parties having
| the right OF way cannot cut timber upon
| 1t, although they may build road as well
as maintain electric wires and poles
/ Roads. of course. would be necessary for
| the transportation OF machinery and sup
plies TO the generating works up ID the
mountains.
Without such legal right of Tay
parties might run their conduit wires
over Government land, as is the case now
| IN Shasta, where tremendous power is
transmitted from mountain river to an
iron mine near Redding. The wires in
Shasta are strung over Government land
| too poor to grow Der and unfit for cul-
tivatIon; in TACT, too barren for grazing
! purposes. While this land Is not taken
up the owners of the wires are in constant
danger of being troubled by some design
ing person a fellow can come along and
get quarter section, or more, where the
lines and poles are, and then claim that
the wires have no right there. He can
cause q great deal of trouble, and probably
secure heavy rental for the poles and
wires across his worthless land. Either
that, or the wires would have to come
down and g new route found for them,
which might not be always possible
"Then without the security offered by a
Government light of way no capitalists
would care to take chances on an electric
generating plant The right of way Sc
cures them against ali fear of loss, and
offers inducements for tue building of
electric power machinery for nearly eTery
town in the valleys.
1 Congressman Bowers, have no doubt,
has IN mind the cities along the east side
of the San Joaquin Valley. twill mean
very much for those places, for with free
rights Of way from the Government cleo
tire power can be transmitted from hun
dreds of places in the Sierras to Fresno
and other towns along there. And then
| with power costing practically nothing
can see no reason why agriculture should
not be performed without horses or mules
/ anyhow this free power coming through
/ the National reservations will certainly
bring about an industrial revolution at
many important points IN the interior of
| the State.
II am certainly in favor of granting
rights OF way through Government land
and National reservations for this purpose
| and hope that this result may be accom-
piished."