Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
DREAM OF A DAwNING DAY.

Unutirixed Forces of Nature TO Be Har-
nessed-Currsnts OF Rivers to Furnish
Power-whas the Winds May Do-A
Half Century Prophecy.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcHi
Quite as bad as was paying 81 25 per
bushel for coal to run steam engines, in the
presence of o world of natural gas is it to
produce as we do much of our light and
power in the vicinity of the lost force OF our
rivers. How crude and barbaric we shall ap-
pear to those who shall represent the
splendor of the scientific intellect OF 1850!
The force that is represented in the flow
ing water of our streams and rivers might
nearly all be utilized ut little cost. The day
has gone by when expensive dams need be
made and when industries must be located
on the margin Of the water. At all points
where there is considerable current, the
water, when low. may be carried through
sluices and considerable velocity be thus in
sured On these sluices, air-tight, drum-like
water wheels may be anchored, resting on
and in the current and which will turn on
the undershot principle. These wheels may
be strung tandem, as far as there ID current
to operate them and will rise and fall with
the rise and fall of the stream automatically
Shafts with adjustable knuckles can COM
municate this motion to the shore, where 1t
may be applied to dynamos and the electric
current carried inland to whatever point
electricity in its interchangeable forms may
be used. Such water wheels, of whatever
size, could be kept constantly running, with
next to no cost, when once cabled into posi-
tion. and the sum total of available force
would aggregate to an enormous quantity.
We Will Wonder at Ourselves.
TO us, that these aquatic steeds have run 80
long Embarrassed, when they were ever
ready to yield their service to man, if prop
erIy approached. What thousands of mill
ions of billions of tons of force have gone to
waste at niagara. There is sufficient lost
energy there to run any one of our best man
ufacturing States. In many simple ways
that Titanic power could be converted to
the uses of man. There is almost power
enough to represent all the light needed In
al al, the cities OF the . United stases' hses
would represents enough to warm the largest
20 cities in the Union. Some day industrial
concerns will cluster there, within Dracti-
cable electric distance and their competl-
ton will be felt to the uttermost bounds OF
the earth.
Even the surging waves of our lakes and
those of the oceans along our coasts, can be
made to yield their quota OF service TO tnat
more enlightened intelligence, OF which the
dawn has already commenced to appear.
The winds that blow and in such various
and frequent ways remind rs OF their power
will also be taxed for a much wider contri-
button of service. Probably when this force
has been used for q half century on farms in
pumping water, the fact will be recognized
that the wind that "bloweth where it
isteth," can, in many other ways be made
useful, as the same pumping mechanism,
with simple modification, could also operate
electric machinery and turn into storage by
a 10 liph 0eRdnd 81
alone. Not only light for domestic uses,
but lights at night in the fields, orchards,
and vineyards in the required seasons to at
tract and destroy the hordcs of insects be-
fore they 1nf1ict their appallinr detriment to
grain, fruit and vine. Why not?
= Problem for Insect sharps.
Here is a consideration for practical
to ponder. subject, which,
when once properly conceived, rises to the
plane OF question of national economy.
The destruction, in their winged stages, of
these myriad pests of the grain and fruit
grower, could be thus accomplished, and
frequently the losses in n single season
amount to as much as would cover the cost
of apparatus for lighting. In few years,
the defamation OF insects would be such that
the survivors would be harmless. Think of
the wind as being harnessed to the task of
culture and vinticulture! Think of the
breeze, as the guardian of the night, hand
maid to Ceres and Pomona!
In that better, brighter, coming scientific
may have abundance. This will be largely
in drawing on natures
forces which are ready made, instead
of consuming her condensed reserve in gem
Grating force artificatly. Then thereare |
forces pent up in the earuh-which, inside of |
its shell. is as full of power as egg is full |
Of meat-power so vast as to rock andvi-
brate continents; this also, in the coming |
time, may be drawn on, and from a reser-
Yoir that is inexhaustible. In some single
volcanic outpourings, enough gaseous force
escapes to represent all the light, heat and |
oower needed in the world for centuries
In feeble way we have already tapped |
.ome of this force, but our penetration into |
his she'll has not even been through its cpl |
lermis: but with electric drilling we shall |
70 down 10, 0C0 or 10000 feet and touch some |
IF the more sensitive nerves of power, of |
which we now know nothing.
Will Bring Better Morality.
There are revelations and revolutions |
n embryo, whose birth if only awaiting in |
deliverance. And there will be-
ound ways and means of checkmating the |
7oracious and abnormal appetites of the |
ew who come to the common bounteous
,oard and greedily want it all. A higher
,lane of enlightenment will aid in
loing this, for, after all, it is ignorance, |
md ignorance of a most reprehensible
lind that indicates the desire to have one
hundred fold more of anything than the
leeded quantity. In that brighter day the
nists and fogs of wild speculation and i'm
gination will vanish and the uproar of the
mere jaw-smith will not be heard so numer-
usly in the land. Only those will be en-
outraged who, if they would communicate, |
ave something to tell and whose thoughts
ave logical right to live. What glorious,
ealthful, thoughtful days there will be
Then manufacturers of mere wind and
ound cannot let the current idly run like I
he unutiliZed rivers, but must harness to
or shut up shop.
Ofall the papers that are printed, Of all the
ermons that are delivered, of all the books
hat are published, ali the speeches that are
lade all the talk that is INDUCED in-of all
hese, what mole hills OF grain, what mount
ins of chaff!
And yet, life is only a span!
Yes, there are newer luminaries mounting
ITO the modern heavens that will usher in