The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-17
GOVERNOR TALKS
OF CONSERVATION
OF WATER POWER
Wonderful Possibilities for Ap.
plication on South Dakota
Streams.
BY DoANE

BY DOANE ROBINSON.
Pierre, S. D., March 15.-In an ad-
dress made at a luncheon served by the
Fort Pierre Commercial club last
Tuesday, Governor Vessey advanced
som important ideas pertaining to the
latent possibilities of water powers In
South Dakota.
He recited the action taken by the
mouse of governors in it's recent conVo-
cation and the purpose of the Carter
Dill to invest in the states the water
powers in navigable streams. Governor
Wesley said he believed the Carter
Dill was a just one and that
1t should pass congress, and once
he law, he should strenuously
oppose the surrender of those water
powers to any one but should urge that
the state develop them with the view
that the people should get cheaper pow
er and that the burden of taxation for
state purposes be greatly reduced II
not wholly removed.
He told the experience of a life long
friend of his own who is at the head of
a syndicate that is developing a four
teen thousand horse power on the Pes
tigo river in Wisconsin. -Four thousand
horse power is already in commission
and the current sold on long contracts
at one cent per kilowat which is rel
turning $32 per horse power annually
TO the owners of the power plant. The
cost of operation is but nominal.
On the Missouri river in Central
South ako there is at a mean stage
OF water, which can be maintained
throughout the year by conservation
methods in the upper valley, 200, 900
horse power available, which when a
demand for the same has been created,
at the low Wisconsin rate would return
a gross annual revenue of over six
million dollars, or enough to pay cost
OF operation, maintenance, interest on
the investment n leave enough profit
to practically maintain the state gov
II Institutions.
The Missouri liver powers are but a
traction of the powers unappropriated
In the state and the carrying out of
the policy proposed by the governor
means very much for future genera
lions in South Dakota Whether or not
the people will desire to undertake
these enterprises and will vote the
necessary constitutional amendment
and the cash remains for the future to
determine but it is certain the execu-
tive met with a most enthusiastic re-
spouse from those who listened to his
views OH the subject.
At the same function Mr.. Charles E.
DeLand spoke upon the Navigation Of
the Missouri n among other things
advanced a rather novel suggestion.
From the map of North America he
okSb lildl lIlt .ledu VI lldNlSd-
ton upon the Missouri is the nearest
and most convenient port to all the
vast wheat producing region of western
Canada. With the impulse given to
commerce outward, by the opening of
the canal at the isthmus he foresaw
the immediate utilization of the Mis-
souri, to carry Canadian wheat to tide
water.
Colonel P. f. Mcclure at the same
time spoke as the advocate of "Nyavi-
cation in Our Time He has been at
great pains to inform himself upon the
subject and is ready to back his faith
with his means. He proposes to build
light draft boats equipped with steel
compartments to prevent sinking and
snagging. and to put them into the
carrying trade On the river: to insure
constant business he will engage in
heavy merchandising establishing
warehouses in the river towns where he
will carry stocks of cement. nails,
heavy hardware. machinery and the
like for distribution to the local deal
ers. Colonel Mcclure is an exceedingly
conservative business man who has
matured his plans with the greatest
care and will push them into effect with
characteristic energy. The briaueting
of Ignite is a feature of his plans to
keep his boats supplied with business.
Colonel Mcclure suggests the equip
ment of mis- boats with powerful hy-
draulinc pumps to be thrown into com
mission at any time required to wear
out sand bars when thev hold up the
boats. Ordinarily navigators can make
pretty good progress on the river if
they do not get grounded on bars. Once
hung up the process Of getting off is a
slow one. He believes this difficulty
can be overcome with the use of such
DumDS.