Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-10
Conservation Makes Progress.

The first step has been taken to"afu
the application of the water power pol
Icy which Secretary Fisher has NiSor-
ousIy advocated since his incumbency OF
the office of Secretary of the interiors;
policy looking TO the rational conserva-
ton of the water power of the United
States and its use for the general good
under regulation by the government MI.
Fisher has expressed the opinion that the
conservation movement as whole. TO
particular part of which the American
Forestry Association devotes its activl-
ties. is more in need at the present time
of demonstration of its affirmative and
constructive character than of any other
thing He believes the conservation
movement should demonstrate that it is
constructive, affirmative and progressive
lie not only denies. but logically answers.
the charge of anti-conservationists that
the conservation movement represents a
negative principle and aims to withdraw
national resources from fields of activity
and to check or prevent their develop
ment
The iniNal and important proceeding.
reported in a recent number of The Star.
vas the issuance Of a grant under which
a railroad company will draw electric
power from a private power plant whose
transmission lines cross public land.
The water power development of the
country Is subject that has engaged the
hest efforts of the most aggressive con-
scrvationists They have been trying
with special vigor during the past two
years to have Congress enact law
under which the government could pro-
ceed in comprehensive way with the
development of this great national re-
source. but along this line of action there
has been little progress. Secretary Fish
or has pointed out that existing statutes
permit the development of water power
on the public domain in two ways.
Under the existing statutes he has
said. I'VE can either turn over that water
power to private development and owner
ship absolutely untrammeled. unre
strained and unregulated. except as We
can hereafter regulate ii like any private
business. as 1T were from the top; or we
can dispose of it by permit, which Is
by the very terms of the statute revo-
cable the moment it is granted. Neither
of these methods is satisfactory"
AS rider to an appropriation bill in
March, 1911, there was inserted a pro-
vision that the head of any department
having jurisdiction over public lands or
reservations should have the right to
grant an easement for period of not to
exceed fifty years for electrical trans
mission lines and for telegraph and tele-
phone lines" No express authority was
given the head of such a department to
make terms conditions under which
such grant would be issued, but because
of facts not necessary to enter into now,
that statute was construed as giving the
terms and conditions. II was on the oath
of last August that the Secretary of the
Interior promulgated certain rules and
regulations under the main act of 1901
under which revocable permits are is
sued and put those regulations into eff
feet SO that the question would no longer
be d moot question.
one of the big electric power companies
of the west is the Great Falls Power
Company OF Montana. 1t is private
concern. owning its power site. That
company was interested in the far-reach-
ing plan OF supplying power for the
identification of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul railroad along the mountain
divisions OF its lines and ii needed a right
of way for transmission lines across pub
lie lands. The power company has been
given the desired grant, as announced in
the news columns of The Star on terms
prescribed by the Department of the In
terror. This grant imposes on the grantee
the payment of money to the federal gov
eminent, nominal at the beginning but
subject TO reasonable REIMBURSEMENT every
decade The grantee agrees that it will
keep open its books of account with re-
gard to the power transmitted over its
lines. that il will consent 20 the regula-
ton OF its rates and service by the local
or state authorities. and that il will sell
its power to the state or federal govern
ment or any municipal corporation upon
the most favorable terms given to any
other customer under similar conditions
The step taken under the terms Of this
grant is of dual significance. each far
reaching. IL marks the beginning OF the
clectrhcation of the transcontinental
Iailroafis from cast of the Rockies to the
Pacific and perhaps of all other railroads
whcrc uater-made electricity is availabl
and Ii makes effective the definite regula-
tons regarding use OF public lands bS'
transmission lines of power companies for
which the Interior Department under
Secretary Fisher has commended.