Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-09-06
70 IMPROVE AN
ALABAMA RIVER
RECENT CONGRESSIONAL BILL
INVOLVED VITAL QUESTIONS.
WATER POWER INVOLVED
Possible sites for Development on
Public Lands Being Pushed Dy
Geological Survey.

Washington, sept 5.-Thc most i'm
portant measure before Congress at
the extra session relating In any way
to NAVIGATION aud which was rouort-
ed 10 the House by the Rivers and
llarhor Committee was the bill to Inn
prove the navigation Of the Black
warrior River. in Alabama, and Incl
dentally 10 provide for the utilization
~ the water power Of the river by
the construction of dams The bil
elected very general interest, mem-
bors from almost every state paruci-
patlng in the debate, becausre the
question involved vital principles of
the conservation Of the natural re-
sources Of the country where the gov
crnment had ownership in the prop
crty proposed TO be developed.
In us original form the bin au-
thori2ed the army engineers to
change the pending project by build
Ing single high dam. G2-feet. in
stead of five low dams. II was as
certained that one such dam would
provide a channel depth the same as
that contemplated through the oper-
alton Of five lower dams and that it
would cost several hundred thousand
dollars less.
The Birmingham, Ala, Light and
Power Company offered TO nav 5000
600 toward the construction of the
higher dam If the government woula
permit them to have the use of the
water power which would thus be ere
ated, and in addition agreed to pay
an annual rental of $4,000 furnish
ing all the electrical power needed to
operate the locks and light the gov
ernment property adjacent to the
plant. 1t was estimated that 10000 |
horsepower could be de- |
Voloped. The bill provides that the
annual rental should be not less than
81 per horsepower, or, in no event
less than a total of $4,000 annual |
rental. 1t also provided that at the .
end of each ten-year period the
Secretary of War should readlust
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 improvement.
The bill was by far the most favor
able ever before made in the history
of the government; but. for some un-
accountable reason the opposition de-
eloped proved serious and so impat-
ent in the closing days of the session,
when members were in haste to COM
)lcte their work IN Washington and |
get away to their homes, that It was
rather lilly considered. After three
lays of debate, during which every
phase Of navigation. conservation and Il
development was dis
'ussed, it was passed but so amended
as to amount to practical emascula-
.lon of the original measure. one Of
the most curious amendments ever
attached to a bill of that kind was
that the government should not sell
gator-poWer to any but ultimate con-
'umcrs, SO that under that provision
he water-power company would be
prohibited from selling its cheap
'ower to any compony which had a
contract to furnish electric lights to
any city or town however vitality its
people might be interested In obtain
ne cheaper light and power.
There We're other amendments tend
ng to decrease the merits Of the bill
hat were put through in the rush of
consideration; but those having the
ill in charge being really anxious to
the power for the use Of the
'eople, and at the same time to safe
.uard the interests Of the government
inally got together in conference and
truck out every provision which au
horized the engineers to construct
he higher dam. 1t was decided that
ereafter Congress could provide for
he sale of the power at such terms
$ would be advantageous to the gov-
rnment. and when there would be
mplo time to pass the bill.