The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-16
Monopoly of Water
VetOedby P esident


vested rights and strengthened by
every defense which money can buy
and the ingenuity of able corporation
lawyers can devise. Long before
that time they may and very pr0s-
ably VIII have become a consolidat-
ed interest. controlled from the great
financial centers, debating the terms
upon which the citizens can conduct
his business or earn his livelihood.
and not amenable to-the wholesome
check of local opinion.
Information collected by the
Bureau of Corporations shows that
eleven large concerns. of which the
General Electric Company and the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufac-
turing Company are the most import
ant. now hold water-powbr installa-
lions and advantageous power sites
aggregating about $4,000 horse.
power, where the control by these
concerns is practically admitted.
This is over IL per cent. OF the total
developed water power of the coun-
try. Further evidence of a very
strong nature as to additional in
corporate relations, furnished by the.
Bureau, leads me to the conclusion
that this total should be increased to
24per cent; and still other evidence,
though less conclusive, nevertheless.
affords reasonable ground for en-
larging this estimate by 9 per cent.
additional. In other words, 1t is
probable that these eleven corpora
tions directly or indirectly control
developed water power and adj
vantageous power sites equal to,
more than a third OF all the devel-
oped water power in the entire coun-
try. This astonishing consolidation
has taken place practically within
the last Ave years. The movement Is
still in It's infancy, and unless It is
controlled the history of the oil in
dustry will be repeated in the hydro
electric power industry, with results
far more oppressive and disastrous
for the people. 1t is true that the
great bulk Of our potential water
power is as yet undeyeloped, but the
sites which are now controlled by
combinations are those which offer
the greatest advantages and there
fore hold strategic position. This
is certain to be strengthened by the
increasing demand for power and the
extension OF long-distance electrical
transmission.
ct is, in my opinion. relatively
untmportant for us to know wheth-
er or not the promoters of this par
ticular project are affiliated with any
of these great corporations. If we
make an unconditional grant to this
grantee. our control over 1t ceases.
He. or any purchaser from him, will
be free to sell his rights to any one
of them at pleasure. The time to
attach conditions and prevent
monopoly is when grant is made.
THE great corporations are act
ing with foresight. slngleness of pur-
pose. and vigor to control the water
powers of the country. They pay no
attention to state boundaries, and are
not interested in the constitutional
law affecting navlgahqe sreams ex-
cept as 1t affords what has been aptly
called twilight zone where they
may find convenient refuge from
any regulation whatever by the pub
llc. whether through the national or
the state governments. 1t is sig
nlticant that they are opposing the
control of water power on the Des-
PLANES River by the State OF ILL
nois with equal vigor and with like
arguments to those with which they
oppose the National Government pur-