The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-31
LOPMENT OF
CHEAT RIVER NOW
BEING DISCUSSED
CONTINUED from Page one)

is said. under the federal applica-
ton.
That the federal duplication
op the great water power of the
Cheat stream, however. is discount
ed by those here acquainted with
the laws of West Virginia govern
ling water power development, 1t
is said that before the applicant
company will: attempt any definite
work the report of the West Vir-
ginia Water Power Commission.
created by an act of the last Leg
islature. whose head is Senator
Edgar B. Stewart of Morgantown.
will first be awaited and then ac-
ton of the Legislature upon such
recommendations as the power
commission may make. 1t is
known that the water power in
terests seeking development of the
power resources of Cheat River do
not Consider the state laws at the
present time as favorable for the
carrying through of their project.
the same being regarded as more
or less local in their scope and as
discriminatory with regard to cor
porations outside of the state seek
ing investment here. Forithfs rea-
son the present application is look
ed upon, it's said. merely as an at
tempt to clear the way as much as
possible until the time comes when
the applicant company considers
supplanted and revised in such a
way as to make possible their in
5vestm ent in the state without pre-
judice-
Commission To Meet
Senator Stewart of Morgantowu,
when asked last night concerning
the plans of the power commi ssion,
stated that it was his intention to
call the commission together at
Charleston for the entire month
OF Novernb er. If necessary at which
time full Investigation Of the
power situation in the state Will
be made. The commission will not
only go into the potential powe-
possibilities of each stream in the
state but will make an exhaustiVe
report on, the value of the waite:
power that can be developed as
compared with the natural resour.
ces and property Destroyed by
such improvements. He hopes that
recon M endation can be made to
Tie "ulCu VIII duSlSo
the permit only of DEVELOPMENT OF
those streams in which the econ
omic value of the. power produced
will be greater asset to the state
than such resources and private
properties as may be destroyed o.
permanently lost to development
through that production. Senator
Stewart stated that he felt Yves.
Virginias water power problem
constituted an entirely separate
problem from that of most states
in that much water power. develop
ment would bea losing proposition
economically because of great min
eral resources i'm paired and the
policy of any. legislation. he said
ought to be based on recognition
of this fact.
That the West Penn interests
plan deve1o2ment of the Cheat
RIVER project as soon as they con-
slider it practicable is indicated by
their activities of recent months
of acquiring large electric inter
ests in Northern West Virginia,
including the NJ p & r. Co. here
and electric plants at Elkins. Graf
ton. Oakland and other points Ex-
tension of their power Zines into
Preston County is also included IL
these activities. Ultimately it is
presumed. the pan is to supply all
these line with power produced by
development on the Cheat River
DrOiect