Evening star., 1936-09-08
u. S. USE OF POWER
RESOURCES HIT IN
REPORT TO PARLEY
ASSimiIated Into National
Economy "0nIy ToIerabIy
WE'LL" Says Expert.
REMOVAL OF RIGIDITY
IN PRICES URGED
Possibility of Norris Dam Crack.
ing Discussed by Congress.-Hit
"High.Speed Construction"
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Sharp indictment of the develop
ment of the power resources OF
America was presented before the
Third World Power Conference here
today in a paper prepared by DR..
Harlow S. Person. consulting econo-
mist, which was used as a partial
basis of the mornings discussion.
Declaring the power industry has
been assimilated into the national
economy Of America ''only tolerably
well" DR.. Person pointed out that
the coal industry is based on peonage
Of labor, despite increased efficiency
in coal conversion; that the oil and
gas industry is based on rapid ex-
ploitation of limited resources; that
much water power is unused, partly
because of Indifferent public attitude
and partly because of the policy of
private enterprise; that unification
and ter-connection of generating
capacity have been limited oy re-
gional policies, and that electric
service has not been extended into
most rural areas.
To aid In more proper asSimila.
ton DR.. Person suggested elimination
of excess rigidity in the price struc-
ture of utilities. liquidation of inflated
debt burdens and higher real wages
to labor.
Others Discuss Resources.
With several papers digested by the
official reporter of the morning ses-
sion, Chairman Gano Dunn called on
delegates from Great Britain, France,
Germany, Japan, Italy and the United
States to discuss development and
utilization Of power resources.
While this debate was under way
at the Power Conference, the Second
Congress on Large Dams was hearing
speakers discuss the possibility of
cracking Of the Norris Dam in the
Tennessee Valley because of high
speed construction methods used
there. One speaker voiced the opin-
ion such process of deterioration
might develop within 20 years be-
cause concrete for the dam had been
poured at high rate of speed.
Back at the conference, viscount
Falmouth. head of the British dele-
CATION, informed the gathering
special commission in that country
has recommended eventual public own
ership of utilities At present, he
said, England is afflicted with too
many small distributing units and the
feeling of the commission is that
these should gradually be merged with
public ownership eventually.
Defense of private development OF
the industry was voiced briefly by Wal
ter S. Finlay. jr.. president of the West
Penn Electric Co, after Viscount Fall
mouth had spoken of the British plan
for eventual public ownership.
Sun Ray Machine to Be Seen.
In opening the session, Chairman
Dunn informed the delegates of the
demonstration of DR.. Charles G. Alb
bots sun ray machine early this after
noon and predicted that collection and
commercial distribution of the energy
from the sun is not far distant.
The delegates last night were vest
ed by Secretary of State Hull with
the responsibility of directing their
scientific leadership toward world
peace rather than the wholesale de-
struction caused by war.
The Secretarys most outspoken
entreaty for world peace was made
before some 5000 delegates, men,
bers of the diplomatic corps and
representatives of the United States
Government gathered at Constitution
Hall for formal opening of the two
international sessions. Frequent fer
vent applause greeted the pointed
statements of the Secretary.
"I cannot too strongly urge that.
with the great capacity which you pos
sess and the influence which you can
WELD, you. the members of this con-
gress, and your associates in every
land, bend your efforts increasingly
toward perfecting programs of meth
ods for the preservation and promo
tion of peace" the Secretary declared.
II urge that you insist that the prod
ucts of your constructive thought and