Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-26
A SANE CONSER-
WALTON POLICY
ABLE ARGUMENT OF ]. J. BROWN
DEFINING THE TRUE COURSE
TO FOLLOW.
Let Water Powers be Improved fol
Present Generation.

J. ]. Brown, president of the Occur
d'Alene Bank & Trust Co., and presi-
dent of the Western Conservation
league, is much in earnest in his eff
forts to conserve the natural re-
sources of the west in such a man
ner that they will be developed and
become of use and value to the peo-
pie, and be utilized with due regard
for the future, and his position is
clearly defined in an unanswerable
argument, part of which we quote
below, as delivered recently before
the senate committee on public lands
at a session in Washington:
The United States Geological
Survey, under the supervision of its
able director, Mr.. George Otis Smith,
has recently published volume en-
titled Papers on the conservation OF
water resources, which desire to
call to the attention of this commit
tee. This document is full of facts
from cover to cover, and / wish it
could be published for general dis
tribution; but desire to call your
attention especially to the paper pre-
pared by Mr.. Leighton, found on
pages 1858, entitled 'Undeveloped
water powers. The facts therein
stated will convince anyone who will
give them a moments thought that
there is no immediate danger of the
water powers of the country falling
into the hands of few men or great
trusts, and thereby create a monopo-
ly in restraint of trade and COM
merce.' The total water power in
the United States, developed and un-
developed, aggregates more than &C.,
100000 horsepower. Less than one
tenth of this power has been develop
ed. There is more than 100000
horsepower yet to be improved.
Have One-third of Power.
1T will be observed that about
one-third of all the water power in
the United States is located within
the states of Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and western Montana. In other
words, the Columbia river and its
tributaries contain one-third of the
water power in the whole country,
and you can readily understand that
those of us who live in that great
valley, whose waters flow into the
Pacific, are intensely interested in
any legislation that may in any way
affect the title to these powers on the
lands along the water courses. In
fact, we are very much interested in
any and all legislation affecting pub
lie lands. At the present time nearly
all the public lands, consequently
nearly all the water powers upon the
public lands, are located in the Pa
cific and Rocky Mountain states and
territories and in Alaska. Whatever
legislation, therefore, that may be
enacted by the congress affecting
public lands or the conservation of
the natural resources within national
Jurisdiction is applicable almost
wholly to states above named. II
such legislation is good, the people
of the states above mentioned will
receive the principal benefit. Upon
the other hand, If such legislation is
unwise, We win be the chief suffer-
ers.
I'VE are in favor Of conservation,
and We are also in favor of prog
ress and development. The lands
should be used for what they are
best adapted for. but not abused.
The mines should be developed. but
not destroyed. The timber should be
so used as not to destroy the forests;
but what shall We do with our water
powers? Shall the waters of our riv-
ers, especially the rivers OF the west,
continue to run down to the sea as
they have done for thousands of