Connecticut western news., 1899-02-09
Development of Electricity.

Development of Electricity.
 On January 26th the NEWS published m editorial entitled "Millions Within Reach" That editorial advocated using the water power at Falls Village, and if necessary the entire Housatonic river, the Konkapot river, Blackberry river, Mad river, and the Pennington river, to generate electricity sufficient to supply Northwestern Connecticut with heat, light and motive power. It showed the possibilities of this section in comparl- son with sections where coal must be used for steam power with which to run dynamos to generate electricity. We did not attempt to tell what it costs to genera @ electricity by steam power-we did not then have the figures to show how much coal it requires to operate one horse power for one year by means of steam. But since that editorial was published we have received the Decem- Der number of Sunset" magazine published at San Francisco, Cal. In said issue of "Sunset" and under the heading of Development of Electricity" we find the following:
 The development of electric power for in- dustrial uses Is almost phenomenal in Cali fornia, and this fact Is notably Illus strated in the case of the two big plants in the vicinity of Rediands. 1t Is stated that 1t requires 34,- 560 pounds of coal to operate one horse A-.- I,, -4A Rsdiands plant produces 1000 horse power In electricity, In addition to the one preduc- ing 900 horse power. Further, the plant of tho Southern California Power Company. producing 4,000 horse power, makes 1000 horse power in electricity by the two com panies in Mill Greek and Santa Ana canyon equivalent, that Is, to the consumption of nearly 121 LOO tons of coal per year in the making of power by steam. With coal there fore at $4 per ton. this means SASS. $40; divid- ing this by 300, as the number of working days gives an average of 403, the equivalent of this number of tons of coal mined per day, and. as the water flow Is continuous, these plants are, as 1t were, inexhaustible mines producing this enormous output.-U. 8. Govt. Advertiser.
 In addition to the plants mentioned in the foregoing it should be noted that the plant of the San Gabriel Power Com- psny, in the Ban Gabriel canyon, Los Angeles county, will, on completion, produce 2,5O0 horse power, and that similar plants are already in operation on the San Joaquin, Kings. Merced and American rivers. in the central portion of the State.
 The coal value in the calculation made by the Advertiser is placed much too low. Even to large consumers the price per ton for good steam coal Is nearer $6.O0 than $4 co. This difference ac- centuates the importance of the water electric power development (but barely begun) in anon-cosl producing state.
 From the New York World of January 30 and February 8 we learn that the largest electric and power plants in the world are to be erected at Astoria, l.. I. and that tunnel 6,0OO feet long will be built under the East River and through this tunnel light. heat and power will be conveyed to Manhattan. Of course in this case coal must be used to make steam power with which to run the dynsmos that will generate the electric ity. If there is money in generating electricity by steam power of course there are fortunes in generating elec- trici.y by water power, especially by such magnificent water power as that at Falls Village While Northwestern Connecticut is asleep, or is too lethargic to utilize Natures bountiful gift of water power. Berkshire county has al- ready walked up to the conditions which confront it. The PittsAeld Sunday Morning Gall of January 29 says that Charles E. Calender of Glendale who bought the Glendale water power for $50, 600 has some electric project on hand, and that he is also willing to buy the old Glendale woolen mill property
 In view of the foregoing transactions in addition to what was mentioned in the NEWS editorial of January 26 it would seem that somebody in this sec tion will be shrewd enough to grasp the situation and utilize for electric pur- poses the mighty forces contained in the water power of Northwestern Con- necticut.
 During the winter and spring of 1891 The New Milford Gazette published ar- ticles written by B. H. Hull, civil engi- neer, of Bridgeport, concerning the water power of the Housatonic river. Through the courtesy of Editor Bolles we shall next week publish liberal ex. tracts from Engineer Hull's articles. As this editorial is already long CT than we intended we will to-day merely state that Engineer Hull finds that the Housa- tonlc river falls 95 feet at Falls Village and has 5000 horse power at that point alone. Gentlemen, figure it out for yourselves how many tons of coal would be annually required to furnish 5000 horse power. Remember it takes 34,- 56O pounds of coal to operate one horse power for one year by means of steam Also figure how many dollars would b required to buy that coal in New Eng. land. When you read in the next issue of the NEWS the figures which Engineer Hull gives in regard to other water powers along the Housatonic river you will discover that the water power in California does not equal the water power in the Housatonic valley and that millions of dollars are within reach oi whoever is shrewd enough to utilize for electric purposes the water power of the Housatonic valley.
 The school cencus recently taken throughout the state shows Connecticut to have about 900. 900 population. This shows large growth. The population of the country towns and farming sec. tions are decreasing, but the cities are