The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-02-01
THE NATIONS WATER POWER
January 81, 1918.
Mr. A w. Bradshaw,

Mr.. A. W. Bradshaw,
Editor Times, Pennington, Mo.
NV Dear Sir:--The twelve-year
fight to keep the nations water power
from capture by the power monopo-
lists is at last on the verge of being
won. The Administrator Water Pow
err Bill, now before Congress, opens
the way to save for the people of the
United States their most valuable
natural asset. Some fifty million wa
ter horsepower is at stake. ,
The bill in question was formulated
under the direction of the Secretary
of 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 For
ests. public lands, Indian lands, and
navigable streams. A special COM
mittee of the House has been created
to consider it.
It 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 inter-
est are all embodied in it.
In my letter to you of Nov. 10,
1917, | urged your support of the fol-
lowing seven definite principles in wa
ter power legislation:
% 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 to
the public is against public policy and
hostile to the general welfare.
(2) Water power belongs to the
people. The sites where it is produc-
ed should always be held in public
hands, for only so can effective con-
troll in the general interest be secured
(3) Where public development is
not desired, the right to use water
power sites should be leased for pc
RODS long enough to permit sound, at
tractive, and profitable investment
but never longer than fifty years. 1T
the end of each lease all rights should
return to the people who gave them
ca In order to protect the con,
sumner against extortion, rates and
service should be regulated by Fed
eral authority when State OF local au,
thorities fail to do so.
60 Reasonably prompt and COM
plete development and continuous OPP
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 profltS
with the people.
(O The public has a right to COM
plete information about every bust
ness based on the use of public prop
erty.
1t is a real pleasure to tell you that
every one Of these principles is fully
safeguarded in the Administrations
Water Power Bill. What remains
therefore, is for Congress to put this
measure through without delay.
The Administration Water Powel
Bill will first come before the Horsc
of Representatives, where an effor
will certainly be made to amend it IL
the intereset of the power interests
If that fails, the water power lobby
lists will endeavor to have the indie.
feasible provisions of the Shields bill
substituted in the Senate for the Ad-
ministration bill. Beaten in that, they
will fall back upon the formula OF OBJ
struction and delay they have used SO
successfully for the last ten years.
This measure is practical, fair and
wise. The friends of conservation
should insist that their friends in Con,
gress shall give their prompt and full
support to the Administration Water
Power Bill, and shall see to it that 1t
is passed without emasculation, Sub
stitution, or postponement. 1t is Of
vital interest to our country while the
war is on, and will be equally impor'
tant after the war is over.
The passage of this law will securc
to the American people forever vast
resources whose use for the good OF
all will make this land safer anc
better place to live in. All the force,
of conservation are behind it, | urge
YOU to give the Administration Water
Power Bill your strongest appfov&
and support,
Sincerely yours,
CLIFFORD PlNCHOT