Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-19
LETTERS I'D THE EDlT0}
WHtsrpewer Legislation.

Mr. Editor: The great war in
 which our nation is engaged will be
 won not alone by food and men. but
 by mechanical power as well. Without
 mechanical power we could not make
 or move the weapons with which we
 fight-guns. ammunition, ships and
 supplies. Out national resources of
 power. whether from coal. oil, or wa
 terpower. are national war necessities
 We need them to win the war.
 In this gigantic struggle our securi- ty requires us to use all these great re- sources, and to use them wisely and
 own some fifty million undeveIoped 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 coaserv- : ation have urged the development of public waterpewers in the public inter
 est Eut development has been held back by little group of waterpow CT magnates and their friends in con gross who have biocke'1 all legislation which would not give them these valu- a ble properties forever and for noth- ing.
 Today, when the nation needs all it's resources, the same men who have been blocking reasonable waterpower legislation own and are holding mil lions of water horsepower undeveIop- cd and out of use while clamoring for more.
 The time has come when such ob Struction threatens the nations safe ts and success. We need the develop
 nent of these powers in war even session of conEress sound waterpow CT Legislation should be enacted as a war measure. based upon principles
 fair to all sides. These principles believe to he briefly follows: CD The thing to do with v-atcrpow- CT is to dereiop it. Whatever retards or restricts the development of puofic
 waterpowers on terms fair to the pub lie is against policy and hostile to the general welfare.
 CD Waterpower belongs to the peo- pie. The sites where it is produced should always be held in public hands, for only can effective control in tIe general interest be secured (3, Where public development is not
 desired. the right to use waterpoUer
 sites should be leased for periods long enough to permit sound. attractive. and
 proftab,c investment, but never long
 each leasa all righ.s should return to thA rcopie uko rave them.
 (4) Tn order to protect the consum-
 CT against estortion, rates and ser vics- should be regulated by federn
 authority when state or local authori- t;es fail to do so.
 t5, Reasonably prompt and com
 niet" development and continuous op- l F"a'1N-'. ShDJeCC TO TlaTkeI COnu1tlOnSi t-,souIt1 be reuuired. Already mil riers Of watr1' Horsepower are held out of rse to further monopoly by private cornora tions.
 fe) Corporations or individuals who r'alze money out of rights granted by tho r-op;e should share their profits --ift, the people.
 @ Tho pubic has a right to com plete information about every busi- ness based on the use of public prop erty.
 These are the principles for which the friends of conservation have been contend:pz. Many waterpower men ',elieve them to be fair and sound They will, hope, commend themselves | to von as wise and reasonable. I am writing to ask your sttpport for i'm . mediate legislature based upon them when congress meets.
 This is no time to give Away pub. lie assets necessary for the welfare of our our people both in the war and after the war: an.1 we should no long CT tofera te the sejhshflesS of private in terests which take the dog in- the ntanser rrsition that they must have theae waterpowers on their own terms or no one shall use them at all As the president has said: "The s1l = preff1e test of the nation has come. We must all speak, act, and serve togeth-
 er."
 Sincerely Yours. CLIFFORD PINCHOT. Milford, Pa. Nov. 12, >1o17.