Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-01-19

available at all except by using the
land itself as the site for the con-
struction Of the plant by which the
power is generated and converted
and securing a right-Df-way there
over for trai mission lines. Under
these cordtions, if the government
owns the adjacent land-indeed, if.
the government is the riparian own
er-it may control the nse of the
water-power by imposing proper con
ditions on the disposition Of the land
necessary in the creation and utili-
cation of the w~ater-power.
To Thwart Monopoly.
The development In electrical ap-
planes for the conversion of the
water-power into electricity to be
transmitted long distances has pro-
crossed so far that it is mo longer
problematical, but it is a certain in
ference that in the future the power
Of the water falling in the streams
to a 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 in
to one ownership, SO that all the
water-Power under private ownership
shall be a monopoly. II, however,
the water-power sites now owned by
the gove-nment-and there are enough
Of them-shalL be disposed OF to
private persons for the investment CT
their capital in sucha way as to pre-
vent their union for purposes OF mon
opoly with other water-power sites,
and under conditions that shall limit
the right of use to not exceeding
thirty years with renewal privileges
and some equitable means for fixing
terms Of rental and with proper
means for determining q reasonable
graduated rental, it would seem en-
tirely possible to prevent the absorb
ton of these most useful lands by a
power monopoly. As long as the
government retains control and can
prevent their improver union with
other plants, competition must be
maintained. and prices kept reason
able.
Drainage of Swamp Lands.
A work Of the utmost Importance
to inform an dinstruct the public on
this chief branch Of the conservation
of Jul is being carried on
successfully i'll the Department Of
Agriculture; but it ought not to
escare public attention that State
action in addition &c that of the De-
partment Of Agriculture las for in
stance in the drainage of swamp
lands) is essential to the best treat
ment Of the soils in the matter above
named.
Dry Farming.
The act by which in semi-arid
parts Of the public domain the area
of the homestead has been enlarged
from 100 to 800 acres has resulted
most benefcially in the extension of
"dry farming" and in the demon
stration 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 a supply of
water has been heretofore thought
to be necessary for agriculture.
But theer are millions Of acres Of
completely arid lands in the public
domain which, by the establishment
Of reservoirs for the storing Of water
and the irrigation of the lands, may
be made much more fruitful and pro-
ductive than the best lands in a eli
mate where the moisture comes from
the clouds. Congress recognizes the
Importance of this method of artif-
cial distribution of water on the arid
lands by the passage of the recla-
nation act. Thstprnceeds inf tha n"h-