Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-05-08
RICHEST FIELD FOR
ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT

Editor of the Journal:
Judging from the argument put
forth by the Great Shoshone & Twin
Falls Water Power Company one
would think that cooperation was
greatly pleased at the adoption of a
law governing the regulation corpora
tons in Idaho-and was thoroughly
convinced that the general laws of
competition governing and controlling
the business world were no longer eff
fective. That company has fought
every step made by competitive sys-
TEN with the aim and the purpose Of
resting secure in its own monopoly Of
the southern Idaho field-potentially
the richest field in the world for cleo
trical activity. The field having been
successfully entered by a rival con-
Germ, which has uniformly reduced the
rates as it has entered one town after
another, the Great Shoshone Company
being forced to meet those cuts, but
never anticipating them in its nom
competitive field, is now flying to the
protection of the new public utilities
law to save it from the full force and
effect of lawful competition.
The ultimate aim and hope Of its
present stand is the same as its origi-
nal purpose-to maintain a monopoly
for all time of the great southern
Idaho field. 1t sought to do this under
competition and failed, and now 1t
seeks to accomplish it's ends under an
Interpretation of the public utilities
law of the state Before competition
entered it had only one thought and
that was to charge all the traffic would
bear-the guiding rule of all unregu-
lated monopolies. With regulations es-
fablished by law it now desires protec-
ton from competition so that the peo-
ple may be forced to bear the bur
den of whatever mistakes and eX-
travagances may have entered into
The construction of its system or may
mark its future development. Surely
a corporation that could be granted the
exclusive occupancy of the great
southern Idaho field, with its tremen-
dous possibilities, can afford to submit
to such regulations as would enable II
10 fix it's charges upon investments
made without regard to cost. In other
words to keep out vigorous rival
that is pushing forward under the
most strict and economical business
methods and which would have great
advantages in the competitive field
the Great Shoshone company seeks to
f1y the protection of the utilities com
mission. regardless of the public vel
fare and convenience.
The consumers would be forced to
nav rates fixed upon an investment
that may have been made contrary 70
the general law of economy, as against
rates which a competitive company
might be enabled to greatly reduce by
reason of adherence to economic laws
The consumer would be forced to put
ND with whatever inadequate or IN
sufficient service a single company
might. be able to give as against the
srperior service an additional supply
from a different source would insure
And the future development OF the
rreat resources of southern ldaho
might be greatly retarded by com
pany having a practical monopoly Oh
the electric power, even though such
company were duly regulated by law
AS in all questions appertaining TO
public utilities the final, ultimate anu
controlling factor must be the pun
1ic,s interest and not the interest Oh
anv CORPORATION or individual.
A TAXPAYER.