Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-15
Twenty Millions
To Be Spent on
Power Scheme
Energy Generated i'm Carolinas
Will Help Make Great Cot.
ton Manufacturing Com.
munities in South.
By HOLLAND.


Contained in the very interesting
and really amazing report made by
Secretary OF the Interior Fall, setting
forth the enormity OF the undevel-
oped natural resources OF the United
States. is statement that on public
lands there now await development
l5500,000 horsepower in hydro-elec-
iric energy. This does not include
the development Of this energy by
private capital. One OF the latest
OF these developments is the tone
which Is now undertaken by the
Southern Power company. Until
within a few years the power which
was in streams OF the south was
neglected. George Westinghouse was
one OF the first, il not the first. TO
tell the business men OF the south
that they possessed in their rivers
power going 10 waste which if cap
tured and utilized would be sufficient
10 operate trolley lines, railroads and
industrial plants in considerable
section of the south.
Now this hitherto neglected resource Is
IN the progress OF full development. When
the stupendous power which is contained
in the Muscle Shoals region Is developed
then on the whole the southern states Will
match II not over match the development
OF hydro-eleetrie energy as Il is In other
parts OF the union. The able men who
are managing the Southern Power COM
pany plan an expenditure OF not less than
s20000,000 for the purpose of utilizing
water powers in North and In South Caro-
lima. This energy will be sufficient to
operate continuous line Of cotton mills
in the Carolinas and win contribute to
making the south very great cotton
manufacturing community.
To Utilize Water Power.
In other parts OF the south preparations
are underway for capturing and utilizing
the hitherto unused energy. thereby
building up many industries.
The wonderful increase in the develop
msnt of natural resources in the south
which has been made within the past 80
or 40 years made 1t possible for Secretary
Fall to furnish in his annual report the
enormous wealth that is in the natural
resources of the United States. Fifty
years ago the almost unmatched deposits
Of ore. coal and limestone in northern Ala
hama were OF no avail. In fact. only a
few weeks ago Birmin CHAM. Ala, which |
was 30 yeares ago little hamlet cele-
6rated with the president of the United
States the conspicuous guest the
flftieth anniversary of the beginning of
the utilization OF the enormous mineral
wealth In that vicinity
has development Of natural resources been, |
relatively speaking. on greater scale than
in the south. This is reflected in the |
increase in building operations. At a !
time when building in other parts of the
United States was almost stagnant the |
south was much engaged in building con- |
struction;, How rapidly, that has in
statement that in November nearly
sl00. 100000 represent new contracts or
contracts about to be executed for build
,sv1 lA ~ Tf, nn-
tober the money Investment in building !
was little over 500. 900, 900. palt of this
being in contracts to be awarded and a
part In contracts already awarded.
Rich Resources Remain.
There remain very rich and extensive
natural resources In the south. some OF
which await development to be under
taken as soon as normal business condt-
tlons are restored Florida Is already
in southern Florida whereby much Of that
very rich soil will be drained and be made
available for agriculture. In fact within
lands In Florida hitherto uncultivated be-
cause unavailable will have been re-
claimed.
Louisiana has far.reaching stretches Of
very rich land hitherto unavailable be-
cause Of its swamplike character. Yet ir
the course of few years approximately
5oo0o,oo0 acres Of these lands Will have
been reclaimed and be cultivated to di-
versified agriculture. Former Governor
Lowden OF Illinois has been for some years
persuaded that the low lands of the Missis-
sippi valley in the vicinity OF Memphis
and across the river in Arkansas can be
reclaimed and he has already undertaken
to do that. Almost all OF these lands.
however, are state lands and are not in.
cluded in any estimate OF the wealth of
the United States as that exists in lands
unrecaimed and yet -reclaimaole
The Southern Pinelands.
One of the ablest Of expert authorities
OF the United States whose home is at
Boston but who is familiar with the latest
States recently said that the cut-over pine
lands of the southern states left residue
OF stumps which contain hidden riches IN
tho form of oils. turpentine and IKE prod
ucts, and that these only await develop
lnent which is sure to come and in fact
has begun He also spoke of natural
resources in the south which when de-
veloped will produce wool pulp IN enor-
nous amounts available Ior tne iudHuide-
ture of paper.
There seems to be an intimation, rather
subtle II is true, in the report which mas
lust been made by the secretary OF the
interior that these natural resources of
the United States which when developed
may Yield in royalties to the government
$4,000. 10000 every year must. X the
best results are to be secured. be handled
in the modern spirit OF real conservatism
of prevention of waste and the odoptloh
of ali reasonable economies. II that be
done then when these natural resources
ara well developed they will have increased
the available wealth of the United states
SO that it will reach Sl5o0, ooo 100000 al.
though today that wealth is estimated at
about $500 OO0. 900, 600. In our natural re-
sources well developed and with the world
at peace there is apparently in Secretary
Falls mind no question of the future posi-
tion of the United States as the leader
among the nations OF the world.
Chicago Live Stock.