The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-14
SPECIAL MESSAGE ON CONSERVATION
is WELL RECEIVED BY CONGRESS

10 electricity to be transmitted long
distances has progressed so far that
IL Is no longer problematical, but IT is
q certain inference that In the future
power of water flowing in the streams
10 q large extent will take the place
of natural fuels.
In the disposition OF the domain al
ready granted, many water power
sites have come under absolute own
ership and may drift into one owner
ship. so that all the water power un-
der private ownership shall be
monopoly II, however
the water power sites now owned by
the government-and there are many
OF them-shall be disposed OF to priv
ate persons for investment OF their
capital In such a way as to prevent
their union for purposes of monopoly
with other water power sites. and un-
der conditions that shall limit the right
OF use to not exceeding lfty-four years
with proper means for determining a
reasonable graduated rental and with
some equitable provision for fixing
terms and renewal. 1t would seem en-
tirely possible to prevent the absorp-
tion Of these most useful lands by
power monopoly. AS long as the gov
ernment retains control and can pre-
vent their improper union with other
plants. competition must be main
tnined and prices kept reasonable.
In considering the conservation Of
natural resources Of the country the
feature that transcends all others. in
Guiding woods, waters, minerals. IS
the soil 1t is incumbent upon the
government 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 should be cared for with all
means at the governments disposal
Productive Power.
The productive power should have
the attention OF our scientists that
We may conserve the new soils, I'M
prove tho old soils, drain wet soils,
ditch swamp soile. levee river over
flow soils, grow trees on thin soils,
pasture hillside soils, rotate crops on
all soils, discover methods for crop
ping dry land soils, find grasses and
legumes for all soils. feed grain and
mill feeds on the farms where they
originate. that the soils from which
they come may be enriched.
A work of the utmost Importance
TO inform and instruct the public on
this chief branch of the conservation
OF our resources is being carried on
successfully IN the department OF ag-
rfcuTfure. but il ought not 10 escape
public attention that the state action
IN addition to that Of the department
OF agriculture las for instance, In the
drainage of swamp landsl is essential
to the best treatment Of soils in the
manner above indicated
The act by which, in scmi-arid parts
OF the public domain, the area of the
homestead has been enlarged from
$50 to 800 acres as resulted most
benef1clally In the extension OF dry
farming and the demonstration which
has been made OF the possibility.
through a variation In the character
and mode Of culture Of raising sub
stantial crops without presence Of
such a supply of water as has been
heretofore thought to be necessary 70
agriculture.
But there ar. millions of acres OF
completely arid lands in the public
domain which. by the establishment
Of reservoirs for the storing Of water
and tho irrigation of the lands, may
be made much more fruitful ana pro-
ductive than the best lands IN ell
mate where tia moisture comes from
the clouds
Distribution Of Water.
Congress recognized the Importance
Of this method of artificial distribu-
tlon Of water on tho arid lands by the
passage of the reclamation act. The
proceeds of the public lands creates
a fund to build the works needed to
store and furnish necessary water
and It was left TO the secretary OF the
interior TO determine what projects
should be selected among those sus-
gested and to direct the reclamation
service. with the funds at hand and
through the engineers In Its employ
to construct the works.
No one can visit the far west and
the country of arid and semi-arid
Continued on Page Two)