The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-09-12
Our Last Natural Resourc,


winter session OF Congress. 1t is said
that Missouri, Illinois and adjoining
States will be especially interested in
this subject, but the fact is that the
whole country will, or ought to be, con-
cerned in this legislation. For water
power is the one great natural resource
which has not yet come under eoncen-
trated control. And lib view Of the tre-
mendous part that water power is des-
tined to play in the country's indus
trial future it behooyes the people Of
every section to see that their represent
tatives at Washington put through a
program which will insure the develop
ment Of this resource along the lines Of
public rather than OF special interest.
The water-power possibilities of the
Central Valley are suggested by the
Keokuk dam with its capacity of $780,,
900 horse power. 1t is confidently pre-
dicted that this dam will convert the
territory within radius OF 200 miles
from Keokuk into an industrial region
Of the first importance. A few miles
up the Mississippi there is now in pro-
cess Of construction at Davenport an
other dam which will develop power
almost as great as that of the Keokuk
dam. And the Mississippi is only one
of many power sources in this valley.
The Mississippi system, comprising such
rivers as the Ohio, Missouri, Cumber-
land, White and many others, has an
inexhaustible supply of white coal. "
1t is treasure that must be guarded.
However, there is nothing sectional
in water-power wealth. New England
and New York have water power that
can easily be developed to meet any in
dustrial demands that can be imagined.
The Atlantic seaboard States Of the
South are richly lowered in this re-
spect. The same may be said Of the
North Pacific, South Pacific and Inter
mountain States. A few years before
he died Hartman prophesied that the
trunk-line railroad of the near future
would be Of six-foot gauge; that the
cars would be built Of steel throughout,
each handling from 80 to 100 tons OF
freight. Sand west of the Missouri, Z
said Hartman, practically all the
mileage will be operated by electricity
which will be produced from the great
water powers of the mountain country,
the Missouri itself and the Pacific slope.
Besides that, there will be an industrial
development in that region that we can
not yet conceive, due to the use OF this
same power for mining, factories, and
operating the utilities Of towns, cities
and farms.
The Industrial United States use 3d.
DOC, 600 horse power annually gas,
steam and water 1t is estimated that
the country's rivers at periods Of lowest
water can now produce more than S6.
600, 900 horse power, and under favor
able conditions a maximum OF more
than &C. oQ0, 600. Bnt with storage res
eryoirs, according to the photographic
Bureau, 200, 900, 600 horse power can
be developed, which exceeds our me-
chanical power now in use, would oper-
ate every mill, drive every spindle, pro-
pei every train and boat and light every
city, town and village in the country. "
The statement of New York banker
that two million dollars is needed for
eIectric-power projects now contemplate
ed indicates pretty clearly that the
water-power interests are active. They
will doubtless be represented at WASH |
ington next winter, but thanks to re-
cent political dispensations, some of
their representatives will be gentlemen
who have been retired from public life.
Concessions, OF course, will be asked
for, but they will not be granted so gen.
erously as they would have been il the
party which was always SO lavish in It's
gifts to the special interests were in
control.
AS the result Of the long spoils reign
at Washington the Wilson administra-
ton has come into heritage OF tre-
mendous labor. The institution OF q
new tariff policy and the establishment
OF currency system that will serve the
general need will be notable achieve
ments. But saving the wealth OF the
country's rivers for the people OF the
country, preventing water-power trust
from getting grip on the nations in
dustrial future, will be one Of the adj
ministration s greatest tasks. 81. Louis
| Republic