The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-07
GOVERNORS To
GATHER HERE
Important Conference Of EXecu-
tiyeS of Western States to
Be Held Soon.
WOULD RETAIN CONTROL
OF NATURAL RESOURCES
0pp0Scd to Plan of Federal
Government to Assert I'M
proper Rights.

That Salt Lake city is destined to be
The scene of n notable conference soon
became apparent Saturday from Asso-
clatcd Press dispatches from Seattle.
Wash. setting forth that Governor Nor
ris OF Montana. Governor Brooks or WSo-
ming and Governor Spry OF Utah have
written TO Governor M. T. Hay, indorS-
Tg his plan for holding Il conference In
Salt Lake City soon to discuss conserVa-
ton and to consider means TO keep the
control OF the water power ana otner
natural resources in the hands OF the
state governments instead OF allowing the
national government TO assume charge.
Governor Gillett of California has writ
ten a non-committal letter In reply TO
Governor Hays suggestion, the dispatches
continue Governor Brooks suggested that
the conference he held In Denver and that
ihe executives OF all the states west OF
the Mississippi river be invited to at
tend. This suggestion is being consid-
cred,
To Forestall Stampede.
proposition will be laid before the
next congress for the federal government
To take over the control OF water power
sites and compelling the payment TO the
federal government OF something like %
cents for each horse power OF water pow,
cr developed IN each state. The national
conservation commission will meet at st.
Paul. Mimi. next month. and IL is feared
that the east. which is not Informed about
the situation and isn't lying awake at
night crying for information. may stam-
pedc this meeting in favor Of this prop
ostion One of the purposes OF the salt
Lake conference viii be TO keep Inc
convention from going on record as IA
voring federal control Of water power,
The water power proposition Is of con-
siderable but not great Importance TO
Utah but for states like Washington
and Oregon it is of Intense interest. The
talking over OF the water power in either
OF these states would mean revenue OF
something like a million dollars a year 10
the federal government The states con-
tend that they should have control OF
the water power inasmuch as they are
supposed To know local conditions and
.ccds better and that ii there is any
rcVcnUc 20 be derived from the water
Power they are entitled TO II. The keep
Ing OF gigantic and valuable water pow
sites from greedy corporations is an
other argument advanced III faVor oi
STATE control.
Other natural resources that the west
cTn and coast states want TO keep from
the control OF the national government IN
c,ude coal and timber lands. To the
northwestern and the coast states me
timber is OF alI-absorbiug interest for the
reason that there are immense forests
OF valuable timber there, but in Utah. of
curse. this is of little moment. IL Is diff
fcrent with the coal matter. however.
State Entitled to Coal.
Here il the federal government gives
the state school lands in which there nap,
pens To bc any coal IL yanlts the land
back and allows the state TO make other
selections in lieu thereof The state feels
ms though II should be allowed TO keep
these coal lands and this subject will be
covered by the conference here.
And IL is understood that the water
here belongs 10 the state said Governor
Spry in speaking Of the matter Satur-
day evening. 1T is handled by the state
engineer whether for irrigation or pow
er and is controlled by the state and
we feel that the government has no right
10 assume control OF this resource and
collect a revenue from ii.
The idea oil the conference originated
with Governor Hay. but Governor Spry
has taken an active part In the proposal
10 hold IL meeting of western governors
To obtain unity among western states as
To what they shall stand for in the ST
Paul meeting. Salt Lake City was sug-
gested as q meeting place by Governor
Hay on account OF it's central and con-
Tenient location.
Just now only the governors Of the in
tcrmountuin and coast states are inter
cstcd in the movement but IL may be
that an effort will be made 10 have all
the Stales west of the Mississippi river
join In the plan.
NTcCou,- Cfab1aa