The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-15

SASh VA WobSI supply NoS AN"aN ~
Prof. L. c. corbctt, professor OF agrl-
culture and horticulture at the West
Virginia University, before a recent
meeting of the West Virginia Academy
Of Science. at Morgnntown:
In the early days OF this country
manufacturing was all done by natural
power This was party due to the ex-
pensc and crudeneSs OF other motive
powers. but water was used quite as
much because streams were numerous
and their latent power could easily and
cheaply be brought to do the desired
work. At this time profits were small
upon the products OF the farm: and so
were those of the manufactured; for
owing to limited area for sale of his
products his business could only be car
ried on on q small scale. This multi.
piled the number OF establishments and
divided the population, The perfection
OF the more expensive steam propellers
has enabled large plants to be built;
has concentrated population as well as
industries, and, in certain ways, has
lcssened the cost OF production. But
with the use OF the more expensive
power, the cost of manufacturing would
OF necessity be increased, Were not
other factors OF production forced to
bear the burden. This condition OF at
fairs became possible under the stress
OF the civil war, but as all commodities
gradually adjust themselves according
to lower and more stable standards,
and. perhaps, more Just ones, the man
ufacturer must seek rather to reduce
cost Of production by restoring to
cheaper power than TO reduce wages.
But aSSthe manufacturer goes to get
possession OF these once productive
sources OF power, what does he fipd?
Not the busy scene OF twenty. forty or
100 years ago. but the ruins Of the old
mill, the filled up and usually dry dam,
or the buttrcsses standing as tomb
stones to mark the spot where once
these markers OF the departed may
read. u am all that Is left to tell the
story. the rains descended and the
foods came and beat upon this dam,
and 1t fell. This is all that Is left of
once paying industry" Such examples
could be multiplied nd infinitum.
woodman, Spare That Tree.
Within the limit OF ones vision from
the place where was born CwatSins,
N. W there were fifty years ago. not
less than eighteen saw, Touring and
wooden mills that were propelled by
water power exclusively, OF these two
only ore left.
The following from Yates county.
New York paper Is quite TO the point:
.'The effects OF clearing the forests from
the country have an object lesson in
the principal stream that flows through
the town OF Starkey-that Of Big
Sream-which. in early times. when
the country was first cleared and be-
fore the effects OF such clearing began
70 be realized, furnished power for M
teen saw mills, four -four mills, two
wooden factories and five grist or flour
mills II then furnished sufficient
power for all these mills. Now there
are but two grist or Touring mills and
two saw mills on the stream, and they
do not depend mainly upon the water
supply for power. There Is really but
one grist or Touring Mill on the stream
that Is in running order, and that Is the
one at Glenora. The mill was erected
In 1881. During the greater portion OF
the summer and especially IN dry times
Big Stream would not be sufficient to
run q very small saw mill"
After time the water power failed,
the mills were operated for a short perl
cd each year, only as long as the water
lasted, but this WAS unprottahle and
where the business could not be made to
Justify the accession OF O steam plant
the machinery was torn out, moved
away, or the whole thing burned up to
get little insurance that some COM
pany had been foolish enough to VEN
ture on n practically abandoned pro-
perry.
Cause Of Weak water supply.
Did the owners of these properties
give them up willingly? Not so. They
constructed new dams, and in some In
stances, a multiple system of them. for
the purpose OF storing the weak and de-
pleted supply OF their streams. This
entniled much additional expense. and
after n hard struggle. had to be aban-
doned Many Of these people nre yet
alive, and II you ask them the cause for
the closing OF this or that mill. dare
say in nine cases out Of ten you viii be
met with the answer that they could
not compete with the large concerns OF
somewhere else. In reality the great
proportion Of these small mills were
abandoned absolutely and solely be-
cause OF inadequate and unreliable
power supply, caused by the drying up
OF the streams In summer. In Increasing
floods OF winter and spring. The once
continuous water supply had become
intermittent; instead Of an easily mhn-
aged and profitable waterway. IL be-
came an Improbable and dangerous
torrent
This is the history OF hundreds OF
streams In the state Of New York.
Massachusetts,, Vermont, and New
Hampshire are all feeling the destruc-
tive Influences OF the same enemy Of
local manufacturers. This thief that
works by proxy Is wind and sun, and It's
accomptloe has been the intelligent ~
forester.
People OF the aforesaid states are be.
ginning 10 realize that they have made
a grievous error. The force OF close
competition will soon close many door
in New England. unless the cheap
power OF a half century ago can be re-
stored. New England is dependent
UPON other sources for both It's crude
material for the factories. aB we'll as for
the fuel TO furnish It's power to operate
them. The restoration OF Its perennial
streams will hold for II It's many indus
tries when some propelllnE power Is
needed. for no where in America, unless
Il be In West Virginia, are there greater
advantages for maintaining such cheap
power producers. Every mountain
STRAIN can be made to turn the wheels
OF many paying enterprise. Water Ii
not like steam. for after II Is once form.
cd Il can Ire used over and over again,
and the Inst man may even have an nd
vantage over the first. in being closer to
market.
Value or Smaller STRAINS.
The power production Of these
streams, while an important consldern-
ton, is not the only one. We have large
municipalities, the people Of which are
dependent for their water for domestic
ms well nS manufacturing PURPOSES,
upon the perpetual flow OF these noun
tain streams. and In order to get whnt
in many cases should he almost within