The Owosso times., 1922-09-15

life of the federal water-power com
mission there have been filed with
the commission applications aggre-
eating a net total of 100000 horse
power of proposed installation. These,
added to the application of the
preceding fiscal year, make grand
| total of 321, involving In excess
of 20,000000 horsepower. This amount
| is more than twice the existing
| water-power installation of the Uni
ted States. 1t exceeds the COM
bined potential water-pOwer resources
of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the
Arctic and Baltic drainages of Russia
the chief waterpOwer region Of Eu-
rope. 1t Is nearly twice the combined
resources of France and Italy. 1t is
more than six times the aggregate Of
all applications for power sites under
federal control In the preceding years.
Nearly one-half of the aggregate OF
20,0OO,0O0 horsepower Is represented
by applications upon the st. Lawrence,
Columbia and Colorado rivers, upon
which, in general, action has been
international relations and may re-
quire treaty before action can be
taken. The Columbia Is under inves-
tigation by a special board to deter
mine, before applications are ap-
proved, the relation between water
power, irrigation and navigation upon
that stream. Action on the Colorado
rix te, hn nf hn
Colorado river commission, an or
ganization authorized by act of the
congress for the purpose Of negotiat-
ing between the states within the
Colorado basin q compact In accord
ance with which the waters Of the riv-
er may be appOrtiOned among these
states.
Duties Of the Commission.
BY the terms of the federal water
power act the commission Is required
to investigate all projects applied for,
to determine whether the structures
are safe and properly designed and
whether full utilization will be made
of the resources of the stream. 1t Is
required to make valuation Of all
constructed prior to the issuance Of
license. When declarations are filed
of intention to construct dams in
streams whose navigable status Is
doubtful it must investigate and de-
termine whether the interests of in
terstate or foreign commerce would
be affected. II must investigate and
t;A,,
to entry Of lands within power site
reserves. 1t Is required to establish
system of accounting to be applied
to the operations of its licensees and
by means of which the net investment
in the properties may always be-
known.
BY combining its activities primarily
to applications for power projects,
declarations of intention and requests
for restoration to entry, the commits
sion has been able to take final action
on more than half of the applications
for permits and licenses, of which 11S
were disposed Of during the last year.
1t also rendered decisions during the
year upon % declarations of intention,
1853 cases and made Withdrawals Of
675,OOO acres of public lands in con-
nection with applications for power
projects.
Much Used, More Waiting.
Up to June 30, 1922, the commission
had authorized 60 preliminary per-
mits and 40 licenses, Of which 1S
,yaro fn, troncp,iccinp linaS Tho 20
permits now outstanding involve an
estimated installation of 2,3S6,OOO
horsepower and the 81 licenses
for power projects, 100000 horse
power, or total Of 4,31S,OOO
horsepower. OF the projects covered
by the al licenses, II involving an
estimated installation when completed
of 100000 horsepower were either
completed or under construction at
the close of the fiscal year.
Says the commission: "There Is
more water-power development under
way at the present time than at any
previous period in the country's his
tory. The greater part Of 1t Is being
developed under the provisions of the
much more waiting to be used. If we
are to preserve our diminishing fuel
supply, are to reduce the. burden Of
coal transportation, are to Increase
the supply of electric energy and re-
duce it's cost, we must utilize, our
water power to the fullest practicable
extent. Eighty-five per cent Of our po-
tential water powers are under federal
control. We have law which, though
by no means perfect, does provide
reasonably satisfactory conditions, and
under which large-scale development
is proceeding. Instead Of being
obliged to drift along with an ad-
ministration of the law which, under
existing circumstances, is necessarily
insufiiciently cO-ordinated and only
partially effective, the obstacles
should be cleared away, whatever
their nature, and there should be sub
stituted positive attitude both of