Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-12-09

making a reduction in forest reserves
of non-umbered land amounting to
2.750.o00 acres
Water Power Sites.
Prior to March 4. 1909. there had
been, on the mmendation OF the
reclamation service. withdrawn from
agricultural entry, because they were
regarded as useful for power sites
which ought not to be disposed Of as
agricultural lands. tracts amounting
to about 10000 acres. The with
drawals were hastily made and in
cluded a great deal Of land that was
not useful for power sites. They we're
intended to include the power sites
on 20 rivers in states. Since that
time 3,47s.442 acres have been re-
stored for settlement Of the original
1000, 900 because they do not con-
tain power sites; and meantime, new
with other reservations based upon
field examination, result in withdraw
ais at present effective OF 1.21S.35e
acres on vacant public land and 202.-
197 acres on entered public land. or q
total Of 1,42Q,553 acres. These with
drawals made from time to time cover
all the power sites included in the
first withdrawals and many more. on
ISL rivers and In IL states. The dis
position Of these power sites involves
one Of the most difficult questions pre-
scented in carrying out practical con-
servation.
THE subject Is one that calls for
new legislation. 1t has been thought
that there was danger Of combination
to obtain possession Of all the power
sites and to unite them under one
control. Whatever the evidence of
this. or lack Of it. at present we have
had enough experience to know that
combination would be profitable. and
the control Of q great number Of pow
er at will within certain sections.
However this may be, 1t Is the
plain duty Of the government to see
to it that in the utilization and devel-
opment of all this immense amount
of water power, conditions shall be
imposed that will prevent extortion-
ate charges, which are the usual &C
compartment Of monopoly.
1.-THE question Of conservation IL
not q partisan one, and l sincerely
hope that even in the short time OF
the present session consideration may
be given to those questions which
have now been much discussed, and
that action may be taken upon then"
Pensions.
1.-The uniform policy of the govern
ment in the matter Of granting pen
sions to those gallant and devoted
men who fought to save the life Of
the nation in the perilous days of the
great civil war, has always been OF
the most liberal character. Those
men are now rapidly passing away.
The best obtainable official statistics
show that they are dying at the rate
of something over three thousand a
month, and, In view of their advanc-
ing years, this rate must inevitably In
proportion, rapidly increase. To the
man who risked everything on the
field of battle to save the nation in
the hour of it's direst need we owe a
debt which has not been and should
not be computed in a begrudging or
parsimonious spirit
Bureau of Corporations.
Referring to the report of the COM
missioner of corporations, the presi-
dent says:
1.-THE commissioner finds condi-
ton in the ownership Of the standing
timber of the United States other
than the government timber that calls
for serious attention. The direct in
vestigation made by the commissioner
covered an area which contains 80
per cent. of the privately-owned tim
Der of the country.
His report shows that one half Of
the timber in this area Is owned by
200 individuals and corporations;
that Il per cent. Is owned by these
corporations, and that there is very
extensive inter-ownership of stock,
as WGll as CLuCI C4ICuuiSL duCGS, a11
pointing to friendly relations among
those who own a majority Of this TIM
Der. a relationship which might lead
to a combination for the maintenance
of a price that would be very detri-
mental to the public interest, and
would create the necessity of remov~
ing all tariff obstacles to the free inn
portations of lumber from other coun.
tries"
Bureau of Labor.
."The commissioner Of labor has been
actively engaged in composing the dir
ferences between employers and en-
ployees engaged in interstate trans
portation, under the Erdman act, joint
ly with the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission.
II cannot speak in too high terms OF
the success of the two officers in con-
Citation and settlement Of controver-
sizes which, but for their interposition.
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
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