The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1897-01-29
VAST WATER POWER.
Utilization of Great Natural Forces
In This Country.
Possibility of Bringing Into Service the
Tremendous Energy of Lakes, Riv-
a ers and Waterfalls for Indus
trial Purposes.

when the waters of Lake Michigan are
pouSed through it into the Illinois river;
Nh York is looking forward to the
day when power may be brought down
from Niagara or from the Catskills:
boston is within the sphere of the Mer-
rirack falls; Washington can get an
abundant supply of power to light
every street and public building from
the Great falls of the Potomac, where
100000 horsepower is running to waste;
Baltimore and Philadelphia are situated
near the tide-water step that runs along
the base of the Alleghanies, while Rich
mond is directly on the step, with So
600 horsepower in sight. In fact, few,
if any, of our great cities are beyond the
reach, if we may proceed upon the as
sumption of Tesla (who says that the
power of Niagara may be carried ulti-
mately over any part of the American
continent), of the energy of some cat
aract OF storage of water.
The sudden awakening to a knowl-
edge of an inexhaustible resource OF
power, and the ability to use it, must
result in great revolution in economic
conditions, far greater than thai
brought about by the introduction u
sleum. This revolution will be felt III
greatly enhanced production, wit
cheaper cost to the consumer, togetho
with large increase and general g,
tension of the comforts of life, such a
may be included in transportation, poV
err for domestic purposes, light and he;
including fuel, the cost of which Wi
be considerably reduced. In the cite
there will be, one may well believe,
wonderful transformation, and tina
within the cognizance of the preser
generation. The use of steam in tho
thousands of isolated plants will be gen
orally abolished. light and power bein?
delivered through the agency of elec
tr:city from central plants situated per
haps 100 or 200 miles distant. ONho
dares set the limit?) The dangers OF
the steam boiler and the furnace IN
crowded buildings and beneath the side
walks of the city, and the discomfort
of the wholesale consumption of Goa
will be done away with for Il cheaper,
a safer and healthier system.
Nor is it to be inferred that because
we have water power we shall have no
more steam and coal. Not at all. But
there will be n more rational and eco
nomical consumption of coal, neces-
STATED by the cheapness Of the power
eenerated by the turbine wheel and
transmitted from the dynamo to the
motor. 1t will no longer pay to mine
coal and ship it hundreds of miles
the cities by our present cumbersome
and wastefsil methods dosing 30 to )
per cent? when its essence can be-
better sent by wire. 1t requires ne
spirit of prophecy to foretell that in thu
beginning of the next century the coz
will be burned ut the mine shaft, an
every ton brought to the surface vii
be utilized. The power-plant locate
at the mine shaft, burning the run Of
the mine" either as coal or in the fern
of gas, can better compete with the
cuwer-plant at the falls than can TIN
furnace and boiler in the city. Their
will he no more black hills of culm Il:
the mines. disfiguring the face of thV
country and choking the streams, an;
no ashes and cinders to worry the city
consumer. The copper wire in the I'm
derground conduit will carry the en-
erey safely and economically to the
point of consumption, and the railroa
or factory engineer, or the housewife IL
the home, need but to press butter
to send the train at 100 miles an hour;
to set the spindles or lathes in mo
ton; to heat the house, or to cook the
dinner.
The social phases inevitably accom-
panying this mechanical revolution
NAV be far more beneficial than the eco
nomicai gains, great as they will doubt
less be. The saving to the housekcep
err in time and labor will make her
new woman indeed, and the general il
PRODUCTION of the electric stove ma
reasonably be expected to cause dc
cided advance in the health and hal
piness of the race.
Whether the distribution of powe
from the falls and the mines will a!
WAYS remain in the hands of corpora
lions of capitalists is problem that Il
future must decide. There il no
nying, however, that the object lessee
of the universal public use OF natura
forces will be powerful one from
collectivist point of view, and shouldal
state las Wyoming or Utah, for G
ample) undertake the distribution
electric power, as cities distribute Ga
and water, the experiment would be
watched with the greatest interest by
the whole civilized world.-John L.
Branhall, in Leslie's Weekly.
Military Bear Hunting.