The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03

way and remote from the Industrial CEN
ters OF the district. 1t may be built wherev-
er the natural and economic conditions are
most favorable to the manufacture, and
the electrical energy developed miles away
can be delivered at the factory by an afr
caole as easily as water may be delivered
through pipes from distant reservoir in
the hills The greatest activity in the APP
plication of these modern methods for the
utilization of water power is now being dis
played in both Europe and America, add
the following figures, which represent the
or in course of development. will give some
idea of the wonderfully rapid advance that
has occurred in recent years in this branch
OF engineering science.
In America the total of the larger install
lations is 1900 horse power, with the pros
pect of this total being increased to 10000
when the Niagara scheme is completed.
In addition to this, there are very large
number of smaller pants in operation in
the mining districts of Colorado and Me-
vada- Switzerland occupies the second
place. with 49, 600 horse power. This will be
increased to IS 900 when the second water
power plant on the Rhone, near Geneva. is
completed. France follows with 1900 horse
power, which will be increased to 30 600 by
the completion of the power plant near
Lyons. Germany has only one water power
of any magnitude that at Rheinfelden-
This will yield 5000 horse power when
completed. Italy has $4,000 horse power;
Sweden and Norway between 10000 and 20
600 horse power each, with almost limit
less possibilities for further development
while England and Scotland come at the
Il
The purposes for which this power is be-
ing utilized are exceedingly varied. 1t is
used directly as electrical energy for light
ing purposes and for chemical and metal
lurgical operations. Transformed again
into mechanical energy by means of the
electric motor it is used for working tram
way systems and for driving machinery OF
all kinds at the mines or in engineering
and other workshops. The significance OF
this new step forward in the application
of water power to industrial purposes is
startling. ON the one hand 1t signifies that
man has at last learned how to effectualiy
master and utilize one of the mightiest
natural forces of the earth. Coal is an
exhaustible possession, and the day must
come when the coal fields OF the earth Will
be worked out. our rivers and falls offer,
on the other hand, an inexhaustible sup
ply Of energy, for so long as the heat of
the sun evaporates the water of the sea
and causes IL to fall again as rain upon the
hills or as snow upon the mountains, this
source Will be available for the supply of
mans wants, and the arrival of the time
when the earths coal fields will be ex-
hausted need no longer be awaited with
misgivngs There is another aspect Of this
development which is less cheerful for con-
temptation by three or the nations of Eu-
rope The position which England, Ger
many and Belgium occupy to-day as the
leading manufacturing countries of Europe
has resulted chiefly from the possession %
extensive coal fields capable of cheap de-
velOpment, coal having been in the past
dustrial progress OF any country. Tho
progress of electrical science has, however,
apparently changed the conditions OF indus
trial supremacy, and il appears as though
the possession, not of coal fields but OF
water power, will be the determining factor
Ia the future. Whether the check to tho
natural growth and expansion of industry
in the older manufacturing countries OF Eu-
rope which may already be observed as one
result of the increased use of water power
in countries hitherto of little or no account
in the industrial struggle, viii be followed
by the gradual migration OF the staple in
dustries to the cheaper centers of power.
remains for the future to disclose. but 1t is
a question of tremendous significance for
the prosperity Of the countries concerned.
1t would involve a Encouragement of the
and however pleasant the period of transit
ton and change might be for the nations
which would thereby rise into industrial
Importance. il would most certainly be very
much the reverse for the peoples OF those
three countries OF Europe which to-day
stand foremost In the extent and number %
their manufacturing industries