The Operation of the Federal Water Power Act

Probably more water-power projects are now under construction than ever before in the United States, and the Pacific Coast, as usual, is leading in this work. One of the most important elements in this renewed activity is the Federal Water Power Act which was passed by Congress in 1920. Perhaps the time has been too short to permit of passing conclusive judgment either on the law or on its administration, but the fact that the applications :filed with the Commission aggregate more than 20 000 000 h. p., and that the greater part of the project s now under way are being built under the provisions of the Act, should afford at least a tentative basis for appraising its value.