The people's voice., 1959-10-09

selves, study their problems ana appi.
solutions through their own agencie
and their own resources.
TAX GAINS-FIVE TIMES
COST OF PROJECT
Critics charge that the citizens o.
the Valley are the helpless victims
of an autocratic project. How wei
have these "helpless victims" done
with the help of the IVA? In 1888
only 3.4 percent of the total fedora
income tax collections came from
the seven states of the IVA region
By 1858, the percentage had more
than doubled. From 1886. total
collections amounted to $21, 100000
900. If we assume rate of gain based
on the 1888 percentages, IVA has
meant an extra $40 billion in federal
tax revenues almost five times the
entire cost of the project.
At the same time, the Valley has
become a vast market for goods pro-
duced outside. From 1884 to 1858,
IVA alone purchased $1.1 billion
worth of outside goods. Users of
IVA power spent $1.8 billion for
electrical appliances. Still another
billion has been spent on automo-
biles, boats, motors and other prod
ucts.
These figures should not lead any,
one to envision the Valley as more
prosperous than any other section of
the nation. 1t is far from that. 1t lags
the national averages in almost all
economic measurements. Twenty-Five
years ago the per capita income was
only 45 percent of the national aver
age; despite sizable gain, it is only
90 percent today.
There is a great deal yet unaccom-
plished. The balance between agri-
culture and industry is short on the
industry side. Too great a portion of
the regions youth leaves each year
because there are not enough jobs.
Farms are too small and too many.
An estimated 2.7 million acres need
to be reforested.
The demand for electricity is grow
ing at rate of 100000 kilowatts
year. People are just naturally using
more power-the air conditioner, for
is big sales item where
it once was rarity. Business expan-
'ions, new industry, demand more
and the Valley must have these if it
S to continue to progress.
OF PROGRESS SET
So TVA must have new funds
merely to keep abreast of demand. !
That is why its supporters have fought |
or self-financing measure "a meth
I'd, incidentally, first suggested by
he Eisenhower ADMINISTRATOR IVA !
will be lucky if the $3.50 million made
by the latest IVA legislation
an adequately provide for needed
ABILITIES in the Valley. The pattern
# progress has been set, and there
an be no slackening off without
arm to the region.
The great irony of IVA is that its
alue is given more recognition abroad
ildfl III Cfl6 OnlCGQ states. III
1t is the one great American prof.
ect that draws a steady stream of
Potentates, students, engineers and
politicians from every corner of the
globe. 1t is the one great idea we
have exported with success. Eight
foreign countries now have big
projects based on TVA-countries
ranging from India to tiny Lebanon.
Efforts have been made to establish
VA-type authorities in the valleys of
ther American rivers; the Missouri,
10 Grande, Colorado. A new Colum-
ia Valley Authority bill-the Neu-
erger bill is-before Congress. None
these efforts has thus far sue
.eded.
The iva was an experiment at
me of national economic distress
hen the public was receptive to dar-
6 innovations. The electric utility
terests, natural enemies of such
| enterprise, were themselves in
ouble. These interests, reviving.
We since fought the spread of the
VA idea with rising fear. While
eping IVA under carping attack,
ey have sown widely and nurtured
I'll confusion that restrains the
ople of other sections from emulat-
a valley program that is, never