The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-17
The Cost OF Electric POwer-Views OF n
Learned Expert.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In your
issue OF the 18th inst. Mr.. +. i. Watson in criti-
cising my statement that electric power Is
cheaper than steam power. cannot UNDER
stand how tho thing produced can cost less
than that which produced it," This matter Of
electric power IS an important one for large
cities. and therefore an explanation may provo
interesting. though. in fact, the answer Is OBJ
vious to any one who stops moment to think.
1t is simply the difference between producing
n thing at wholesale and ut retail II every
small consumer OF power runs his own
little steam engine he does SO at great
cost. relatively Just as tho poor woman who
buys basket Of coal In winter pays dispro-
portionate price for her fuel. But where the
power Is generated In largo quantities, by on
gnes giving the greatest return on the coal
burned under the boilers the cost OF produce
ton Is so low that it can BIO widely distributed
and still leave handsome margin Of saving
over the individual retail method. can have
leo cream delivered at my house infinitely
cheaper than l can make it myself, yet it
comes five miles from the central factory. 1t
happens that tho electric motor Is the best
agent for utilizing cheaply power that has
boon generated alta distance whether by steam
engines, water whoels. or windmillS.
Another vital point is that the electric motor
rent is lowered. could mention several in
stances where thanks TO electric distribution
OF power IRON central station, minor indus
tries are carried on that high rents would
stife II 1t were necessary to be nearer the
supply orto create the power on the SPOT,
II Mr. Watson will favor me vi th u call Mt my
Office will escort him to several places in this
city where tho electric motor has displaced
steam engines on the score OF economy some
OF those engines were served IRON tho steam
mains yet oven IN this direct competition OF
central sources OF supply tho electric proves
The struggle. Is not between, the electric
motor and tho steam engine, but between little
engines and big and Providence il on the sido
Of the big engines, rho electric motors are, in
this field OF work simply th9!i allies. no ono
has ever claimed or asserted anything else.
Mr.. MRtsOn next as evidence OF the costli-
ness Of electric power, refers mo to II road on
certainly unfortunate In his example. as tho
road is ono Fulton street-On which cleo
tricity has never been triedl 1t was at one
timo proposed 10 test u new conduit system
there. but the promoters did not carry through
their scheme. That was about two years ago
In tho mean time, aOout2jO OF tho street rail-
whole. have adopled electricity, and tho pro-
portion OF he new roads ~ oyer 90 rer cent.
A. lar as am Rwalc-and have made spe.
ciul study OF the subject for vo yoars-the, cost
OF running an electric road for power, IS about
one-h half that OF horse road In some
ca5os, whore water power mountains OF waste
cOHl dust or natural gas are used to generate
the current, 1t is cheaper out OF a. Estimation
] know OF scores OF horse roads large and
small, that hayo tried electricity, aud have
been quick to extend their plants ono. two, and
three times. also know Ut II cable road plant,
costing 100000, that has boon thrown a5ido
unused t. make way for Glrctric moiors
o, eloriIIc power aud inform himself of tho
iactA This is IA day whom no steam engineer
can fta a9Td d6 to remain iGn0F&ft q EGa soc
Editor tho Electrical Engneer.