The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-01-18

Unfortunately. congress has not Illus
far fully acted on the recommended
tons OF the executive. and the ques-
ton ms 10 what the executive Is TO do
Is, under the circumstances. full ~
difficulty.
IL seems to me that 1t Is the duty
Of congress now, by a statute. to vail
date the Withdrawals which have been
made by the secretary Of the Interior
and the president and TO authorize tie
secretary Of the interior Temporarily
10 withdraw lands pending submission
TO congress OF recommendation rs to
legislation 10 meet conditions or rTer'
gencies as they arise.
Water Power important
The development IN electrical appll
ances for the conversion Of the water
power into electricity to be transmit
ted long distances has progressed Sc
far that It is no longer prohlcmalIcaL
but II is a certain Inference that in HE
future the power of the water failing
I'm the streams To II large extent VIII
take the place Of natural fuels.
In the disposition of the domain al
ready granted many water power sites
have come urder absolute ownership
and may drift into one ownership. 81
that all the water power under private
ownership shall be II monopoly. H.
however, the water power sites nav
owned by the government nrd there
are enough OF them shall hc disguised
of to private persons f1r the invest.
uent Of their capital In such way ms
TO prevent their union fOr purposes of
monopoly with other water power
sites and under conditions that shall
ifty years with proper means Tor lie
termlnng n reasonable graduated rent
al and with some equitable provision
for fixing terms OF renewal. II would
seem entirely possible to prevent the
absorption Of these most useful lands
by n power monopoly. As long rs the
government retains control aud can
prevent their improper union with
other plants competition must be nam
tanned aud prices kept reasonable
In considering the conservation NJ
the natural resources Of the country
the feature that transcends all others.
including woods. waters. minerals. h
the soil Of the country. II IS incGm-
bent upon the government TO foster by
all available means the resources Of
the country that produce the food Of
the people To this end the conscrva
ton of the soils of the country should
be cared for with all means at the gov
ernments disposal Their productive
powers should have the attention Of
our scientists that we may conserve
tho new soils. improve the old soils.
drain wet soils. ditch swamp soils,
cvee river overflow soils. grow trees
on thin soils. pasture hillside soils. ro-
tate crops on al soils discover meth.
DDS for cropping dry land soils. find
grasses and .egumcs for al soils. feed
grains and mill feeds on the farms
where they originate that the soils
from which they come may be en-
richcd
Department Of Agrieuture's Good Work
\ work ~ the utmost importance TO
inform and instruct the public on this
chief branch Of the conservation of our
resources is being carried on success
fully IN the department OF agriculture.
but IL ought not to escape public at
tention thai state action In addltio" to
that Of the department Of agriculture
as, for instance. in the drainage OF
crt..f,tt, ftt.fl ..se.utf,f 49,. Loot