The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-06
FRIEL EXPLAINS
 JOHNST0N'S BILL Water Power Money to Be
 Given to States BIG SUM ANNUALLY Proposal Is to Have Money Utilized for Good Roads and Schools in
 States Which Have
 the Rivers
BIG SUM ANNUALLY

terested in water power projects in Alabama, calls attention to bill in- 1 troduced In the Senate Tuesday by Sen ator Joseph F. Johnston, which, If passed, is expected to have a great eff feet upon the state of Alabama and the
 nation at large The bill provides that all rentals for the use of water at government dams built in aid of nayi- gation, after the government has re- celved compensation for the amount ad- vance6 in aid of water power, shall revert to the state to be collected and applied to the public roads and pub lie schools.
 This will mean that about $50.000
 shall be realized by the ate of Ala
 bama annually for use on the roads will bring about cooperation of the
 federal and state governments in the disposition and control of water power.
 In speaking of the bill last night Mir.
 Friel who Is president of the Birming- haw Water. Light and Power company. gave the following eXplanation
 "On July 2, 1912 Senator Joseph r. Johnston introduced a bill to authorize
 the Secretary of War to lease the sur
 plus water created by any improve
 ment on navigable streams. and for
 other purposes, throughout the United
 States.
 This bill when enacted into law
 will bring about cooperation of the
 federal and state government in the disposition and control of water power
 and will preserve, and prevent the de-
 struction of. water powers throughout
 the United States, when improving nav
 igation by the building of low locks
 and dams. as 1t provides that in all
 cases of improvement in any state of
 the navigable rivers in which the board of engineers of rivers and harbors have
 reported to Congress that valuable wa
 ter power may be developed. no work
 of improvement shall be begun until
 the state or it's grantee agrees to share
 in the cost of such Improvement and
 prepares to utilize the power to be
 developed and such state or grantee
 has entered into d contract with the
 Secretary of War preserving and pro-
 noting the rights and interests of the governments IL dlop pA'fihNb eAe'h 'i' rentals for the use of the water at
 government dams built In aid of navi- gaton after the government has re- | ceiyed compensation for the amount
 advanced In aid of water power shall revert to the state to be collected and applied to the public roads and pub lie schools, as directed by the legisla- | ture of the respective states.
 Money for State Golfers Tt is presumed that in a few years the
 provisions of this bill will dump into the coffers of Alabama for it's public schools and good roads at least half million dollars annually from the development of water powers on the Warrior. Coosa and Tennessee rivers.
 "The legislature of Alabama in it's next session. will be asked to pass laws in
 conformity with this act. also declaring
 all waters Of nayigable and non-nayigable
 rivers of Alabama the property of the state, subject to be leased for a rental or royalty to persons. firms or corporations who have already or may hereafter de-
 sire to erect power stations for the pupose of developing power and energy therefrom. subject to the riparian owners receiving | just compensation for their rights and l privileges: that all rentals or royalties re- | ceived from grantees of the states, tn- | cludtng those received from pfONIslOHs ph l sections and of this act, shall be Set
 aside as public school and public road l fund.- to be disposed of under the direc- i tion of the legislature of the state. It is presumed that other states will pass like acts and that this move will be a settle
 ment of the water power question. 1 This bill is of far reaching importance and intended to bring financial assistance l to the public schools and good roads in
 the states containing rivers where vslua- ble water power and markets can be de- veloped
 Total Amount of Horsepower '''rlys retal amasas of horsepower now in operation throughout the United States and under course of construction amounts in round numbers to 7,58.fgl, The undeveloped power available througss out the United States as given by the geological reports is in the neighborhood Of 300O0O 900 horsepower. The legislature Of various states are supposed to make reasonable and Just charges to water power companies, the price to range from
 Sf to $3 per horsepower, according to the value of the location This will give q revenue to public schools and public roads throughout the United States amounting approximately from s1000o 0oo to S12. GOO GOO per annum. and in q few years as the country develops and the de- mand for power increases it will amount
 to an enormous sum. It is presumed that no power company would object to paying
 fair royalty, as they have harnessed the natural resources of the state and are
 protected by the state laws in the exclu-
 sive use of same.
 '1 consider this one of the best moves
 that has recently been made in the in-