The Dolores star., 1908-04-17
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 to give away without price
stream rights capable OF developing l.
800 .000horse power. whose production
would cost annually 100000 tons of
coal; urging in vigorous terms the es-
tablishment Of policy such MS the
fflibustering 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 4 fu.
ture policy on his part with regard to
prompt utilization Of construction priv
ileges by refusing his signature To a
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
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 tn utilize
this opportunity than they were at the
time Of the original act tgranting the
privilegesD ten years ago"
Discussing the federal policy. the
President says:
Every permit 10 construct - dam
on navigable stream should specific
ally recognize the right OF the gov
eminent 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 al
this session of Congress permit the con
struCtion of dams in ravigable rivers
capable of developing over 1.3OO ,O01.
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, 900 tons of medium
quality coal every year. This natural
wealth is the heritage of the people.
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
I'm place of the present haphazarh
policy of permanently alternating valu
able public property we should substi'
stitue 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 he accompanied in the act MAX
ing II the duty of the designated official
to annul The grant IL the work is no, h-
gun or plans are not carried on IN ac
cordanco with the authority granted.
'Third--lt should also be the Gniy ol
some designated official to see 20 II thai
in approving he plans the maximum
developments of the navigation ami
mower is assured, or at least that in
making the plans these may MT he so
developed as ultimately TO interfere
with the better utilization OF he water
or complete development of the power.
"Fourih-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 control
in the interests of the public.
'Fifth-Provision should be made for
the termination of the grant or privil
ege 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 lhat time