Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-04-04
The States Opportunity

One of the most important issues
facing the country today is that of
publicly owned power. The Roosevelt
administration took the initiative in
this early in its term by launching
the vast Tennessee Valley project.
The IVA looks toward the production
of cheap electricity i'm publicly owned
plants for distribution to farm and
city jewellers over wide area
This program is intended to provide
cheaper electricity by publicly owned
plants. 1t is also the belief of its
sponsors that it will force privately
owned utility companies to reduce
rates materially. President Roosevelt
has long said that public power plants
should provide the yard stick" by
which electric rates may be meas
ured. If private utilities rates are
shown by this yard stick to be too
high they must come down or face
the competition of public plants.
The Tennessee valley project is
only for one region. Other parts Of
the country are entitled to the same
advantages. They are now being Of
fered a chance at such benefits
through the vast works program pro-
vided i'm the 81 800, 900. 900 relief bill
in Congress. Nearly $500. 100000 &C
cOrding to present tentative plans,
may be provided by the PWA for the
development of municipality owned
light plants, rural electrificatiOn and
other public services. The various
legislatures have been asked to en-
act laws which will enable the states
to take advantage of the grants and
loans by the federal government for
such purposes.
Several such bills have been intro
duced in the Minnesota legislature.
There is one providing for the issuance
Of revenue bonds for municipal power
projects and other public services.
These bonds would impose no extra
burden on the taxpayers inasmuch
as they would be repaid from the
income Of the utilities to be created.
The bonds would be sold to the Pub
lie Works Administration and the
cash thus obtained used to build and
develop these services.
Another highly important bill is
that providing for rural electrifica-
ton. Despite the fact that large
numbers of our farm families desire
and need electricity and the equip
ment that goes with it they cannot
afford it at the rates now charged
by private utilities. If the proposed
rural electrification projects are car
ried out many of them will be able
to obtain electric light and power.
Still another one of these bills is
that which provides for the creation
of power districts for the production
and distribution Of electricity
Citizens of Minnesota have much
to gain in cheaper rates and added
service if this program is carried
out They have nothing to lose be-
cause of the self-liquidating feature
whereby these services will pay for
themselves they need not fear added
tax burdens.
Construction work on the various
municipal and other power projects
will afford employment to thousands
of Minnesotas citizens. Business and
industry in this state will be able to
sell millions of dollars worth Of ma
terials. Voters who are interested in
seeing this program carried out
should watch their legislators. If the
citizens make sufficiently emphatic
demands for the passage of the leg
islation to permit this great develop
ment the whole state can reap the
rewards.