The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-02


gress the establishment of form OF
commission government for Alaska.
The territory is too extended, its needs
are too varied and its distance from
Washington too remote to enable con-
gress to keep up with It's necessities in
the matter of legislation of local
character.
The governor Of Alaska in his report.
which accompanies that of the secre-
tary of the interior, points out certain
laws that ought to be adopted and en-
phasizes what have said as to the
immediate need for a government of
much wider powers than now exists
there If 1t can be said to have any
government at all.
do not stop to dwell upon the lack
of provision for the health OF the in
habitants and the absence or made
quacy of laws. the mere statement of
which shows their crying need. only
press upon congress the imperative ne
cessity for taking action not only to
permit the beginning OF the develop
ment of Alaska and the opening of
her resources, but to provide laws
which shall give to those who come
under their jurisdiction decent protec-
ton.
Lower Colorado River.
There is, transmitted herewith a let
ter from the secretary Of the interior
setting out the work done under joint
resolution approved June 25. 1910, au-
thorizing the expenditure of $1.000,0O0
or so much thereof as might be neces-
sary. to be expended by the president
for the purpose of protecting lands and
property in the Imperial valley and
elsewhere along the Colorado river In
Arizona. The money was expended
and the protective works erected, but
the disturbances in Mexico so delayed
the work and the floods in the Colora-
do river were so extensive that part
of the works have been carried away,
and the need for further action and ex-
penditure of money exists. l do not
make a definite recommendation at
present, for the reason that the plan to
be adopted for the betterment of con-
ditions near the mouth of the Colorado
river proves to be so dependent on a
free and full agreement between the
government of Mexico and the govern
ment OF the United States as to joint
expenditure and joint use that 1t is un-
wise to move until we can obtain some
agreement with that government which
will enable us to submit to congress
larger plan better adapted to the ext
gencies presented than the one adopt
ed. 1t is essential that we act prompt
ly, and through the state department
the matter is being pressed upon the
attention of the Mexican government.
Meantime report of the engineer in
charge, together with subsequent re-
port upon his work by a body of ex-
perts appointed by the secretary of the
interior. together with an offer by the
Southern Pacific railroad to do the
work at certain price with a guaran-
ty for year, and a comment upon
this offer by Brigadier General Mar
shall, late chief of engineers. United
States army, and now consulting en-
gineer of the reclamation service, are
all herewith transmitted
Water Power Sites.
In previous communications to con-
gress | have pointed out two methods
by which the water power sites on
streams may be con-
trolled as between the state and the
government. 1t has seemed
wise that the control should be con-
centrated in one government or the |
other as the active participant in SUI
peryising its use by private enterprise. |
In most cases where the government |
owns what are called water power |
sites along nonnavigable streams, |
which are really riparian lots, without |
which the power In the stream cannot |
be used, we have situation as to /
ownership that may be described as
The federal government has /
and without which the power in the I
stream cannot be transmitted into cleo
richly and applied at distance. while
t is claimed that the state under the
aw OF waters as 1t prevails In many
" our western states controls the use
# the water and gives the beneficial
Use to the first and continuous user.
N order to secure proper care by the
tate governments over these sources
II power it has been proposed that the
shall deed the water pow
II site to the state on condition that
he site and all the plant upon it shall
evert to the government unless the
tate parts with the site only by a
ease. the terms of which 1t enforces
md which requires a revaluation of
ERIN to last not more than fifty years.
failure of the state to make and en-
orce such leases would enable the
government by an action of forfeiture
o recover the power sites and all
'lants that might be erected thereon,
nd this power of penalizing those who
ucceed to the control would furnish a
Motive to compel the observance of the
olicy of the government.
The secretary of the interior has sug-
ested another method by which the
Vater power site shall be leased d.
ectly by the government to those who
xercise a public franchise under pro-
isions imposing rental for the wa
or power to create a fund to be ex-
ended by the general government for