The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-10-26
MOST IMPORTANT BILL
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
How Water Power Legislation
VIII Build Up The Wast.
q AEMaY |. MYERs.

80"
congress for leasing power sites on the
public lands Il more important aud
fFaught with more possibilities Of good.
more benent 10 our country. than any
other piece OF legislation which win be
considered az this session Of congress.
This bill proposes 70 make available
for development aud use the cheapest
source Of electricity power. EE
offers q new hope OF wonderful devel-
opment and marvellous possibilities for
new industries 70 the great west.
The water powers Of that part Of fhe
country are among its greatest re-
sources. and 70 tbs present time they
have been almost wholly neglected.
We have stopped developing water
powers because she laws have not been
adapted 20 their development The pro-
posed legislation win encourage water
power development. offering reason
able terms and conditions 20 Investors.
while Il fully protests the public rights
Ia this national asset IL opens the
door 70 development on fair terms 70
investor aud consumer alike and puts
up the bars against speculation Ia o.
exploitation Of the public need for IN
dividnal o. corporate greed
A few Of the uses 20 which electrical
power has been pat successfully ia
recent years and win be applied more
successfully IN she next few years 70
come are:
Cheap electricity for fuel and power.
light and beat "a the cities and on the
Garmk
Reclamation BY Irrigation Of vast
nreas o. land now Idle aud useless
Establishment Of uew Industries.
around which win grow new towns
aud cities. creating employment for
hundreds q thousands 81 people and
new markets for agricultural products.
New aieel aud iron Industries Ia
new seetiona
cheapened production Or metal from
low grade ORES.
Cheaper agricultural Fertilizers and /
consequent larger agricultural crops
One % the greatest benefits wllleh /
will arlne IL the west from thla ieglsla.
lion II the irrigation d arid lands
which are nor now susceptible 10 irrt. /
CATION b the gravity syNfem- u Il
estimated that there arc ~ least To-
100000 acres of arid lands located IN
The FAR western states lying above tbs
rvaeh o. gravity water that can only
be rrciaimed through water RAISED ~
pumpa operated BY cheap hydroelee.
lric power now latent aud wasting IN
ne various streams FROM which the
water would BE- pumped In other
words. we can make the water pump
Itself On 70 the land Gifen waier.
these lands viii prOdncc every fruit
vegetable snd grain that Il native 20
ne temperate zone and are capable Of
supporting q population u 100000
people.
with a bfii Of this Kind enacted lngo
aw and IL successful operation ! be-
levo capital VIII become interested 70
Iuch degree IN water power develop
nent and power viii be produced 20
'heaply that there will be no excuse
or a single quarter section q land Ia
he western states remaining arid and
Statesmen. economists
md theorists have long sought a way
or reducing high cost Of living. In
bis legislation believe lies a direct
Dad 10 this end.
I am assured that capital Il waiting
My for fair legislation Of the kind
obtained IN this bin to invest IN great
Fater power development that VIII &C
0mpliah all the benefits TO which
ave referred The establishment Of
lectrocheEnlcai plants for che fixatiun
{ atmospheric nitrogen located ia
hose western states. where there are
fountains Of lime, phosphates and
Their minerals and ores awaiting cheap
over for their manufacture into use-
VI products. means among other
hinRs cheaper fertilizer for the whole
Duntry.
Here Is the opportunity for the farm.
re- OF the United States to have put
TO their hands the greatest possible ]
gency OF restoring the fertility Of
heir lands. increasing their crops aud
lakinR this country the storehouse Of
10 world for agricultural products.
Legislation Of this character win en-
BILE both the government and individ-
ais to engage IN the business Of the !
Ration OF atmospheric nitrogen. This
m not only aid IA the production OF
lftilizers. but Il may be utilized by +
le government In the manufacture Of
unitlons Of war. Now we are depend
u for our nitric acid. an essential Ia
rploslveN, upon the nitrate Of soda we l
i from Chile. II by war or any other
Iuso we should be cut OH from this
Iurce of supply the United States i
ould have no way OF obtaining at
tort notice the materials Of which to
AXE gunpowdcr. Imagine the near. Z
ghtedncss OF such a situation brought
tout by our neglect Of our water
lwers and our failure TO encourage
Q great electrochemical industries I
hich other nations have created to >
rnish them with this highly neces-
~ munltion OF defense =
This message II not only q develop
emit measure and conservation
nasure IN the true sense Of these
asslm huf IL Ia a highly tmnoffnnf |