Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-09
POWER FOR RURAL UsEs

a raLn6T novel tueOTy OI pOSSlUlo H.
dustrial expansion is presented by VIM.
Nelson Black in the last number of the
Engineering Magazine. That is the ap-
plication of electrical power to farming
| purposes. This writer estimates that 80
per cent of the roads of the United States
could be equipped with electric tracks,
poles and wires at cost of $500 per
mile. To fit up district ten miles square
with electric tracks on roads mile apart
each way would require capitalization
of $40 per acre. or an interest
charge of $50 annually on the average
farm of 100 acres Mr.. Black think that
when the farmer is able to have his
produce taken to market by electric rail-
ways he will also learn that great share
of his farm labor can be more cheaply
and expeditiously performed by electric
power than by horse power. The change
that this would make is suggested as
working revolution in country life, and,
turning the present movement toward the
cities, invite new distribution of enter
prise and population throughout the coun-
try regions.
There is much foundation for the idea
that an intelligent application of improved
power to rural life would effect decided
revolution. But there is also room for
discussion as to the details of the plan.
The first suggestion is that the construc-
ton of smooth and durable highways for
all classes of vehicles would afford freer
movement than system of tracks avail
able for but one class of vehicles. Next
there is the question whether electrical
power applied to such uses would be as
cheap as steam power. Electricity is
available for cities where steam power, by
reason of its dirt, heat and noise, is for
hidden. But, as in the vast majority of
cases, electricity must be generated by
steam, and there is always an unavoidable
loss in conversion, the probabilities are
decidedly in favor of steam being the
cheaper power for such purposes. THE
DISPATCH the other day noticed the enter
prise of a California farmer who uses
steam traction engine for blowing, har-
vesting, threshing and hauling his grain
to market. The interest charge in that
case is s27O for some thous ands of acres,
and the cost Of operation may be presumed
to be as much cheaper than electricity
would be, as the economy of power in the
direct application Of steam is over the
waste in its conversion to the electrical
form.
Such revolution in farming methods
would be made practicable by system of
level and durable country highways; and
it is pertinent that it would not contain
the feature Of a corporation controlling
the means of outlet from each country dis
trict. One of the results which Mr..
Backs article calls before the mind is
that of control of the rural highways
and politics similar to that which traction
and railway corporations exercise over the
transportation and politics Of the cities.
That is by no means a pleasant sug-
gestion. 1t will be much worse to seek
way of realizing the material benefits
without incurring the social burden of eX-
tending the power of corporations.
The first step in that direction is to
make country roads available for all
classes of vehicles. Then, if either electric
or steam power can demonstrate its
economy over horse power, all persons
can be given equal rights to use them On
the public highways without resting ex
elusive privileges IN the hands of any
favored corporation.