Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-19

United States forest service. and E.
A. Sterling, director of the American
Forestry Association, also we're on
today's program. Each discussed the
national forests and methods for
their protection.
Mr.. Pinchot declared that the de-
velopment of water power only under
proper safeguards was the greatest
necessity in the whole water power
situation" He quoted figures col
lected by the Federal bureau of cor
porations and the National Conser-
walton Association, intended to show
that concentration of water power
control had nearly doubled in the
past two years.
I'm the last seven years." he con-
tinued, 1.-The concentration of control
in the ten greatest groups has In
creased about seven times faster than
the total of all water power develop
ment in the United States. If this Is
not monopoly in the making, where
can 1t be shown? Commercial power
to this degree is political power and
there lies the greatest danger.
High Risks Keep Capital Away.
ut is argued that concentration of
water power control is increasing
faster than power development be-
cause high risks and low returns
keep capital away. But according to
the figures published by one or the
ten greatest groups of power inter-
ests, in, the last ten years the net
earnings of the gas and electric
companies of the United States have
never dropped below 8 per cent. as
against 425 per cent. for railroads
and ITO per cent. for industrial cor
porations.
THE control of any source of me-
chanical power--coal, oil, natural gas,
water power-carries with Ii control
over the industries which require the
power, as the rapidly Embarrassing DOM
ination of water power interests over
electric lights and street railways
we'll illustrates.
..Under these circumstances. we find
that the control of the water power
business, Ike the control of oil bust
ness. the meat business and the an
thracite coal business, Is passing into
a few strong hands.
Falling Water Necessity.
Like coal meat and oil, mechani-
cal power from falling water Is a
necessity of modern life. Control over
a necessity of life Is control over the
people who must have that necessity.
Private monopoly of any necessary of
life means private control over the
people without responsibility to the
people.
"It means also the power to In
crease the cost of the necessaries of
life. and therefore the cost of living.
without regard to the public interest,
up to whatever point will yield the
largest profit"
Mr.. Pinchot concluded with a denial
of the assertion that full and COM
plete regulation of water powers
would check their development The
advances made In development of
such powers in the national forests
In the past two years. he said, showed
the fallacy Of the contention.
Chief Forester Graves dwelt on the
activities Of the forest service, de-
tail ng the assistance being given
through 1t to settlers, stock men and
other citizens. while at the same time
conserving the national assets. He
said the work would be made even
more efficient IL the States would "let
the federal government assume its
full responsibility of leadership"
Mr.. Sterling told of the strides be-
ing made in the art of private for
estry in the United States. This he
regarded as of gratifying Importance
because of its effect on the future
timber supply of the country.