The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-09-06

Vi S4tCS3 d1ldi ALiCAuliAIlc ItlGT0 nave OScI
newly withdrawn 1,245.S92 acres on vacant
public land and 211,007 acres on entered
public land, or total Of 1,456,S99 acres.
These Withdrawals made from time to
time cover all the power sites included
in the first Withdrawals, and many more.
on 1876 rivers and in IL states. The dispo-
sition OF these power sites involves one
Of the most difficult questions presented
In carrying out practical conservation.
The statute of 1891 with its amendments
permits the secretary Of the interior to
grant perpetual easements or rights of
way from water sources over public
lands for the primary purpose of irriga~
ton and such electrical current as may
be incidentally developed, bur no grant
can be made under this statute to con-
Germs whose primary purpose Is gener-
ating and handling electricity The stat
ute of 1901 authorizes the secretary Of
the interior to issue revocable permits
over the public lands to electrical power
companies, but this statute is woefully in
adequate because 1t does not authorize
the collection of charge or fix q term
of years. Capital Is slow to invest in an
enterprise founded on permit revocable
at will.
1t is the plain duty of the government
to see to 1t that In the utilization and de-
velopment of all this immense amount
of water power, conditions shall be inn
posed that will prevent monopoly and
will prevent extortionate charges, which
are the accompaniment of monopoly. The
difficulty of adjusting the matter is ac-
centuated by the relation of the power
sites to the water, the fall and flow of
which create the power. In the states
where these sites are, the riparian own
er does not control or own the power in
the water which flows past his land.
That power is under the control and with
IN t6z nx.%< 80 H. ~ <~,.. H.
the rule is that the first water user is en-
titled to the enjoyment. Now, the pos
session of the bank or water-power site
over which the water Is to be conveyed
in order to make the power useful, gives
to Its owner an advantage and certain
kind of control over the use of the water
power, and 1t is proposed that the govern
ment in dealing with its own lands should
use this advantage and lease lands for
power sites to those who would deve'ern
the power, and impose conditions on
leasehold with reference to the reason
ableness of the rates at which the power
when transmitted, is to be furnished To
the public. and forbidding the union OF
the particular power with combination
of others made for the purpose OF monop-
oily by forbidding assignment of the
lease save by consent of the government
Serious difficulties are anticipated by
some in such an attempt on the part of
the general government because of the
sovereign control of the state over the
water power in Its natural condition. and
the mere proprietorship of the govern
ment In the riparian lands. It is con-
tended that through its mere proprietary
right in the site, tile central government
has no power to attcmpt to exercise po-
lice jurisdiction with reference to how
the water power in river owned and
controlled by the state shall be used. and
- l.. 80 III x-.n.h
question the validity Of this objection.
The government may impose any eondi-
lions that it chooses in its lease of Its
own property, even though it may have
the same purpose, and in effect accom-
plish just what the state would accom-
plish by the exercise of its sovereignty.
There are those land the director Of the
geological survey Mr.. Smith who has
given a great deal of attention TO this
matter. is one of thern) who insist that
this matter of transmitting water power
into electricity, which can be conveyed
all over the country and across state
lines, is a matter that ought to be re-
tained by the general government, and
that 1t should avail itself of the owner
ship of these power sites for The very
purpose Of co-ordinating in one general
plan the power generated from these
government owned sites.
Arguments Against Idea.
On the other hand. it is contended that
1t would relieve complicated situation
If the control Of the water-power site
and the control of the water were vested
In the same sovereignty and ownership,
viz, the states, and then we're disposed
of for development to private lessees I'M
der the restrictions needed to preserve
the interests of the public from the extor-
tions and abuses of monopoly. Therefore,
bills have been introduced in congress
providing that whenever the state au-
thorities deem water power useful they
may apply to the government of the
United States for grant to the state
of the adjacent land for water-powef
site, and that this grant from the fed
eral government to the state shall con.
tain a condition that the state shall
never part with the title to the water.
power site or the water power, but shall
lease 1t only for a term OF years not ex.
ceeding fifty with provisions in the
lease by which the rental and the rates
for which the power is furnished to the
public shall be readjusted at periods less
than the term of the lease. say, every ter
years. The argument is urged against
this disposition OF power sites that legis
lators and state authorities are more sub 4
Ject to corporate influence and control
than would be the central government; ir
reply 1t Is claimed that readjustmen,
y
would secure to the public and the state
just and equitable terms.
do not express an opinion upon the
controversy thus made or preferences
as to the two methods of treating water.
power sites I shall submit the matter Ia
congress and urge that one or the other
of the two plans be adopted
have referred to the course of the last
administration and Of the present one IN
making Withdrawals of government lands
from entry under homestead and other
laws and OF congress in removing al
doubt as to the validity OF these with,
drawals as great step in the direction
of practical conservation. But it is only
one of two necessary steps to effect what
should be our purpose 1t has produced
a status quo and prevented waste and ir.
revocable disposition of the lands untl
the method for their proper disposition
can be formulated. But it is of the ut.
most Importance that such Withdrawals
should not be regarded as the final ster
in the course of conservation and that
the idea should not be allowed to spread
that conservation Is the tying up of the
natural resources of the government fol-
indefinite withholding from use and the
remission to remote generations to decide
what ought to be done with these means
of promoting present general human com.
fort and progress. For, II So it Is certain
to arouse the greatest opposition to con,
servation as a cause. and If 1t were a
correct expression of the purpose of con-
servationists it ought to arouse this op.
position. AS I have said elsewhere, the
problem Is how to save and how to util-
ize, how to conserve and still Develop
for no sane person can contend that 1t is
for the common good that natures bless.
ings should be stored only for unborn
panarations