New-York tribune., 1909-08-12
REPLIES TO PlNCH0T
Statistician Says No Water Polrcr
Combination EJiSts.

In reply TO a speech made by Clifford Pinehot at
Spokane, Wash, before the National irrigation
Congress on Tuesday, Charles T. Martin an editor
OF The Electrical World" and a government agent
FOR the collection Of industrial statistics said last
night that a water power trust or combination OF
corporations seeking to control the water power
resources OF this country did not exist
Mr. Martin declared that both Herbert X Smith.
Commissioner OF Corporations, and MI Flhchot
had misrepresented the facts. He said:
statistics do not show that there is any monopoly
of the water power interests. Commissioner Smith
reported TO Mr.. Roosevelt that Of the $4,000
horsepower in water plants in the United States
nearly - per cent I'm plants already developed or
advantageous for development was owned by lS
large companies. which held 10 or Is per cent
more by various indirect means. or that l3 con
Germs held about 1.S0.0eo horsepower Even this
does not constitute monopoly. Dr. NJ J. Nc
Gee. secretary OF the Inland Waterways tommls-
sion. said at the Joint Conservation Conference IN
Washington that the theoretical hydraulic horse
power OF the country amounted TO 23o.oacoo' the
amount in use was $4,000 horsepower. and the
amount available was 81 10000 at reasonable
cost from 100000 to $4,000 600 horsepower
"'McGraw's Electrical Directory. an authoria-
tive publication shows that there are nine hundred
independent water power companies In the Chted
States The largest OF them ALL that at Niagara
is absolutely independent of any trust control Inc
officials OF the General Electric Company ana the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Coni-
pany have nothing 10 DO Win niagara Hi'o -
with each other There so many well known
waterworks which have nothing TO 90 win eeI %
tricity that Il is absurd connect them with
these companies.
Mr.. Roosevelt in vetong the bill for the CON
structjon OF a dam across the Missouri declared
that the General Electric and the Westinghouse
companies controlled SO per cent of all the water
power plants. This figure does not agree with
Commissioner Smiths. The General Electric
issued statement denying the charge ana de-
claring they controlled only one water power
rornpany that at Schenectady. and were interested
in water power only as IL afforded a market TOT
electrical apparatus. The facts bear THIS out
That one man doing business as an individual hods
stock in several many companies does MOI
indicate the existence OF trust
u wish Mr.. Pinchot would show the facts upon
which he bases his declaration of the existence or
q trust There are several large concerns con-
trolling groups OF powers which they have wisely
united into networks with admirable results IN
insuring q cheap and reliable power supply. II
is also true that the electrical manufacturing
companies have been for more than a decade ac-
tive in selling power transmission apparatus ana
have helped promising enterprises in every proper
way Such assistance has been very potent IN
promoting the development of water powers 10 the
great benefit OF the territories served
There is no discernble unity OF action III uhe
increase Of speculative investments in water power
The big electrical concerns ave doing Jess Of It
now than ever. There is an instructive community
OF motive rather than concerted action.
II doubt the existence OF anything that can be
called a Power Trust. while realizing fully the
possibilities OF a-fatsFe@ situation and the real
need Of vigorous action TO preserve for future
generations their heritage in the hydraulic re-
sources OF the country.