The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-14
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Concerning Water Power

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Whenever any question arises involv- ing the interests of the people or the state of Alabama The Age-Herald ap- hears always willing for any fair and lepitimate discussion that might throw ,iebt on any subject to enable the pub lie to weigh the facts presented. I wish to speak of the waterpower trust of which so much has been said or iate and the veto by President Taft Of Dill permitting the erection of a dam at LOCK No. IS on the Coosa river near Wetump- ka. So far this whole matter has been presented in public print seemingly through the inspiration of the Alabama Interstate Power company and by those directly or indirectly associated with H. Having large interests at stake, 1t has courted every helpful influence to aid this grasping trust to secure valuable franchises of the people Frequently in formation is supplied to the press re- garding the great wealth, domestic ana foreign, of this corporation wbich it pro poses to spend in the state Also how Tn various ways their power plants pro- pose to solve problems to the great ad- vantage of the public. Among these 1t was stated that the impounding of the waters of one of their dams on the Tal- Iapoosa river would enable boats on the Alabama river to run in the driest sea son. Presumably all that will be needed is to notify them and a flood of water will be promptly sent down! It is pos sible of course that should at any time there be a break in the dam of 13o feet in height that there will be a supply of water to float Noahs ark.
 The farmers are promised that soon they caa discontinue the use of expensive fertilizers for this corporation by some new process will extract from the air nitrogen so cheap that other fertilizers cannot compete, etc. This corporation fin return for these and other benefits, asks only the good will of the people. They are willing even to secure for Ala bama states rights, which, of course, might also help them some President Taft recently vetoed a bill passed by Congress authorizing this corporation to erect power plant at lock No, IS in the Coosa river near Wetumpka. MT. Taft gave as his reason for the veto that no compensation for the franchise was offered in the bill. Now. from the news papers we learn that this infringes upon states rights and already it is proposed to bring this matter before our next leg islature. If this is done and such rights can be established by the state, the peo- pie must not forget to see that the state will get fair compensation for its fran chises. II has been intimated that strong pressure will be made upon President Taft to withdraw his veto although he appears to have good grounds for the stand taken by him and while denying the rights of the government in the prem ises we must also remember that at the present time we are asking Uncle Sam for many millions of dollars for the inn provement of the Coosa river. From ex- perience we should know that corpora tions work for their interest alone, and the people must look out for themselves. It is claimed that this corporation al- ready has absorbed six other power com panies in Alabama. When all available water powers in Alabama are in the hands of one trust can the people expect fair treatment? To carry out their purposes they have, so l am informed. in their employ every lawyer in Tallapoosa coun- fy and why is this? Is 1t for the pur- pose of having all the law on their side fin the condemnation of lands that will be oyerfowed by the erection of their dam? This one dam proposed to be erect cd by them at Cherokee Bluff, will put under water about 75,0U0 acres of land, thereby destroying the homes of many people and making uninhabitabie all ad- 1acent lands. How are the interests of the state and counties affected thereby and will not important taxable values become destroyed forever? In a letter of State Land Agent W. J. Martin ad- dressed to the people of Alabama on the subject of school lands, published in The Age-Herald of August 26, he says There is contained within the bounds of Ala bama 32, 450.0S0 acres of land, or would be. except for the fact that our rivers and various bodies of water cover some of 1t. When Alabama came into the union In 1S1e the federal government gave