Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-16
Control of Concessions.

AS to federal as against state control
Of water-power concessions on streams
which are not navigable, the Secretary
says: THE suggestion is made frequently
by those who are in one way or another
representing either present or future IN
veStment in water-pOwer development that
such power sites and their control should
be turned over to the respective states in
which they are located. 1t is interesting
to note. however, that the ordinary citi-
zens of these states are not at all con-
cerned over federal usurpation or unjust
treatment.
'"They suspect that the real purpose Of
those who urge the turning over of the
federal domain to the states is that they
may escape the longer and the stronger
arm of the federal government and may
take advantage Of the more limited re-
Individual states.
while some states undoubtedly have
wisely conserved certain of the lands and
natural resources turned over to them by
| the nation, the story has too often been
| the acquisition of these lands and re-
sources by special interests or individuals
without adequate recognition of the pub
| lie interest
There is no policy which it would be
wise for any state to adopt with respect
| to these matters in the adoption and en-
| fOrcement of which it cannot be supple
| mented and assisted rather than retarded
| powers and the property now held by the
nation. 1t is precisely this policy of prac-
| teal cooperation which should be put
| into effect. There is no real conflict be-
tween the nation and the states upon the
subject.
Importance of Streams.
I'm general. all Of the streams which
| are susceptible of water-pOwer develop
| ment are also Of great Importance for
| domestic use, for irrigation and for navi-
cation. All Of them depend to some de-
| gree upon protection and aid of some kind
| and from some source for one or more of
| these uses increasingly that source
| tends to be the nation and not the states
Some Of the individual states are de-
veloping effective policies of water con-
servation, but 1t Is the federal govern
ment after all which Is called upon to
make the chief expenditures for the de-
velOpment of navigation and for the pro-
| lection of the forest cover around the
sources and along the watersheds OF both
navigable and nOn-navigable streams.
The Secretary emphasizes the recon-
mendation made in his annual report last
year for the need of a comprehensive
land classification and of administration
| based thereon. The existing statutes. he
says, attempt to recognize in very gen.
eral and ineffective way the fundamental
differences between the different classes
Of agricultural lands still remaining In
is not flexible enough to recognize the
difference. he declares. and greater diff
ficulties are found in the present laws or
lack of laws with regard to other parts
Of the public domain, especially our tim
Der lands. our grazing lands, our water
power and reservoir sites and our lands
containing coal. oil, gas asphalt, potash,
nitrates and phosphates"
For Constructive Legislation.
Secretary Fisher recommends the
adoption of constructive legislation with
respect to water-power development and
| the control and the comprehensive APP
| plication of the leasing system to the de-
| velopment of our public coal, oil. gas,
| asphalt. nitrate. potash and phosphate
| lands. with appropriate provision for the
protection of prOSpectOrs during reason
able exploration period preliminary to the
| leasing Of the land" He points to the
| fact that in the Appalachian mountains
the national forest reservation commits
| sion is now buying lands upon which
| timber can be raised, but not good for
| agricultural purposes, for conserving the
| waters at the heads of navigable streams.
| 1T is inexcusable." he declares. Ito
permit public lands of this character to
| be acquired now by private interests
| buy just such lands elsewhere and may
have to repurchase in the future the
very lands from which the government
is now parting. There are public lands
in the west in a similar situation to those
now being bought in the east, he adds
| and these should be retained by the
| government in order that the streams
| whose headwaters they protect may be
made as useful as possible. 1 am in
formed that there exist areas Of public
lands on the headwaters Of streams in
the west. and particularly in the arid
southwest. which should be withdrawn
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