The Elk Mountain pilot., 1914-04-16

DenVer-ln ne western governors
definitely expressed their views upon
the problems of the West in a set OF
| resolutions adopted at a closing meet
ing of their body.
The resolutions were adopted after
a weeks consideration of the ques-
tions both in meetings of the COVER
nor's conference and the sessions OF
the irrigation conference called by
Secretary of the Interior Lane.
A committee of three governors
Spry, of Utah: Oddie. of Nevada. and
Ammons of Colorado was appointed to
present the views of the Western gov
OF the Interior Lane and other federal
officials at Washington.
Resolutions of Governors.
The resolutions follow:
I'VE, the members of the Western
Governors conference. in convention
assembled at Denver. Colorado. April
Z, s, 8, 10 and IL, 1914, do hereby adopt
the following resolutions:
Conservation.
1--WE believe in conservation-in
| sane conservation. We believe that
the all-wise Creator placed the vast
resources of this nation here for the
use and benefit of all the people-gen-
erations past, present and future, and
while we believe due consideration
and protection should be given to the
| rights of those who came hereafter.
We insist that the people of this day
and age should be given every reason
able opportunity to develop our won
derful resources and put them to
| beneficial use.
State Control.
THAT it is the duty of each and
every state to adopt such laws as will
make for true conservation of our re-
sources, prevent monopoly and render
the greatest good to the greatest num-
ber; and that as rapidly as the states
prepare themselves to carry out such
a policy of conservation the federal
government should withdraw its sup
| ervision and turn the work over to the
| states.
Settlement Of Our Lands.
believing that those who control
the soil control the nation and that
| the most blessed nations are those
where the ownership of lands is in
many hands. we insist that in the man
agement and sale of our public lands
both the federal government and the
state should maintain such policy
as will make for the rapid settlement
of all vacant agricultural lands.
Desert Land Act.
Resolved. That this convention rec
commend to Congress amendments Of
the following nature to the Desert
Land act:
"a That the entryman's proof OF
citizenship in the state wherein he
makes a desert land filing, be changed
from the time of filing to the time of
| proving up.
"(2) That the requirements of rec
lamation be enlarged to embrace the
alternative proof of cultivation by the
actual growing of crops by dry farm
methods on double the acreage re-
quired if by irrigation.
Homestead Entry.
I'VE approve the plan now before
Congress to permit homestead entries
by persons over eighteen years of age.
Water Power.
Whereas, Congress has declared
the water of all lakes. rivers and other
sources of water supply, upon the pub
lie lands and not navigable. shall re-
main and be held free for the appro-
priation and use of the public for ir-
rigation, mining and manufacturing
purposes We insist the Federal gov
ernment has no lawful authority to
| exercise control over the water of
| state through ownership of public
| lands.
I'VE maintain the waters of a state
| belong to the people of the state and
that the states should be left free to
develop water power possibilities and
should receive fully the revenues and
other benefits derived from such de-
velopment.
Precious Metals.
I'VE reiterate our expression con-
tanned in Article 10 of the 1918 reso-
lutions. referring to the reopening OF
mineral land, and in addition would
urge that the revenues derived from
the sale of such lands should be used
for the reclamation of the arid lands
of the West.
Grazing Lands.
I'VE believe grazing lands should be
disposed of through an enlarged home
stead act giving the settler sufficient
ground TO enable him on livestock
basis to support family.
Summer Homestead Law.
I'VE favor the passage of summer
homestead or presumption law, per-
mitting land not valuable for timber,
minerals or agriculture, but suitable
for summer homes, to be acquired in
not to exceed forty-acre tracts for
summer homes. The entryman should
not be required to be a resident OF the
state in which the land is situated,