The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-10-28

mission. Conversely. the development of
water powers has not infrequently made
irrigation comparatively easy and a pos
sible addition to the general plan of inn
provements proposed.
In California the setting to work of
the waterfalls has been accompanied also
by the release of the water in many
cases to the dry ~lowlands, and the in
teresting spectacle is presented OF a new
source of power producing new manufac-
turing establishments and equally an ill.,
hux OF population and at the same time
a vitallzlng of the soil to such a degree
as to enable it easily to support this
increased population. Truly these plants
III many cases have made the desert into
a garden and opened up productive CEN
tiers OF the best possible influences.
Practical object Lesson.
At Niagara Falls the barnessing Of the
water in the great cataract has changed
the whole aspect of the town, changed
1t from a show village, whose principal
industry was the entertainment Of the
stranger, into a prosperous manufactur-
ing community where thousands of opera
tors are paid for productive work. Trans
mission OF this power to Buffalo has in
PRODUCED entirely new conditions into the
manufacturing activities of that city and
has already had an important bearing
and effect Upon its commercial status.
In South Carolina the waterfalls that
for all the centuries since the country
was explored have tumbled uselessly
down mountain sides, have been set to
work turning the spindles and looms Of
cotton mills and forming a center Of pro-
duction of high Importance, both of that
state and the country at large. In every
Instance where electrical transmission
had been called into play, for the utiliza-
ton OF new power or powers hitherto
undeveloped, the general social effect has
been good.
Mennonite Value Of Transmitted Power
1t is believed that in the future these
installations and these industries will
play no %unimportant part in the general
development of the country. The water
power resources Of the United States
have been by no means fully developed,
and while there is perhaps less incentive
here than in other countries. less favored
by Nature, with abundant coal deposits.
still the final utilization OF every drop of
falling water that can be set to work is
ultimately inevitable.
Where it was impossible formerly to
take manufacturing enterprises into the |
wilderness, where the water power is lo-I
Gated, to-day it is feasible to take the
power out of the wilderness and canyons
and bring 1t to the town and by the use
of electrical transmission, to coordinate
all the advantages of shipment and ac-
cess to raw material and to la bor; a sit |
uatiOn hitherto impossible when the
works were perforce built alongside OF |
the waterfalls that furnish their energy. +!
Priceless Heritage Of the West.
One Of the most valuable assets that is !
to come to the West from the reclama-
ton Of its arid lands under the National
Irrigation Act will be the vast electric
energy possible by Harvesting the noun
tain streams. They ~vill thus not only
give life to the country, but, through pow
er thus generated, will inject into that
Life the greatest possible useful activity. |
In this area, more than one thousand
miles square, multiplied millions of horse
power can be created through the nat
ural gravity system of water.
There are thousands of valleys rang
ing in length from a few miles to nearly
one thousand miles, where ample water !
can be had for all power purposes, as
well as for heat and light. So when the
~1ife-giving fluid is applied to the parched !
plains and the desert is transformed into
the orchard, the water then furnishes the !
source OF energy for mill, factory, cleo l
trio plants for lighting and heating, and
all possible mechanical devices. Per-
haps at no other point on the earth's sur /
face are such combinations possible to
such a degree Of utility. Having the eli
VnMtn thA nn,n>w AL~ AL A. -.
the water. the timber, the minerals OF
all kinds, the stone, and in fact all OF
the products Of the earth, both from its
surface and from its bowels, 60 readily
at hand, here in the western portion OF
America, is destined to be wrought not
only the highest civilization but the high !
est standard OF citizenship and patriot
ism.
VIII Develop Nine and Ferest.
The h~naitless mineral deposits which
have only been touched here and there. |
- it were, will yield large profits and
ready returns, from the intelligent appli- |
cation Of electrical engineering. Mines
that have been worked and abandoned
and mountains Of so-called "tailings,"
which contain from 81 to 81 per ton, can
be re-worked, and thus = material addi-
41OU ~ Tue WOGgQ output OF SOt0 Will be Il
assured. The vast forests will be felled
and t~ransformed into dressed lumber.
and III kinds Of furniture BY the applica-
ton 81 electricity. The valleys, which
viii - studded with prosperous homes
0f men who occupy and own the land.
win b travsrssd By electric car lines
from one snd TO the other. and even the
fruit win b handled rs freight BY this
sumo method.
0roat 1ndastrial Activity.
Mammoth factories will b. erected n
Al III valleys and many Of the canyons,
FOR the manufActure and conservation az
the varicus hosecultural and agricultural
pFoducts Which will thrive to IN exag-
eerated desres = this favored locality.
The labor q 4 - Of individuals viii
serve q I eomplement or fair exchange
Tor that 81 otloNA The fruit grower viii !
al ~ AF1k - - sannsr. and ths en-