The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-06
THE FARMER: DECEMBER 6, 1910

Fifth. That water power sites be di- rectly leased by the Federal Govern ment after advertisement and bidding, Tor not exceeding. fifty years upon q proper rental, and with a condition n1ing rates charged to the public for unlts or electric power, both rental ana rates to be readjusted equitably every ten years by arbitration or oth- erWise, with suitable prov sions against assignment to prevent monO- polistlc combinations, or, that the law shail provide that upon application made by the authorities of the State where the water power site is situ- ated. It may be patented to the State on cond. ton that the State shall dis pose of it under terms like those just described, and shall enforce those the condition, the water power site and all the plant and improvement on the site shall be forfeited and re- vert to the United States. the Presi- dent being given the power to declare the forfeiture and to direct legal pro- Of these methods would, I think, ac- complish the proper public purpose in respect to water power sites, but one or the other should be promptly adopted.
 l earnestly urge upon congress that at this session general conservation ieg1s.a t1on of the character indicated be adopted. At its last session this congress took most useful and proper steps in the cause of conservation by allowing the executive through with drawals to suspend the action of the existing laws in respect to much of the public domain. 1 have not thought that the danger of dispOsing of coal lands in the United States under the present laws ill large quantities was SO great as to call for their withdra wal, because under the present provisions 1t is reasonably certain that the gov ernment will receive the real value of the land. But in respect to oil lands or phosphate lands and of gas lands in the United States and ill respect to coal lands in Alaska l have exercised the full power of withdra wal with the hope that the action of congress would follow promptly and prevent that ty- ing up of the resources of the country in the western and less settled portion and in Alaska which means stagna- tion and retrogression.
 The question of conserva ton is not a partisan one, and I sincerely hope that even in the short time of the pres ent session consideration may be given to those questions which have now been much discussed and that action may be taken upon them.
 Alaska.
 With reference to the government of Alaska, I have nothing to add to the recommendations I made in my last message on the subject. I am convinced that the migratory charac- ter of the population, its unequal dis tribution and it's smallness of num- Der, which the new census shows to be about 5O.OO0. in relation to the enor- nous expanse of the territory make 1t altogether impracticable to give to those people who are in Alaska today and may not be there year hence the power to elect legislature to gov ern an immense territory to which they have relation so little perma- ment. It is far better for the devel- opment of the territory that it be com mitted to commission to be appoint ed by the executive, with limited leg islative powers sufficiently broad to meet the local needs, than to continue the present insufficient government, with few remedial powers, or to make a popular government where there is not proper foundation upon which to rest it.
 The suggestion that the appointment of commission will lead to the con- trol of the government by corporate or selfish and exploiting interests has not the slightest foundation in fact Such government worked well in the Philippines and would work we'll in Alaska, and those who are really interested in the proper development of that territory for the benefit of the people who live in it and the benefit of the people of the United States, who own 1t, should support the institution of such a government.
 have been asked to recommend that the credit of the government be extend ed to aid the construction of railroads in Alaska. 1 am not ready now to do so. A great many millions of dollars have already been expended in the construction of at least two railroads, and if laws be passed providing for the proper development of the resources of Alaska, especially for the opening up of the coal lands, believe that the capital already invested will induce the investment of more capital, suffi- cient to complete the railroads building and to furnish cheap coal not only to Alaska, but to the whole Pacific coast. The passage of law permitting the leasing of government coal lands in Alaska after public competition and the appointment of a commission for the government of the territory with enabling powers to meet the local needs will lead to an improvement in Alaska and the development of her re- sources that is likely to surprise the country.
 National Parks.
 Our national parks have become so extensive and involve so much detail of action in their control that it seems to me there ought to be legislation ere ating a bureau for their care and con- trol. The greatest natural wonder of this country sn6 the surrounding terri tory should be included in another na- tfnnQ1 Y,a I rcfo,. fO fho Grand CQn-