Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-09-15

EK. WIS.
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 a grand
total Of 321, involving in excess
of 100000 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 water-power 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
20,000,000 horsepower is represented
by applications upon the st. Lawrence
Columbia and Colorado rivers, upon
which, in general, action has been
suspended. The st. Lawrence involves
international relations and may re-
Quire treaty before action can De
| 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
river is awaiting the findings OF the
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 a 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. It is
required to make valuation of all
properties licensed under the act and
| 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. It must investigate and
pass upon applications for restoration
to entry Of lands within powerslte
reserves. It IS required to establish
a system Of accounting to be applied
| to the operations of It's 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 lis
were disposed of during the last year.
1t also rendered decisions during the
year upon % declarations of intention,
| passed upon RESERVATIONS to entry in
1853 cases and made Withdrawals of
675,O 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 18
were for transmission lines. The IS
permits now outstanding involve an
estimated installation of 2,3S6,000
horsepower and the 81 licenses
for power projects, 100000 horse
| power or total of 4,318,Q00
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. greater part Of it is being
developed under the provisions of the
federal water-power act. There is
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-ave per cent of our po-
tentlal 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 adj
ministration Of the law which, under
existing circumstances, is necessarily
insuficlently co~ordinated and only
partially effective the obstacles
should be cleared away, whatever
their nature, and there should be sub
stituted positive altitude both of
encouragement and Of assistance in
the development Of our water powers. J"
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