The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-01
PINCHOT IS FOR
WATER POWER
Chief Forester Gives a Plan by Which,
the United States Can Have
the Various Power
Sites Developed.
DENIES TRUST CHARGE
Pinchot Tells Director Hlasinson Of
the General Electric Com.
pany In a Letter, That
He Never Said ii.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1.-The
practice of the government In grant
Ing water power concessions. is out
lined by Clifford Pinchot, United States
forester, in a letter written to Henry
l.. Higginson OF .oston,s Mass, d.
rector In the General Electric com
pany. The letter takes the form Of a
public statement and is significant at
this time because of the widespread
interests In the water power ques-
ton. Mr.. Pinchot seeks to emphasize
particularly that he does not wish to
retard the development of water
powers by private capital
Summarizing the conditions i'm
posed on all power permits, the gov
eminent forester makes clear the
point that the renewal Of a permit at
the end of fit. years is at the option
OF the government; that it is, By
statute, revocable by the secretary of
the interior but, unless revoked, con
tinues fifty years, when it terminates
without any special revocation. but
may be renewed at the option of and
on conditions to be fixed by the gov
eminent
Says He Has Been Misquoted
Mr.. Pinchot states in his letter that
he has been misguided as to several
statements. First of all he saws. he
has no desire to prevent or retard the
development of water powers by
private capital. They should be de-.
veloped by private capital in his judg-
ment, under proper government con-
troll and not by the nation or the
states.
Secondly, he says he never has said.
either privately or publicly, that the
General Electric company or any 9TH
er single existing corporation controls,
or is now seeking to control, all the
water powers in the country. But no
one can deny, he asserts that there
Is marked tendency toward practical
concentration and control of the hydro.
electric development over wide area
In some cases, Re thinks, this concen-
tration may be mere Community of
interests" evidenced and made effect
i've by directorates in several legally
distinct corp orations held by the rep
resentatives of the same interests or
OF friendly interests. In other cases
1t appears to him to be brought
about by a closer inter-corporate rela-
ton, and in still others, as for in.
stance in central California, single
corporate control of a large and non
ulous territory. The report of the
commissioner of corporations trans
mitted to congress with his message
OF Jan. Is, 1909, vetoing bill (H. R.
l77O7) to license the building of a
dam in James river, Missouri, estab-
fishes these facts, Mr.. Pinchot says.
Thinks Trust is Certain Dancer.
The increasing radius of practic-
able electric transmission and the re-
cent financial history of the country
as to consolidation of other kinds of
business seem to justify the belief
that there is a strong tendency to.
ward concentrated control Of hydro
electric development in the United
States" the letter continues. II do
not say that a single trust has
ySt been formed. AS an outsider.
have not the information which would
warrant my saying that such a trust
mas been planned. but it is apparent
hat present tendencies favor such a
rust and will produce it If they con
,inue.
/ therefore think it is of the utmost
Importance for the people of the ma
ion to understand these tendencies.
'ealize their import, and take effect. |
We steps now while there is yet time
% retain and effectively exercise pub
lie control of this vital necessity of
life.
This may be done by giving con
,essions limited in time, requiring
air rental. and imposing conditions
% prevent the evils which experience