The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-06-10
Montana Powers
CONTINUED from Page One,

''For this reason, it is necessary
for the government to construct
transmission facilities from these
large federal dams.
Industry will not come to Mon
tana until plenty of power is avail
able at the raw material sites
Industry will not spend money
for exploration of mineral deposits
simply on the promise that if indus
try puts up plant the facilities will
then be built to supply them.
Industries want to know that the
power is there and can be had with
out delay.
"The government can build, and |
should build, transmission lines in
advance of need, on a long term
basis, so that the entire economy of |
the region can be made to benefit |
from low cost power. Federal power
can benefit business, large and small,
payroll industries of all kinds, and
farmers who need a local market
for their produce"
Senator Murray objected to state
ments by Corette and James J. Flah-
erty of the Montana Chamber of
Commerce which he characterized as
a "defeatist" attitude toward the
economic future of their own state.
Senator Murray told the commit
tee:
con June Mr.. Flaherty said there
homo of |
the high freight rates it must pay for
the long haul of it's products. He
made mention of Montana's attempts
to develop a wool securing industry.
He said it failed because of high
freight rates. He also talked about Il
the states efforts to develop wood e
molasses and reported that high 0
freight rates have stopped that. n
Depends On Kind of Fertilizer MIR.
Flaherty Has In Mind
"Mr. Corrette testified that he saw e
no opportunity for the development e
of an electric furnace phosphate in =
dustry. Mr.. Flaherty joined Mr..
Corrette in his low opinion of posi- 4
bilities of phosphate development. I
He said there is now overproduction
IF phosphate fertilizer. Every farm n
er knows this is not true. :,
eff | had not known better, | 81
would have received the impression f,
from these two gentlemen that If
Montana has no economic future. O,
apparently it has not occurred to fl
he Chamber of Commerce that the H
titles of Oregon and Washington til
ire even further removed from east tn
I'm markets than are the cities of til
Montana. Freight rates are high for tn
hose communities also, yet during er
he last ten years Oregon's popula in
ion has increased by nearly one-half gr
million people. Washington's popu
alton has increased in similar ratio. tn
,ut Montana has lost population" or
Senator Murray told the COM pr
mittee he believes one good ans ma
wer to the high freight rate prob ca
lem is the development of low III
cost power with which to help off TIC
set high freight charges. He co
pointed out the successful expert WI
ence of Oregon and Washington in ev
this development. TN
He charged the Montana Chamber az a.
f Commerce and the power company 49, :
18th opposing the federal transmits 1n
on program on the grounds that it we
ould compete with the power COM 0U
any.
Actually, he said, "the program az az,
i'll benefit the company through in Nv
,eased revenue from new business" - :
He pointed out that the Oregon az az
nd Washington power companies 49,.
re receiving substantial allotments ~.
{ electricity at low rates from the
,deral transmission lines and they EN-
9w support appropriations for such the
Lcilities. $40
He said that in most cases the Ore the
On and Washington companies have pal
,oUr1 tremendous increases in rev. VIII