The Washington times., 1909-09-29

putting ourselves in a similar position
| again. Meantime irrigation works under
private auspices are being projected in
every direction and the prospect Of re-
| claiming millions Of acres from the
deserts IS encouraging.
"One subject that IS now being agi-
tated in some quarters calls for notice.
Payment FOR irrigated lands is required
IN ten annual installments. Suggcs-
tons are now being made that these
should be heightened into a longe~ term.
1 sincerely hope that Congress VIII not
listen 20 such appeals. 1t may lie well
TO make the first three or four INSTALL
ments nominal, but afterward the ten
installments should be large enough 10
pay the total amount due upon which
no interest is calculated I'm ten 'edTs.
AM other course will a
lack of thrift and industry and will
greatly embarrass the extension and
continuance of the work of irrigation.
Regarding the subjects Of the grants
given to private parties. the President
said that Congress had been altogether
too generous in times gone by. An in
stance of this was the grants given the
Pacific railroads.
Congress Too Generous.
II am not criticlsing Congress In the
slightest FOR it's policy" he said. 1t
certainly was necessary to make eN-
tensive grants to secure the construc-
ton Of a railroad which should unite
the Pacific coast with the Eastern
coast. and bring closer to the scaboard
the regions OF this country. merely
refer to IL In a historical way I'm order
to explain the character Of the statutes
now upon the statute books with refer
ence to the sale and disposition OF the
public lands There has always been "a
distinction made between agricultural
lands and mineral lands, because II was
recognized that mineral lands wouli
probably be much more valuable. and
a different method was required for the
acquisition OF one from that of the
other. But never until now has ade-
quate provision been made for a CLASH
hcation of lands 50 as to show dis
-tinctly what are mineral lands and what
are agricultural lands.
TO water power principles. there
has been such a change in conditions
that a special publication should make
in the interest Of the public for their
transfer to private control.
The development Of the electrical an
pllaRces and the transfer OF power
through electric ines for long distances
has made the use OF water power to Dro-
duce electricity one of the most i'm
portant sources OF power that we have
in this country and viii so affect tbe
cost Of production I'm all the fields OF
manufacture and production OF the
necessaries of life as TO require me
Government 10 retain control over the
use by private capita of such power
when It can only be exercised upon sites
which belong 20 the Government. Such
sites can be properly parted with unde
conditions OF tenure, use. and cOmpensa.
ton consistent on the one hand ufth
reasonable profit TO the private capita
invested and on the other with the right
OF the public 10 secure the furnishing
OF such power at reasonable rates. tC
every one.
Favors Forfeiture.
There should be a condition % FOR.
f~eiture if the owners Of the power site
does not within a certain time expend
capital suitable 20 develop the DOW. !
and after development does not charge
reasonable rates to the public rates bs.
yOnd which are reasonable profits or
the capital invested in the improve.
ment. TO be regulated by the Govern.
, ment The amount OF compensation
that ought TO be charged by the Govern
nIeut for the use of the water powe
sites might perhaps be left to readiust
ment every ten or fifteen, or twenty
years.
The compensation to be charged :,
the outset might well be purely nom
inai, but after the project has becomt
a complete success and the profit hd.
SrOwn 10 "A considerable percentage o.
The amount Invested. then there WOtlt
seem TO be no reason why the publn
might pot bc benefited by sharing n
the profits of the transaction TO al
amount TO be ike JpOn by arbitration
or some other method az the end Of tht
. stated period Of fifteen or twent.
years