Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-08-11
WOMEN'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB
TO JOIN STATE FEDERATION

BY actual count there were 63
present at the regular monthly
meeting of the Women's Democratic
club, held Monday evening in the
Maccabee hall. While no outside
speaker was present, the program
was a most interesting and instruc-
tive one. Prior to the program
quite a little business of Importance
the matter as to whether the Wom-
ems Democratic club should join
the federated club of the state. A
motion to that effect was carried
The principal speaker of the ev
ening was Harold M. Finley, who
spoke on the new st. Lawrence pro-
posed water way. While he had but
limited time in which to prepare,
he gave a most excellent and COM
prehensive address, which showed
him familiar with every detail Of
that stupendous engineering feat.
We are sorry that he did not have
his address in writing so that We
could publish it in full. He spoke
at length and did not make use of
single note. He recited figures af
ter figures. He spoke of the benefits
that would arise from construction
of the waterway. The plan, he
stated, was to construct two dams,
where electricity would be gener-
ated: one of them would furnish
100000 horse power, and the 9TH
er 100000. Muscle Shoals, he said,
furnishes but about one-sixth what
the larger dam would. To give a
better idea of the size, he stated
that Niagara Falls plant was 500,-
900 horse power. He said it would
mean cheaper electrical power, and
would break the iagara-Hudson
giant water works power trust,
which is controlled by the Morgan
and Mellon interests. Then there
would be the shipping benefit, which
is most important, since it would
permit ocean liners from all over
the world. to sail to Detroit, Cleve-
land, Chicago, and as far as Du-
luth, Mimi. The depth of the canal
would be 27 feet. The project
would be of great advantage to the
farmers and wheat growers of the
northwest. The speaker stated that
he believes water transportation is
coming back, because railroads are
not able to give the same service.
He said railroads were spoiled for
about so years, being tied UP with
big corporations that seemed to
take the attitude that the public had
to have the railroads, s,-hence must
pay for them However, while the
waterway would lessen the amount
of freight hauled by the railroads.
the building of the power plants
would enable many of the roads
to become electrified. The benefits
derived from the power, the speaker
stated would be to the small towns,
and farms, as well as to larger
places.
/ Mr.. Finley told of the part Gov
ernor Franklin D. Roosevelt has
taken in the matter, and that his
idea is to help the poor, through
making the electric power cheaper
so that they may use it, and his
plan at the same time would not
cause injury to the rich. He told of
the difference of the policy of Pres
ident Hoover and of Governor
Roosevelt, in the matter of the wa
terway, the governor believing
in state rights. The estimated
cost of the stupendous project
is $543, 100000. of which Canada
would pay $270,000,O00 and the
United States $27O,000,000. The
completion of the project would re-
quire a number of years, and in the
building would give employment to
10000 people. The speaker pointed
out the difficulties that would be
encountered in such a contract, but
believes that we have the engineers
who could successfully cope with
every situation that might arise.
In addition to Mr.. Finley's very
fine address, question box quiz
was an interesting feature of the
evening, and was conducted by Mrs.
Stella F. Durbin who is chairman
of the program committee. A num-
Der of questions bearing on cleo
tions, election officials, and so on,
were answered. Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
ry Hopkins, the official" faithful
musicians, were on hand, to en-
liven the occasion with their music,
which is always appreciated.