The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-26
TwENTY-SECoND INSTALLMENT
A STEWARDSHIP FOR The PEOPLE


The work OF the Bureau OF Corpor-
ations, under Herbert Knox Smith.
formed an Important part OF the Con-
seryation movement almost from the
beginning. Mr.. Smith was a member
OF the Inland Waterways Commits
sion and OF the National Conserva-
ton Commission. and his Bureau pre-
pared material of importance for the
| reports OF both. The Investigation
of standing timber in the United
States by the Bureau OF Corporations
furnished for the first time positive
knowledge OF the facts. over nine
hundred counties In timbered regions
were covered by the Bureau. and the
work took i've years. The most i'm
portant facts asceTtained were that
forty years ago three-fourths OF the
standing timber in the United States
was publicly owned. while at the
date OF the report four-tfths OF the
TIMBER IN the country was In private
Bands. The concentration of private
ownership had developed to such an
amazing extent that about two hun
dred holders owned nearly one-half
OF all privately owned timber in the
United states; and OF this the three
greatest holders. the Southern Paci-
| tc Railway. the Northern Pacinc
Railway. and the Weyerhaeuser Tim
/ Der Company. held over ten per cent.
/ OF this work. Mr.. Smith SAYS:
I - WoH AhAIbA AsiAAs Ahuftus 10 KNOW
the facts so that we could take prop
er action toward saving the timber
I still left TO the public. But OF far
more Importance was the light that
this history (and the history OF our
resourcesl throws on the basic atti-
tude. tradition and governmental be-
liefs OF the American people. The
whole standpoint OF the people to-
ward the proper aim of government,
toward the relation of property TO
the citizen. and the relation of prop
erty 10 the government. were brought
out first by this Conservation work"
! Herbert Knox Smith on Water Power
The work-of the Burea of Corpot-
\ atoms as TO water power was equal
ly striking. In addition to bringing
| the concentration OF water power
control first prominently 10 public at
I tenuon. through material furnished
/ for my message in my veto OF the
James River Dam Bill. the work OF
| the Bureau showed that ten great
interests and their allies held nearly
| sixty per cent of the developed water
4 power OF the United States. Says
/ Commissioner Smith: Perhaps the
most important thing in the whole
work was its clear demonstration OF
! the fact that the only effective place
10 control water power in the public
interest is at the power sites; that
as 10 powers now owned by the pub
lie it is absolutely essential that the
public still retain title.
The only way in which the public
can get back TO itself the margin OF
! natural advantage in the water pow
" site is TO set that site at rental
which. added to the cost OF power
production there. will make the total
cost OF water power about the same
as fuel power. and then let the two
| sell at the same priceh 1. e., the
price of fuel power"
or the aght OF the water power
men for State Rights at the st. Paul
| Conservation Congress in September.
I 1903. Commissioner Smith says:
1T was the first open sign of the
shift of the special interests 10 the
/ Democratic party for logical polit-
ical reason, namely. because OF the
availability OF the States Rights idea
l for the purpose of the large corpor
atoms. II marked openly the turn
Of the tide"
Rail and Water.
Mr.. Smith brought to the attention
Of teh finland Waterways commission
the overshadowing Importance to wa
| terways of their relation with railroad
| lines. the fact that eth bulk OF ten traf-
( nc is long distance traffic, that II can
not pass over the whole distance by
water. while II can go anywhere by
rail. and that therefore the power OF
I ten rail lines 10 pro-rate. or not to
pro-rate. with water lines really de-
/ termines teh practical valeu OF a river
channel The controlling value OF ter
minals and the fact that out OF fifty
OF oru leading ports. over half the
| active water frontage in twenty-One
/ ports was controlled by the railroads
was also brought TO the commissions
| attention. and reports OF great value
were prepared boht for teh Inland
J Waterawys commission and fro teh
Z National Conservation commission
In oil -
| facts about the available timber SUD
! ply, about waterways. water power
and iron ore. Mr.. Smith helped 20 de-
Nelop and drive into the public con
| science the idea that the people ought
TO retain title to our natural resources
and handle them by the leasing sys-
| TEN
Fine Arts and the Pork Barrel.
me things accomplished that have
| been enumerated above we're OF i'm
mediate consequence TO the economic
vel being or our people. In addition
certain tlhngs we're done OF which
the economic bearing was more re-
mote. but which bore directly upon
/ our welfare. because they add TO the
beauty OF living and therefore to the
Joy OF life. Securing a great artist.
I Saint-Gaudens. TO give as the most
made working affairs. with some ap-
proach to tho conditions Of real war.
fare. the Incentive 90 become mill
tiaman IS greatly reduced.
To get good work In any line you
have 10 pay the price Mechanics and
business men are not going 20 drop
their regular occupations and run on
10 to 20 pounds Of ncsh in exhausltng
, hikes. merely FOR a few brass buttons
and Tho FUN OF the annual dances. A.
long as no more tangible compcnsa-
ton is offered than the affection OF
Uncle Sam and the dubious frollc of
20 mile marches. the militiaman must
necessarily be something OF % uu
soldier