The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1908-04-18
Would Protect Natural Resources.

Would Protect natural Hesourees.
Washington.-In a special message
Monday. vetoing a dam bill. President
Roosevelt warned Congress that there
are pending in this session bills which
propose to give away without price
stream rights capable OF developing l..
300 ,000-horse power. whose production
would cost annually 25.000,000 tons OF
coal: urging in vigorous terms the es-
Establishment Of a policy such as the
Hlibustering minority In the House de-
mands, which would safeguard the
granting OF bridge and dam privileges
and require the grantees to pay for
them; and definitely announcing fu
ture policy on his part with regard to
prompt utilization Of construction priv
ileges by refusing his signature to
bill that gives an additional three years
to the Rainy River improvement Com
pany within which to build y dam In
the Rainy river in northeast Mime
sofa
II do not believe" says the Presi
dent. that natural resources should be
granted and held In an undevelOped
condition. either for speculative or
other reasons. So far as ] AM aware.
there are no assurances that grantees
lin the easel are In any better condi.
ton promptly and properly to utilize
this opportunity than they we're at the
time Of the original act tgranting the
privileges) ten years ago"
Discussing the federal policy. the
President says:
Every permit to construct dam
on a navigable stream should specific
ally recognize the right Of the gov
eminent 10 hx \ term for its duration
and 10 impose such charge or charges
~ may be deemed necessary to protect
tho present and future interests OF the
United States, in accordance with the
act Of June 81. 1906.
THE chief OF engineers Of the army
reports that the bills now pending At
this session OF Congress permit the con-
struction OF dams in navisable rivers
capable OF developing over 900, 900
horse power. These rivers run every
hour In the day and every day In the
year. To develop this amount nj power
would, under average conditions. re-
Quire about $4,000. 900 tons OF medium
quality coal every year. This natural
wealth Is the heritage OF the people.
I see no reason for giving 1t away.
though there Is every reason for not
imposing conditions % burdensOme ~
to prevent the utilization Os the power
In place OF the present haphalard
policy Of permanently alternating valu'
able public property We should substi.
stitute = definite policy along The fol.
lowing lines:
"First-There should ne = limited or
carefully guarded gran: In the nature
OF an option or opportunity AFFORDED
within reasonable time Tor develop.
ments Of plains and for execution II
the project
"SecOnd--Such q grant or concession
should he accompanied In the act max.
Ing II the duty OF the Designated oiIicial
TO annul the grant II the work 10 not b.
gun or plans are not carried ont 10 &C.
cordauce with the authority granted
"Third-lt should also be the duty Of
some designated ofIiciai to see 20 II that
In approving the plans the maximum
DEVELOPMENTS Of the navigation and
power liz assured. or NJ least that In
making the plans these may not be ~
developed ~ ultimately to interiors
with the better utilization OF the water
or complete development Of the power.
"Fourth-There should be . license
fee or charge which. though small OF
nominal at the outset. can In the future
he adjusted NO AZ to secure = control
In the interests Of the public.
"Fifth-Pr0visiOn should be made Tor
the termination OF the grant or privil
eye nj a definite time. leaving to future
generations the power o. authority Ia
renew or extend the concession In &C
.lsh 4 a. atIs a s.h m IA