Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-27
GREAT ELECTRIC PLANTS.
Where the Motive Agency Is Furnished
Entirely by Motive Power


Entirely by Motive Power.
The continent of North America Is
blessed with the largest system OF
fresh-water lakes and rivers in the
world. From the earliest settlement
of the country to the present day the
value of the magnificent waterway
from the sea to the middle of the con-
tinent presented by the st. Lawrence
river and the great chain of inland
seas that are its feeders has been
fully appreciated. 1t is only recently,
however, that another feature of
these waterways has become impor-
tant and indeed even today there is
too little understanding of the great
part in the commerce and industry or
the United States that is to be played
by the magnificent water powers
which are scattered throughout the
thousand-mile length of this river and
lake system from Montreal to Su-
perior.
Already at four points great plants
for the utilization of the vast energy
of the mighty stream of water flow
ing from the Grand Lakes to the sea
have been erected. and of these three
are in United States territory. With
in a few weeks we have described
the fine plant at the Lachine Rapids,
near Montreal. which utilizes a small
portion of the flow of the st. Lawrence
at that point. The Niagara plants are
too well known to heed further COM
ment. The plant at Sault Ste. Marie
has had much mention. and last
week we described the largest of all
the developments-tha at Massena,
N. Y.
under development in these plants
reaches the enormous total of 100000
horsepower. Ever since the Lauren
tian system of lakes and rivers was
formed by the activity of cosmic
forces in long past eras of the worlds
history, these vast powers-and they
represent only very small percent
age of the total development that
may be made-have been going to
waste, and only within the last few
years have thGy been seized upon and
utilized. Four hundred thousand
horsepower at the average value of
power represents $9,000000 year in
come derived from hitherto useless
sources. This sum is interest at a rea-
sonable percent on $2,000,0o0, 100000,
and the value to the United States
and Canada of these great power de-
velopments may be justly measured
by the latter figure; yet the harness
ing of the energy of tbs magnificent
system of lakes and rivers has only
begun. 1t has been caluculated that
Niagara Falls alone as a power pro
ducinS agency is worth somewhere
about $4,000,000,OO0 if all it's energy
could be made available as mechanical
or electrical power
The colossal development of wealth
and values has been entirely due to
electrical engineering Without the
ability to distribute and transmit the
power of the various rapids and cata-
racts by means of electricity they
would be still practically useless, be-
cause the power developed could not
easily be utilized. This one contri-
button alone to the resources of our
country is sufficient to put electrical
engineering and electrical applica-
tion in the highest rank of industries
The case of the ST. Lawrence system
however, is only illustrative. All
along both the seaboards of the United
States are other systems which, soon
er or later. will be utilized in the
same way and whose power will be
put to work in the active service of
man. The British Isles at present are
fearful of failure of their coal sup
ply, but here we can face even a pos
sible disappearance of our coal, secure
in the knowledge that in our lakes
and rivers, so long as the rains contin-
lie to fall and the SHOWS to melt we
have an abundant and hitherto unused
source Of power which modern prog
ress has enabled us to put to all Of the
manifold uses in which this agency
enters in latter day arts and civiliza-
tion.-Electrical Review.