The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-31
b. Frederic J.Haskin

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cJHaskin 6 M |
ON the Author; New Book
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is q vast enterprise, created by po-
litical action, yet its first move, on
setting up business, is to hang out
the sign mo politicians need apply"
The president nominated Is direc-
tors, Arthur E. Morgan, Harcourt A.
Morgan, and David E. Lilienthal, and
designated the first named as chair
man, to serve nine years. The others
serve six and three years, but, upon
reappointment, each would be named
for nine years. The terms are thus
staggered so that at no time would
the authority be without two expert
enced directors.
Although the iva has offices at
the national capital, its head offices
are on the scene Of the project-in
the Tennessee valley, Knoxville, Ten
nessee, was chosen as the capital city
of the authority, although other Of
fices are at Chattanooga and at VIII
son Dam, Alabama.
When the remaking Of q world Is
undertaken, a huge and complicated
machine must be set up. When the
land as we'll as Its people Is to be de
rected, the machine must have many
parts. The merest glance at some Of
the positions created lends an OPEN
ing conception of the amplitude Of the
task. In addition to the engineers
concerned directly with the construc-
ton of the dams and flood gates, there
is chemical engineering division.
There are mechanical engineer and
staff, an agricultural engineer, elec-
trical engineer, forester, chief Of
lands, chief Of planting, geolog-
list, town planning chief, and q
housing chief. There are officials In
charge OF education, Of health, Of
training, there is even q branch Of
archaeology. A'legal staff is required,
personnel officers, commissary men,
and business administrators.
Valley Is Synthetically Sovereign
The iva does more than build
dams and control flood waters. Al
though not endowed with any sover-
eign political powers. still its position
is so dominant in the valley that 1t
exercises substantial governance over
the inhabitants Of the domain. The
states in which the great basin Of the
valley lies have coded none Of their
political rights. They could not, OF
course, do so. Nor has the valley In
any sense become federal territory.
Yet so completely does the iva COM
prehend the life and activities Of the
valley that it Is almost supreme. In
that it brings new conceptions Of life
and manners, new customs, . new
standard of welfare, miraculous new
mechanical inventions, and, above all.
full measure Of employment, at the
highest wages ever known In the re-
gion, for. thousands Of the people, It
has become synthetically sovereign.
It has established an economic and
social hegemony over the portions OF
the seven states affected which needs
no further powers to make 1t effec-
tive. The iva has created for itself
mandate over the valley.
The Electric Home and Farm Au-
thority (EHFA) is the business agency
of the iva in the distribution Of
power. Established by executive ord.
er In January, 1884, with . 81 ,000. 900
capital and q $lO,O00.000 credit With
the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton, this body undertakes extension
of power facilities by financing pros
pective consumers in the purchase Of
electrical appliances. Arrangements
have been made with manufacturers
Of these appliances for delivery to
current users. The EE1FA stands back
Of the purchaser as q sort Of guaran-
tee finance company and recoups it.
self through the collection Of the
price OF the appliances on . long
term installment system. Inasmuch
dS tIlc luOIc QOWS1 VO4SO0AACOs e4sC wv
er the rate to each consumer can be
reduced, it IS In the interest Of oil
that the EHFA functions. Its officers
are the same as those Of the iva.
Headquarters are at Chattanooga.
When DR.. johnson wrote his Ras-
selas he was attempting to picture .
community ideal In every way. DE-.
johnson had never heard Of electric
ity In the sense Of controlled power,
nor were his social conceptions wholly
up to date. But It was hts intent to
create his Happy Valley Is . sort Of
center Of the universe. esthetically
il not practically. So 1t Is . curiously
poetic stroke that 50 many years
afterward. in q newer world and un.
der q different social structure, the
first fruits Of the vast iva develop
ment should have gone to Tupelo
which John Allen pointed to . the
center Of the universe.
(Convrnht 1Q3l1