The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-12-28

FORMER frcSiucnt IL IS pam tndt H'
cherished the desire to help his coun
trymen comprehend the limitless ad
vantages within their grasp, and he
tried his best to impress upon them
that many of the economic, indus
trial and social handicaps from which
they suffered might be cured by us
ing for their needs and comforts the
instruments that God placed on earth
and in the streams in such rare abun-
dance.
Among the marvellous stories OF
promise that sound like other offers
by Aladdin while explaining the gifts
to those who wish on his lamp, is
the contemplated development OF
Priest Rapids on the Columbia River.
Since Priest Rapids is not IAN idle
dream" but is backed by a great
wealth and influence it is sugges-
tive of the things yet to come, and
new methods of civilization opening
to the next generation. Water power
and electricity at Priest Rapids pro-
pose to convert 100000 acres OF arid
land into hourishing farms; to run
dozens of immense industrial plants:
and to establish coalless and smoke
less city. because all heat and ligh;
will be furnished by electricity. The
factories and the homes of Priest
Rapids will be built without Chin
neys, because there will be no use
for them.
The total developable water power
possibilities in the Great Lake drain
age basin are tremendous. New Eng
land is still in its swaddling clothes
regarding the use of its water power.
The south has its Tennessee River,
and in connection with it, a row over
Muscle Shoals that seems as short
sighted and as much against public
interest as the tie-up OF the Colorado
River.
Power Act Helps
Private development has oeen slim
ilated to hitherto unprecedented &C
ivity by the program outlined by the
federal government working under
he conditions of the federal power
let That legislation is claimed to
interpret and contain what was once
'nown as the Roosevelt power poll
y 1t agrees at least with the con-
entions made by early conservation
SITS inasmuch as it provides that no
'ower privilege shall be granted for |
more than fifty years, and that the |
'tight-rein" of regulation and con-
rol shall remain in perpetuity with
he federal government.
During the long years of discus
ion of the water power subject the
fight made by early con-
ervationists, progressives, and others
rho were designated in special
roups. was against the predatory
lterests,' privileged" persons or
operations, or others seeking undue
1vantages over their fellowmen. In
me the best men agreed that anyone
eking these natural rights" must
positively and effectually limited
what they should receive so that
icy could not be more developing
r their own interests than they
ould be able to accomplish in the
terests OF the public. No one
canned that single company. or ,
individual, would have the temer- u
after the apparent settling of this
1g dispute over water power priv
ges to ask for the major use of one u
the greatest streams of the country. =
en- as the Tennessee river. In his ;.
constituent that any person should ).
to be given so big a slice out of :.
American continent Senator !,
orge w. Norris of Nebraska. who "
been consistently a conservation
5. progressive in politics. and =,
champion OF popular rights since
tn, asked to what American mil
'aires IT was proposed to give the =.
naming dozen greatest rivers, if
entire policy of the United States =
arding water power DEVELOPMENT :
to be reversed by letting Mr..
nry Ford have the Tennessee riv-
and Muscle Shoals. l
Grants and Gifts
is undoubtedly the almost unani-
is Judgment of persons familiar
the history OF water power leg
alton, and who are freed from the /
okling influences" OF politics II
tthe most dangerous form of
'ial-privilegc legislation has been
posed III congress to favor Mr
'rd over every person who has
ght special privileges since the
grants were made to transconti- III
al railroads. In the latter cases
c was no one WILLING or ,hfol III