Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-09-14
| INCHOT ASKED TO
Define HIS POSITION
..3Wors Demand. ! to List Of
Pertinent Questions.

y !ord Pinchot, former chief forester Z
wi for several years accepted author
y ON conservation questions. has been
i",iienged by the Water Power Devel-
p eht Association to define his posi-
II as to water power legislation and
explain to the country why he is
posed to pending legislation to en-
outage the development and use of
water powers. In an open letter ad-
drc ed to the Pennsylvania Bull Moos-
er signed by Harry w Hand, chair
m2n of its executive committee, the
development association. an organiza-
li,iI of manufacturers of water wheels
aud hydraulic and electrical equipment
aud supplies, challenges Mr. pinchot to
We specific in his charges that certain
bills in congress are in the interests
81 water power monopolies and to pro-
dUce proof that there is. rs he has al
itsed. a powerful lobby at work in
Washington to pass these bills
hC iCtlCi 10 dS lOllONS.
You have charged President Wilson
aud majority of the members Of the
United States senate with having fail
cd to defend public rights in permit
ting the passage of the Shields bill au-
thorizing water power development on
uavigable 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-
ieve the Shields bill to be such a meas
IRE. We believe that it offers terms to
apital which will encourage invest
mcnt in water power development. We
believe that the Endorsement of this
bill by former Secretary of War Garri-
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
end 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 natural
monopoly and that there cannot be
economic competition in the distribu-
ton of electric current in any given
locality?T
"rou have complained that the
lei : bill proposes to give away wa
~ rcrS without compensation. This,
ct course, ignores the big fact that a
a"ge part OF the expenditures in con-
~t"uction of any dam and power plant
"nlYt 70 for improving navigation and
tNat this public benefit is to be rem
| Ger q without cost to the government.
without raising this argument, how
yer. why do you want charge made
| j. t'se government for use Of water
owcr?
We want to see the water powers of
he United States developed and used.
| o You?
Ia it not a fact that under the kind
restriction and high rentals in the
"rfont laws, approved by you, devel-
pln"nt has come practically to a stand
III and no large powers have been OF
re being developed In the national for.
;,s and the public domain?
Is it not true that unds' the present
.icrai dam laws, which do not Offer
mas attrac tive to capital. only eight
ms and water power plants, with q
tai development of less than 10000
aisepower, have been built on nav
bla streams In the last ten years?
lis 1t not q fact that in this same
nriod water powers in Europe have
= the greatest era of development,
,wn to history?
10 YOU nst know that under the re
= tive policies of the United States
len years past not single electro
ymical plant using water power hat
~ built in this country, while in the
- years Europe has developed mor'
IN million horsepower of hydro
,,iricity devoted to fixaton of at
| heric nitrogen alone?
are you aware that restrictive law
al water power failures in this coun
i have so discouraged investment
Il, some of our largest power enter
,.scS of recent years have had to b.
anaed abroad?
lis it not true that, excepting in tn
asses of a few of our largest and mos
-, ;lve powers, the margin of com
,e;.tion is very close between waite
over and cheapened cost and In
a. II efficiency of steam plants?
70 you not know that very cheal
- -. is essential to the establishment
electrochemical &c trometal
/, - and other new processes ant
{ <t"ies necessary In this country t
-" e us to keep abreast of the indus
ri: and agricultural progress of othe
r0unlries?
is it not true that every kilowatt o
lpctricity produced by water power l
Of u