The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-30
THE oANoooHEs WATER POWER,
Steps Being Taken to Develop it,
Nraatif1cr &c. O..c.

Steps Being Taken to Develop It-A
Meeting to Org snize.
A meeting of parties interested in the
Canoochee Electric Power Company was
held at Pulaski house last night. Experts
were present to give their opinion as to the
practicability and cost of the project 1t
was satisfactorily proved that the question
is not an engineering one, but commercial
problem as to the earning power of the
capital to be invested
Mr.. William Falconer made a statement
of the investigations that have been made
with view to the development of the
enterprise.
The undertaking is to utilize the water
power OF the Canoochee river a. point
ABOUT twenty-five miles from Savannah, to
run dynamos aud transmit the electrical
energy over system of wires to the city.
The report Of a preliminary survey by
Percy Sugden. civil engineer, shows that a
fall of at least forty feet with a power of
Inily 9,0O0 horse power can be relied on.
Few people realize the meaning Of 10000
horse power the year round. To produce
this power by coal with the most econoni~
cal engines and boilers, it would require
5O0 tons OF coal daily at cost here of Of
least 81 per ton. The fuel bill alone would
be $4,000 day, or S750.000 annually The
Canoochee water power, therefore, is equal
to a coal mine producing 100000 tons of
coal annually, with everything in favor of
the water power. Coal has to be- mined
loaded, freighted and unloaded. while water
power transmitted into electricity transfers
itself Instantly The undertaking, il carried
out, will bring Savannah to the front as a
progressive city. No other city on the
Atlantic coast is so blessed in this par
ticular. The water power cannot be dupli.
Gated this side Of New York.
If a market for the whole output of cleo
tricity of 5000 horse power at $25 instead
or 500 per horse power can be found, which
will eventually be done, the income OF
VS., 900 annually would be a very large
percentage on the investment. The cleo
tricty, it is stated. can readily be disposed
OF at $50 per horse power, which would
give 70 to % per cent on capital in
vested. Inc cost OF running will be less
than 8 per cent. The maintenance will be
small, as one concern offers TO guaran tee
the plant for ten years. 1t is proposed to
begin with a plant of 2,00O horse power.
but by increasing the electrical pressure
this plant would be capable of transmitting
twice the power, or 1900 horse power, il
necessary, without additional outlay except
an increased use of power caused by speed
ing ur the dvnamos. But as there is "a
large surplus of power this additional cleo
trical energy would be clear profit. Let ers
from several electricians prove the precti-
cability OF the project.
Every one is now familiar with electric
lights and railroads. In the near future
Savannah will have six electric railway
lines. With cheaper source of electricity
lower prices eau be charged for lights aud
power with surer profit and the use of cleo
tricity will steadily increase.
The practicability of the Cano0chee plan
has been demonstrated teyond doubt An
electric road of forty two miles is operated
by electricity produced by water power in
North Carolina. The Heiser Electric Com
pany of Philadelphia has just completed a
line OF twenty-seven miles, distributing
light to a number of factories In Germany
from Lauffel to Frankfort, electricity has
been carried 10 miles, with loss of only
Is per cent One hundred thousand horse
power of the Niagara falls are going to be
transmitted fourteen miles to Buffalo and
distributed on about fifty square miles
If ths scheme is accomplished 1t will be a
big thing, not only for Savannah, but sub
urban towns like Pooler, Ellabell, Penn
broke, Meldrim, and even Guy
ton, which will in time become
consumers Of electricity for lights,
and power. Arrangements we're
made to put the project in such shape az to
bring it more prominently before capital
lists, with a certainty of bringing it to a
successful issue.