The herald., 1894-04-20
ELECTRICITY AND WATER.

Wster-power is q great factor in build
ing up cities. The inclined plane of the
DelaWave and Hudson canal made New
ark city of 100000 people, and the
power Of that inclined plane now
scarcely supplies one-tenth of the fac
tories in that city. In the recent stag
nation OF manufactures on this coast,
growing out Of the Mckinley tariff on
the long-staple wools Of Australia, the
Oregon wooden mills have been running
day and night, while those of California
have been compelled 10 close down. The
reason for this is that Oregon's mills
are all run by water-pover willis those
OF San Francisco are worked by steam
and the great saving effected by water
power. enabled the Oregon mills to with.
stand the iniquitous tax on foreign
wools and still make money.
Just now the searcher for water-power
in this vicinity can find but little near
town and that held BY speculators for
prices which are in themselves prohib
itory. But electric power can be gener-
sted 10 or 12 miles from Los Angeles
and transmitted here on wires without
impairing the riparian rights OF any
land owners nearer town. The loss may
be from IL to IS per cent, but, even With
that diminution of power, there is more
certain profit in it than any other in
vestment within our immediate reach;
and if men ere looking Tor means to in
crease values in real property, there is
no way of dong it 30 simply as by the
creation OF cheap power for msnutsc-
lures. Nothing creates local wealth
like the presence of skilled labor and
the wages which 1t saves.
Generation of electricity by water
power and it's transmission to other To-
cslities has become one of the greatest
OF modern employ ments of capital. The
first attempt at this sort OF work was
made at Willamette falls, Is miles from
Portland, Ore, which city is lighted in
this way and has about 40 miles OF street
rail 'Hav and several hundred sewing
machines in tailor shops and other fac
tories, all driven by water power. The
original capitalization was $3.50, 900, in
shares Of 500 each, on which only $40
assessments were ever levied. In two
years after it started up not share OF
the stock could be got for $1l5. 1t was
subsequently watered up to a cspitsliza-
tion of half million and then sold out
to an eastern syndicate, who have re-
capitalized it at cool million, on which
it is now paying per cent dividends.
The best example of the value OF
water'power for this purpose is to be
gained from Niagara and Buffalo, the |
latter city having expended s3000,000 |
in procuring electric power for manu-
featuring and lighting purposes from
-vne nOuv VI St,e uarKmAu. rtnenclers
predict great advance in real estate
values in Buffalo through this agency,
as it is claimed that electricity gener-
eted this way is cheaper than steam
generated from coal at $l.75 per ton.
The loss at Portland in transmission ia
estimated at % per cent, but Buffalo
has built q vacuum tunnel TO the falls
of Niagara which will decrease the waste
in transmission down to about ~ per
cent.
1t is evident that the possibilities of
electric power are not as yet fairly un-
derstood, and that greater developments
are in store for rs at no distant period
If one dam will not furnish the power
for this purpose, two can be built, and
their impounding force combined. II
the Los Angeles river does not furnish
enough power for our use the Santa
Anita and San Gabriel can be called in
to assist in the emergency. The city
needs cheaper light and cheaper power,
and the day is not far off when she will
get both.