The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1910-09-09

newly Withdrawn 1.245, 1872 aero. eVe bsea
public End and 21l,0O7 acras oh VACANT
public land, or total of axe ea a.. ehteree
These Withdrawals made Tvs ''s acrsl
time cover all the power sita. ume d
in the first Withdrawals. and ~ included
on 135 rivers and in II states ~. more
sitlon OF these power sites ,n,,a, ulspo-
OF the most difficult questions n' on
In carrying out practical consor,'. sentsd
The status of 1891 with its a,,.rs 0h
permits the secretary OF the ,n,1,'aenu
grant perpetual easements or r,... y
way from water sources ov.. " "
lands for the primary purpose =, puous
ton and such electrical eurrsnt ina
be incidentally developed. bur NJ may
can be made under this statp,. uant
Germs whose primary purpose !. :. con-
atng and handling electricity II ssaa-
ute of 1901 authorizes the ssc-... Hst
the interior to issue revoc.hia var u
'o'ef''SSo ss:oiaS+-a&T,is 20 sfGctr,.., Y.sp~ss
companies. but this statute is wos.,,, I've
adequate because It does M, s,,.u NJ
the coilecuon OF charge or fix = ,ss-
OF years. Capital is slow IN ,,yS., en
enterprise founded on q permit reyoe,sa
at will. 'ocsoA
1t is the plain duty of the eovs-,
to see to 1T that in the utilization ANA n,', =
velopment of all this immense 60.
of water power conditions shan y. ~
posed that will prevent monopolv =,
Will prevent extortionate chsryes -.,us
are the accompaniment OF mononov ~
difficulty Of adjusting the matter !.
centuated by the relation of thu -
sites to the water, the fall and A. .
which create the power. In IN. .,..''
where these sites are, the rinarior -
er does not centrol or own the NO.. ~ '
the water which flows past h,s 49,
That power Is under the control and -,.s s
In the grant of the state. and r.no,.u-
the rule is that the first water user i. -
titled to the enjoyment. Now. tbs ~
session of the bank or water-novsr n.
over which the water Is TO he con,.,1
in order to make the power useful ~.
to Its owner an advantage and A cer,...
kind of control over the use of the 80.
power. and 1t is proposed that the rov.,,l
ment in dealing with It's own lands sbcrls
use this advantage and lease land. ~
power sites to those who would dey,los
the power, and impose conditions IN ~
leasehold with reference to the y,s,o..
ableness Of the rates at which the povn,
when Transmitted, Is to be furnished N
the public. and forbidding the union n
the particular power with a combnaos
OF others made for the purpose OF mouop.
oily by forbiddlng assignment Of Ia
lease save by consent OF the government
Serious difficulties are anticipated N
some in such an attempt on the part Il
the general government because o. M
sovereign control OF the state over a,
water power In its natural condition aA
the mere proprietorship OF the govern.
rne Mt In the riparian lands II IS con.
tended that through its mere proprietary
right In the site, tie central government
has no power to attempt TO exercise POI
lice jurisdiction with reference to hov'
the water power in a river owned al
controlled By the state shall be used I'd
that II is violation OF the states rishu
/ question the validity Of this objection
The government may impose any cond.
tons that II chooses In Its lesss Of NJ
own property. even though II may have
the same purpose, and IN effect accom-
plish Just what the state would aeccn.
push by the exercise of Its sovereignty,
There are those land the director OF thl
geological survey. Mr.. Smith, who he
given a great deal OF attention 10 TN
matter, Is one OF them who insist that
this matter OF transmitting water povei
into electricity, which can be conVeyed
all over the country and across STAG
lines, is matter that ought to DO y.
tanned by the general government ana
that Il should avail Itself OF the owner
ship of these power sites for ina ven
purpose Of co-ordinating In one genera
plan the power generated from ihs"
government owned sites. n
Arguments Against Idea.
On the other hand. 1t is contended lha
II would relieve a complicated si'uanG
II the control OF the water-powet W.
and the control of the water were 's.s~
in the same sovereignty and OWNERSHIP
viz. the states, and then were dispo'"
Of for development to private iessees -
der the restrictions needed TO preseN"
the interests OF the public from the e.'0'
tons and abuses OF monopoly Thereo's
bills have been introduced In cohs'ss
providing that whenever the s'a'e
thorities deem q water power useiui uv
may amply to the government OF
limited states for grant to Inc sAs
OF the adjacent land for water-poss
site. and that this grant from 'ne y.
eral government to the state sha" Nm
tain a condition that the state w..
never part with the title 10 'he IN
newer alto or the water power put sn..
Iease n only for a term OF years mol -
ceedine ffty. with provisions IN
lease by which tho rental ana Wv =. ~ |
for which the power Is FURNISHES ~ -
n,h,,o sbaI, be r.sdiusted at periocs -
than the term of the lease. say e'a.
years. The argument Is urseu ~.
this disposition of power sites .ns s,. Nh
iators and state authorities are ino'e .,a
tect to corporate influence anu
than would be the central goVei, .,s,rr.ut
reply Il is claimed that teaa!s ,sar,
of the terms of leasehold every ~. ~. tan /
would secure to the public ana INV
Just and equitable terms a.
do not express an opinion up ,.,.sc
controversv thus made or p',...
az to the two methods Of trea'ins W.,
mower sites. | shall submit the A.. 49,. otbu
congress and urge that one "
of the two plans be adopted .,.x
/ have referred TO the course =. one b |
administration and OF the pfese, land
making Withdrawals OF goVefhin sa oths
fr.m entry under homestead a u
laws and of congress In reniu REM. Nib.
doubt as to the validity OF .ne' s,rsctan
drawals as a great step in the =. i. ouv
of practical conservation nu, asect Wit |
one of two necessary steps " ~. nrodacsi !
should be our purpose /. na s,s and n
a status quo and preventeo ,snds urA
revocabIe disposition OF tie asposltie
the method for their prope. ~ the d.
can be formulated. But !, ,,ithdravss
most Importance that such ~. anal ~
should not be regarded as "a. and ths
In the course OF Conservatory 10 sprte
the idea should not be allow How no Of ~
that conservation is the tyins s-rmsnt n
natural resources OF the sos ,,sa and