Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05
Water Power Development.

The potential energy in the rivers and streams
Of the United States is reckoned conservatvely at
sixty million horsepower, of which at least one
fourth is now worth developing. Authorities cal
culate that, by utilizing the fifteen million horse
power thus available, the country would save each
year about hundred million tons of coal, cost
ing approximately two hundred and twenty-five
million dollars. and also would conserve for other
uses the labor of two hundred and eighty thousand
miners and steam plant operatives. Besides this
far-reaching economy, the development OF the
water power going to waste would open new
realms Of industrial enterprise and new paths of
social progress.
This is matter of vital concern to public inter-
ess Everyone has stake in the task of increas-
ing the supply and reducing the cost of power be-
cause the problem of power enters intimately into
the cost of living and into every sphere of material
activity student of economic and civic affairs
Interestingly says in this connection:
Clothing furniture, books, papers, jewelry,
every article of comfort and convenience of
which we can think all appliances of art and
music, all buildings, streets and all public
utilities such water supply and drainage
systems and gas and electric light and tele-
phone and telegraph and transportation sys-
tems-these require power for their produc-
ton and utilization. Likewise power is
important factor in securing foods, for hand
ling, grinding, transporting, packing and in
the the highly important work of manufac-
turing fertilizers to increase soil fertility
Evidently, then, the development of water power is
of vast importance to commerce and industry and
agriculture alike; and the wasted energy of our
rivers and streams is utilized the nation will be
more efficient and more prosperous
IT is obvious, however, that the development
of these resources calls for the outlay of a great
deal of capital and that capital will not venture
into such investments unless it is duly encouraged
and protected. The development of water power
site involves many risks and dangers. Sometimes
large sums of money spent in experimentation
which turns out to be frutless. Mr. Hugh l..
Cooper, noted hydraulic engineer, says that the
difficulties in raising money and the cost of money
for water powers are much greater than for steam,
because the steam plant is free from flood hazards
in construction and operating periods and be
constructed in small units the market requires
whereas the water usually has to be overdeveloped
and then wait for its market to grow up to it, thus
entailing large additional interest costs while
securing and waiting for business" These condi-
tions should be taken freely into in all fed
eral legislation looking to the disposal and control
of water power sites
1t should be remembered, the other hand,
that water power sites are among the most vaua-
BILE treasures in the public domain, and, therefore,
should be safeguarded vigilantly against reckless
exploitation and mOnopolstic schemes. If it is
important that these natural resources be devel-
oped for the public good, it is less important
that they be protected against private greed This
issue is sharply drawn in the water power bills
now before Congress. In the opinion of earnest
conservatonists some of the pending measures fail
utterly to protect public rights, and amount simply
to a perpetual surrender of the cOuntry's water
power special interests. Against any such legs-
atton the people should exert their utmost in
huence The Government should retain ownership
of the public lands which water powers are
established. and in granting rights to individuals
or corporations should be equally just to common
interests and individual enterprise.
1t is evident that the present laws on this sub
ject are inadequate. Instead of encouraging de-
velopment making il possible they stand
as rigid barriers against the of resources which
ought to be employed for industrial and social
needs New laws imperative, laws which will
make It worth while for capital TO enter this great
field of enterprise and which at the time will
conserve the permanent rights and interests of the
people