Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-24

as the material development of Vermont concerned
the present Legislature is be of the
fall the duty adopting broad for the conservation
of States natural and one OF the most important
of these is supply of white coal
Governor Fletcher in his declaration of principles and
policies November said that he favored the adoption of
promoting Vermonts power development,
and he emphasized point this great public should
be for the benefit of our people.
in Burlington q declared among other things that
vermont has great possibilities in the development Of
unused water especially by Of Large storage
power purposes While safeguarding ultimate interests Of
this State and preserving to the immediate locality the first
rights to such power, the General Assembly should
courage in any proper manner, such unaertakings'
1t is late in this day of universal application Of cleo
trcy manifold every field of industry speak
the value of power development community and
to vast region of country round about In the home in
the field the factory and in the laboratory and wherever
light and power be used electricity has become
greatest of natural elements
Governor Fletcher looking far into the future of Yer
mont development when he spoke of conserving water
power for the development of Vermonts interests
resort well its capacity agricultural region and
industrial State
neighbors of New York already complaining that
the water trust has taken of the great
tunes in the direction of generation Of electricity by water
along the of that region and indications
not lacking that the interests reaching out into Yer
mont as well as other States in New England
The New England Homestead this week sounds note of
warning the effect that combination is operating in the
Connecticut valley. and threatening get its grip the entire
industrial interests of considerable part of Connecticut
we'll of other States 1t says:
"The Connecticut River company a small dam
above Windsor Locks Conn which diverts the water
through a small canal and furnishes limited of
power few industries in the township of Windsor The
Northern Connecticut Securities companies combination Of
interests owns small share in the Connecticut River
pany and for has sought in vain to induce the
latter either to sell embark upon large scheme
of development Last week the parties agreed pool
their interests together with stone Webster of Boston
The new concern has gigantic dam about Il miles below
the present dam. The structure will require a large
wide will raise the level of the the
present shadows in the river that by of locks in
the canal shipping may pass freely Long Island sound
to the city Of ike where's
navigation The Stone Webster outfit is back of the big
devclonmcnt Of wafer power further M the river in Maa
chusetts To what extent they affiliated
with represent what is known throughout the country
the water trust may be better imagined than de-
scribed.
ct yet generally known that the development
of large water of the most profitable of all
modern investments When economically and scientifically
DONE the profits great to big dividends not
only the actual cost of the enterprise but upon lot
of additional stocks and securities which not
any investment of money whatever If sufficient bonds
be sold pay for the development of water power
then the preferred and stocks represent much
and fancy profit.
"To pay dividends such of securities Of
involves charges for the utmost limit that
the traffic will bear Therefore, instead of the develop
of New England powers furnishing cheap
for manufacturing agricultural and transportation pur
poses. this alimportant utilization Of white coal
sources being so manipulated as to place New hnsaha
the of the water trust that Will MAINTAIN the
but for all future time
Fletcher has under consideration plan to
serve water power for the beneh or the people OF
which he intends to communicate to the Legislature later on
we'll lawmakers
mind the considerations that being taken into account else
where.
Cheap power and cheap credit the combination that I'M
the of industrial and these the two fac
which Governor Fletcher is trying to the people OF
naners already reaching out for the con
troll of the water power and when that
voted away by the Legislature from the people
be returned or regained
In this danger other States it being
commended he granted to private interest
corporate without provision that at certain date th
shall the commonwealth under
provisions to compensation
We realize that Vermont at present is dependent amos
wholly upon for the development Of natura
nasmuch large proportion of Vermont capital
being States through the influence of adverse Yer
legislation.
With legislation looking to the encouragement of Yer
mont money home and with laws looking to thu
promotion of power development Of
and prosperity ought dawn in the Green Mountain State