The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1910-01-27

thus far fully acted on the rccommen-
dations Of the executive ana the aues-
| ton a. 10 what the executive IN 10
| 20 u under the circumstances. full OF
| dimculty II seems TO me that ~ Is
the duty or congress now. by statute.
20 validate the withdrswais which
have been made by the secrctary 81 the
Interior and the president and 60 use
the secretary Of the interior temporar-
ily 20 withdraw lands pending submis-
sion 60 congress OF recommendations as
TO legislation 20 meet conditions or
emergencies as they arise
Public Land Along Streams.
With respect 10 the public land
which lies along the streams Offering
opportunity 20 convert water power
into transmissihle electricity. another
important phase OF the public land
question is presented. There are VAL
liable water power sites through all
the putfc land states. The opinion
j. held that the transfer OF sovereignty
from the federal government 60 the
territorial governments AZ they become
states, included the water power IN
the rivers except 10 far as that owned
by riparian proprictors. do not
'hink " necessary TO 20 into discussion
OF this somewhat mOoted question OF
law. IL seems to me SUFFICIENT TO say
that the man who owns and controls
the land along the stream from which
the power ~ 20 be converted and trans
mitted. owns land which IL indispens-
able TO the conversion and use Of that
power. cannot conceive how the
power In streams flowing through pub
lie lands can be made available at all
except by using the land itself as the
site for the construction OF the plant
by which the power II generated and
converted and securing n right OF way
thereover for transmission lines I'm
der these condition, II the government
owns the adjacent land-indeed, ~ the
government is the riparian owner--it
may control the use Of the water power
by imposing proper conditions on the
disposition OF the land necessary In the
creation and utilization OF the water
power.
Value OF Water Power.
The development In electrical appli-
ances for the conversion OF the water
power into electricity 20 be transmitted
long distances has progressed so far that
u l. no longer problematicai but IL IL a
certain inference that In the future the
power Of the water falling in the streams
TO large extent will take the place Of
natural fuels. In the disposition Of the
domain already granted. many water
power sites have come under absolute
ownership. and may drift into one own
ership. 80 that all the water power under 4
private ownership shall be n monopoly.
II. however, the water power sites now
owned by the governmcnt-and there are |
enough OF them-shail be disposed OF 20
private persons for the investment OF
their capital In such n way as 20 prevent
their union for purposes Of monopoly
with other water power sites. and under
conditions shat shall limit tho right OF use
20 not exceeding thirty years with renewal |
privileges and some equitable means OF |
liking terms OF rental and with proper |
means for determining a reasonable grad |
uated rental. II would seem entirely pos |
sible 90 prevent the absorption OF these |
most useful lands by a power monopoly. |
A. long as the government retains con-
troll and can preveat their improper union |
with other plants. competition must be |
maintained and prices kept reasonable.
Soils Must BE Conserved.
In considering the conservation Of the |
natural resources OF the country the fea- |
turo that trGnscends all others Including |
woods. waters. minerals. h the soil OF the |
country. IL Is incumbest upon the gov |
eminent 60 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 OF the country |
should be cared for with all means AT the |
governments disposal Their productive |
powers should have the attention OF our |
scientists that We may conserve the new |
soils improve the old soils, drain wet |
soils. ditch swamp soils. levee river over |
now soils, grow trees on thin soils. pas
ture hillside soils. rotate crops on all /
soils. discover methods for cropping dry /
land soils, md grasses and iegumes for /
all soils. feed grains and mill feeds on
the farms where they originate. that the
soils from which they come may be en-
richcd.
A work OF the utmost importance 20 In
form and instruct the public on this chief
branch OF the conservation OF our re-
sources II being carried on successfully
In the department OF agriculture; but Il
ought not 90 escape public attention that
state action In addition 90 that of the de-
partment OF agriculture las for instance
In the drainage of swamp iands) II es-
sential TO the best treatment OF the soils
In the manner above indicated.
The act by which. in semi arid parts OF
the public domain. the area OF the home
stead has been enlarged from leo TO 800
acres has resulted most beneficially IN
the extension OF dry farming" and IN
the demonstration which has been made
OF the possibility. through a variation In
the character and mode OF culture. OF
raising substantial crops without the
presence OF such supply OF water as
has been heretofore thought TO be neces-
sary for agriculture
No one can visit the far west and the
cousry OF arid and seml-arid lands with
out being convinced that this Is one OF
Nh' HiNeA important OF the CON- |
servation OF our natural resources that
the government has entered upon. II
would appear that over 30 projects have
been undertaken. and that a few OF
these are likely TO be unsuccessful be-
cause OF lack OF water. or for other rea- |
sons, but generally the work which has
been done has been well done. and many
important engineering problems have
been met and solved
Funds Inadequate for Service.
One of the difficulties which has
arisen II that too many projects In
view OF the available funds have been
set on foot The funds available under
the reclamation statute are inadequate
10 complete these projects within a
time Aud yet the projects
have been begun; settlers have been
Invited 10 take up and. In many In
stances. have taken up. the public land
within the projects, relying upon their
prompt completion. The failure to
the projects for their benefit
Is. In effect, breach OF faith and
leaves them in a most distressed con-
dition. | urge that the nation ought
10 AFFORD the means TO lift them out OF |