The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-11-04


Of the soil, and the transportation by
your Father OF Waters, OF the farm
products Of the Ohio and Missouri and
Iowa TO the Deita at the mouth of the
Mississippi River.
The part that the United States as
a government can play in this con-
seryatlon of our resources has not been
definitely settled. and II Is not likely
TO be settled until all the phases OF
the problem are presented Tor solu-
ton.
Right 10 Deal With Land.
1T IL certain that the United States
has the right to deal with the land
which II owns in such way as to
conduce 90 the general welfare. and
therefore that II owes a duty to the
people with reference. the forest land
that II owns to preserve them and
develop them rs far as possible. to
make them useful with reference to
our water supply (applause).
But the United States owns only
about one-quarter of all the forest
lands Of the United States. Those
other lands are in States. and we
must look to the State governments
TO follow the example of the Federal
Government and use all the power
possible TO preserve these forests from
fire and such denudation as shall en-
rich their water equalizing qualities
throughout the country. applause
The United States has been most
obviously generous in the sale and
disposition of public lands, and we
could point out. II We were hypercrit-
ical. the waste and undue generosity
with which these lands have been
parted with; but In doing so we are
apt TO forget the generous policy, and
We are apt to ignore the enormous
progress that has been made In the
country by the carrying out OF that
generous policy tapplause.)
Time for New Policy.
Therefore. without any tears for
what has been done In the past. VIC
can take our stand now on the pres
ent conditions and say that a time has
come for the Inauguration OF new
policy. with refernce TO care in dis
posing OF the lands that remain.in the
United States. Agricultural lands
there would seem to be no reasons
why we should change the mode OF
disposing OF. But there are certain
kinds of lands that modern progress
show have an element In them that
requires us In their future disposition
to be most careful.
There arc the mineral lands, of
which we have disposed OF millions OF
acres as agricultural lands, and yet
they have enriched their present own
ers by the treasures under the soil
There is no reason why we should
not separate the surface of the land
and it's internal contents. its mineral
contents. in the dispositions, so that a
man may settle land as agricultural
land and cultivate II as such. and not
become the owner OF the coal or min
eral which lies below the surface. and
OF which no one has cognizance at
present.
That applies to coal lands. applies
TO phosphate lands, which contain the
clements by which other soil can be
made productive.
Then there has developed In the
last decade an enormous power avail
able for all sorts OF manufacturers and
for transportation as well In cleo
tricity. That electricity can be most
cheaply produced by water power.
"A great many sites have been dis
posed OF to private corporations. that
are now pursuing course with refer
ence to the development OF this power
that ought To be encouraged, and IL is
quite probable that when they come TO
sell that power the sovereign power OF
the State may step In to regulate the
rate at which they dispose OF that
power 20 other individuals.
Would Regulate Rate.
I'm the meantime remains In the
ownership OF the Government enou
power sites over which the Govern
ment may retain sontroi by disposing
through conditional deeus or leases or
some other form OF conditional dis
pc ition so tlat the rate can be di-
rectly regulated through the owner
ship by the Government OF these ex'
listing power sites. (Applause)
| aThara will then he n numher of