The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-05-28

lbitiou 10 Jake the enterprise OH CODD
hands--and on following 1t up Cobb
again found that all roads lead t.
Cedar street.
At McCall's Ferry, on The Susque
hanna, a Pennsylvania group of In
depents are developing 100000
horse power by putting in works thai
will cost, when completed, about $12,
100000. Three fourths of the amount
has been spent. Since the financia
trouble of October, 1907, the com
pany has been unable to get any more
money, and work is tied up. In this
case 1t Is commonly understood by
the promoters that one of their origi.
nal associates went over to the trust
and has been guiding its efforts tc
prevent the financing of the under.
taking. The understanding is thai
the trust would gladly take over the
enterprise, but the independents are
not ready to surrender.
Senator Frye's Record.
On the Yadkin River in North Car
olina Independent companies were de-
veloping powers at Salisbury and
Rockingham. They were squeezed
financially, and work had to be sus-
pended. The concerns finally had to
be turned over to the trust, which
seemed to be able not only to get all
the money 1t needed, but to prevent
others from doing SO. Work on one
OF them has been resumed since the
change Of control.
More than year ago Senator New
lands of Nevada, author of the Recla-
nation Act, introduced a bill to es-
tablish jurisdiction over streams and
provide a scheme of executive control
OF water for power, irrigation, navi-
cation, etc. This bill went to the
senate committee on commerce, of
which Senator Frye Of Maine is chair
man. 1t is still there.
A bill was introduced short time
ago in. the Maine Legislature, to in
corporate the Androscoggin Reservoir
company. The accredited purpose
was consolidation of all the powers
on the Androscoggin river, and the
company was recognized by experts
in these matters as subsidiary of the
General Electric branch}of the Power
Trust. The incorporators named in
the bill were Senator William p. Frye,
Hugh ]. Chisholm, Herbert ]. Brown,
Waldo Pettengill, Francis w. Fabyan,
A. M. Burbank, and Wallace II.
White. Wallace HI. White is the SON
in-law OF Senator Frye, and is one of
the prime movers in the huge Maine
enterprise, which contemplates con-
troll of the Androscoggin powers. The
photographic bureau finds this
stream, with storage works, ETC., is
good for development of 21S,OO0
horsepower.
Immediately following the intro
duction Of this bill in the Maine leg
islature, "a government official in
Washington received concerning it
letter from a big business man of
Maine who has been fighting the
Water Power Trust. | quote from his
letter:
! regret very much to see that SEN
ator Frye has allowed his name to
be used in this matter, but without,
doubt it is through the influence of
his son -in-law, Mr.. Wallace H. White.
who has been one of the prime movers
In connection with this bill
and who is also put down as one of
the incOrporators. ! fear before the
public is through with this matter
that Senator Frye's friends will regret
very much that his name has ever
been used in connection with this
monopoly and trust q
! feel that he would never have al
lowed it to have been used were he
not under the influence of Senator
Hale and his son-in-law, Mr.. White,
in these matters.
They are pretty familiar with this
water power fight in Maine, which
contains about half the water power
OF New England. Before this article
is in print there will probably have
been introduced in the Maine legis-
lature a bill, backed by enlightened
students of this power question, pro-
viding that no water power company
shall acquire or condemn riparian or |
water rights or powers till an applica-
ton shall have been made to the state |
water supply commission, a public |
hearing had, and all plans shown and
approved; and that no agreement for
the merger of corporations, or letters
patent, shall be allowed, merging
such corporations, till the whole pro-
,eeding shall have been approved by
he commission; that the right of use
of the water shall revert to the state
n case OF such units of power shall
De imposed. Maine is awakening to
he significance of the contest for
of her power.
How the Trust Affects Industry.
How trust control of water power
lffects industry may be illustrated
" the story of an effort to bring
treat industry from Norway to this
country. This is the industry of syn
hetically manufacturing inter. The
concern is operating now in Norway,
where it has million horsepower in
light. American interests, strong in
he company, want to move it to the
United States. Recently one of the
men heavily interested in the con-
ern called on officials of the Interior
department. at Washington, and said
\ substance:
I'VE want to bring our industry to
ne United States. 1t involves big
apital and extensive employment.
americans should want it, because
Is important that the country be
ssured, In case of war, of an ample
upply OF inter as a basis for max