Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-11-10
REVIVAL OF WATER POWER.
THE EASE AND CERTAINTY OF
ITS DIFFUSION A FACTOR.
Furnishes One of the Most Remark
able Instances of Industrial De-
cline and Revival n Modern Times
The Reion of Winter.

Furnishes One of the Most Remark
able Instances of Industrial De-
cline and Revival IN Modern Times
The Reign of Water.
One Of the most notable instances
Of industrial decline and revival in
modern times is in connection with
the use Of waterpowers. Speaking of
conditions In New England, the Hart
ford Courant says:
"A while ago waterpowers were ne
elected and were regarded as relics
of past condition of development
which, with the old mill, had been
left far behind in mechanical prog
ress. 1t is one of tne curious facts of
modern industry that today the run
ming water is not only reinstated, but
has higher value and a more i'm
portant work than ever. Electricity
in the arts and irrigation in agricul-
ture.have worked the change, and to-
day a steady flowing stream has as
sure a value as a coal mine
Taking Alabama as a single ex-
ample it is within the memory of
many yet living that steam mills were
so rare as to be looked upon as curl
osities by most people. 1t was only
in localities where waterpower. used
under conditions then prevailing, was
entirely unavailable that steam was
used at ALL And the methods of util-
izing the waterpower, even half CEN
fury ago, were entirely different from
those of the present day. Then the
huge overshot or breast wheels re-
quired high fall or they could not
be used at all, and with the old-style
tub wheels it was not much better,
for fall Of several feet was neces-
sary in order to get sufficient power
with the wheels then used.
1t was while these wasteful and in
efficient methods of using waterpower
power prevailed that steam began to
take the place of water TIE rapid
development of our immense coal
fields was an active factor in the
work of RELOCATING water to the rear.
Then steam mills and factories and
shops began to spring up, and water
power seemed destined to become a
thing of the past The mills rotted
down, the great water wheels ceased
to revolve, and fell into decay and the
embarrassed water laughed its way
to the ocean. Steam reigned, and wa
terDOWer was discredited
Then electrical development began,
another revolution was the result, and
water is not only regaining what it
had lost, but is becoming mightier
than ever. 1t was soon found that
electric power could be developed at
less cost and with greater ease and
certainty by water than by steam
power, and that settled it. Economy,
certainty, and dispatch are three lev
ers in the industrial world which will
move mountains, and all work togeth-
er for the reinstatement of water. All
over the country that fluid is being
again brought under subsection and
made to perform the labor from which
it had for long time been freed.
And the beauty of it is that the wa
terpower need not now be used where
it is generated. It is no longer neces-
sary that the mill or shop or factory
shall nestle close beside the running
stream, for electricity, like light, can
be diffused in all directions. The
Saviour. speaking to Nicodemus,
said: "The wind bloweth where it
listeth, and thou nearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh nor whittier it goeth."
Almost the same. language might
be used about electric power. Man
can send it where he chooses. We
see it's effects in our shops, in our
lights, on our street cars and wher-
ever machinery is used. The ordi-
nary man cannot tell how it comes
nor where it goes when IT'S work is
done. A dam is built across a rum
ming stream, machines are erected,
wires are laid, and strsightway ma
chinery begins to buzz, street cars to
run, and lights to spring up miles
away as IL ny ludSIO IL 10 q MOAQCl-
full triumph of mind over matter
And, as we have said, the great
value of this power lies in the ease
and certainty of its diffusion. We
have just read in a contemporary of
company being organized in South
Carolina, with a capital of 100000
to develop certain water powers in the
Piedmont region. and the statement
is made that towns within a radius
of fifty miles are to be supplied by
the company" with electric power.
Three years ago just above the city
of Columbus. Ca, dam was built on
the Chattahooche River to develop
10000 h. p. Now we are told that not
more than $40 horse power for electri-
cal purposes is left for sale. 1t is
practically all taken and more is
needed.
Our own city of Montgomery is an
example of what may be done and
what is done in utilizing waterpower
thirty miles away. Tallasse's waters
are running our street cars, driving
our machinery and lighting streets
and houses. The same thing is taking
place all over the land, and we have
only reached the frontiers, so to
speak, Of the unexplored possibilities
of electrical development. Wherever
there is water with a fall sufficient to
operate a generator there one can be
built and from it power will radiate
and pulsate to the surrounding coun-
try. tireless, noiseless and unremit-
ting. The age of steam has had its
day AMI the reign of water returns.
Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser.