The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-01

letter to pr. Lyman Abbott, of New York, in response to a series of aues- lions asked by the latter on sThe Na- tionai Conservation Policy" made pub lie today.
 Referring to the development of wa- ter power and coal, the government forester declared that fin most eases actual developments of the former can best be done by private interests act ing under public control, but that Tt is neither good sense nor good morals to let these valuable privileges pass from the public ownership for noth- ing and forever"
 Fears Prfyileges of Few.
 Tn answer to pr. Abbott's question:: What is the danger to the conscr- vation policies In the coming session of ,Congress?" MT. Pinchot declares that 1t is that the privileges of the few may continue to obstruct the rights of the many. especially in the matter of waterpower and coal"
 "Congress must decide at this ses- sion." MT. Pinchot says, whether the great coal fields. still in public own ership, shall remain so in order that their use may not be controlled In the monopolistic interests of few.
 Congress must decide also whether immensely valuable rights to the use of water power shall be given away to special interests in perpetuity and without compensation instead of be- ing held and controlled by the pub lic."
 why is 1t important to protect the water powersr asks Dr. Abbott, and in reply. MT. Pinchot points out that 1t is of the first importance to pre- vent them from passing into private ownership as they have been doing be- cause the greatest source of power we know Is falling water. Under our form of civilization" he says, 'if a few, men ever succeed in controlling the sources of water power. they will eventually control all industry as well. If they succeed in controlling all industry. they will necessarily con- trol the country"
 Mir Pinchot adds that he can see mo reason why we should deliberate ly keep on helping to fasten the hand selves for all time merely because the few men who would profit by 1t most have heretofore had the power to compel it."
 Guard Water Power Rights.
 "As one of the essential things that must be done to protect the water powers for people, the granting of water powers either on non-naviga- bie or navigable streams must abso- lutely stop. according to MT. Pinchot. He declares that "it Is just as wrong as 1t is foolish, and just as needless as 1t is wrong to modest the welfare of our children in such way as this"
 Explaining what conservation means. MT. Pinchot declares that 1t stands against the waste of the natural re- sources which cannot be renewed. such as coal and iron: 1t stands for the perpetuation of the resources which can be renewed. and most of all, it stands for an equal opportunity for every American citizen to get his fair share of benefit from these re- sources. both now and forever"
 In discussing. What has conser- vation to do with the welfare of the average man today?" 1t Is pointed out that 1t proposes to secure contfnu- ance and abundant supply of the nec- essaries of life. which means req sonable cost and business stability. It advocates fairness in the distribu- ton of the benefits which flow from the natural resources"