The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-06
II is Said He viii Make Hard
Fight For Federal Control
Of Water Power Sites on
Public Domain.
Omitted Press.)

~. Iduis OtpN. u MS COuHAI1
is confronted with the danger of q
vast combination controlling not the
water power only but the street rail-
way, gas and electric light companies
according to an address delivered by
Herbert Knox Smith, United States
commissioner of corporations. at the
session of the national conservation
congress today. rtA.
Control over the necessaries OF
life, he said, was essentially govern
mental. He spoke in part as fol
lows: For us. mechanical power Is
a basic necessary. Our chief present
resources of power supply-coal, pc
troleum and natural gas--aithoug Oh
at present ample, are absolutely fixed
IN quantity and cannot be replaced.
Water-power is the one important
source of mechanical power now prac
.ically available which is self-renew-
ng. Effective restraint impoNh by
competition is becoming more and
more improbable. There has been a
marked concentration of water-power
,ontral in private hands and this
process is advancing rapidly. Public
regulation of water power Is the only
alternative.
"The investigation OF developed
water powers now being made by the
bureau of corporations shows that up
date Is concerns or closely allied
interests control over 1900 .005
iorse power OF the water power de-
seloped or In process OF construction.
md in addition over l. 100000 horse
power of undeveloped water power.
The total water power in use in the
United States in 1900. as estimated
~ the census and geological survey,
vas only $500. 900. The total now
commercially capable of development
yariously estimated at from 80 to
so million horse power. the smaller
igure being the preferable one. The
great bulk of both developed and
lndeveloped water power lies on the
Pacific coast, the northwest, north
last and the South Atlantic states.
Dur power demand as measured by
he total manipulated capacity of
all prime movers-steam. water and
ass now at least 80 million horse
power.
I'm California, for example, four
principal hydro-electric companies
dominate {. water power industry
and they have a very strong hold on
he most important power markets.
And between these four concerns
here is also evidence of considerable
harmony.
Conditions somewhat like this ex-
st in the Puget sound territory, in
he southern peninsula OF Michigan,
n Colorado, Montana and in the
CaroMnas. In each of these sections
At least one. or at most two concerns
are predominant in their control of
water powers, public service compan-
les and power markets
"The horsepower figures, however.
DO not fully represent the extent OF
actual commercial control. The
best powers have, of course, been de-
first. These will always
hold a disproportionately dominant
position over later developed and less
favored powers, because of their low
er operating cost and prior hold on
the important powe- markets.
"There is a marked progress to-
ward a mutually of interests among
public service companies generally,
electric light. power, gas and street
concerns. The significant
Identity of officers and directors in a
large number of such companies
the United States is very
"Men who are officers or direc-
tors of the General Electric company,
of or its three wholly controlled CON-
panies, are also officers or directors
in 20 corporations that operate hy-
plants, with at least
795. 600 horsepower developed or
"A n