Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-09-09


Germs whose primary purpose is gener-
ating and handling electricity. The stat
ute of 1901 authorizes the secretary OF
the interior to Issue revocable permits
over the public lands to electrical power
companies, but this statute Is woefully in
adequate because It does not authorize
the collection of a charge or fix term
OF years. Capital is slow to invest in an
enterprise founded on a permit revocable
at will.
1t is the plain duty of the government
to see to 1t that In the utilization and de-
velopment of all this immense amount
of water power conditions shall be Inn
posed that will prevent monopoly and
will prevent extortionate charges, which
are the accompaniment of monopoly The
difficulty of adjusting the matter is ac-
centuated by the relation of the power
sites to the water, the fall and flow of
which create the power. In the states
where these sites are, the riparian own
er does not control or own the power In
the water which flows past his land.
That power Is under the control and with
in the grant of the state. and generally
the rule is that the first water user Is en-
titled to the enjoyment. Now, the pos
session of the bank or water-power site
over which the water Is to be conveyed
In order to make the power useful. gives
to its owner an advantage and certain
kind of control over the use of the water
ment in dealing with Its own lands should
use this advantage and lease lands for
power sites to those who would develop
the power, and impose conditions on the
leasehold with reference to the reason
ableness of the rates at which the power,
when transmitted, Is to be furnished 10
the public, and forbidding the union of
the particular power with a combination
of others made for the purpose Of monop-
oily by forbiddins assignment OF the
lease save by consent of the government.
Serious difficulties are anticipated by
some in such an attempt on the part Of
the general government, because of the
sovereign control of the state over the
water power in Its natural condition, and
the mere proprietorship Of the govern
ment in the riparian lands. 1t is con-
tended that through It's mere proprietary
right In the site, tile central government
has no power to attcmpt to exercise po-
| lice Jurisdiction with reference to how
| the water power in q river owned and
| controlled by the state shall be used. and
| that 1t is a violation of the states rights.
I question the validity of this objection.
| The government may impose any condi-
| tions that 1t chooses in its lease of Its
| own property, even though II may have
| the same purpose, and in effect accom-
| plsh just what the state would accom-
| plish by the exercise Of Its sovereignty.
| There are those (and the director of tho
| geological survey, Mr.. Smith. who has
| given a great deal of attention TO this
| matter, is one of them) who Insist that
this matter of transmitting water power
| into electricity, which can be conveyed
| all over the country and across state
| lines Is a matter that ought to be re
tained by the general government. and
that II should avail itself of the owner
| ship of these power sites for tho very
purpose of co-ordinating in one general
| plan the power generated from these
| government owned sites.
Arguments Against Idea.
On the other hand, 1t is contended that
| 1t would relieve a complicated situation
II the control OF the water-power site
and the control of the water were vested
in the same sovereignty and ownership
viz the states, and then were disposed
of for development to private lessees un
der the restrictions needed to preserve
the interests of the public from the extor
tions and abuses of monopoly, Therefore
bills have been introduced In congress
providing that whenever the state au
thorities deem a water power useful the,
may apply to the government of thu
United States for a grant to the stat
of the adjacent land for water-powe
site, and that this grant from the fad
eral government to the state shall con
tain a condition that the state shal
| never part with the title to the water
power site or the water power, but shall
1
ceeding fifty, with provisions In tn
lease by which the rental and the rate
for which the power is furnished to tn
public shall be readjusted at periods les
than the term of the lease, say, every tel
years The argument Is urged agains
this disposition of power sites that legis
| lators and state authorities are more sub
ject to corporate influence and contro
than would be the central government: Il
reply 1t is claimed that readjustmen
of the terms of leasehold every ten year
would secure to the public and the stat
just and equitable terms.
I do not express an opinion upon tn
controversy thus made or a preference
as to the two methods of treating water
power sites. shall submit the matter
congress and urge that one or the othe
OF the two plans be adopted.
, have referred to the course of the Las
| administration and of the present one
making withdrawals of government land
from entry under homestead and othe
} laws and Of congress in removing a
doubt as to the validity of these with
: drawals as a great step in the directio
of practical conservation. But II Is onl
one of two necessary steps to effect whi
should be our purpose. 1t has produce
a status quo and prevented waste and Il
3 revocable disposition of the lands unit
8 the method for their proper dispositic
] can be formulated. But 1t is of the Il
5 should not be regarded as tho final ste
= in the course of conservation. and thi
\ the idea should not be allowed to sprea
0 that conservation is the tying up of Il
q natural resources of the government Il
: indefinite Withholding from use and Il
= remission to remote generations to decis
S what ought to be done with these meai
{ of promoting present general human cor
T fort and progress. For, II so, II Is certa
= to arouse the greatest opposition to CO.
: seryation as a cause, and IL II were
5 correct expression OF the purpose of Co
: servationists It ought to arouse this o
g position. AS have said elsewhere, Il
9 problem Is how to save and how to ut
n ize, how to conserve and still develo
o for no sane person can contend that II
: for the common good that natures bles
K ings should be stored only for unbo
II generations.
r 1 beg of you. therefore. in your dell
s erations and in your informal discussion
n when men come forward to suggest ev
= that the promotion OF conservation Is
II remedy, that you invite them to poi
out the specific evils and the speci
remedies; that you invite them to cor
down to details in order that their discu
l. sions may flow into channels that shall
!, useful rather than into periods that shi
u be eloquent and entertaining. witho
- shedding real light on the subject. T