Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-06


total OF i.456,ss9 acres These withdrawals
made from time TO time cover all the
power sites included in the first with
drawals. and many more, on 1876 rivers
and in eleven states. The disposition Of
these power sites Involves one Of the most
difficult questions presented in carrying
out practical conservation. The forest seiv-
ice, under a power found In the statute
has leased a number Of these power sites
in forest reserves by revocable leases, but
no such power exists with respect to power
sites that are not located within forest re
serves, and the revooable sy stem OF leas-
ing is, OF course. not satisfactory one for
the purpose OF inviting the capital needed
to put in proper plants for the transmu-
tation OF power
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 imposed
that will prevent monopoly and will pre-
vent extortionate charges. which are the
accompaniment OF monopoly. The difficulty
Of adjusting the matter is accentuated 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 riparion owner does not control or own
his land. That power is under the control
and within the grant OF the state, and gen
orally the rule is that the first user is en-
titled to the enjoyment Now, the posses
sion 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 a certain kind OF
control over the use of the water power,
and It is proposed that the government
in dealing with its own lands should use
this advantage and lease lands for power
sites to those who would develop the power
and impose conditions on the leasehold with
reference to the reasonableness Of the rates
at which the power, when transmitted, is
to the furnished to the public, and forbid
ding the union Of the particular power with
a combination Of others made for the puT-
pose Of monopoly by forbiddlng assignment
of the lease save by consent of the govern
ment.
"On the other hand, It is contended that
It would relieve a complicated situation II
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 de-
velopment to private lessees under the re-
strictions needed to preserve the interests
of the public from the extortons and abuses,
OF monopoly.
Il do not express an opinion upon the
controversy thus made or a preference as
to the two methods of treating water power
sites. l shall submit the matter to congress
and urge that one or the other of the two
plans be adopted.
Many other Angles Referred To.
"At the risk OF wearying my audience
have attempted to state as succinctly as
may be the questions of conservation as
they apply to the public domain of the gov
eminent, the conditions TO which they APP
ply, and the proposed solution of them In
the outset l alluded to the fact that con-
servaton had been made to include great
deal more than what have discussed here.
OF course, as l have referred only to the
public domain of the Federal government
1 have left untouched the wide field of
conservation with respect to which a heavy
responsibility rests upon the states and in,
dividuals as well. But think 1t of the ut
most Importance that after the public at
tention has been reused to the necessity
Of a change in our general policy to prevent
waste and a selfish appropriation to pri-
vate and corporate purposes of what should
be controlled for the public benefit, those
who urge conservation shall feel the me-
cessity of making clear how conservation
can be practically carried out, and shall
propose specific methods and legal provi-
slons and regulations to remedy actual
adverse conditions. l am bound to say
that the time has come for n halt In gen
eral rhapsodies' over conservation, making
the word mean every known good in the
world; for, after the public attention has
been reused, such appeals are of doubtful
utility and do not direct the public to the