Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-01-18
WANT STATE TO
ENTER BUSINESS
Bills Authorizing Such Action
Before Legislature.
MEETS POPULAR APPROVAL

Measure by Senator Jayne Would Per.
nit Public Ownership Of E,sc-
trio Power Plants.
Pierre - (SpeciaD Nor shall tho
state engage in any work Ct internal
improvement" is q phrase injected
into our state constitution by the
trainers, who had in mind the costly
experience Of the state ef Illinois Ii
railroad and canal enterprises h tie
first half of the Nineteenth osatary.
For years we have been nibbling away
at that phrase until its foundations are
pretty well eaten out, and We are still
at 1t. The first attack upon it was an
amendment to permit the drainage Of
swamp lands by public initiative, and
since then we have provided for Aigh.
way building by the state, the mixing
of coal, irrigation and the extension Of
rural credits. There is a strong senti-
ment among the people against per-
hitting the great natural resources of
South Dakota FROM passing out Of the
hands Of the people. The greatest q
these resources r the coal deposits,
the water powers and the cement Do.
posits.
Already two amendments further
weakening the internal improven&s
clause have been introduced and .
least M other 10 upon the way. Sen-
ator jayne has q resolution for -
amendment permitting the stats to
W and develop power plants npsn
the streams and at the coal mines.
This was recommended by Governor
Norbeck and Id Immensely popular.
The public vision looks forward to Q
time when every home and establish.
ment in the state will be enabled -
draw upon an unlimited supply Of eles.
trio current, supplied at the cost 81
production from massive power plants
upon our rivers and at the mouths Of
provides that the state may pledge
the properties to secur funds tor de-
velopment, so that the state credit
will not be directly involved.
Senator Gunderson has : resolution
for an amendment permitting the
state to own and develop the cement
deposits. IT is certain that in the Inn
mediate future there is to he.a great
public demand for cement which the
state nay well supply. It is an incl
dent of the right of the state already
granted to build highways. A year
ago paved highways to any extent
would have been deemed an imprac-
tical dream, but today such highwAys
are an immediate possibility
It is not unlikely that Yankton
county will X thu q few months vote
upon as1,ooo,G00 bond issue to be sup;
plemented by state and federal funds
for paved roads throughout that coun-
ty, and other counties are awaiting ex-
pectant1y the result OF the propaganda
In Yankton. The deposits ofcement
rock along the Missouri river and in
the Black Hills are great beyond com
prehension and the present movement
is looking to the production of cement
by the state to be used In public road
building.
The legislature found itself much
disconnected by the crowded condi-
ton OF the statehouse and BY q reso.
luton compelled the banking depart
ment to surrender the speakers pri.
yate Offices. Every nook and Granny
is filled with department work This
condition has created some sentiment
for a capital to accommodate
the supreme court and libraries II
these departments are removed from
the capitol 1T will relieve ON 1900
square feet Of floor space and the
present building will then accomno
date the state departments indefinite
~. Mr.. Withee Of Turner has pre-
pared . bill providing for supreme
court building to be located upon thu
capitol gronndssto be erected Jointly
BY the present capitol comrnission AMI
the judges 81 the supreme court, q
cost not morethan $32O,0oo completed
The building III directed to be planned
10 ACCOMMODATES the supreme court and
its related 0nices, thA attorney ger
erai and af 81 the libraries nov
housed "a the capitol:
Ihe action of the supreme court q
the United States "a sustaining tn
omrtnm nrfSAEhn r6df1ced