The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-17

I saved. Electric energy can now transport
power III high voltage economically between
coal mines and most large cities.
The second method has the advantage OF
not depending on one single source OF sup
ply, that may break down, but in having the
energy stored in coal pockets near by the
place Of use, where it can be applied to sep
arate units Of power with no fear of failure.
1t seems probable that a combination OF
the two systems will produce the best re-
suits. Where power can be sent electrically
! from the mines for less cost than the coal
can be transported. that method will be
used.
To prevent stoppage Of works, the sepa-
rate motors and a store of coal. to be used
in cases of emergency, will still be needed.
just as has been described as necessary to
the commercial success of wave motors.
Any attempt by the writer OF this article
to trace the progress of electricity would
be but a vain repetition. after the adj
mirable manner in which the subject has
been treated in a former paper of this Sc
ries by Professor Elihu Thomson.
We can only once more emphasize the
fact that 1t is by the union OF four separate
classes Of misunderstanding discoveries. in
fentors. engineers and capitalists-that this
vast new industry has been created, which
gives direct employment to thousands. and.
as Bacon said 800 years ago. has endowed
the human race with new powers"
All the processes of metallurgy and min
ing employ %statical. hydraulic, mechanical
and electrical engineering. Coal. without
railways and canals, would be of little use,
unless electrical engineering came 10 its
aid.
1t was estimated by the late Lord Arm
strong that of the 400 900 to 800, 900, 900
tons of coal annually produced in the world.
one-third is used for steam production, one
third In metallurgical processes, and one
third for domestic consumption. This last
Item seems large. 1t is the most i'm
portant manufacturing industry in the
world. as may be seen by comparing the
coailess condition of the Eighteenth Cen
fury with confusing condition of the Nine
tenth Century.
Next in Importance comes the production
OF Iron and steel. Steel. on account Of its
great cost and brittleness, was only used
for tools and special purposes until past
the middle Of the last century. This has
been all changed by the invention of his
steel by Bessemer in 1864. and %open-hearth
steel in the furnace of Siemens, perfected
Some twenty years since by Gilchrist and
Thomas.
The United States have taken the lead
In steel manufacture. In 1873 Great Britain
made three times as much steel as the
United States. Now the United States
makes twice as much as Great Britain, or
40 per cent of all the steel made in the
world.
MI. carnegie mas explained the reason
why. in epigrammatic phrase: Three
pounds OF steel billets can be sold for 2
This stimulates rail and water traffic and
other industries, as he tells US one pound of
Steel requires two pounds of ore. one and
pounds of coal and one-third OF u
pound Of limestone.
1t Is not surprising. therefore, that the
bordering on the lakes have created
a traffic Of 25,0OO.000 tons yearly through the
Sault Ste. Marie Canal. while the Suez,
which supplies the wants Of half the popu-
lation Of the world. has only 100000, or less
than the tonnage Of the little Harlem River
at New York.