The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-02-16


fined, for a time at least, to water
power. The answer IS simple. In
the first place. there IS the popu-
lar notion that power produced from
water power IS the cheapest power
in the world-almost free. Second,
there IS the popular idea that wa
ter power is one of cur great ma
tional resources. belonging not TO
the few people who happen TO own
the land adjacent to the most favor
able spot for developing 1t, but TO
all the people.
Cost Of Producing Electric
Current Is cry Small
Actually of course the cost Of pro-
ducing electric current is SO small
that it does not make much differ
ence which method is used. But
if you insist on gong into decimals
coal IS cheaper than water power
The city of Washington offers an
excellent illustration Sen. George
W. Norris has long advocated the
development of water power at
Great Falls, on the Potomac, a few
miles above Washington. AS an en-
cheering proposition it is perfectly
sound. 1t is now being pressed IN
the house by Rep. John E. Rankin
of Mississippi, Nemesis of the pfi-
vate utilities and leader of the pub
lie power bloc. Rankin would set
up Potomac Valley authority
modelled after his beloved IVA.
But engineers are agreed that
such a development would not pro-
dace current any more eheaply than
the private company does now. And
the company uses a cheap grade OF
anthracite which has to be hauled
down from northeastern Pennsylva-
MAJ Actually power IS produced
from this coal at a cost of only
three mills per kilowatt at the
switchboard.
Of course the government could
take that same steam plant and pro-
duce electricity at something less
than the three mills it costs the
company, assuming that ii operated
as efficiently as the company does
now. There is an item of taxes,
which includes local property as
sessments and federal income
taxes, in that three mills. But OBJ
viously no economy could be affect
ed so far as the production of cleo
tricity is concerned which would be
very important to the consumers.
Yet it would be sort of tough on
the coal miners in Pennsylvania 10
try to effect this economy!
Expect No Speed From
THIS Session Of Congress
There is no use expecting any
speed from this session of congress.
It simply is not in the mood. Sena-
tors and representatives have their
ears to the ground, their eyes
strained for the most likely band
wagon, their brains concentrated on
the most important question of the
ages: What is best for me?'
Gentlemen who have not already
burned their bridges will be care
full about dropping sparks. Some
things, such as the relief appropria-
tons, must be decided rather
promptly--cannot be postponed But
even on this there is the obvious
cropping for the most expedient thing
--politically-so patent that the pom
derous phrases deceive no one &C
customed to watching the political
wheels go round. AS for example
Pat Harrison with his amendment
for cutting the appropriation, but
not turning anybody off the WPA
rolls
It's just one of those things, po-
litically, which happens every time
very strong man approaches the
end of his reign-complicated--a s
in the case Of every strong Presil
dent since Washington-With trace
of suspicion that this may not be
the end
Nobody knows whom to tie to!
Nobody knows who is going to be
the next President. Nobody knows
whether the Democratic nominee
next year will be a conservative, a
New Dealer, or just liberal The
whole feeling is best illustrated by
q recent conversation just outside
the senate chamber. 1t happened
that the man generally regarded as
the No. ! prognostcator of the New
Deal was talking with some newspa
per men, who We're wondering who
would be nominated by the two par
ties.
We'll" said the prognosticator
IF someone came along and offered
me 100 to | that could not name
the next President, would take the
bet, and name Thomas Dewey"
Thinks There's Possibility
Republicans Might Vim