Connecticut western news., 1899-01-26
MILLIONS WITHIN REACH!
Wake Up and Take Them!

North Western Connecticut practices economy in some matters but Is wonder fully extravagsnt in others. For in- stance-month after month and year af- ter year individuals, business firms and corporations keep right on in the old rut paying out money as freely as water for certain articles which they ought to dispense with; articles for which they can find far better and cheaper substi- ute. We will mention two of the arti. cles, viz, coal and kerosene. This section annually pays out hundreds of thousands of dollars for coal las fuel for private residences, places of business, public buildings, stationary engines etc. transported all the way from Penn sylvania. The money annually paid for kerosene for lights and fuel is enormous and, by the way, some of the kero- sene IS of very poor quality and is dan gerous to use. Then think of the gaso- lene used for light and power The kerosene and gasolene are brought from Ohio, Kentucky or Pennsylvania. The railroad corporations in North Western Connecticut are just as extravagant in regard to the cost of fuel and light as any individuals are. It is foolish to pay out such large sums of money to other states when Nature has provided North Western Connecticut with the means of supplying it's own fuel and lights, and its own power. Better keep the money in circulation at home in stead of sending it to other states and into the pockets of foreign corpora tions.
 Electricity is the best substitute for coal, kerosene and gasolene. Electric ity furnishes heat. light and motive power. The age of steam has nearly passed. The age of electricity has ar rived and will supplant the age of steam; and North Western Connecticut should accept, and profit by, the new era or the new conditions, with which it is confronted. The almost unlimited water power st Falls Village should soon be utilized to generate electricity sufficient to light and heat, and to fur nish motive power, for all of North Western Oonnecticut-including the Central New England railroad and the Berkshire Division of the Consolidated railroad. If said water power alone is not sufficient for all these purposes then harness up with it the entire Housaton- ic river from Pittsfeld to Birmingham; and if necessary harness up the Konka- pot river, and the Blackberry river, and the Pennington river. What mighty force is contained in these four rivers force that was seemingly created es- pecislly for the age of electricity.
 North Western Connecticut must keep up with the times or it will meet with diversity. It must get out of the old rut-it must use electricity in order to be on an equal footing with other sections of the country. Nature has placed North Western Connecticut in advance of other sections by giving it unlimited water power but if it refuses to utilize Natures bounty it cannot keep in the vanguard but must drop to the rear in the march of improvement. Several corporations with untold mil lions of capital have recently been formed to supply New York city and other cities with electric light, heat and motive power. Bear in mind that all these companies must use coal as fuel for steam power with which to run dynamos that generate electricity. whereas North Western Connecticut can use water power to generate electricity. That shows the possibilities of North Western Connecticut. The city elec- trio companies must annually expend millions of dollars for coal to run their dynamos, whereas North Western Con- nesticut need not pay out dollar for coal with which to run dynamos.
 Somebody will be shrewd enough to grasp the situation. Somebody will undoubtedly be shrewd enough to make application to the next Connecti- cut legislature for charter to utilize for electric purposes the magnificent water power in North Western Connect icut.
 This editorial is designed to wake up the people of this section. It is not de- signed to injure the business of coal dealers and merchants. A certain quantity of coal and kerosene will nec- essarily be used after this whole section is equipped with electricity-for there must always be some coal and kerosene on hand for cases of emer- gency such as breaking of the electric circuit or machinery. But the coal dealers should foresee the results of the age of electricity and should pre- pare to adjust their business to the new order of things; readjust their business by taking on some .other line of busi- ness in connection with their coal trade.
 La Grippe Successfully Treated