The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-06
UTILIZATION OF WATER POWER Government Withdrawal of Over $1,-
 5OO,OOO Acres of Land.

Washington, Sept. 6.-The most inn portant measure before Congress at the extra session relating in any way to navigation and which was report ed to the House by the Rivers and Harbors Committee was the bill to inn prove the navigation of the Black Warrior River, in Alabama and incl dentally to provide for the utilization of the water power of the river by the construction of dams. The bill elicited very general interest, members from almost every state participating g in the debate because the question in volved vital principles of the conser- vation of the natural resources of the country where the government had ownership in the property proposed to be developed.
 In it's original form the bill author ized the army engineers to change the pending project by building a single high dam-62 feet-instead of five low dams. It was ascertained that one such dam would provide a channel depth the same as that contemplated through the operation of five lower dams and that it would cost several hundred thousand dollars less.
 The Birmingham, Ala, Light and Power Company offered to pay $2OO,- 900 toward the construction of the higher dam if the government would permit them to have the use of the water power which would thus be created, and in addition agreed to pay an annual rental of s15,000 furnishing all the electrical power needed to op- crate the locks and light the govern ment property adjacent to the plant. It was estimated that 16,0O0 electrical horse power could be developed The bill provides that the annual rental should be not less than $1 per horse nr. in lace fho, fn- tai of $15,000 annual rental. It also provided that at the end of each ten year period the Secretary of War should readjust these rates and that the contract should run for fifty years In that time the engineers estimated that the rental of the power would have paid the cost of the improve ment.
 The bill was by far the most favor able proposition ever before made in the history of the government; but, for some unaccountable reason the opposition developed proved serious and so impatient in the closing days of the session, when members were in haste to complete their work in Wash ington and get away to their homes. that it was rather lily considered. Af- ter three days of debate, during which every phase of navigation, conserva- tion and water-power development was discussed, it was passed but so amended as to amount to practical emasculation of the original measure. One of the most curious amendments ever attached to Q bill of that kind was that the government should not sell water-power to any but ultimate consumers, so that under that provfe- ion the water-pOwer company would be prohibited from selling it's cheap power to any compnay which had a contract to furnish electric lights to any city or town However vitally it's people might be interested in obtain ing cheaper light and power.
 There were other amendments tend ing to decrease the merits of the bill that were put through in the rush of but those having the bill in charge, being really anxious to conserve the power for the use of the people, and at the same time to the interests of the govern ment, finally got together in confer ence and struck out every provision which authorized any contract at all with any development company, sim ply authorizing the engineers to con- struct the higher dam. It was decid- ed that hereafter Congress could pro- vide for the sale of the power at such terms as would be advantageous to the governments and when there would be ample time to pass the bill.
 Congressmen generally who have pretty clear conception of what the people want are convinced that tse of the water-power in the