Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-05
THE WATER AND POWER ACT


proposed water and power act impartally preliminary
indicates that people pretty we'll divided
the subject and that there is merit both sides OF the
question The efforts of the Press will be educational
appear to be based the manner i'll which
people THINK that the measure will operate On such
basis persons guess would be good anoth
er The state administration which is fatherng the mea-
sure finds that most of the ammunition of the opposition
furnished by the administrations record of performance
nonperformance If the history of public business in
the state all right the would be all right
The tax payer has the opportunity to make his
mind whether public affairs in the state to be adminst
cred better and if neither better or worse wneher
present standards good enough.
Of that which follows, side is propaganda of the
power interests the other is the sort of material
furnished by the publicity department of the Water
Power commission.
California in the public partnership, customer
ownership of public utilities through soekholdng in 1914
and at present eight companies the state report
54OO stockholders and $4,000 bondhoders re-
presenting real and practical form of public ownership
with politics eliminated and the advantages OF private ln
tiative and enterprise preserved
In asserting that those companies engaged in sery
ing California with hydroelecrc have failed to 90
their acceptaby the proponents of the Water and
Power Act have advanced the only valid argument lor
turning the ownership of the state On the truth
alsty of this assertion the outcome should be deter
mined.
cc Coast Electrical 1--WE have here in California IN actual
operation the system which the Atlantic sea-
board is today planning as one OF It's major projects oi
In California under private ownership there has been
developed the greatest nteronnected system OF power
transmission lines in the world extending over looo miles
from Eugene in the North to the Mexican Dofoer
'"Ai"'
All over the great territory covered large operating
economies through building up of system load factors
substitution OF hydro for steam generated poMel anu p
vision meeting regional shortages are effected TO ne
benefit public The largest block OF electric power
ever made available public is made possible by h1s
inerconnecon, tying together over million horsepower
power and provision meeting regional short
ages are effected benefit of the public The largest
block electric power made available Tor puoic use
is made possible by nteconnection tying together over
million horsepower of hydro plants and nail million
horsepower generating plants with total annual
output of delivered OF close to tour Dillon
Lours -, 1 auo,onad q nor
canta consumption of electric current of 1885 XVIII,
with an average 372 XVIII for the entire United
1901 the average rate paid by California was
as against 256 the balance of the United States
In 1920 percent of the dwelling houses OF this state
wired as against 35 percent the United States
Over one third of the lands of California 147Oooo
acres are irrigated by water electrically pumped over
100000 H. p of motors installed in this service using
II percent of total generated compared WIN ess
than percent of the total H. F. generated that goes 10
agriculture in Ontario, Canada under the hydro ooiiS
sion there . ;+ Initiative Cali
frnia bn the first long distance transmission line 20
miles at 10000 volts holds worlds record Tor long distance
transmission miles at $1,000 volts also Tor nlgnest
voltage transmission long distance transmission 200 miles
at 165 900 VOLTS to be surpassed by l9o mile line
now being built that will be operated at Zloooo Volcs.
$50 Consistently has California led the world in eec-
trica development that is the Mecca for engineers and
water power commissioners who have similar proolehS
from all parts of the world"
' These records President West declared, have been
II have been unable to learn of single advance he
said: single achievement along constructive and pro-
gressve lines that has been made In this country unar
public ownership which stands always to discourage mi
tiatye and innovation and harden whatever lays hands
upon into conformity with bureaucratic routine.
Administration Propaganda
DR.. w. H. Walker, president of the California farnl
Bureau Federation, today made public a statement en-
dorsnc CALIFORNIA; Water and Power Act proposed con-
sttutional place state credit behind water
and power development DR. Walker is member oil the
Executive Committee Of the American Farm Bureau red
Grafton and nationally known in farm bureau work his
statement follows: H.,
II find MANY more for the water and power act than
find against it, AS an individual, speaking for mySelI
alone and not for the federation, strongly IN favor OF
it. am sure nothing III the whole act 10 "hcn
onnonens point as possible danger which does not exist
ouby the present private corporation monopoly as
actual evil ~ ,... ,,;4