The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-01-20

thus far fully acted on the recommen-
dations OF the executive, and the ques-
ton as to what the executive is TO
do Is under the circumstances. full OF
difficulty II seems to me thnt IL Is
tho duty OF congress now, by statute.
to validate the Withdrawals which
have been made by the secretary OF the
interior and the president and to use
the secretary OF the Interior tcmporar-
lily TO withdraw lands pending suhmis-
sion TO congress OF recommendations as
TO legislation to meet conditions or
emergencies as they arise.
Public Land Along Streams.
With respect 10 the public land
which lies along the streams Offering
opportunity to convert water power
into transmissible electricity. another
important phase OF the public land
question is presented. There are val
rahlc water power sites through all
the public land states. The opinion
is held that the transfer OF sovereignty
from the federal government to the
territorial governments MS they become
states, included the water power in
the rivers except so far as that owned
by riparian proprlctors. do not
think II necessary TO go into discussion
nf this somewhat mooted question Of
law II seems to me sufficient to say
that the man who owns and controls
the land along the stream from which
the power Is to be converted ana trans
mitted. owns land which Ia indispens-
able to the conversion and use OF that
power. I cannot conceive how the
power In streams flowing through pub
lie lands can be made available at all
except by using the land itself as the
site for the construction OF the plant
by which the power is generated and
converted and securing right Of way
thercover for Transmission lines. I'm
der these condition. II ia, government
owns the adjacent land--indool Il the
government is the riparian owncr--it
may control the use OF the water power
by imposing proper conditions on the
disposition OF the land necessary in the
creation and utilization OF the water
power.
Value OF Water Power.
The development In electrical appn-
anCcs FOR the conversion Of the water
power into electricity to be transmitted
long distances has progressed SO far that
It Is no longer predetermined, but IT Is a
certain inference that In the future the
power OF the water falling In the streams
To large extent will take the place OF
natural fuels. In the disposition OF the
domain already granted, many water
power sites have come under absolute
ownership, ana may drift into one own
crship so that all the water power under
private ownership shall be monopoly.
H. however, the water power sites now
owned BY the Eoyernmcnt-1nd there are
enough OF thcm-shall be disposed OF to
private persons for the Investment OF
their capital In such a way as TO prevent
their union for purposes Of monopoly
with other water power sites, and under
conditions that shall limit the right OF use
10 not exceeding thirty years with renewal
privileges and some equitable means OF
liking terms OF rental and with proper
means for determining reasonable grad
uated rental, II would seem entirely pos
sible to prevent the absorption Of these
most useful lands by power monopoly
As long as the government retains CON
troll and can prevent their improper union
with other plants, competition must be
maintained and prices kept reasonable
Soils Must Be Conserved.
In considering the conservation OF the
natural resources OF the country. the fca-
turc that transcends all others. including
woods. waters. minerals, is the soil OF the
country. It is incumbent upon the gov
eminent to foster by all available means
the resources OF the country that produce
the food OF the people. To this end the
conservation OF the soils Of the country
should be cared for with all means at the
governments disposal Their productive
powers should have the attention OF our
scientists that we may conserve the now
soils, improve the old soils drain wet
soils, ditch swamp soils. levce river over
flow soils. grow trees on thin soils. pms
ture hillside soils. rotate crops on all
soils. discover methods for cropping dry
land coils, find grasses and legumes for
all soils, feed grains and mill feeds on
the farms where they originate. that the
soils from which they come may be en-
riChed.
A work OF the utmost Importance to in
form and instruct the public on this chief
branch OF the conservation OF our re-
sources ia being carried on successfully
In the department OF agriculture; but II
ought not 20 escape public attention that
state action in addition to that OF the de-
partment Of agriculture las for instance
In the drainage OF swamp lands) is es-
sential to the best treatment OF the soils
in the manner above Indicated
The act by which. IN semI-arld parts ~ |
the public domain, the area Of the home |
stead has been enlarged from iG0 to 800 |
acres has resulted most benehclally in |
the extension OF dry farming" and In |
the demonstration which has been made |
OF the possibility, through n variation In |
the character and mode OF culture OF |
raising substantial crops without the |
presence OF such n supply Of water MS
Hhb utfn heretofore tnOuRnt 10 De HeCcb- |
sary for agriculture.
No one can visit the far west and the |
country of arid and seml-arid lands with |
out being convinced that this is one Of |
the most important methods OF the con- |
servatlon OF Our natural resources that |
the government has entered upon. II |
would appear that over 30 projects have |
been undertaken, and that few Of |
these are likely to be unsuccessful be- |
cause OF lack OF water. or for other rea- !
sons. but generally the work which has |
been done has been we'll done. and many |
important engineering problems have |
been met and solved.
Funds Inadequate for Service.
One OF the difficulties which hns
arisen Is that too many projects In |
view Of tho available funds have been |
set on foot The funds available under |
the reclamation statute are inadequate |
TO complete these projects within n !
reasonable time. And yet the projects |
have been begun; settlers have been |
invited TO take up and. in many in |
stances. have taken up the public land |
within the projects, relying upon their |
prompt completion. The failure to |
the projects for their benent |
is. in effect, n breach OF faith and |
leaves them in most distressed con-
dition. urge that the nation ought |
TO AFFORD the means to lift them out Of |
the very desperate condition in which |
they now are.
This condition does not indicate any /