The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-29
WATER POWER
BIG IMPETUS
TO INDUSTRY
Applications Filed for Develop
ment of Sites Involving Over
20 Million Horsepower.
WILL PRESERVE OUR
SMALL COAL SUPPLY
Much WaterpOwer Waiting to Be
Used and Offering an I'm
usual Inducement.
BY GEORGE n. MANNING.
Washington Correspondent of Pensa
cola JournaD

cola JournaD
WASHINGTON, July 26.-The great
! impetus that may be given to industry
In the next few years from develop
| ment of water power is indicated by
| the fact that in the two years since
Congress passed the water power act
and the Federal Power Commission
was created applications have been
filled for development of water power
sites involving in excess of 20 million
horsepower or six times the aggregate
of all applications for power sites und-
er Federal control in the preceding 20
years.
Power Waiting
There is more water power develop
ment under way at the present time
than at any previous period in our
history.
There is much wore water-power
waiting to be used and offering I'M
usual inducement for enterprise, econ
omy and progress. if we are to pre-
serve our diminishing coal supply, re-
duce the burden of coal transportation,
increase the supply of electric energy
and reduce its cost the Federal Power
Commission asserts in a statement re-
viewing the first two years of its
operation.
There were filed with the Commits
sion, in it's second year applications
aggregating a net total of million,
horsepower, or more than twice the
existing water power installation Of
the United States. This amount added
to the application of the preceding fis-
cal year made a grand total of 321,
involving in excess of 20 million
horsepower.
May Require Treaty.
Nearly one-half of the aggregate of
20 million horsepower is represented by
applications upon the st. Lawrence, Co
lumbia and Colorado rivers, upon which,
in general, action has been suspended.
The st. Lawrence involves international
relations and may require a treaty before |
action can be taken. The Columbia is
under investigation by a special board |
to determine, before applications are ap-
proved, the relation between waterpower, |
irrigation and navigation upon that |
stream. Action on the Colorado river is |
awaiting the findings of the Colorado riv- I
er commission, an organization authorized
by act Of Congress for the purpose of
negotiating between the States within
the Colorado basin q compact, in accord
lnce with which the waters of the river
map be apportioned among these states.
The Federal Power Commission has
performed an enormous task in the two
Jears of it's existence under great handi-
caps through being restricted by Con-
yress to a skeleton personnel and a mig
sardlyn appropriation.
Only 1s Clerks
To perform the greatest task with re-
pect to water powers that the govern
nent has ever had, Congress gave the
sno personnel other than it's
executive secretary and engineer officer,
personnel as the other departments could
pare and were willing to loan. II has
'een operating two years under these un-
satisfactory conditions with a detail OF e;
engineers, attorneys, 2 accountants
nd Is Clerks a force utterly inadequate
o perform the duties placed upon it by 1
he Act. The commission has no field {
orce of it's own, loaned or otherwise, but I
nust depend for examinations and re- /
orts and for the conduct of field hear K
1gs, upon the field officers of the de-
who are primarily re- {
ponsible for their own departmental du- {
es. &
Appropriate 100000
It was given originally an appropria- '
on of $100 900. The amount was repeat
1 for 1922. For 1923 it will have only S
le unexpended balance of the first years I
Under such circumstances the commits
on has been obliged to delay action on
any important projects, and it has been
,rced to omit altogether the perform
nee of important duties required by the
ct.
BY confirming it's activities primarily to
OBLIGATIONS for power projects, declara-
ms of intention and requests for restora-
on to entry, the commission has been
Die to take final action on more than I
alf of the applications for permits and J
,enses, of which 11S were disposed OF {
lring the year. 1t also rendered decfs- II
MS during the year upon e declarations t
intention, passed upon reservations to Q
,try in 1853 cases and made withdrawals
$4,000 acres of public lands in con-
,ction with APPLICATIONS for power pro-
cts.
Project Licenses. q
ITp to June 80, 1922, the commission mad
lthorized 81 preliminary permits anu \" /
lenses, of which IS were for transmits >
On lines. The fifty eight permits no"
Itstanding involve an estimated install
ton of 1856, 900 horsepower and the 81
senses for power projects. 1,SS2,oeO
rsepower, or a total of 4,31S,0OO horse
wer OF the projects, covered by the
licenses, II involving an estimated IN
aIlation when completed OF 1,6SO'0Oo
rsepower were either completed or I'M Ct
r construction at the close Of the fiscal q
ar This is 25 per cent more than was p
instructed under Federal authorization y
the 20 years preceding the passage OF n
e Federal Water Power Act. y
a.
NAVAL STORES. W
JACKSONVILLE. July 2S.-Turpentine
lady; 112 to 113; sales 542; receipts