The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-22
RYAN ON WATER POWERS,


tion enterprise on in the Prickly Pear
Valley Of Montana. Tho irrigation
part Of it comprises the reclamation Of
$4,000 acres of ]and, tho first unit hav-
ing already been completed, and thc
second unit is being undertaken, to he
completed by the spring Of 1915, or
possibly somewhat sooner. Mr. John d.
Ryan, the great capitalist Of New York,
is the chief figure in this power and
reclamation development. and his in
terests in Batte and Anaconda mines
and III the Independent smeltcr plant in
Toocle valley, Utah, arc well known.
In honor of the Inauguration Of work
upon tho second unit OF the Prickly
Pear enterprise, there was banquet in
Helena on the evening of September
18th, al which many enthusiastic
speeches were made; but the chief
speech was delivered by Mr.. Ryan,
What he said was not only applicable
especially to the enterprise in hand,
but had many general features OF ad-
mirable force and business sense. Mr..
Ryan discussed the Immediate project,
including the pumping possibilities, the
power to bo developed through the
Prickly Pear plant, and showed fairly
that the idea Of pumping for irrigation
can hardly be profitable business for
Montana The use Of the water of the
Prickly Pear for power and for irriga-
tion makes the water doubly useful.
The power enterprise, OF course. is at
the head Of the valley, and whom the
water has served It's use in the genera
tion OF electricity for power and light
ing purposes, it passes on and serves its
second usefulness in irrigating the land,
Mr.. Ryan took occasion to discuss the
general proposition of the heritage Of
the people and the so-calIed water
power trust. He showed that there was
no possibility of acquiring water rights
to any exclusive extent, and no posi-
biIity of creating a monopoly; but he
set forth the absolute fact that there
is no possibility Of using water power
to any advantage except by the in
vestment Of considerable sums Of
money. There must, first of all, be
demand for water power, or there must
be demand created. Private capi.
tai creates the demand and supplies it,
The government waits until the demand
ls created, and is thus IN no sense slim
ulative Of market development or of
market supply, and is slow in meeting
the demand. As to the waters OF
The Prickly Pear, Mr., Ryan showed
that this water power was absolutely
neglected until the enterprise with
which he is connected took it up, and
this enterprise had to make its own
market, as we'll as develop the power
through electricity. On this point, he
spoke as follows (we copy from the
Standard):
There has been great deal OF discus
sion recently in Montana as to the loss
Of the heritage of the people and the
grabbing OF water powers by the So
called water power trust. Some OF you, |
N fact, most OF you. have been in the |
state much longer than | have and are |
better able 10 speak on this subject |
han | am. All of you know how much |
good the water power OF the State did |
or the State and for its people until |
lie last IS" years. Wltn the cNCeDllOn
Of comparatively small development |
,f Great Falls to operate the smelter
and light the city. there was no devel- |
opmenr worthy OF mention OF the water |
powers OF Montana until the Missouri |
liver was harnessed by Governor Hau- |
ser and his associates. and the develop |
nent on the Madison river was made |
10 supply Butte with light. Steam power |
,or all operations Is very costly in the
State-cheaper, Of course in the large |
Industrial centers like Butte, Anaconda |
and Great Falls than elsewhere, but |
very expensive everywhere. We were
ible, after much research and investiga- |
ion, and the making Of expensive |
changes. 10 substitute electric for steam |
power in most OF the mining operations |
n Butte. and when this scheme had |
oeen developed and the market provided |
he water powers were secured and de-
seloped.
NO GRABBING OF WATER.
There was no grabbing OF these wa
.er powers; they were purchased from |
people who had owned them for twenty |
because they had no market for them. |
They were purchased and developed TO |
supply market that In fact was cre- |
ited by ourselves, and the development |
Falls was made to supply that market |
50 created and not TO take from the |
people or from anybody else any heri- |
age, but to give them the benefit Of |
-IlS CuchpeSl power III tie "oilI, ldAlllR
nto consideration the distance over |
which it has TO be transmitted and the |
for its use
The creation OF the market and the |
development Of the large powers OF the |
State within the last few years have di- |
'ected as much attention 10 Montana as
any other one thing: as much as even |
as the building Of the new lines OF |
more miles of railroad are |
being built in Montana today than in |
any other state of the Union, Capital |
S timid. and It always follows success. |
n our water power company Is reason
ably prosperous and gets along reason
ably well In the country where IT Is |
1oing business, and is not hampered by |
restrictions and unjust |
taxes. plenty OF other capital will. find |
Its way into power enterprises and |
power development where the Opportu-
mites for investment In the power bust |
ness are good.
THERE'S NO MONOPOLY.
The talk about monopoly OF water |
power in the State Of Montana IS driv- |
cling idlocy. There are more powers |
than markets and the security and |
strength Of our power corporation lies |
In the fact that We have developed our |
markets first, and then developed the |
powers 10 furnish them. In developing |
power 10 take care OF our own needs |