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Show MINING, OIL, AND WATER , POWER. THREE great industries of the West are closely allied so far as matters pertaining to their general development de-velopment are concerned. Mining and smelting, oil production and power development de-velopment are all largely dependent : for their prosperity on the passage of measures proposed or now pending before be-fore congress. These industries today are not only furnishing the government with the very sinews of war, in materials, but they are paying a great portion of the cost from their earnings, federal taxes on which run to 60 per cent of their profits. They are not complaining and are j I only too glad to do their share. These industries are hampered, however, by lack of legislation or ill-advised legislation legisla-tion which discourages or actually pro- . hibits development in many instances. ; In the case of mines, equitable tax laws and good prices for metals are . I the greatest incentive for production; - In regard to oils, the same applies, but in addition, legislation now pending in congress permitting development of j withdrawn lands and assuring protec tion in their title to bona fide claimant on withdrawn areas, must be passed to secure the needed increased production pro-duction at this time. Water power development is tied hand and foot through lack of legislation legisla-tion permitting development on government govern-ment reserves. Bills have been pending pend-ing before congress for the last ten or twelve years which would open the way for this needed development, but their passage has been blocked. |
