The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-05-22
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hkX~ CORNELIUS
W. VANDERBILT. JR.
Tennessee Valley

SdSlGIu eIQ VI ulc vast xNn
system. Though not nearly as spec
tacular as Boulder or Bonneville, 1t
forms the basis Of m Of the big
gest developments of its kind in the
world. The annual rainfall in the
Tennessee valley averages 81
inches. This means about 5000 tons
Of water fall upon every acre Of
land each year! The first six inches
Of topsoil upon an acre Of land
weighs approximately 1000 tons. II
this topsoil is without vegetation,
the effect Of 5000 tons of water
upon 1000 tons of top soil is displace-
ment. This means abandoned
farms, disintegrated homesteads,
stark poverty for a potential land
of plenty. 1t means clogged
streams. flooded cities and country
side, death and destruction. 1t is
the opposite of the dust bowl, but
the effect in the end is the same.
1t was in recognition of this that
congress. under pressure by the
President. created the iva. Today
it serves 800. 900 customers in seven
states, saving them v So, 600 900
a year. and brings in an annual in
come of about SIS 900, 900 to iva.
OF the 26, 900. 900 acres comprising
the Tennessee valley watershed,
about 10, 000. 900 are in farms, the
rest is wooded, privately and pub
licly owned. Some q, 600 individual
farmers cultivate 1000, 600 of these
acres. In addition. more than 10000
tons of concentrated phosphate fer
tilizer have been produced for dis
tribution here. The Wilson dam
and Muscle Shoals operate nitrate
plants which have been taken over
as part Of our national defense act
to produce new forms Of plant food
with which to fertilize the soil.
Nearly $50, 000, 900 trees have been
planted in a program designed to
overcome serious soil erosion, as
well as to provide a new source of
forest income.
Today, however, IVA is about
three-quarters built. Four river
dams have been completed; four
more are in the process of construc-
ton. About $500 miles of rural
power lines, "a per cent of which
60 to areas not previously served,
have been built. Included are $500
miles Of high voltage lines. Valley
people now use So per cent more
current than in 1882, compared to
a % per cent increase for the
nation.
The valley authorities manage
about 1000 single houses, % dormi'
tories, dozens of schools, fire sta.
tons, water systems, sewage dis.
posal systems, miles of roads,
streets, walks. Half a dozen towns
are being rebuilt and replanned.
Last year over 1000. 600 persons Wis.,
tied the area. On the Norris reser-
voir alone there are more than 1900
motor boats, sail boats, pleasure
craft. 1t is odd to see so and IS
foot cruisers on parking lots in near
by towns for sale-500 miles from
the sea, away up high in the Cum
berland mountains.
Stopped at the Hermitage before
driving through Nashville. l never
miss a pilgrimage whenever I am
in the locality. This was the home
of Andrew Jackson. seventh Presi-
dent of the United States. He was
Of Scotch-Irish lineage. Was born
on March Is, 1867. near the line be-
tween North and South Carolina. In
1928 he was first elected President,
and in 1882 reelected. His admins
trations were the first to be classed
as democratic; they were marked
by the force and power of his per-
s~onality. Indirectly he established
the ~sub-treasury system by which
the government became custodian
of its own money. But the financial
men of his day fought him unmer-
cifully. Jackson was the first Presi-
dent to marry a divorcee. Church
people and the bigoted dashed him
fercely for this. These attacks
caused deep distress to his wife,
who died while they we're at their
zenith. jackson forgot her
and mourned her to his death. In
the museum at the Hermitage is
his silver study thermometer. which
is still w~orking-the only thing "liv-
ing since his day!
HEARING THINGS: New York
buzzes with refugees of all sorts and
hues. For many of them one cannot
help but feel sorry; for others one
has not strong enough language.
Few Chicago racketeers at their
height were yer responsible for
such wholesale crimes. One poor
gent arrived in New York recently
by plane with only the clothes on
his back and $1,000, 900 worth of
securities on his person. His wife,
poor thing. travelled with 5000, 600
worth of jewels in her handbag. But
she guaranteed" U. S. customs Of.
ficials she would not sell a gem In
this country.