The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-09-10

grant perpetual sasDss4s - s1snts q
lands Tor the primary purpose - H.
ton and such electrical currsnt - ~
b Incidentally developed but ~ Gses
can b. made un6sP th10 statute 70 -
eerns who's primary D.sposs = ss-
ute Of 1901 authorisso the secretary on
the interior to issue rsvocaols psrmi0
over ths public lands to electrical pores
companies but this statute - wosfully n
adequate because II does not eutnof.ss
Of years Capital u slow to invest IN IN
enterprise founded On . permit rsvocaoss
II will
II - the plain duty Of the govsrnmeat
to So to It that In the utinsation ana oe.
vsiopment Of all this immense amount
Of water power. conditions shall DO I'M
posed that viii prevent monopoly ana
will prevent sxtortionats charges. Whicn
are the accompaniment OF monopoly 1he
difncuity Of ad1ustins the matter 10 &C.
centuated By the relation Of the power
sites to the water. the fall and now OF
which create the power. In the states
where these sites are. the riparian own
Or does not control or own the power IN
the water which flows past his lana
That power II under the control and WITH
in the grant OF the state. and generauy
the rule 10 that the first water user - en-
dtled to the enjoyment Now. the pos
session of the bank or water-powef SITE
over which the water 10 to be conveyed
IN order to make the power useful. g1ves
to its owner an advantage and . certain
kind Of control over the use Of the water
power. and II 70 proposed that the govern
ment in dealing with Its own lands snouio
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 reaaon-
ableness Of the rates At which the power.
when transmitted. 10 to be furnished I"
the public. and forbidding the union Of
the particular power with a combination
OF others made for the purpose Of monop-
oily by forbidding assignment OF the
lease save by consent Of tho government
Serious difficulties are anticipated ~
tho 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
nent in the riparian lands. 1t ID con-
tended that through its mere proprietary
right IN the site. ehs central government
has no power to attempt to exercise 20
lice Jurisdiction with reference to how
the water power in . river owned ana
controlled by the state shall be used and
that 1t il q violation of the states rights.
I question the validity Of this objection.
The government may impose any eondi-
ttons that 1t chooses in Its lesss OF ifs
own property. even though 1t may have
the same purpose, and in effect accom-
plish just what the state would accom-
plish by the exercise of its sovereignty,
There are those land the director of the
geological survey. Mr.. Smith. who has
given . great deal Of attention TO this
matter. 10 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 q matter that ought to b n
tained by the general government. and
that II should avail itself Of tho owner
ship of these power sites for ths very
purpose Of co-ordinating in one general
plan the power generated from these
government owned Mites.
Arguments Against Idea.
On the other hand, 1t 10 contended that
II would relieve 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-
tons and abuses of monopoly. Therefore.
bills have been introduced in congress
providing that whenever the state au-
thorities deem q water power useful thoy
may apply to tho sovernment Of The
United States for . grant to the stats
of the adjacent land for . water-powe1
site. and that this grant from the fed
eral government to the state shall con-
tain a condition that the state shall
never part with the title to the water
power site or the water power but shah
lease II only for . term Of years not ex-
ceeding fifty. with provisions In the
lease by which the rental and the rates
for which the power 10 furnished to the
public shall be read1ustsd At periods LEES
than the term of the lease. say. every tn
years The argument 10 urged against
this disposition OF power sites that leg1s-
lators and state authorities are more sub
3ect to corporate influence and contrea
than would be the central government; In
reply It IL claimed that q readtustment
OF the terms of leasehold every ten years
would secure to the public and the state
just and equitable terms
I do not express an opinion upon the
as to the two methods Of treating water
power sites. I shall submit tho matter to
congress and urge that onS or the other
of the two plans be adopted.
1 have referred to the course Of the last
administra alton and Of the present one In
from entry under homestead and other
laws and OF congress in removing all
doubt as to tho validity of these with
drawals as q great step in the direction
Of practical conservation. But 1t is only
one Of two necessary steps to effect what
should Be our purpose. 1t has produced
. status quo and prevented waste and ir-
revocable disposition of the lands until
the method for their proper disposition
can be formulated But It II of tho ut
most importance that such Withdrawals
should not Be regarded as the final step
in the course Of conservation. and that
the idea should not be allowed to spread
that conservation 10 the tying up Of the
natural resources Of the government for
indefinite Withholding from use and the
remission to remote generations to decide
what ought to be done with these means
Of promoting present general human, COM
fort and progress. For. II so. II 10 certain
to arouse the greatest opposition to con-
servation a. a cause. and II 1t wefs Q
correct expression Of the purpose OF con-
servationists II ought to arouse this op-
position. AZ have said elsewhere, ths
problem 10 how to save and how to util.
ixe. how to conserve and stin deveiop:
for no sane person can contend that Il 10
for the common good that natures bless