South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-31
ASK CONGRESS To
USE WATER POWER
Report of u. S. Chamber of
Commerce Shows Need
for Legislation.

WASHINGTON. d. g.. March so.
BY sweeping majorities 100000
business executives who comprise
the membership Of the United States
chamber Of commerce have adopted
resolutions calling on congress 10
make provision for Harvesting the
millions In water horse power that
now run Wild.
The vote was taken through the
more than 1000 commercial organ
izatiOns throughout the country
which compose the national cham
Der. FOrty-five states, Alaska aud
Hawaii participated in the ballot
ing. representing a wide range of
industrial interests and opinions and
reliably indicating TO congress how
the business men OF the nation look
On the water power situation. Each
voting organization cast from one TO
ten votes, depending on its member
ship.
The ballotng was based on a Sc
fies OF recommendations contained
in the report Of the committee on
water power development OF the y.
s. chamber Of commerce.
The report begins by pointing out
that II Is estimated that the unde-
1eloped water-power Of the country
exceeds the total steam power now
in service. The federal government
controls much OF the water power
resources Of the country.
The report continues: zone OF the
first things 10 be clearly perceived is
e. ~ -
rot exceedingly profitable under
takings earnestly sought by capital
as a means Of securing large returns
on a small investment: but that, on
the contrary, steam power is the SUI
perior OF water-pONer in almost all
respects.
The initial cost OF a steam plant
is in general but one-half 10 one
fifth that OF a water-power plant of
equal capacity. Moreover. a steam
plant can be more easily enlarged
from time 20 time and the initial
development OF "a water-power plant
must be a larger proportion OF the
ultimate development than that OF
a steam plant. The investor in We
ter-power plant is therefore burden
co from the very start with a heavy
fixed charge, the failure 20 meet
which may mean bankruptcy"
Must Make Conditions Favorable.
Water powers will not be de-
veIoped unless the conditions are
made comparatively favorable.
Present demand for the develop
ment OF such power comes. not from
capitalists. but from com uUn.ties
which. on account OF the high price
and scarcity Of fuel, are DESTROYS
in their own interest, OF inducing
capital to make such Developments
There are many collateral adj
vantages resulting from the de-
velopment OF water-pOwer, which
are reaped by the community as q
whole rather than by the investor, -
says the report. These advantages
are the saving OF labor IN coal mines
and Of railroad labor and labor in
distribution.
IF the water-power now COM
mercially capable Of development
could be brought into use. the
savings 20 the public IN the conse-.
walton or fuel and the release Of
labor and railroad equipment would
run into hundreds Of millions of dol
lars annually.
AT the present moment the pub
lie has been made to realize. ss
never before, the importance Of con-
serving fuel and labor, and the pres
ent emergency accentuates the pub
lie need II the formulation Of a wise
and fair water-p power policy by the
federal government
I'm order 10 secure the adequate
development Of water-power. il is
essential that the subject should be
approached with an attitude Of mind
which recognizes the necessity OF
making such developments attrac-
tive 10 capital. rather than with that
attitude which assumes that such
enterprises should be surrounde J
with as many restrictions as posi-
BILE
The conservation Of every other
natural resource means restriction
I'm its use. for use means consump-
ton. and permanent destruction.
Every pound OF coal burned is for
ever Withdrawn from use. On the
other hand, every horse power %
water-pOwer not used IS lost, and
every horse power conserved and
used saves not only the horsepower
but its equivalent IN coal and may
Incidentally improve navigation"