Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-14
FOR SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.
increased Appropriations Mado by Congress
Tor River Measurements.

| - oo"Si GOD oio some good work during
the closing days of tho session in tho in
torest of manufacturing development
tor the South. 1t is we'll known that
tho Southern watcr-courses are being
utlilzcd to great extont for power to
run factories and plants and for olcctri.
cal purposes, and in many of tho smaller
streams it becomes necessary, before
capital will invest, to determine tho flow
and consequent powor which they arc
capable of producing
This is being dono through official
stream measurements and gaugings by
the United States Geological Survey, and
when al increased appropriation of
100000 for this purpose was opposed in
| Congress, it brought Senators Butler, of
North Carolina, Clay, Of Georgia, Rcp-
rcsentativc Livingston, of icorgia, and
| othors 70 their foet in dofonso of work
of such vital interest to their States and
to all those sections which contain any
possibilities for manufacturing develop
mcnt. Not only this, but Senator But
lor demanded that $250,O0O bo appropri-
atcd instead of tho 100000 recon-
mcndod by tho Senate Appropriations
Committee
'"This work of tho Geological Survey"
said Senator Butlor "is of great impor-
tanco to tho South. Every man in
North Carolina secs tho great CONNER
cial and practical valuo of tho work.
Every man who wants to establish n
cotton factory wants to know exactly
particular stream, because thcn ho can
decide whether ho will build tho factory
thcro or not, and if ho does build it
there, whether ho must supplement it
with steam power"
Senator Clay strongly advocated the
| incl ease in tho appropriation as some
thing justly duo the South. IIo stated
that tho appropriation had gradually in
creased from $1,000 for this purpose to
$4,000, to $4,000 and then to $4,000,
and now 100000 was recommended by
the Senate Appropriations Committee.
1t was hero proposed to increase this
amount to S250,000. He did not know,
he said, of any appropriation that had
been of moro relative benefit to the pco-
case where capitalists refused to cstab-
lish their plant because tho Government
could not furnish data showing the ca
pacity of stream whose power they
intended to utilize. Since then appro-
priations had boon applied, the desired
data furnished by the Geological Survey,
the power of tho stream developed, and
N J,>11,
capitalists.
"In my opinion" concluded Senator
Clay, "this appropriation is of vast i'm
portancc. SO far as my State is con-
ccrncd, we realize that when We develop
our water power and utilize our raw
material, we give employment to our
| idle labor and build up tho South"
After considerable debate along these
| lines Senator Buffers amendment pre-
vailed and S250,n00 was inserted. In tho
| House, the friends of the measure were
not so well organized and the amount
was cut down to the 100000 Congress-
men who favored tho measure, however,
took occasion to speak strongly in be-
half Of moro liberal appropriations in
| the near future, and stated distinctly
that they would bo demanded. Repre-
sentative Livingston, of Georgia, de-
clarcd the Importance to the whole pco-
pie of the work of tho Geological Sur
vcy, and emphasized it's great value to
mining interests, as well as in matters
of stream measurements, prevention Of
stream pollution, irrigation, drainage,
and general wator supply, and stated
that tho South was only in the begin
ming of her development.
"In my section of tho country" he
said, "wo are flooded with lcttcrs from
every quarter Of tho Union inQuiring
about water power, and many relate to
the question of the supply for mining in
the mineral regions"
Mr.. Livingston hoped, he said, that in
the future Congress would deal more
literally with this important question:
that 100000 was mere pittancc when
it had to bo spread over tho whole
United States, and that iis Stale alone
should have SS00000 or 5000, 900 to prop
crly complete tho work. He proposed,
he said, from this time or to work for
better recognition for the South at the
| hands of Congress along this important
line, and he served notice upon his col
leagues that larger appropriations for
this work must be forthcoming, and
that the sooner they were made the bet
ter for the people of the country.
Determining Water.
The work Of the stream measure
mcnts by tho United States Geological
Survey is an important element in build
ing up the manufacturing Industries Of
the South, more especially since it has
been found practicable by electrical
transmission to concentrate the power
furnished by small streams, at central
point suitable for q factory site. Capt.
tai, however, is slow to venture until it
knows from indisputablo authority what
the capacities Of stronms are, and that
they arc not liable to run dry orlow at the
critical time when power may be most
needed. In this way the stream meas
urcmcnts of the Government, covering
period OF years, arc extremely valua-
bic, furnishing an accurate basis upon
which to estimate power. An appro-
priation of 100000 was secured early in
the session for tho carrying on Of this
work up to July lst, and just prior to
the adjournment Of Congress an addi-
tional appropriation of $l00,0O was OBJ
tainpl ypry lorpplv tbrouuh tbn ,;n,r