El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-18
PASSAGE OF WATER POWER BILL
OPENS FUTURE FOR ELECTRICITY
p G n

4 LARGE step forward for the development OF water
y power N the United States has been taken By the
senate N passing the Shields bill for leasing power
sites uavigabe streams, good measure which was lost
deadlock II congress the last previous session There
Is every to believe 1t will pass the house now and
thus become law with the presidents signature bis ap
prevail assured for he has urged congress to pass the Dill
as a necessary Piece Of legislation.
is provided in the Shields bill that water power de-
velopment nsvgsbe streams would under control OF
The department which would grant so year permits to
private enterprises for the construction Of dams and power
plants.
The difficulties IN securing supplies Of coal eOinedent
with the demand for supplies and for manu1ac
turing facilities Of all kinds acce1tuate the need for deve
oping al the water power which II possible to utilize
Much Of the available water power cannot developed
without federal legislation such the Shields bill Con-
gresham John H. Small Of New York recently declared
that cut Of total Of 60c0Ooo0 horse power available
the United States only 55OOO0O horse power about
eight percent, has been developed thus Tar.
If the country was confronted by normal conditions
there would be coal shortage at the present time and
very likely there would be nOne spite OF the war the
railroad transport facilities vhat they should be
However confronted by an enormous demand for
coal ior manufacturing purposes NOT only that nut we
furnish much coal possible TO allies and to
our navy, on both SIDES OF the Atantlc even nan OF
the 100000 horse power available were harnesseo up
and working this tine It would enormously reduce the
consumption Of fuel home by substituting electrical
power for steam and It also would release many thousands
Of coal miners for other necessary service
Secretaries Baker, Lane ard Houston Of the cabinet have
been working this water power project for consider
able time and TIE congressional action which
witnessing is In small part due to the efforts Gov
eminent experts estimate that within year enough cleo
taI energy could be developed to replace between 20
IS percent Of all coal now used in this country.
To o-estan possible criticism, It must be stated that
this legislation does not contemplate delivering public
property into the hands Of private monopoes Permanent
title land the Of the water does not pass The
power sites leased the which the e,ec-
tcity be sold VII be controlled by the government
The so year lease necessary safeguard to those whose
capital wiz be invested in The power projects.
The bill mentions navgabe streams for the that
navgable streams those which been shut off
from private water power development heretofore Pre-
sumaby there VIII be difficulty in securing leases for
development nayigable streams at any time.
The bill has effect FL PasO for have navi-
gable streams Nor there any the southwest unless
the Colorado river be called But It must help
mind that hydroelectric possibilities exist the Ele
plant Butte dam and that smaller stations be
Struc-ed intervening places. This is matter be
considered not by private enterprise but by the water users
association that al water viii be shareholders,
beHeftng by TIE sale Of power towns public utilities
and private commercial enterprises.
The bill Is NEST significant in that 1t opens the way for
the coming Of that time which bound arrive when cleo
tncty developed by water power machinery viii
trains and factories heat and light office buildings and
homes cook meals aid VIII do It all cost less
than pay for coal for electricity VIII then be priced
Down TO figures at which its viii money saving
woman has made stop record. Not for talking;
g.