The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-03
More About This
Question Of Dams
In Our Rivers
By Charles d. Rowe

BY Charles ID. Rowe
The question of whether or not
dams shall be built in the Kootenai
river and thus drown out Libby and
Troy is of keenest interest just at
this time. Army engineers are to
hold a conference in Libby this
month to hear the expressions of
Lincoln county people in that con-
nection. Now some are asking the
question whether or not the build
ing of these huge dams in the
streams of the nation will not even
tually prove to be a waste of>money.
Opponents of a proposed 85 mil
lion dollar dam in the Columbia
river at the Dalles, Ore, thinks it
would be- Their contention is that
the expected developing of atomic
energy for the creation of electric
energy will make power dams OBJ
solete. They also argue that such
dams in the Columbia will ruin
the salmon industry, which is an
industry of no mean proportions.
All of which is unusually inter
esting at this time, when the pro-
posal to build dams in the Koo-
tenai river is coming up for dis
cussion. It is not necessary to say
that Libby and Troy people will be
opposed to any installation here for
the benefit of a dittrict hundreds
of miles distant. Especially when
that installation would be most
disastrous to two prosperous and
growing communities in our own
midst.
Atomic energy may make power
dams obsolete. But there would still
be the need for storage reservoirs
for irrigation purposes. However,
it appears that most of the need at
this time is the storing of water
for power purposes.
One hundred eleven men have
lost their lives in a coal mine dis
aster at Centralia, ILL.,, according to
news dispatches of the past week.
That means heartache and tears for
their wives and children. 1t also
means the removing of the bread
winner for those wives and child.
rem.
According to newspaper reports,
safety devices had been ordered in
stalled in that mine but the order
had not been complied with. That
seems to be an altogether too COM
mon practice. Safety regulations
for the protection of workmen are
set up and then too frequently are
neglected by employers. Any en-
ployer who refuses to install reason
able protective measures should be
drastically punished Lives of men
are most certainly worth much more
than profits.
1t was not many years ago that
q mine disaster in eastern Mon
tana took the lives of AS men, if
our memory serves us correctly.
Those who are acquainted with the
hazards of coal mining tell US that
much of that hazard can be mater
tally lessened if proper safety
measures and regulations are adop-
ted. This is likewise true of most
hazardous occupations. Evidence of
the truth of this statement is close
at hand While testifying before
the workmen's compensation COM
mittee during the recent session of
the Montana legislature, r. r. Weld
man of the J. Neils Lumber Com
pany said that company had re-
duced the number of its accidents
80 per cent since putting into prac-
tice a well thought out safety pro-
gram a few year ago. That testi-
mony later attracted considerable
attention on the floor of the House.
Such protection for the safety of
workmen is an admirable thing It
is no more than the workman's
right. Some employment is by its
very nature dangerous. Men should
not be required to face unnecessary
danger while working in those in
dustries in an attempt to earn a
living for themselves and families.
Coal mine disasters frequently oc-
cur. Any coal mine owner who
selfishly refuses to install safety de-
vices should suffer the stiffest PEN
alties the law can impose. Again
we repeat, mems lives are worth
much more than profits.
An uneasy conscience is a most
annoying thing to have molesting
one. All of us can testify to that.
u ~ -.