The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-09-08
The River Press.
Published every Wednesday, Morning
by the RiUer Press Publish
ing Company.
PROTECTING POWER SITES.

Acting Secretary Pierce of the in
terror department., announced last
week that there had been Withdrawn
for temporary power sites 1850 acres
of land along the White river in the
state of Utah, with a view to reporting
the Withdrawals to congress Ia order
that proper legislation may be adopted
to preserve power sites to the govern.
ment and to prevent their falling into
the possession of private corporations.
Incidentally Secretary Ballinger is-
sued q statement in which he vigor.
ously denied stories concerning the
discovery of the fling on an immense
amount of land in Helena, Montana,
which was to be turned over to the
so.called power trust. Declaring also
that he believes he has been absolutely
right in the position which he has
taken, regardless Of the criticism
which it has provoked. he assured his
critics that more power sites have
been Withdrawn during the present
than during the previos administra-
ton, and that none Withdrawn under
the present administra alton has since
been grabbed"
All this, of course, is reassuring,
says the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
But it does not abate one jot from the
force of the argument that congress
should at nee take steps to prevent
the country's water power sites, which
belong to all the people, from becom-
ing the perpetual possession of priv ate
interests and great corporations, in
view OF the inevitable exhaustion of
our coal supplies at no very remote
date, the value of our navigable and
other streams for power purposes is
bound to undergo steady enhancement,
with the result that, in the course of
time, those who control the cOuntry's
water power will come pretty close to
dominating all industry. Knowing
this, as they do, it is not unnatural
that the Amalgamated interests, the
NuSSCuLCALA OuA y SuOuIu OC
constantly alive to the necessity of
acquiring everything in the shape of
a power site on which they can lay
their hands. In fact, Clifford Pinchot,
the chief forester of the United States
forestry department., asserts that these
interests have already org anized a
sO.called water power trust. Drawing
its sustenance from the public domain,
waxing fat on what belongs to every
man, woman and child in the United
States, such a trust cannot fail to
arouse the bitterest enmity of all Am.
orleans,
o. the Outlook has pointed out, the
value of our streams as sources of
motive power Is a natural
and not the creation of those who build
dams and power stations. For this
reason there can be no just cause for
complaint against the government for
laying down restrictions on their use
by private interests. The point &c be
emphasized, however, Is the imperative
need of congressional action which
shall lay down a we'll defined policy
for the government hereafter to follow
in the granting of power sites to indi.
viduals and corporations. While men
OF the type of Theodore Roosevelt or
William Taft occupy the presidency
the country may rest assured that
every effort will be made to conserve
the public domain. 1t is just as we'll,
however, to keep in mind the posi-
bility of the election of a president of
a different type.