The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-05-17

the ancient world ascribed to the Gods Of
Olympus marvellous achievements IN rapid
transit the transmission of intelligence and
the metamorphosis of matter. These won
ders of the imagination were the inspiration Of
the ancients in their religion, their literature
and their life, and to them the poetry, elo-
Quence and philosophy Of the modern world
are largely indebted. Though the high intel
lgence and superb culture of Greece and
Rome remained blindly superstitous before
the miracles of mythology, Jupiter and Her
cules, Apollo and Minerva are commonplace
persons when compared with Morse and Edi-
son. with Bell and Tesla.
History Is dreary record of the conflicts
of ambition and power; and the horrors desc
lations, devastations and miseries created by
war. While for thousands of years the
srgies of the rulers and leaders Of mankind
have been concentrated upon policies and
actions which destroyed the possibilities of
happy and comfortable living upon this planet
for the masses Of the people, the present
century is distinct and distinguished not only
in winning plaudits for making two blades
of grass to grow where only one grew before,
but for rendering 1t possible for millions to
subsist in comfort and lead happy lives where
thousands had dwelt in poverty and ignor-
ance The most practical philosopher who
and discovery were worthless. in his judg-
ment, unless they could be utilized for some
beneficial purpose. The kite, the string and
the key in his hands wrested from nature her
secret, that the air encircling the globe is the
exhaustless storage battery Of electricity.
1.-The energy of this liberated and educated
spirit of the air stimulated the human brain
to limftless endeavor and miraculous achieve
ment. Under the Atlantic ocean was sent the
cable, and from the queen of Great Britain to
the president Of the United States came
message of friendship and peace between the
English-speaking nations Of the world. Twen-
ty years later the telephone annihilated space
for the sacred confidence Of the family and
the negotiations of business. Thirty years
ago there were rs, 900 miles OF electric wire in
the United States. Today there are 1,0O0OoO
miles Thirty years ago 5,0OO,00 OF mess
ages were annually transmitted by telegraph;
now there are 60 900. In quarter OF
century the receipts OF the telegraph COM
panies have increased from 100000 to S25,-
600 900 per year.. Since the opening OF the
telegraphs the imports and exports of the
United States have grown from 1920, ,00o 600 TO
81, 500 600, 900, while. the internal commerce of
the country from about s1,ooo. 900. oOo has
reached the fabulous figures of $4,000, ,OoO, 900
a year. In twenty years the use Of the tele-
phone has become such necessity In our
daily life that the mileage of the wires has
Increased to 600 600 miles and the number of
telephones to 100000.
"This exposition illustrates the benefcent
advance in electrical development. 1t sug-
gests an opportunity of escape from terri
torial limitations of coal and the prohibitive
cost of transportation. Wherever there are
mountains and lakes there lis water power.
That this power can generate electricity has
been known, but its usefulness has been
handicapped because the mill and factory
could not be readily transported. The most
sublime concentration of continuing force in
the world is Niagara Falls. We are here.
four hundred and fifty miles from Niagara,
and witnessing that the power generated there
can be transmitted here. 1t Is a demonstra-
tion of incalculable value. 1t will redeem the
waste places of the world. The tumbling
torrent will come to be the treasure house
of nations. Wherever water flows, electrical
power may be generated, which, transmitted
great distances, will create the mill, the fac
tory and the furnaces and give that employ
ment to capital and labor which relieves the
farmhouse. of Its surplus Of boys and girls
and. gives the farm the profitable market in
a neighboring seat Of population and IN
dustry."