Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-05
EUROPE AHEAD OF
A N RIG D N
WATER POWER
Advanced Action By Govern
mentS Toward Control Of
Valuable Energy Producers
Says M. Rene Tavenier,
Morning Journal Bureau,
6l3 Munsey Building.
NVnuhfpytan - & Reb .

Morning journal Bureau.
6l3 Munsey Building.
Washington, D, G, Feb. ..
"The Pubic Utility CT Water Pow
crs and their Government Resula-
ton" a bulletin just Off the govern
mcnt presses, Is a timely discussion of
the present legislative status OF water
powers and OF the tendency in the
United States and in Europe toward
the concentration of ownership in wa
ter power and the monopoly Of this
natural by capitalistic inter-
ests. The rcpor is written By the
chief engineer of the department. of
public works Of France, NJ. Rene Tav-
erneer and the chief photographer OF
the United states Geological survey.
Mr.. Marshall o. Leighton.
NJ. Tavernier's contribution Is "a dis
cussion of the advance which has
been made during b past ten years
by the governments of France, SWitz-
erland and italy toward the solution
of the water power problem and of
the present and proposed legislation
necessitated by the rapidly changing
conditions in Europe due to tn rec
ignition of flowing water as an m
ergy producer and to the recent i'm
piuvement in methods Of electrical
transmission making possible The con-
veyance OF power to points hundreds
Of miles distant from the seat Of pro-
duction. In these countries. NJ. Fay
ernier states. water power = now
generally recognized as a public ntil-
ity while the political and enconomic
problems growing out Of h~ydroelec-
trical development have reached a
stage neccssitating a national con-
sideration of the entire question of
water rights. In some instances, not
ably in Switzerland and Italy, advance
ed action in the matter of federal
regulation has already been taken.
These European countries are thus
with respect to the water power prob
lem far ahead of us in America where
the public utility of water pow II has
been barely perceived. Mr.. Tavern
Ter presents facts which should be of
high value to ourselves N treating
a problem, which, practi ally Inrecog-
nized. has within a few years grown
to dominant proportions. me Of the
striking features CT his discussion
which Is entirely applicable to our
conditions is the universal 4ppli'
cation in the countr cs menusnc'i, q
the fact shat The question has two
sides.
Corporate Abuses Recognized in
Iurollc.
Corporate abuses. past, present and
prospective, are fully recognized ana
the need for restrictive legislation is
practically u~n:lSrutad' Bat m tlw
other hand, even The most zeal"us 'l
the roreign I'D COATES Of government
al control admit thlt iNtcrvcallVlt
should not entail rcpfess'nn.
In his preface to the bulletin, Mr..
Leighton states impartially the SIT
as it exists in this country.
water power development, in
he United States, he says in effect,
las hardly passed It's experimental
stage, yet the problem before the
looms large with a complex
ty of entanglements. lIydro-clectric
properties have not yet. as Il lass, re-
urned to the investor a successor OF
dividends. The industry IS
ubject to the same cXigcncles as are
,ther industries and except in a rev
Notwithstanding the testimony
+ many popular magazine articles. lt
,ears no resemblance TO Aladdins
amp as a revcnue producer.
On the other hand, he states, there
$ a real menace in the present sttuA-
Certain great CONSOLIDATION o.
water power interests have taken
lace during the last Few years, ana
hese, with the appearance Of the
Iames of Il few persons among the OIL
or i'm tho directorate of a large
of companies operating water
over plants, making new installa-
ions. or manufactures or murketlhS
power or electric machinery
ONT Enthusiastically to q concentration
+ ownership in several groups when
hight consolidate or at least effect a
Of agreement
The Menace in the Situation.
The menace in the prospect, now
yer, lies not so much IN TINS prop
bility as in the power when such ~
ombination would possess to manipu-
rte unrjghteously the public interest
he while thus far onll spec
lative does not obyiate the necessity
Or legislation-legislation therefore
} prevent crises and abuses, since cN-
shows that IN II present
tate of society mankind Is YET tral'
But what kind of l~cgislationP Con-
)lidation is inevitable. water power
q natural monopoly by reason OF
10 natural law Of stream now. Iherr
no virtue in preventing cohSoilua,
on If economy in maintenance anu
neration IS thereby prevented; ana
on%solidation dOcs secure distinct ana
nusual economies. so that II the con-
inner receives the benefits, ne gains
Y tho consolidation. Therefore the
olution of the problem lies in legis-
tive regulation Of water power de-
alopment and maintenance to the end /
the consumer shall pay only q 4
lir and reasonable price Tor power, l
4 the Old World it has been decided {
proper function ol the S~oNernnlent
, declare water powers OF public hill-
y and TO place them under appro- I
riate laws. The assumption being Il a c
he public has a dominant interest IN :
le development of this great natural {
source. \
Ultimate Governmental Control In j
cIitablc. J
Several states. MI. leighton notes S
ave already begun 20 realize the t
sed for legislation ana have enacted g
VS. of good purport. II not entlrciN G
,mprchensive. notabl, New YORK. c
ennsylvania and oregon; but these
are not sufficient 10 cstab-
IN "A common policy. The country
afford to be- wise merely in
'ots and the need for concerted state :
national action is one of the pres-i
It Delay in acceptance or ]
is fact by the American people viii n
az enormous cost. for ultimate Cow 70
nmental control is inevitable.
H. -.-H q AL..IIIA ~