Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-17

MOTIVE POWER FROM TIVE RIVERS.

The city of Baltimore is now greatly
interested in project to harness the
water power of the Susquehanna River,
80 miles distant, and use it for electric
lighting and other purposes Of utility.
What is expected OF the project may
be learned from the following editorial
in today's Baltimore Sun:
The plan to transmit the vast power
of tine Susequehanna River in to Balti-
more may have tremendous effect
upon the future OF this city. Force or
power is the handspring OF the great
appliances of our modern civilization.
That force we are getting from the coal
mines 200 miles distant at great ok
pense, while for ages the power of this
mighty river has been flowing by I'M
harnessed and unused. Any use OF it
so far away from the banks of the
stream as Baltimore was, of course,
impracticable until the recent dis
coveries and improvements in the
methods Of transmitting electric cur
rents. Now it seems to be altogether .
simple matter to convert tho power Of
a waterfall into an electric current and
by means Of that current carry the
power to any moderate distance and
/ there use it for propelling machinery
and for transporting freight and
| passengers. 1t can be converted into
light and used for the illumination of
streets and buildings, and it cannot be
doubted that the time will come when
| the processes will be SO much improved
| that the power OF the Susquehanna
River will finally be utilized for
warming the homes of the people Of
Baltimore and cooking their food.
The effect of such an achievement upon
the city would be marvellous. The at
raosphere would DO as clear as that OF
the open country. The homes of the
people would be free from the dust anc
smoke which come from stoves anc
furnaces, the demand for domestic
servants, which has always exceeded
the supply, would no longer pc 81
urgent, as domestic service would b'
more attractive and q household woulS
require fewer servants, houses would b,
better lighted and more cheerful, tn
streets would be better lighted AM
} afford fewer opportunities for crimes
, In an interview published in the SUI
/ OF Sunday gentleman connected will
, this Su5quehanna enterprise prophesle
that it will supply power in this cit
cheaper than that afforded by coal a
I 81 ton. Should this be correct, an
I III Is not TOO InuCn 10 expect, tueu a
4 a manufacturing city Baltimore woul
I have few rivals. As power for pre-
pelIing machinery the electric curren
is more easily applied and controlle
7, than steam and possesses other ad
n yantages. That part of the Susqui
e hanna River where 1t is purposed
!, locate tho electric plant is about
miles from Baltimore, and in shoi
distance there is fall Of 100 feet, dow
q which mighty torrent PUSHES. 1t
n purposed to utilize this power by thr.
W plants, the turbine wheels of each TO
a run by water having fall of 40 fee
and each of these plants, it is est
y mated, will generate current Wink
~ will afford 80, 600 horsepower. TIL
10 enormous power can be transmitted
O. Baltimore with comparatively lit
loss.
To build these powerhouses, extei
wires and dam the Susequehanna Riy
4. will require large amount Of capt.;
- But after the plant has been complet
- the operation is comparatively inc
~ pensiye, rs nature supplies the mott
Se power free of cost.