Gilpin observer., 1908-04-16
Would Protect Natural Resources.

would project Natural Resources.
Washington.-In special message
Monday. vetoing 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 1.
S0O.OOO-horse power, whose production
would cost annually 25,00O,000 tons of
coal; urging in vigorous terms the es-
adjustment of policy such as the
hlthustering 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 dam in
the Rainy river in northeast Mime
sofa.
Il do not believe" says the Presi-
dent, that natural resources should be
granted and held in an undeveloped
condition, either for speculative or
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 tgranting the
privileges) ten years ago"
Discussing the federal policy. the
President says:
Every permit to construct dam
on navigable stream should specific
ally recognize the right of the gov
ernment TO fix term for its duration
and 10 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 at
this session of Congress permit the CON
struction of dams in ravigable rivers
capable of developing over 100000
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 1t 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 vaiu-
able public property we should substi-
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 grant or concession
should be accompanied in the act max
ing it the duty of the designated Official
to annul The grant if the work is not be-
gun or plans are not carried ont in ac-
cordance with the authority granted.
"Thrd-It should also be the cnty OF
some designated official to see 20 IL thdt
in approving he plans the maximum
developments of the navigation ana
power is assured. or at least thai IN
making the plans these may not be 50
developed as ultimately to interfere
with the better utilization of The water
or complete development of the power
'Fourth-There should he license
fee or charge which. though small or
nominal at the outset, can in the future
be adjusted so as to secure a controi
in the interests of the public.
"Fifth-Provision should be made for
the termination of the grant or privil-
ege at a definite time, leaving to future
generations the power or authority 10
renew or extend the concession in ac-
cordance with the ends which may pre-
vail at that time"