The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-01-14


the purpose of mutual considera-
ton Of pressing problems calling
for cooperative action. not only be-
tween the states, but with the Fed
eral Government. recommend your
careful consideration on this sub
ject.
Electric Power
Cheap electric power is one of the
essentials of our modern civiliza-
ton.
Approximately eighty-five per
cent of the farms in Minnesota are
without electric service. Many of
the farms which have electric pow
er are paying exorbitant rates
Electric rates in Minnesota differ
In nearly every community. A re-
cent survey by the Federal Trade
Commission showed rates varying
all the way from two cents to thir-
teen and a half cents per kilowatt
hour.
Long experience has shown that
regulation by state commissions
will not bring the desired results.
expense make it impossible for the
state to procure any real reduction
in rates through the courts.
In view of the unprecedented &C
tivity of the Federal Government
in the field of rural identification,
the state of Minnesota should take
an active interest in power prob
lens.
During the next ten years four
hundred and ten million dollars in
federal funds will be available for
rural identification purposes. 1t
seems obvious that we should be in
position to make the most of this
aid.
The Minnesota Planning Board
has made study of the power
question and has recommended a
State Advisory Power Commission.
The purposes of this commission
would be to survey existing power
plants, rates, and services; to pre-
pare comprehensive plan for the
economic inter-connection of exist
ing sources of electricity in the
state; to prepare statewide plan
for rural identification; and to
furnish information and recon-
mendations pertaining to electric
service.
A commission of this kind would
be able to uncover the facts which
are so sadly lacking today and
would pave the way for a greater
enjoyment Of the benefits of cleo
trio power for the citizens of this
state. recommend an act creating
such commission supplied with
sufficient funds to carry on its
work.
further urge the removal of
restrictive legislation hampering
the normal development of the fac
ilities of municipal power plants.
There are in Minnesota fifty cities
owning their own generating plants.
Eighty cities and towns own power
distributing plants, and fifty-seven
counties have established electric
power cooperatives.
The removal of restrictive legis-
lation, such as the present law
which prevents municipal power
plants from extending their lines
more than thirty miles from the
boundaries of the municipality,
would permit these cities and towns
to band together into municipal
leagues for large-scale operation,
and it would also permit them to
unite with rural cooperative pow
err associations wherever this ap-
pears feasible.
/ urge the submission to the vot-
ers Of a constitutional amendment
which would enable the state to
produce electrical power and sell
this power to municipalities at their
gates for their own retailing and
distribution.
Conservation
The stage of academic discussion
on matters of conservation Is past.
Problems affecting the use of tax
reverted lands, forest management,
water conservation and recreation
are of immediate concern in plan
ming for future longtime needs.
Millions of acres of land, unsuited
for agriculture, from which the
forest growth and other sources of
income have been removed, are
now reverting to the state.
In retrospect we see the mistakes
OF the past, but unless we profit by
these mistakes the northern coun-
ties will again be at the Threshold
of another cycle of discourage
ments and failures due to new
owners on the one hand, and re-
newed efforts by taxing units to
keep these lands on the tax rolls on
the other.
Under the present law, lands re-
verting to the state are to be held
in trust for the taxing units. No
one has been able to determine
just what the legislature had in
mind when 1t placed this cloud up
on the title of reverted lands. The
law should be amended so as to
make the lands revert to the state
in fee simple and not be subject to
the trust limitation.
The zoning of reverted land for
agricultural and non-agricultural
uses by counties should be requir-
ed by statute. When such coming
affects state forests, state trust
fund lands, and conservation areas,
coming plans, before being adopted
by county boards, should receive
approval by the Department Of
Conservation. Unless some system
of coming is put into effect long
time program Of forest development
cannot be realized.
Although Minnesota Is region
of streams and lakes, 1t Is at the
bottom Of the ladder in water con-