Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-07
WATER POWER ACT
OPENS NEW FIELD,
LEAGUE IS TOLD
Secretary of Commission
Pledges Cooperation at
Convention Opening.

Cooperation with the power indus
try was pledged today by o. C. Mer-
rill. executive secretary Of the Fed
era1 Power Commission and repre-
sentative of the commission. at the
opening session Of the national con-
vention of the Water Power League
of America. The convention is meet
ing in the Hotel Washington. and SEES
sions will be held this afternoon and
tomorrow.
The commission, Mr.. Merrill said. is
not unmindful of the responsibilities
placed upon it in the administration
OF the new water power act.
I'VE realize both the duty and the
opportunity" said Mr. Merrill TT is
the purpose to cooperate with the
power industry. and, within the limits
of sound engineering and financial
practice and of proper regard for
the public interest, to lend every as
sistanee possible to the development
of our water power resources, and to
by our power requirements may be
met with the greatest practical meas
ure OF economy"
Btresses Proper Start.
The convention, to which scores of
delegates have come from all parts
of the Union, was called to order
by DR.. George F. Swain of the Har-
ward Engineering School, president of
the league. DR.. Swain impressed
upon the convention the Importance
Of the power industry getting a prop
er start under the new law.
DR.. Swain urged the necessity of con-
serving the exhaustible natural re-
sources Of the country from which DOW
er is developed. such as oil and coal.
and the substitution for them. as far as
possible, Of the inexhaustible resources
Of water power as a developer Of power
The development of water power he
said. would not only save fuel, but
would also save labor and cars and
transportation now strained to it's ut
most capacity.
Secretary Of War Baker, chairman
of the federal power commission, was
scheduled to address the convention
But he was called away from Wash
fngton to take part in stumping
tour for Cox and Roosevelt. Besides
Mr.. .Merrilrs address, the delegates
heard Lieut.. Col. William Kelley on
THE Relations Between Navigable
Waters and the Federal Water Power
Act"
At the session this afternoon ad-
dresses will be delivered by Alex
ander Vogelsang. assistant secretary
Of the interior; John A. Britton, vice
president and general manager of
the Pacific Gas and Electric Com
pany. and Prof. John w. Dorsey of
the University Of Manitoba.
Fundamentals to Endure.
Mr., Merrill told the convention that
after ten long years of struggle, fed
eral legislation had at last been en-.
acted permitting the development OF
the country. I'VE may now turn our
attention he said. toward working
out the plans upon which our future
development should proceed.
He predicted that amendments
| would be made in the law. but that
dure, and described the duties which
the power commission was called
upon to perform. including the reg
ulation Of rates. service and secur1-
ties in interstate business. He de-
pIored the fact that Congress has
not given the commission personnel
| for carrying out the law. other than
an executive secretary and engineer
| ofiicer, but has provided that the
work of the commission shall be per-
war. Interior and Agricultural de-
lover sixty applications. involving
from two to three million horsepower,
greater in amount than all the prof.
ects acted upon by the three depart
ready been filed with the commits
sion" said Mr.. Merrill. He urged
the necessity of taking stock of the
water power resources of the coun-
try. which have been variously esti-
mated from 100000 to 300,000,000
horsepower.
War Brought Realization.
.Srhe emergency of war" he con-
tinued. "broNght US to an acute re-
alization Of depending too exclusively
on steam power. Our fuel oil reserves
are being rapidly depleted, and even
if we could assume that our ultimate
coal resources can be measured in