The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-02
FCOLOMBIA'S ELECTRIC DREAM.
VAST WATER POWER THERE
WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED.
suggestions for Covering The Country With
Trolley i,oads ana supplying Electric
Power 10 Industries Great Water
falls Ready 10 lie Harncssed.

fails Ready to lie Harncssed.
The Colombian Government has issued
a report on the waterpower available In
the republic. Colombian engineers have
asserted that Colombia has more water
power than any other country in tho world.
The report confirms this statement,
Thus, within twenty miles Of Bogota.
the capital Of the republic, there Is more
waterpower available than can be sup
piled by Niagara, the report says. Most Of
It comes from T~equendama Falls, near the
city. These falls rank next TO those OF
Niagara in volume md have four times
the height. More power can be drawn
from Tequen lama. it II said, than Ia at
present used at both Buffalo and New York.
Colombian engineers even declare that 1t
has been lucky for their country that rail-
road have never been extensively con-
structcd there. With the immense water
power nj the service Of the country the
building Of railroads for steam engines
would nave been labor lost. These en-
ginecrs declare that the waterpower of
Colombia h 10 Rroat and 80 distributed
throughout the republic that it can be
utilizcd for the operation Of electric ROADS
Ia trunk systems even more extensively
than steam power. A. electric roads 90
net require tho expensive grading and en-
ginning that steam roads demand 1t Is
pointed out that the loss OF Colombia In
the past through the absence OF steam
roads will bc her gain In the future.
Most remarkable Of all the possibilities
pointed out by the Governments engin-
eers ore those connected with Bogota.
This citv, situated on IN isolated plateau.
has always heretofore been regarded as
without means Of rogress Owing 20 the
steep activities Of the plateau the building
Of railroads to Bogota has been declared
imuracticable. Now Colombian engineers
come forward with a plan Of not only saw
ing the city from ~decadence, but Of giving
IL better prospects than II ever expected,
Az Az expense Of 81 900, 900 they figure
electric current equal 10 200 900 horse power
can he generated AZ Tequendama and can
he transmitted TO Bogota az a loss OF only
10 per cent. This vast power applied TO
the industries Of the city will max II the
most important manufacturing centre on
the South American continent. Electric
roads TO skin the plateau OF Bogota and
connect with the navigable rivers can be
built at a very small cost and operated
inexpensively, bringing together a popu-
lation Of at least 800 ,ooo.
But the prosperity which would come
VI AANNIAlANAt INV
Of water and electric power would not be
confined to Bogota, Within a radius OF
fifty miles from Bogota there are many
waterfalls besides those Of T~equendama,
These falls, combined, are capable OF gen
Grating as much power as Tequendama
For Instance, the Magdalena River,
forty miles from Bogota, falls, in the course
Of ten miles, a vertical distances OF 200 feet:
The great power derivable therefTom could
be made 70 provide for the operation OF
.l...... ..oIa f,T in pti1aG nr faF pNOtlQh
to connect them with other sources OF
power further on. To the east OF Bogota.
there are falls capable OF generating power
TO operate electric roads TO the Venezuelan
frontier and TO the head Of ma yigation on
- reams emptying into the Caribbean Sea
from Colombia.
But n is In the region known as the Mas
of Colombia, where the great ranges OF
mountains come together, that the most
remarkable waterfalls occur. With the
exceptions OF Niagara and ~Tequendama.
these are the most valuable In the world.
There. In q distance Of eighty miles, the
head waters Of the Magdalena River fan
a distance Of 200 feet The Cauca River
daSrends over 5000 feet In seventy miles
without making a single p~recipitate plunge.
Il might ALSO b. said that the Mass OF Co
lombia was upheave we'd IN order TO become
the main power house 81 civilization.
In the Mass 81 Colombia power can easily
H., developed 20 operate electric roads
=, tho Pacific Ocean on the west far beyond
Inc Ecuad1rian frontier on the south and
very nearly 70 Venezuela on the east.
The northern part Of Colombia Is least
provided with water power, vet u Is more
favored IN this respect than most other
regions IF the world While electric power
would cI-' more 90 generate throughout
northern colombia than elsewhere IN IA"
republic b. can H. obtained IA quantities.
sufficient Co. supply a system 81 el"ctHc
roads connecting th" caribbean shore
win tLr Interior Along the Nechi River
4l.r. enough electricity could h" developed
49, upsraf" roads Tor hundr"is OF miles az
All a- mines. mills and factories