The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-29
CLIFFORD PINCHOT TALKS
OF NATIONS WATER POWER
Milford, Pike Co, n

My dear Mrs. Harroun:
The twelve-year fight to keep the
nations water power from capture
by the power monopolists is at last
on the verge of being won. The adj
ministration water power bill now be-
ore Congress opens the war to save
for the people Of the United States
their most valuable natural asset.
Some fifty million water horsepower
is at stake.
The bill in question was formulated
under the direction of the SecretarY
% Agriculture, the Secretary of War,
and the Secretary of the Interior; was
submitted to the President for his ap
proval, and recently put forward as
an administration measure. 1t deals
with water power in national forests,
public lands, Indian lands, and navi-
gable streams. A special committee
of the House has been created to con-
slider 1t.
1t is an admirable measure, drawn
With thorough knowledge and unusual
skill. The principles essential for the
wise use and development of our pub
lie water powers in the public interest
are all embodied in it.
In my letter to you of November 16,
1917, l urged your support of the fol-
lowing seven definite principles in
water-power legislation:
ID The thing to do with water
power is to develop it. Whatever re-
tards or restricts the development of
public water powers on terms fair 10
the public is against public policy and
hostile to the general welfare.
CD Water power belongs to the
people. The sites where it is pro-
dLced should always be held in pub
lie hands, for only so can effective
control in the general interest be
secured.
(3) Where public development is not
desired, the right to use water power
sites should be leased for periods
long enough to permit sound, attrac-
tive and profitable investment, but
longer than fifty years. At the
end of each lease all rights should
return to the people who gave them.
ca In order to protect the con-
m against extortion, rates and
service should be regulated by Federal
authority when State or local authori-
ties fail to do so.
90 Reasonably prompt and com
plete development and continuous op-
Grafton, subject to market conditions,
should be required. Already millions
of water horsepower are held out of
use to further monopoly by private
corporations.
(6) Corporations or individuals who
make money out of rights granted by
the people should share their profits
y ith the people.
Cd The public has a right to COM
plete information about every business
based on the use of public property.
1t is a real pleasure to tell you
that every one of these principles is
fulIy cafag,ardad in 4ba adpaipfe+ra
tons water power bill. What re
mains, therefore. is for Congress to
put this measur through without
delay.
The administration water power bill
will first come before the House of
Representatives, where an effort will
certainly be made to amend it in the
interest of water interests. If that
fails, the water-power lobbyists will
endeavor to have the indefensible pro
visions of the Shields bill substituted
in the Senate for the administration
bill. Beaten in that, they will fall
back upon the formula of obstruction
and delay they have used so success
fully for the last ten years.
This measure is practical, fair and
wise. The friends of conservation
should insist that their friends N
Congress shall give their prompt and
full support to the administration
water power bill, and shall see to it
that it is passed without emaseulation,
substitution or postponement. 1t is of
vital interest to our country while the
war is on, and it will be equally inn
portant after the war is over.
The passage of this law will secure
to the American people forever vast