The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-01-21

tonishing consolidation has taken \
place practically within the last \
five years \
To give away, without conditions, \
this, n of the greatest of our re- \
sources, would be an act of folly. II \
we are guilty of it, our children \
will be forced to pay an annual re- y
turn upon a capitalization based \
upon the highest prices which the =
traffic will bear. \
I esteem IL my duty TO use every \
endeavor to prevent this growing y
monopoly, the most threatening \
which has ever appeared. from be- \
Ing fastened upon the people OF this \
nation. -.. +
Washington, d. c., Jan. 19.-Presl-
dent Roosevelt sent a special message
to the House with his veto of the bill
providing for the construction of a dam
across the James river, in Stone coun-
ny, MO-, the purpose OF the dam being
TO get water to create electric power.
He declared that the movement to Sc
cure control OF the water power of the
country Is still in its infancy, but unless
1t Is controlled the history OF the oil
industry will be repeated in the hydro
electric power industry. with results far
more oppressive N disastrous.
1T Is true" he added, that the
great bulk Of our potential water pow
,er Is as yet undeveloped, but the sites
which are now controlled by combina-
tons are those which offer the great
est advantages M therefore hold a
strategic position
a valuable privilege which by its very
nature Is monopolistic n does not
contain the conditions essential to pro-
tect the public interest.
The message vas received indiffer-
emily. After it's reading IL was re-
ferred to the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce.
The Message.
The message In part is as follows:
/ return herewith without my approval
House bill 177O to authorize William III.
Standlsh TO construct a dam across
James river, In Stone county Mo-, and
divert a portion of it's waters through a
tunnel into the said river again to Gre
size sisn, electric t5s 6 R9wsr MY reasons for not
The bill gives to the grantee a valuable
privilege, which by Its very nature Is
monopolistic, and does not contain the
conditions essential to protect the pub
lie interest.
The people of the country are threat
ened by a monopoly far more powerful,
domestic and Industrial life, than any 1
thing known to our experience. A single
generation will see the exhaustion of our
resources of oil and gas and such
a rise in the price of coal as will make
the price of electrically transmitted wa
ter power a controlling factor in trans
lighting and heating. Our |
water power alone, IL fully developed n
wisely used, is probably sufficient for our
ipal and domestic needs. Most OF 1t is
undeveloped and Is still in national or
Act of Folly.
To give away, without conditions, thisI
one of the greatest of our resources, |
would be an act of folly. If we are gull
ty OF It, our children will be forced to pay
based upon, the highest prices which 1.-The
will bear" They will find them
selves face to face, with powerful inter-
vested rights and strengthened by
every defense which money can buy and
the ingenuity of able corporation lawyers
may and very probably will have become
Consolidated interest, controlled from
the great financial centers, debating the
his business or earn his livelihood, and
not amenable to the wholesome check OF i
opinion.
power plants In the United States is es-
timated by the bureau OF census and the
geological survey as 100000 horse power.
corpora tons shows that Is large con-
Germs, of which the General Electric
COMPANY and the Westinghouse Electric
Important, now hold water power install
and advantageous power sites ag-
gregating O 1,046, 900 horse power
practically admitted. This is a quantity
to over - per cent of the total now
m use. Further evidence of a very strong
Iations furnished by the bureau, leads me
10 the conclusion that this total should
increased to "a per cent. and still other
tSsIs E sr though n. s sess SlSnS Sronns f never ep-
.arging this estimate by nine per cent
additional. In other words, 1t is probable
. .eal te eegtro d d SSRiermd % %Iatef'g bower vi and and
power sites equal to more
than 80 per cent OF the total water power
now In use.
Worse Than Oil.
This astonishing, consolidation has TAX !
TIL movement is still in its In
fancy, and unless It Is controlled, the
assts9 ,S or the the sv a., t9IeSsIIry power wrt. Ge ps-
Try, with results far more oppressive and
for the people. 1t Is true that
he great bulk Of our potential water
are now controlled by combina-
are those which OFFER the greatest
dvantagss and r therefore hold a strat seo
itrengthened by the increasing demand
'or power and the extension OF long dis
electrical transmission
1t is. in my opinion, relatively unimport- !
mt for us to know whether or not the
of this particular project are
affiliated with n of these great corpora
ions. II we mak al unconditional grant
20 this grantee, our control over il ceases.
or any purchaser from him, will be
to sell his rights to any one OF them
It pleasure. The time to attach condi-
and prevent monopoly is when a
grant is made. II
Act With Vigor.
The great corporations are acting with
singleness of purpose and vlgor
. con Irol the wafer powers Of the coun-
They pay no attention to state boun-
laries and are not interested in the con-
law affecting navigable
treams except as II affords has