Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-01-08
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
OF POWER SERVICE
COMING, SAYS Lane
Secretary of Interior Foresees
an Era of Electric Develop
ment in United States.

Washington, D. c.. Special: With
bold strokes Franklin K. Lane, secre-
tary Of the interior, outlined in his
annual report to the president, a broad
policy In the conservation Of the vast
natural of the United States
which yet lie within the regulatory
powers of the government and pointed
to the important results that may be
achieved through the development of
these under proper super
vision.
likewise, is wholly unique, in that it
contains not a single recommended
ton. Suggestions for action, which
Secretary Lane observes emphatically
Is what the country desires N needs,
are numerous; but he prefers to pro-
pose general policies to the making of
flat recommendations.
Two notable and interesting pre-
dictions are indicated rather than
made in the report. One Is that the
time is not far distant when coal of
too low a grade ito stand storage or
transportation will be converted into
electricity at the mouth Of the mines
and widely distributed for lighting,
heat and power" the other, that the
gigantic force now wasting itself in
the rivers Of the country will be so
controlled by dams as to provide heat,
light and power to the people and hat
within a generation l believe the peo-
public ownership of hydro-electric
power plants as they are today to
municipality owned waterworks."
Attitude Of Tho West.
In the opening lines of the report
Secretary Lane takes up a serious
situation, which obtains in q great Sec
ton of the country. There exists a
feeling in the west" says he, that its
affairs and needs have not been given
that consideration at the hands of the
national government which they merit.
This feeling is not confined to specula-
tors or exploiters. 1t is the sentiment
Of many who are without selfish mo-
tive and regard the matter wholly
from the standpoint of national growth.
There is one very simple explana-
ton for the existence Of this feeling.
We have adventured upon a new policy
Of administering u affairs and have
not developed adequate machinery. We
have called a halt on methods of
spoliation which existed, to the great
benefit of many, but we have failed to
substitute methods sane, healthful and
terprise Of an ambitious people can
make u use Of their w
We abruptly closed opportunities to
the m%onopolist, but did not open them
TO the developer"
The land policy put into force, he
says, caused dtSmay and discomfort"
The congress had been most generous
In Its disposition of The public lands.
They were given to the railroads and
to the states. To classify them was
too difficult a task. They would
classify themselves wnen they ar
rived in individual ownership. And
SO the door was opened for monopoly
and for fraud.
II the government did not appre-
ciate the invaluable nature OF its assets
there were men who did. The nation
wanted home makers, but found its
land drifting into the hands Of corpor-
atoms, which were withdrawing them
evitabie. II lands were to be with
drawn from public service why might
not the government do the withdrawing
itself?"
Results Of New Policy.
A new policy was evolved, the secre-
tary pointed out-that Of using the land
for the purpose to which it is best
fitted. ITO this policy" he says, II be-
lieve the west is now reconciied. The
west no longer urges a return to the
hazards OF the land. is land policy. But
1t does ask action. Already the con-
gress has recognized the appositeness
Of his policy, but 1t is for yourself and
SOA6AC0S LuILICI- CASSuU Luis IlOuRHI
into our legislation.
1.-THE largest body Of unused and
neglected a In the United States is
Alaska" In h 46 years intervening
since Its purchase I'VE nave given it
little more than the most casual con-
Germ, yet its mines, fisheries and furs
alone have added to our wealth the
grand sum Of $500, 900, 900. For almost
a generation it was the rich harvest
field Of q single company. Individual
fortunes have been made in that coun-
try larger than the price paid to Rus
sia for the whole territory. It has been
estimated that there are 10000 900
acres Of this land that will make homes
for a people as sturdy as those OF New
England. Whether this is SO or not, it
would appear that Alaska can be made
self sustaining agriculturally.
This vast and unsurpassed asset lies
almost u~ndeveloped. A territory one-
fifth the size OF the United States con-
tains less than 1000 miles of anything
that can be called a wagon road."
Wealth Of Alaska.
This unfortunate condition, in Secre-
tary Lanes Judgment, Is not due to
"the inhospitality OF the Alaska ell
mate" because ssaome OF southeastern
Alaska has q climate more temperate
and more SQuable than that Of the city