Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-06-02
PINCHOT Asked TO
Define His POSITION
Answers Demanded to List Of
Pertinent Questions.

Clifford Pinchot. former chief forester
and for several years accepted author
ity on conservation questions. has been
challenged by the Water Power Devel-
oiHnent Association to define his posi-
ton as to water power legislation and
to explain to the country why he is
opposed to pending legislation to en-
courage the development and use Of
water powers. In an open letter ad-
dressed to the Pennsylvania Bull MoOs
er, signed by Harry w. Hand. chair
man of its executive committee. the
Development association, an Organiza-
ton Of manufacturers Of water wheels
and hydraulic and electrical equipment
and supplies. challenges Mr.. Pinchot to
lie specific in his charges that certain
bills in congress are in the interests
of water power monopolies and to pro-
duce proof that there is, as he has al
legged. powerful lobby at work In
Washington to pass these bills.
The letter is as follows:
You have charged President Wilson
and majority of the members Of the
United States senate with having fail
ed to defend public rights in permit
ting the passage of the Shields bill au-
thorizing water power development on
navigable streams.
This association holds no brief for
any particular bill and is anxious only
for legislation that will stimulate new
industries and national prosperity
through development and use Of water
powers now flowing to waste. We be.
lieve the Shields bill to be such meas.
ure. We believe that it offers terms to
capital which will encourage invest
ment in water power development. We
believe that the Endorsement Of this
bill by former Secretary Of War CARR
son and by the senate committee and
the fact that among the senators who
voted for its passage after four weeks
of exhaustive debate were representa-.
tives Of the Democratic, Republican
and Progressive parties. while only
twenty-five votes could be mustered
against it, is evidence that the bill
gives full consideration and protection
to all public rights and interests.
"You have written and talked much
about water power trust. Do not all
students of economic conditions agree
that the power business is a natural
monopoly and that there cannot be
economic competition in the distribu.
ton Of electric current In any given
locality?
you have complained that the
Shields bill proposes to give away wa.
ter powers without compensation. This.
of course, ignores the big fact that a
large part Of the expenditures in con.
struction Of any dam and power plant
must go for improving navigation and
that this public benefit Is to be rem.
dered without cost to the government.
Without raising this argument, how
ever, why do you want charge made
by the government for use Of water
power?
eve want to see the water powers of
the United States developed and used.
Do you?
"1s It not fact that under the kind
of restriction and high rentals in the
present laws, approved by you. devel-
opment has come practically to stand.
still and no large powers have been or
are being developed in the national for.
ests and the public domain?
'Is it not true that under the present
gneral dam laws, which do not offer
terms attractive to capital. only eight
dams and water power plants, with
total development Of less than 100000
horsepower. have been built on nav.
igable streams in the last ten years?
rs 1t not fact that In this same
period water powers in Europe have
had the greatest era Of development
known to history?
do you not know that under the re.
strictive policies Of the United States
for ten years past not single electro
chemical plant using water power has
been built in this country, while in the
same years Europe has developed more
than a million horsepower Of hydro.
electricity devoted to fiXation Of at
mospheric nitrogen alone?
y
and water power failures in this coun-
try have so discouraged investment
that some of our largest power enter
prises of recent years have had to be
financed abroad?
us it not true that. excepting in the
cases Of few of our largest and most
attractive powers. the margin of COM
petition is very close between water
power and cheapened cost and in
creased efficiency of steam plants?
do you not know that very cheap
power Is essential to the establishment
of the electrochemical, electrometal
lurgical and other new processes and
industries necessary in this country to
enable us to keep abreast Of the indus
trial and agricultural progress of other
countries?
us it not true that every kilowatt of
electricity produced by water power is
the approximate equivalent Of two
pounds Of coal saved for future con
sumption?
Are you not aware that every dol.
lar, every cent added to the cost of
water power development adds to the
cost Of supplying power to the con-
sumer decreases the possibilities of
production of power cheap enough
upon which to build great new indus
tries. lessons the margin of economy
between generating power by water
and by steam and diminishes the mum
Der Of water powers that can be eco
nomically and probably developed, in