The Washington herald., 1917-12-13
US. TO UTILIZE
WATER POWER
Roosevelt's Suggestion Be-
comes Reality After
Eight Years!

A few weeks before the administra-
ton Of Theodore Roosevelt a. Presi-
dent was ended the governors of a
majority Of the States Of the Union
met in Washington for the purpose
Of conference and discussion. Col.
Roosevelt, then President, addressed
the governors. speaking with great
carnestness upon the need Of con-
structive work In order reasonably
and honorably to advance the pros
perity Of the American people. Will
lam H. Taft, the President-elect. ad-
dressed these governors and Clifford
Pinchot presided at some Of the meet
ings. One of the subjects discussed
referred to the utilization. under wise
and competent government regulation
Of the unsurpassed water powers Of
the United States.
One speaker told the governors that
the Scandinavian peninsula had util-
lied its water powers so extensively
that four hundred thousand horse pow
er was then under development pro-
duced by hydraulic energy and with
this power it was possible to draw
from the atmosphere nitrogen in COM
mercial quantities. The process was
called fxation, Of nitrogen. This
speaker asked what was being done
in the United States with the aid
of the government so to utilize the
water powers as also to obtain great
commercial advantages. He could only
answer his own question by saying.
nothing"
Now, eight years after the attention
Of the government was directed to this
subject and after President Roosevelt
spoke in warm approval Of thorough
utilization OF the water powers Of the
country for commercial purposes,
President Wilson has at last recon-
mended to Congress that It enact suit
able legislation whereby these unsur-
passed and almost immeasurable
sources of energy can be utilized. The
government itself is setting the ex-
ample made possible by the appropria-
ton Of S2o,O00.0o0 by Congress for the
utilization Of water power. in this case
that OF the rapids Of the Tennessee
River. for the purpose Of supplying
the government through the modern
science Of extraordinarily with
abundant supplies OF nitrogen for war
purposes and also the farmers with
sufficient nitrogen for utilization in
the manufacture Of fertilizers.
Hydro-EIectric Power.
II Congress and the government
upon the administrative side have not
until within a short time given any
heed to this important subject, some
Of the leaders in our industries have
spent much time and not a little
money in making thorough investiga-
ton of what the country's water
power IL and especially that part Of
it which is going to waste. with q
view to persuading Congress to enact
aI .lr,
1t possible for private capital. regu-
lated and supervised by the govern
ment, to make use of the country's
water power.
The leaders in one Of the greatest
industries of the United States are
occupied this week in discussing, un-
der the auspices Of tho United States
Chamber Of Commerce. plans for CO.
operation with the government. The
purpose, apparently, is the perfecting
Of industrial mobilization so that
there might be concentrated In Wash !
ington a body subordinate to which |
will be committees representing each |
Of the industries. the purpose OF
which Is to secure perfect co-opera- |
ton OF our industries with the gov
ernment. The presumption is that
the government viii. on its part, cor |
daily cooperate with these indus |
trial leaders.
tives Of our Industries met at WASH |
lngton there was q small and in |
formal gathering of representative
men, not all of them leaders of in !
dustries. some of them recognized
as business statesmen. IN New York
City. These men discussed another !
question but one entirely pertinant |
to the one which the representa- !
tives Of industry are discussing in
Washington this week
what of the Future.
One man, who Is esteemed worthy
to rank with the great leaders of
the time, said to those who gathered
at this informal meeting that we are
no more fitted or prepared for the in
conceiyably great responsibilities and
opportunities that will arise i'm
mediately after the war Is ended than
We were prepared in April last for
participating in the European war.
1t was said at this gathering that
IL II Of course imperative that in
dustry in the United States should be
so modified as perfectly to CO.
operate with the government at his
time. But II was also said that the
industrial leaders and the states
men should not delay a moment In
making preparations for the condi- |
tlons which will arise Immediately
after the war Is ended II we are to
maintain our position in international |
trade, in finance and in our great in !
dustries-mining. transportation and |
others. The seed OF what may be- /
come in a few weeks a new organiza- |
ton was sown at this gathering.
One of the vital factors in the |
preparation for the future II the |
utilization OF the water-powers of !
the United States. now going to
waste. But this IL only one. The |
new organization will not in any |
way be ntagonistic to such COM |
mittees or organization as the rep |
resentative business men now in
Washington may perfect Its pur-
pose will be to keep constantly in !
mind the fact that while mobiliza- |
tion and cooperation Of industry /
to the end that the government may |
be aided are in progress, there must |
also be preparation for the future |
so complete that the country will |
be able to take full advantage of |
the opportunities and the RESPONSE
biIities which the close of the war
will place upon US.
HOLLAND"
NEW YORK MONEY.