The Glenwood post., 1908-04-18
Would Protect Natural Resources

Washington.-In a special message
Monday. vetoing a dam bill, President
Roosevelt warned Congress that there
are pending in this session bills which
propose 10 give away without price
stream rights capable of developing T.,
300 O.OOO-horse power, whose production
would cost annually 25,OO0.00 tons OF
coal; urging in vigorous terms the es-
tablishment of policy such as the
filibustering 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 a 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 a dam in
the Rainy river in northeast Mime
sofa.
Il do not believe says the Presl-
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
Tin the case) are in any better condi-
tion promptly and properly to utilize
this opportunity than they were at the
time of the original act tsrantins the
privileSes) 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 tie gov
ernment TO fix term for its duration
and to impose such charge or charges
as may be deemed necessary to protect
the 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 a;
this session of Congress permit the con
struction of dams in ravigable rivers
capable of developing over l.3OO,OOo-
horse power. These rivers run every
hour in the day and every day in the
year. To develop this amount Of power
would, under average conditions. re-
quire about 25,000,000 tons of medium
quality coal every year. This natural
wealth is the heritage of the people.
l see no reason for giving it away,
though there is every reason for not
imposing conditions so burdensome as
to prevent the utilization OF the power.
in place of the present haphazard
policy of permanently alternating valu-
able public property we should substl-
stitute a definite policy along the fol
lowing lines:
"First-There should be limited or
carefully guarded gran in the nature
of an option or opportunity afforded
within reasonable time for develop
ments of plains and for execution OF
the project.
"Second-Such a grant or concession
should be accompanied in the act max
ing it the duty of the designated o'llciai
to annul lhe grant if the work is not be
gun or plans are not carried on; in ac.
cordance with the authority granted.
"Third-lt should also be the Cuty OF
some designated official to see 20 II mat
in approving he plans the maximum
Developments of the navigation ana
power is assured. or at least lhai III
making the plans these may not he 50
developed as ultimately to Interfere
with the better utilization of The water
or complete development of the power.
"Fourth-There should be licens"
fee or charge which, though small or
nominal at the outset, can in the future
be adjusted so as to secure cohtroi
in the interests OF the public.
"Fifth-Provision should be made Tor
the termination of the grant or prlvll-
ese at definite time, leaving to future
generations the power or authority TO
renew or extend the concession IN ac-
cordance with the ends which may pre-
vail at that time"