Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-03
EXPLOITATION Of
POWER RESOURCES
TO Be RESTRICTED

While all legitimate proposals for
the development Of oregon's water
power resources will be encouraged
oy the state engineers office no ex-
ploitation Of these resources at the
expense of the public good is to be
toieoated if this can be avoided, ac-
cording TO State Engineer Cupper
who has declared his determination
TO demand proof Of the ability and
the preparedness to proceed with de-
velopment work without unnecessary
delay without approving any OF the
numerous applications which are
now flooding his office for permis-
sion to appropriate water for power
development from Oregon streams.
F, A total of 2l such applications
have been filed since January /, COW
lering appropriations for water suffi-
cient to develop eo0,63I horsepower
or three and one half times as much
power as is now developed in this
state. The unprecedented rush for
Oregon power sites is due to the en-
aetment of the federal power bill re-
moving the obstacle in the way to the
use of public lands adjacent to desir-
able power sites, Mr.. Cupper ex-
plains.
Cooperation Necessary
HThn 1f ons;x,ss..
electric power development imposes
on the state and federal government
noe only the duty to encourage all le-
climate development, but also the
duty of eliminating as far as possi-
BILE exploitation of this great re-
source.
1T is obvious that In most cases the
state and federal government must
act in close cooperation for the gov
ernment controls the public lands and
the state controls the use of the wa
ter.
For several years the state Of Ore
gon and the government have been
cooperating under a contract, the
provisions of which require that each
rparty have an opportunity to pass up
on the desirabllity Of approving the
development before rights are grant
ed by either the state or the govern
ment. Doubtless some such plan will
be continued under the new power
bill when 1t becomes a law.
ut does not seem TO be in keeping
with the modern trend OF thought
and legislative action to permit any
one by the paying OF nominal filing
fees to gain control of valuable nat
ural resources and then peddle them
out to the highest bidder. The con-
sumer must eventually pay the pen
atty. A filing on power site either
land or water should not ripen into
right unless the person making the
filing has the ability to proceed. II
is believed that it should be the pol
icy of the state and government gov
ernment to require reasonable assur-
ance that the works Will be construct
ed before granting the rights.
However, we must not overlool
the fact that power development usu
ally comes about through some inter
ested party, not infrequently maj
with a filing, calling attention OF th'
capitalist or power company TO TIL
particular power possibility. A GER
tain promotion expense is legitimate
1t may better be characterized as al
exploration expense. The finding 0
! the site and the collection OF suffi
cient data SO that the proposed de
4 velopment may SECURE intelligent co
,sideration in constructive promotion
Making q filing and drawing on tn
Imagination for facts upon which {
rely in peddling and selling the I'll
ing is destructive promotion. Neithe
the state nor, government should is
sue a final permit so long as the er
terprise is in the promotion stage a
all, but should not permit or tolerat
the latter class of promotion at al
A preliminary permit or applicatio
might we'll be allowed, while q bon
Tfide investigation is being made, re
gardless Of whether Il is for the pur
pose Of immediate construction b
the party making the investigation, c
for the purpose Of securing dat'
which will serve to interest others !
the enterprise"