Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-06-15
MOST IMPORTANT BILL
NOW Bel CRE CONGRESS
How Water Power Legislation
\ viii Build Up the West.
BY II ENRY L. MYERS,

In my opinion the bill now before
congress for leasing power sites on the
public lands is more important and
fraught with more possibilities Of good,
more benefit to our country. than any
other piece of legislation which will be
This bill proposes to make available
for development and use the cheapest
source of electricity-water power. 1t
offers a new hope Of wonderful devel-
opment and marvellous possibilities for
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 electrical
power has been put successfully in
recent years and will be applied 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,
vegetable and grain that is native to
the temperate zone and are capable OF
supporting population of 100000
people.
With bill of this kind enacted into
law and in successful operation l be-
lieve capital will become interested to
such degree In water power develop
ment and power will be produced SC
cheaply that there will be no excuGs
for a single quarter section of land in
the western states remaining arid and
unproductive. Statesmen, economists
and theoristl, have long sought a way
for reducing high cost of living. In
this legislation l believe lies a direct
road to this end.
l am assured that capital is waiting
only for fair legislation of the kline
contained in this bill to invest in great
water power development that will &C
complish all the benefits to which
have referred. The establishment oil
electrochemical plants for the tixatior
of atmospheric nitrogen located IL
these western states, where there are
, mountains of lime, phosphates ant
other minerals and ores awaiting cheaI
n power for their manufacture into use
n full products, means among othe
;, things cheaper fertilizer for the Who'll,
d country
Here is the opportunity for the farm
5 ers of the United States to have pu
: into their hands the greatest possibl,
+ agency of restoring the fertility O
q their lands. increasing their crops ant
making this country the storehouse o
the world for agricultural products.
Legislation Of this character viii en-
5, able both the government and individ
r uals to engage In the business of tn,
fxation Of atmospheric nitrogen. Thi
will not only aid in the production o
fertilizers, but 1t may be utilized b,
the government In the manufacture O
y munitions of war. Now we are depend
u ent for our nitric acid an essential IL
!. explosives. upon the nitrate Of soda W,
p get from Chile. II by war or any othe
.. cause we should be cut Off from thi
% source of supply the United State
re would have no way of obtaining a
If short notice the materials of which t
make gunpowder. Imagine the near
sightedness of such situation brough
about by our neglect of our waite
u powers and our failure to encourage
the great electrochemical industrie