Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-08
Water Power Legislation Demanded

Z EDERAL neglect Of the country'S poten-
/ tal water power has been dangerously
close 10 criminal. To-day We are paying the
price. What that price will be only the
future can disclose. With country ut war
and heavy demands being made on its re
sources. ii may prove disastrously high. The
distressing conditions into which we now are
plunged as the result or a coal shortage.
which was easily prevcpIablc. and the threat
oned breakdown OF transportation and indus
tries vital 10 war success as the dirciui con-
sequence. are traceabic directly to the incom-
pctence. or ~ least the vacllating policy. OF
Congress which has allowed itself TO 10
shuDted back and forth between private and
public interests 10 the accomplishment, OF
nothing. Thus millions OF dollars have been
lost 10 the people that might have been saved.
and. what is OF more Importance the present
military efficiency Of the country stands in
grave danger OF Impairment by reason OF past
blunGers.
President Wilson recognized this when. in
his messas Sc 10 Congress, he said: 1T is iul-
peratively necessary that the consideration al
the full use OF the water power OF the couu-
Try and also the consideration OF the syste-
matte and Yet economical development OF such
OF the natural resources OF the country as
still are under control OF the Federal govern
mcnt, should be Immediately resumed and
atiirmatve!y and constrUctively dealt with at
the earliest possible moment" 1t is too late
TO repair and correct losses and mistakes OF
the past but the time is here when 4 policy
for the public welfare must be adopted for
the future. Congress should be made 10
understand that haGglins over differences OF
opinion as 10 methods must not be perIl,itted
further to retard proper development OF
sorely needed resources which now lie
wasting.
Think OF IT, Out OF possible 10000. 900
horse power in the United States only $500
600. or about per cent. has been developed
With this wastage properly harnessed and
sent forth as electric current it would be suf-
ficient 10 run the railroads, mine the coal
and turn every industrial wheel in the land
With the coal thus conserved people in many
states would not now be suffering from cold
and the problem OF labor would be in a fair
way to solution through the number OF men
released from the mines and made available
for other work i!nperatively dema nded. And
again, millions OF tons OF coal could be saved
10 future generations which may be forced to
GO without because OF our wasteIul extrava-
gance.
The necessity OF water power legislation has
been Cioned into the ears OF an unrea li.ng
public for years, but il has taken the greatest
wa! OF all time 10 arouse them 10 the gravity
q their neglect. Congress has been urged
TO pass the necessary legislation, and has
done nothing but litter up the Congressional
Record with q waste OF words Now, with q
powerful enemy knocking al our very doors
iuFther p7oc-ast!nGtion may prove fatal! 1t
Is up 10 Congress 10 compose conflicting in
teTests and enact Law that will make pos
sb!e the utilization OF this vast water power
Not TO Go SO may spell ruin