Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-30

constructions placed upon existing
laws relating thereto, water power
development in the west has prac-
tically ceased; and
Recognizing further the great ex-
pense necessarily incurred in the
construction of water power plants
in the mining region, which IN
wolves in most cases an expenditure
of several million dollars; the un-
certain markets for power present
ed by the mining districts, and the
great benefits derived by the min
ing industry by the construction OF
such plants;
We therefore recommend that
laws be speedily enacted which
shall definitely and accurately de-
fine the rights of citizens to utilize
and put to a beneficial use the
waters of the streams and the
rights of way on public lands ad-
iacent thereto for water power
purposes, and that such laws pro-
vide for the concurrent use of the
rights of way so long as the water
rights are put to a beneficial use
under the laws of the state, or for
a sufficient length of time to enable
those who engage in their develop
ment to secure q reasonable return
upon their investment.
We believe, and therefore recon-
mend, that for the purpose of har-
monizing all interests and bringing
about a proper development OF
water power freed from monopo-
nstic Influences, all water power
sites upon the public DOMAIN
should be under the control ana
supervision of the respective states
wherein said sites are located.
UNRESTRICTED PROSPECTING
"As a substitute for resolution No SS
Resolved, That any conservation
policy which places obstacles. or
restrictions in the way of the free
and unrestricted prospecting ana
location of metalliferous mineral
lands or which favors any lease or
ROYALTY upon the future tenure anu
production of such locations, is IN
imical to the development or our
country's resources, represents
step backward, and strikes directly
at the welfare and prosperity OIL
the entire mining industry
Resolved, further, That we IN
dorse the work of the forest service
in it's efforts to preserve and mann
tain a national consumption OF
the nations timber resources, put
we are unqualifiedly opposed 10
any and all Withdrawals Of metal
Iiferous mining lands from pupllc
entry, and to any legislation when
will in any way interfere with the
free prospecting, location or pro-
duction Of mining claims. -
"As a substitute for resolution No. 81
Resolved. That this congress be-
lieves that the best interests OF all
the people will be conserved by
state regulation and control OF all
natural resources within the boun-
daries Of each and every state, IN
the very largest measure compat-
ible with present federal statutes.
RECOVER S. p. LANDS
A number Of other resolutions wer
submitted during the day, one VIII
relation to the Southern Pacific grants
in California, submitted by Thomas 4
Gibbon, delegate from Los Angeles al
follows:
Whereas, The Southern Pacific
Railroad company claims and holds
many thousand acres Of land in the
state of California which are
proven oil lands, and have been ap-
praised at more than $50 coo in
value by experts Of that company;
and,
Whereas, these lands are held
under an act Of the congress of the
United states granting certain land
to the Southern Pacific Railroad
company and specifically excepting
from its operation all mineral lands
excepting iron and coal lands; and,
Whereas, the patent issued by
the United States government to
the Southern Pacific Railroad COM
many undpr which said com papV
claims and holds these lands, con-
tains an exception in the following
words: yet excluding and except
ing all mineral lands, should any
such be found in the tracts afore-
said, this exclusion and exception
according to the terms OF the
statute, shall not be construed to
exclude coal and iron lands; and,
Whereas, when this patent was
issued the lands included therein
were not known to be oil lands and