The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-11-27


ton. Accordingly, such dams should
never be permitted when a site is
such that it lends itself to efficient
multiple-purpose operation.
AS a case in point, Metcalf cited the
proposed multiple-purpose public dam
and Montana Powers proposed Buff
falo Rapids single-purpose (power)
dam in western Montana. Paradise
dam, if built, would develop 100000
XIV of power - about one-fifth of
Montana's potential electric energy.
In addition it would aid in flood con-
troll, firm up down stream power pro-
duction, and make irrigation water
available for thousands of acres down
stream. 1t would store over four mil
lion acre feet of water. Buffalo Rap
ids, for which Montana Power cur
rently has an application pending
with Federal Power Commission, on
the other hand, would develop only
$4,000 XIV, would provide little or
no water or irrigation and no flood
control.
However, because these two pro-
posed projects overlap, should Buff
falo Rapids get the go-ahead Para
disc dams disable storage capacity
would be reduced from four mil
lion to 100000 acre feet, and pro-
posed federal project would be-
come unfeasible. Thus, more than
100000 XIV of badly needed power
in the power-short Northwest would
go out the window.
A similar multiple-purpose V. high
cost private power dam controversy
is currently raging over who shall
have the Snake Rivers Hells Canyon,
the public or the Idaho Power Co.,
of Maine. Cor more details, see ar
ticle elsewhere in this issue from
Wenstchee DAILY WORLD)
Commenting on the continuing con-
troversy on who shall develop and
control public resources, COnsultant
Anderson said "This leads to what is
the basic philosophy Of our govern
ment-to do that which we cannot
do for ourselves, or whether private
power is to build small, single-purpose
dams and charge the public high costs
for power Are we going to have a
2iecemeal development by selfish in
terests which will just skim off the
cream, or the full development of
our water resources for the bene-
fit of all the people,?
COPS NEW POWER POLICY, FAST
TAX WRITEOFFS, ETC.
Secretary McKay's revamping of
he preference clause is the death
sentence for many rural electric CO
operatives" Metcalf said in discussing
he new power policy of the Republi
IAN Administration. Eight Montana
'ural electrics secure all their power
rom Montana Power Co. Three more,
part of their supply They are tied |
Up by contract with the private utili-
Y for one to three years more. I'm
Ter the new policy, REAs must ex-
,rcise their preference right to pub
ic power by January /, 1854. All |
,ublicly-produced power not taken up |
~ cO-ops by that date will be sold |
o private power companies under
0-year contracts. The eight Montana
ural co-ops in question have no di-
ect access to public power, with the
esult they cannot possibly exercise
heir preference rights by the dead
inc date. AS noted by Leroy An
erson, because of the lack of pub
transmission facilities,
hese co-ops will be at the mercy of
lontana Power once their contracts
or power expire.
Under the Roosevelt-Tru Ad-
Metcalf pointed out,
overnment, by the production, dis
ribution and sale of power estab-
shed a "yardstick" to determine
hat a fair price for power should
e. This yardstick is being destroyed
Y the Eisenhower Administration.
of Interior Department have
that they plan to increase
he cost of public power to consum-
rs to a level comparable with that
harged by private power monopolies.
AS for the COPS plan to return
ontrol of power production to 10
al interests" Metcalf cited the fight
/