Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-17
GOVERNMENT WATER POW
Err.

Congressman Clyde H. Tavenner is
not in favor of giving private inter
ests the right to develop the water
power of the Mississippi river on the
Rock Island rapids. He writes:
Personally. believe the govern
ment should build and operate its own
power plants. selling the power direct
to the consumers at actual cost. / am
now working on bill looking toward
a huge government power plant in the
Mississippi river at a point near the
tri-cities to be determined by the army
engineers. The Mississippi is the peo-
pies property, and If it is to be har-
messed it should be in their interest.
II a Few capitalists are permitted to
build the plant under a long term lease
the enterprise will. judging from past
experiences, only enrich them, while
il the government swings the project
it will be a real blessing to the peo-
pie"
AS usual, Congressman Tavenner IS
right. There are two good reasons
why the government should retain con-
troll of the water power facilities here
in their entirety. II there is any profit
to be derived the government, or in
other words, the people, are entitled
to it, and, furthermore, the future of
Rock Island arsenal demands that ii
have the advantage of as much power
as it can use now and in future.
Owning, as it does, Rock island. and
having a plant which already develops
-. 81 h. to he
the rapids, the government cannot
grant any private franchise without
entering into a partnership with those
in whom the rights are vested. The
manner in which such an alliance
usually works out is only too well
known. Your Uncle Sam generally
pays the heavy end of the bills, while
the private interests take the long end
OF the profits.
No private concern can so thor
oughly develop the power possibilities
here as can the government, and it is
to the interests of this community that
all the energy possible be placed at
the disposal of the trtcity community
either in the arsenal shops or other
wise. Probably ten times as much
pONtl do lut VIII ever Dt dDlt
to use can be generated. The sale OF
the surplus at a figure which would
give the government enough profit to
pay interest on its investment and pro-
vide for maintenance would be the
biggest possible boon to the three cit
les. for il would give cheaper power
even than that which is furnished at
Keokuk and would be the strongest
sort of an inducement for the growth
of local industries and in the acquire
ment Of new ones.
AS was shown recently by Colonel
G. W. Burr, commandant of Rock Is
land arsenal, water power is now be-
ing developed at about half the cost
Of steam power. and there is no rea-
son to suppose that the figure per unit
would be materially increased if the
power plant were enlarged to take all
possible energy from the river here.
Cheap power and as much OF it as
! is needed is all that is required to
guarantee the future Of Rock Island
arsenal as the biggest government
plant for the manufacture of war
equipment No other present arsenal
can compete with It in point of econ
omy: in fact. none can do so now
The time is undoubtedly coming when
the government will free itself from
the clutches of private manufa cturers
and will make nearly, IL not quite all
Of its ammunition, armor plate and
other military and naval equipment
now furnished by contract, and an
enlarged government owned power
plant here would go far toward bring
ing to this arsenal the most of the
work
II is easy to see where the peoples
| interests lie in this matter. but of
course Congressman Tavenner will
find powerful opposition to his efforts
to pass his proposed bill. The coterie
of men who are negotiating for per-
mission from congress to privately de-
velop the rapids cannot be expected
to enthuse over his plans. and neither
can those who are now selling power,
either here or elsewhere in the upper
river valley. The Keokuk Power COM
pany would make a desperate resist
ance to any project which might re-
suit in the sale OF power beneath the
present rates OF that powerful con-
Germ. and there would be many others
with vested interests and millions back
OF them TO be heard from.
II may take years TO secure author
fly from congress for the government
TO proceed with such an undertaking
as Congressman Tavenner proposes.
but the result is worth fighting for and
the three cities should get together in
| the cause