The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-01-21


arily to withdraw lands pending sub
mission to congress of recommends
tons as to legislation to meet condi-
lions or emergencies as they arise.
One of the most pressing needs in
tho matter OF public land reform is
that lands should be classified ac-
cording to their principal value ,of use.
This ought to be done by that depart
ment whose force is best adapted to
that work. 1t should be done by the
interior department through the geo
logical survey. Much oil the confus-
ion, fraud and contention which has
existed in thu past has arisen from
lack OF an official and determinative
classification to the public lands and
their contents.
LEASING OF LAND. l.
1t is now proposed to dispose of ag-
ricultural lands as such and at the
same time to reserve for other dispo-
sition the treasure of coal, oil, asphalt
tum, natural gas and phosphate con-
tanned therein. This may be best ac-
complished by separating tho right to
mine from the title to the surface
giving the necessary use of so much
81 the latter as may be required for
tn extraction Of the deposits. The
surface might be disposed of as agr1-
cultural land under the general agri-
cultural statute while the coal be dis
posed of by lease on a royalty basis,
with provisions requiring a certain
amount of development each year; and
in order to prevent the use and ces-
sion of such lands with others of sim
liar character seems to constitute
monopoly forbidden by law tho lease
Shnnld ntoi emit fob Ia
jecting to forfeiture the interests of
persons participating in such monop-
oily. Such law should apply to Alaska
as well as to the United States.
1t is exceedingly difficule to frame a
over property to be developed by
private capital in such a manner as to
secure the governmental purpose and
at the same time not brighten away
investment of the necessary capital.
Hence, it may be necessary by laws
that are really only experimental to
determine from their practical opera
ton what is the best method of secur-
ms the result aimed at.
The extent of the value of phos-
phatc is hardly realized, and with the
need that there will be fir it as the
years roll on and the necessity for
| fertilizing the land shall become more
acute, this will be a product which
will probably attract the greed of mo-
nopolies. e..
WATER POWER SITES.
With respect to the public land which
| lies along the streams offering oppor-
tunity to convert water power into
transmissable electricity, another i'm
portant phase of the. public question
! is presented. There are valuable water
power sites through all public land
states. Opinion is held that transfer
| Of the sovereignty from federal gov
eminent to territorial governments as
they become states, included water
| power in rivers except that owned by
riparian proprietors. do not think
it necessary to go into a discussion OF
this somewhat mooted question of law
1t 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 and trans
mitted, owns land which is indispen
sable to the conversion and use of thai
power. | cannot conceive how the
power in streams flowing through pub
lie lands can be made available at al
I except by using tho land itself as tn,
site for the construction OF the plan
by which the power is generated anC
converted and securing a right of way
thereover for transmission lines. I'm
der these conditions, if the govern
ment owns the adjacent Iands-in
deed,if the government is the riparian
owner-it may control the use of wa
ter power by imposing proper condi
tions on the disposition of land neces
sary n the creating and utilization o.
water power.
Development in electrical appliances
for the conversion of water power in
to electricity to be transmitted ionj
distances has progressed so far tina
it is no longer problematical, but it 4
certain inference that in the futur
power of water flowing in the stream
to a large extent will take the plac
OF natural fuels.
ASKS FOR A BOND ISSUE.
One difficulty which has arisen i
that too many projects in view of tn
available funds, have been set on fooV
The funds available under tho recla
nation statute are inadequate to com
plete these projects within n REASONABLE
time. And yet the projects have bee
begun; settlers have been invited +
tako up, and in many instances hav
taken up, the land within tho pro
jects, relying upon their prompt com
pletion. Tho failure TO complete tn
projects for their benefit is, in effect
a |breech of faith and leaves them Il
most distressing condition.
urge that the nation ought to af
ford means to lift them out of tn
very desperate condition in which the
are now. This condition does not ind
cato any excessive waste, or any cor
ruption on the part of the reclamation
service. 1t only indicates an over
jealous desire to evtend the benefit o
reclamation to as many acres and a
many states as possible. l recon-
mend, therefore, that authority b
given to issue not exceeding $50 900
a 600 of bonds from time to time as tn