Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-16
an,EL "a, WATER POWER BILL.

authorizing the secretary OF war to
grant permits for the building OF
dams and power plants on navigable
streams, is about ready for q vote IN
the United States senate. This Will
be the flrst vote taken In the senate
on a general waterpower measure IN
the eisht years that the subject OF
conservation of natural resources has
been under consideration In congress.
Two water power bills passed the
honse last year and died in the SEN
ate
Senate leaders and military authori-
ties urse the Shields bill as vital
feature Of the preparedness program:
It Is estimated that there Is 6O,OOO,OoO
horsepower OF natural energy IN the
navigable streams Of the United
States. of which nine-tenths Is flow
ing to waste. These great water
powers have been locked out Of use
up to now, as special act of con-
press has been necessary for each
power plant and it has been impos-
sible to pass workable tracts for the
development of large water powers.
Senator Shields of Tennessee an
nounced in the senate that the pas
sage OF this bill would be followed by
early development of waterpowers ag-
gregating 100000 horsepower or a
volume of electricity equal to that pro-
lduced by a coal consumption or
100. 100000 tons year. Engineers
estimate that development Of this
amount OF waterpower equals a saw
ing OF 100000 day in coal bills.
It ID known that number of big
electro-ehemical plants for making
saltpetre and nitric acid from the air
have been planned by private enter
prise, and will be built as soon as the
Shields bill becomes law and makes
Il possible to finance these undertak-
ings. These chemicals are essential
to the manufacture of explosives and
AGRICULTURAL fertilizers, and at present
the United States is wholly depend
emit for its supply upon the nitrate de-
posts Of Chile. The Chilean govern
ment collects high tax upon every
ton of nitrate exported. There Is at
present not single atmospheric nj
trogen plant in this country, although
Europe has 100000 horsepower of
hydro-electricity devoted to this use,
and Germany Is making 100000 tons
of saltpet1e a year in such establish
ments for military and agricultural
uses.
Electrnication of railroads, manu-
facture of iron and steel in electric
furnaces. and extensive irrigation de-
yelopments tn the west are among
other benefits expected to be derived
from the utilization of large water
powers for generation Of cheap elec-
tricity
Under the terms of the Shields bill,
the secretary Of war is authorized to
grant permits for dams and power
plants where he believes the building
OF such dams will improve navigab1l-
ity of streams. Dams are to be built
without cost to the government and
the grantees are to provide and oper-
ate locks, gates sideways, ETC., all
without cost to the government. Per-
mits may be granted to individuals
political subdivisions Of states, cities
or other municipal corporations, or
to public utility corporations. 1ntra-
state business and rates of COM
panies operating under the act are
to be regulated by the states, and in
terstate service and rates by the in
terstate commerce commission.
Municipality owned dams and pow
er plants for irrigation or for supply.
ing power for municipal purposes are
to be given preference in making
leases for surplus water powers in
the streams. The bill does not apply
to waterpower on small streams and
creeks, used for grist mills, sawmills,
etc.
The measure contains a drastic an.
ti-monopoly clause, providing that no
dam or works constructed under its
provisions shall be owned, leased, con-
trolled or operated "by any device or
in any manner SO that they form part
Of or in any way effect any combina.
ton in the form of an unlawful mo.
nopoly, or form the subject of any
unlawful constraint or conspiracy to
limit the output of electrical energy
or in restraint of trade