Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-11-27
Dsvelspmsnt silWstes Powers.
xnFonD, PIKE Co.,, PA,
November II. 1917.

AlIHO8Vs xxA8 OfVse = Ass
November II, 1917.
Editor Desnocr0t:
The great war In which our nation is
engaged viii be won not alone By food
and men, bat BY mechanical power -
we'll. Without mechanical power We
could not mako or move tho weapons
with which We hght-guns, ammunition,
ships and supplies. Our national re-
sources Of power, whether from coal,
oil, or waterpower. are national war
necessities. We need them to win the
war.
In this gigantic struggle our security
requires % to use Ill these great re-
sources, and to use them wisely and
we'll. The people Of the United States
own some afty million undeveloped
water horsepower, or about enough to
run every train. trolley, factory, mill,
mine, and electric power plant We have.
For ten years the friends Of oonserva-
ton have urged the development OF pub
lie waterp0wers in the public interest.
But development has been held back by
q little group of water-power magnates
and their friends In Congress who have
blocked ell legislation which would not
give them these valuable properties for
ever and for nothing.
Today, whom the nation needs all its
resources, the same men who have been
blocking reasonable waterpower legis-
lstion own and are holding millions of
water horsepower undeveloped and out
of use while clsmoring for more.
The time has come when such obstruc.
ton threatens tho nations safety and
success. We need the development of
these powers In war more than in peace.
At the coming session Of Congress sound
waterpower legislation should be enacted
as war measure, based upon principles
fair to all sides. These principles l
believe to be briefly as follows:
(i) The thing to do with waterpower
is to develop 1t. Whatever retards or
restricts the development of public
waterpowers on terms fair to the public
is against public policy and hostile to
the general welfare.
(2) Waterpower belongs TO the peo-
ple.- The sites where It Is produced
should always be held In public hands,
for only 80 can effective control In the
general interest be secured.
(3) Where public development 10 not
desired, the right to use waterpower
sites should be leased for periods long
enough to permit sound, attractive, and
profitable Investment, but never longer
than fifty years. At the end OF each
lease all rights should return TO the peo-
pie who gave them.
(4) In order to protect the consumer
against extortiou, rates and service
should be regulated by Federal authority
when State or local authorities fail to
do 80.
(5) Reasonably prompt and complete
development and continuous operation,
subject to market conditions, should be
required. Already millions of water
horsepower are held out of use to further
monopoly by private corporations.
(8) Corporations or individuals who
make money out of rights granted by
the people should share their profits
with the people.
Cd The public has right to COM
plete information about every business
based on the use of public property.
These are the principles for which the
friends of conservation have been con-
tending. Many watsrpower men believe
them to be fair and sound. They will, /
hope, commend themselves to You as
wise and reasonable. I am writing to
ask your support for immediate legisla-
tion, based upon them, when Congress
meets.
This is no time to give away public
assets necessary for the welfare OF our
people both In the war and after the
war; and We should no longer tolerate
the selfishness of private interests which
take the dog-in-the- manger position that
they must have these waterpowers on
their own terms, or no one shall use
them at all.
Az the President has said: "The
supreme test of the Nation has come.
We must all speak, act, and serve to-
gether." Sincerely yours,
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.