Photo from U. S. Geological Survey 



IN THE RADIUM COUNTRY COLORADO 



The greater part of the world's supply of radium is obtained from radium-bearing ore 

 mined in the United States. At present the ore is exported to Europe, where, in the labora- 

 tories of France, Austria, Germany, and England, the radium is extracted from it. There 

 appears to be in the United States today less than two grams of radium — that is, less than 

 one- fourteenth of an ounce. This is valued at $120,000 a gram. Thus while we are supply- 

 ing the world with radium, we have practically none at home, as heretofore no steps have 

 been taken to preserve for our own people this invaluable metal. 



shall make these rates? Within the 

 State they must be subject to State regu- 

 lation ; between the States, Federal au- 

 thority must control. 



WHAT WILD THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVE 

 EOR ITS LANDS? 



What return shall the Federal govern- 

 ment have for its lands? My answer 

 would be, no return whatsoever, provided 

 the plant reverted to the government 

 without cost at the end of 50 or 60 years, 

 or so much of the plant as was based on 

 the land itself and the improvements 

 directly attached thereto, such as reser- 

 voirs, dams, water rights, and rights of 



way. For the tangible property of the 

 plant, such as the distributing system and 

 machinery, the government might well 

 agree to pay an appraised price, so as to 

 insure its being maintained and extended 

 during the later years of the life of the 

 franchise. 



The right to buy the complete plant at 

 an appraised figure at any time after 20 

 years would be a further protection and 

 one not burdensome, while for better 

 service it would seem advisable that all 

 plants be permitted, in fact encouraged, 

 to combine physically, just as our rail- 

 roads are required to couple themselves 

 into through routes and thus make their 



223 



