Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-04-20
MOST IMPORTANT BILL
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
How Water Power Legislation
VIII Build Up the West.
BY HENRY L. MYERS,

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public lands is more important ant
fraught with more possibilities of good
more benefit to our country. than an,
other piece Of legislation which will b.
considered at this session of congress
This bill proposes to make available
for development and use the cheapest
source of electricity-water power. II
offers a new hope of wonderful devel
opment and marvellous possibilities fol
new industries to the great west.
The water powers of that part Of the
country are among its greatest re-
sources, and to the present time they
have been almost wholly neglected.
We have stopped developing water
powers because the laws have not been
adapted to their development. The pro-
posed legislation will encourage water
power development offering reason
able terms and conditions to investors,
while it fully protects the public rights
In this national asset. 1t opens the
door to development on fair terms to
investor and consumer alike and puts
up the bars against speculation In or
exploitation Of the public need for in
dividual or corporate greed.
A few Of the uses to which electlit al
power has been put su -cesSfEly in
recent years and will be apple more
successfully in the next few years to
come are:
Cheap electricity for fuel and power,
light and heat in the cities and on the
farms.
Reclamation by irrigation of vast
areas of land now idle and useless.
Establishment of new industries,
around which will grow new towns
and cities, creating employment for
hundreds of thousands of people and
new markets for agricultural products.
New steel and iron industries in
new sections.
Cheapened production of metal from
low grade ores.
Cheaper agricultural fertilizers and
consequent larger agricultural crops.
One of the greatest benefits which
will arise In the west from this legisla-
ton is the irrigation Of arid lands
which are not now susceptible to irri-
cation by the gravity system 1t is
estimated that there are at least TO-
100000 acres of arid lands located in
the far western states lying above the
reach Of gravity water that can only
be reclaimed through water raised by
pumps operated by cheap hydroelec-
trio power now latent and wasting In
the various streams from which the
water would be pumped. In other
words, we can make the water pump
itself on to the land Given water,
these lands will produce every fruit,
and grain that Is native to
the temperate zone and are capable Of
a population Of 100000
people.
With bill of this kind enacted into !
law and in successful operation / be- |
Iieve capital will become interested to
such degree in water power develop
ment and power will be produced so
,heaply that there will be 40 excuse
'or a single quarter section OF land in
he western states remaining arid and
Statesmen, economists
md theorists have long sought o way
or reducing high cost Of living. In
his legislation l believe lies a direct
Dad to this end.
] am assured that capital Is waiting
'nly for fair legislation Of the kind
contained In this bill to invest In great
water power development that will &C.
omplish all the benefits to which
AVE referred. The establishment of
lectrochemical plants for the fixation
# atmospheric nitrogen located In
hese western states, where there are
of lime, phosphates and
Their minerals and ores awaiting cheap
ower for their manufacture Into use
III products, means among other
hings cheaper fertilizer for the whole
ountry.
Here is the opportunity for the farm
RS of the United States to have put
lto their hands the greatest possible
gency of restoring the fertility of
heir lands. increasing their crops and
laking this country the storehouse OF
be world for agricultural products.
Legislation of this character win en-
BILE both the government and mdiyid-
ais to engage in the business Of the
xation of atmospheric nitrogen THIS
ill not only aid in the production Of
ertilizers. but 1t may be utilized by
he government in the manufacture Of
lunitions Of war. Now we are depend
ut for our nitric acid. an essential in
Tplosives. upon the nitrate Of soda we
ct from Chile. II by war or any other
ause we should be cut or from this
,urce Of supply the United States
'ould have no way Of obtaiAing at
tort notice the materials OF which to
AXE gunpowder. Imagine the near
ghtedness Of such a situation brought
bout by our neglect Of our water