Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner. (Elizabeth, Colo.) 1920-1921, 1920-09-10
CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY DEvEL-
OPS STATE.

the West is the development of lis
natural resources. The most avail
able resource and the one which I
IAN be developed for the services Of
the greatest number of people and
industries is that of water Water
used for tn generation of electricity
means the establishing of factories
and in addition goes long way to-
wards conserving fuel and supply
ng the shortage of labor"
These are the words of Percy v.
-ong,eity attorney of San Francisco,
rom 1903 to 1917. In this posi-
tion Mr.. Long came in close contact
With public utility problems from
the standpoint of the private citizen
md INDUSTRY and the fixing of rea-
Jonable rates. His experience in
his petition in connection with the
work of the engineers of the city,
convinced him that cooperation on
lart OF public authorities toward
well managed public utilities was
more TO be desired than controversy
and strife which usually defeated
The ends desired, namely the secur-
ing Of adequate service to the public
Continuing, Mr.. Long says:
IF the needs of growing popr-
latioh are to be accommodated, ny
1ro-electric development must be
planned in advance of population.
This means the Investment Of
inormdus sums of money which must
be borrowed.
Unless the public encourages pub
ic utility planning by adopting :.
AIR and reasonable attitude to
wards charges for service money
viii not be available for the lending
,ublic win not loan its money un7
'ess ii is assured of a return.
Recently regulating bodies in the
various states have seen the necess-
lty of encouraging public utility
planning and have announced poll
cies which are progre1sive and sound
rhe Railroad Commission of Cali
ornia has been particularly encour-
ging in its attitude as evidenced b.
he statements of its President f. o
'1dgerton. In an address recently
e said: 1t is my conception that
he relation of the public utilities t.
he public may be stated in thii
ray: That the primlr considera-
ION the fundamental consideration
the operation of the public II
lity companies ia that they be OPP
rated in the public interest. Prop
rly considered. this means that
dequate compensation would emo
must 60 to those who have invested
these utilities and to those who arc
managing them, because 1t is II
tremendous public interest thai
.hese great institutions be financi-
lily sound, and they cannot be finan
cialIy sound except adequate reven-
ues be produced to carry them for
ward
While the busy house wife has
been for sometime dependent upon
Electricity as an adjunct to houae-
work 1t Is only quite recently that
he farmer and manufacturer ha
appreciated the cheapne53 and us1.
fulness of power.
To-day lack Q: power is taro'n=
Development TO very great degree
II has been the experience. of power
companies that when planned devel
opment has been achieved that the,
growth OF population and increased
demand furnished a market for thu
power when ready for delivery.
Thus all planning which haF
been for years in advance Of need:
has barely been. sufficient for the
moment. Unleas mo-ey is spelt Or
larger scale than heretofore star
nation will result and progress Will
be arrested.
TT is to the credit of the .west.
and particularly California that
practically all OF The money sup
piled for hydro electric development
in the last 10 years has come from
local sources. II is the attitude Of
the California r. R. Commission that
has encouraged California investors
OF moderate means TO loan their
money TO the enterprises developinR
their state. Under wise reguls
lions the Commission has projected