The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-01-27

generated from the waterfalls OF the
west.
Supposing that the contentious of
the sO-called representatives of the
Indians, now in Washington, are cor
rect; that the six power sites involv-
ed are on the Indian reservation, and
that they are the property of the tribe
through rights said to be Incorporated
in a treaty between the Flathead Ma
ton and the United States, we have
still the potent fact that the great
part of this power project (Flathead
Lake. is located outside the Indian
reservation. The sites, only furnish
ed strategic points where dams can
be erected and constructed; the Flat
head Lake and its tributaries reaching
back to the Canadian boundary furn-
ish the water without which the dam
sites would be useless. The sites and
the lake are interdependent and one
so far as development for power pur-
poses are concerned.
Alongthe shores of this lake are
located some of the finest farm homes
in Montana. Climatic conditions and
the proximity of water render the
Flathead valley peculiarly suitable for
intensive farming. Fruits and berries
as we'll as all kinds of valuable crops
are raised. The land is valuable and
the farmers living there like the coun-
try and do not desire to leave the To-
cality in which were formed their
fondest friendships and located the
graves of their dead The raising of
the levels for storage purposes on this
proposed project would inundate their
lands, destroy their homes, churches
and schools, cause themselves and
their families to move to distant
places and perhaps strange chimes to
| begin life anew. The flooding of their
farms would be a catastrophe to these
people, comparable to the ravages of
the Mississippi lat year in Louisiana
and other southern states and could
not be compensated in cash payments.
In close proximity to where this
proposed site is located, the Govern
ment of the United States has spent
millions in making a national play
ground at Glacier Park. People at
tracted by the wonders of the glaciers
in the park have built summer homes
close to Flathead lake. The Knights
of Columbus, B. P. o. Ell1s and the
/ Masonic fraternity have buildings,
lands and Fairgrounds located on the
the very brink of this lake for the
recreation and health of their mem
bers. If this bill goes through and
the proposed development takes place
these recreation places and villa sites
plated by the United States govern
eminent instead Of having a fringe
of beauty and nesting at the edge OF
one of the most beautiful lakes on the
continent, will be impaired in value
and the land that is now dotted with
beautiful trees and foliage will be
washed with Shiny water giving of
an unpleasant odor that will drive
people away from this scenic wonder
land and cause its prosperous adjac
ent cities to become ghost towns.
The company which seeks the leas
of the power sites referred to is nov
in possession of several valuable site
from which is generated enough cleo
trlcal energy to supply the needs o
, the state and a surplus which it dis
poses Of to the Washington Powe
Company. The Committee should ser
iOusly inquire whether there is a de
mand for further electrical develop
ment in Montana at the present tim
and if not whether the beauties of ma
ture so lavishly bestowed on this chos
en- spot are not greater asset to tn
people of Montana than a few dam
on the Flathead Lake. Should thes
blessings of soil and climate and seen
cry be bartered fol-. development tina
, would carry in its train a state O
affairs that would breed litigation
discomfort and decay, crippled home
and ruines businesses in the cities an
flooded and destroyed landscape.
9 The placing of these facts befor
! you would not be complete withou
: referring to the economic domination
of the state by Anaconda Coppe
Company which is the parent corpor
alton of the Montana Power Company
The controlling and directing person
! ages OF these two corporations loo
upon Montana as a virtual barOny
! The avenues of expression are con
trolled in their interest and the DIES
TIMES of Montana politicians are de
6 clded IN an office room in a skyscror
. er IN New York and on the sixth floo
= OF an office building in Butte.
Members of the committee ma
: have noticed that while senator's fro1
Montana are prone to investigate cor
: poratiOns and interests in other state
= and talk about international comnli
cations in oSuth America and IN
. orient, they do not appear before thi
f committee in behalf of their constitu
= ents to explain to their colleague
the intent behind and the import Q
T TINS proposed piece of legislation.
! Because we do not anticipate tha
: they will arise in their places ON I'll
: floor of the Senate and nrotee
s against this legislation, authorizin
5 the disposition of power sites NOR
4 valuable than Muscle Shoals. is tn
i reason we call your attention to thi
. proposed enactment, which is so skill
q tully buried in the Interior Appronria
: tions bill. p .
p we respectfully request YOUR Com
mlttee to (1) strike cut the cIause ~
1erred to, ~ to defer action until n
! people of Montana are given an or
: portunlty to be heard on the na+te
q or (5) to segregate the proposed hi
= from the rest of Bill 9136. tn ~
f Senate so that the matter can /
/, considered separately and voted upo
z on its own merits by the members :
! that body.
: The manner in which the bill is ,
!: present sought to be foisted upon Il
= Senate has all the earmarks of an =
. tempted fraud on Congress and
T" treacherous attempt to leave the wa
f open for the disposal of a valuabI