The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03

HON. W.
eign policy" the late correspondence
between Governor Pinchot of Penn
sylvania and Governor Smith of New
York is of interest.
Governor Pinchot in his letter to
Governor Smith in part says;
Il respectfully urge on behalf of
the people of Pennsylvania, and of
draw the suit begun by your prede-
cessor," etc.
This appeal of Governor Pinchot
to Governor Smith is in reference 10
the suit of the State of New York
now pending in the United States SUI
| preme court to decide the right of
the state of New York to control,
regulate and have Jurisdiction over
its own water power
"ExcusabIe SelfiShness."
The crux of Governor Pinchot's let
ter is an appeal to the governor of
New York that New York share her
Y alter power with Pennsylvania. and
Governor Pinchot shows an excus-
able selfishness. for he says to the
Governor of New York; "Pennsylva-
MAS power resources lie chiefly in
| her coal deposits"
This statement by the governor of
Pennsylvania reminds us that Ala
bama is rich in water power and
in coal. Let Alabama ship her coal
! to other states but use her water
power beyond the states needs. a
policy for it's distribution should be
adopted. with protective regulations
and limitations.
Governor Smith, In making his re-
ply to Governor Pinchot's letter. de-
n Il dvo 80
to test the constitutionality of the
federal power act, and Governor
Smith in his letter said:
Il think I know public sentiment
In the state of New York on the ques-
ton of our rights to the possible
power developments of our navigable
streams, and 1 am certain that I
would receive small comfort In this
state were l to take a position, for
enc moment, that Ne did not own
these great water power resources. If
that be so. they are the property of
the state and no Inc in public office
is vested with the authority to
abandon these essential rights
When we carefully consider the
Alabama Power company's Ideal
system" and foreign policy" for the
| development and distribution of
nhydroelectric power in the state,
we become amazed that such a poll
promulgated. If the states of Geor-
gia. North Carolina and South Caro-
lima, Tennessee and Arkansas did not
have abundant water powers Of their
own, the Ideal system" and foreign
policy" of the Alabama Power COM
pany would not be quite so bad.
More Power Than Alabama.
The facts are, however. asI find
from the records, that some of these
states to which the Alabama Power
company proposes to export power
nave more undeveloped water power
than Alabama has. The best records
l can find (and 1 don't think these
records have been compiled from ac-
tual surveys show that in the south
eastern group of states, composed of
North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor-
gia and Alabama, but not including
tennessee or Arkansas. there are
about four and quarter million
horse power.
Making the liberal grant that in
Alabama there can be developed, in
addition to the two present devel.
opments on the Coosa river, a mil
ton horse power, 1t would appear
from the records that there still
remains undeveloped in North Caro-
lima. South Carolina and Georgia
water power amounting to approx
mately 100000 horse power The
undeveloped water powers in both the
Carolinas and Georgia are very
large. 1t is very possibly true,
though accurate information Is
wanting, that Tennessee has more
undevcloped water power than Ala
bama. And taking the single case
Of the Chattahoochee river in
Georgia, 1t has been estimated aft
er comparatively careful study that
|
stream as much as 100000 horse
power.
Sees Striking Contrast.
1t would seem, therefore, that the
| Ideal system" and foreign policy
one for carrying white coal to New
| castle. There is striking con-
tpast between the foreign policy
proposed by the Alabama Power
company and the policy of the Alum
mum Company of America which
has developed on the Little Tennes-
see river in Tennessee and North
Carolina. and on the Yadkin in North
Carolina, power on these streams
amounting to nearly 100000 horse
power. not to be used to develop re-
sources and create wealth In other
states, but to convert raw material
into aluminium right where the
power is generated.
The aluminium company further
more has water power development
plan on the Little Tennessee that
contemplates six other develop
ments with total aggregating ap-
proximately 475.OO0 horse power. to
be devoted solely to the aluminium
| industry.
In this connection 1t will interest
| Alabama taxpayers to know that
North Carolina stands eighth among
the states of the Union as a federal
taxpayer. and North Carolina's state
tax rate is claimed by her Chamber
of Commerce in their literature to
be the lowest of any state in the
union. This interesting tax situa-
| ton in North Carolina Is due. for
the most part to the fact that North
Carolina has $4,000 horse power
now in service in the state.
North Carolina has no coal or iron
and yet with all of Alabamas coal
and iron Alabama stands thirty
fifth in the list OF federal taxpayers
and has very much higher state
tax rate than has North Carolina.
So the Alabama Power company
proposes to send your water power to
North Carolina from the "Coosa,
Tallapoosa and Tennessee" for light