The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-01-14
REVIVAL OF WATER POWER.

REVIVAL OF WATER POWER.
The Neglected waterpowers of the
Country Again Coming Into
General Use.
Ono Of the most notable instances OF
industrial decline and revival in mod
ern times is connected with the use OF
waterpowers. Speaking of conditions
in New England, the Hartford Courant
says:
"A while ago waterpowers were neg
lected and were regarded as relics of
past condition Of development which,
with the old MILL had been left far
behind in mechanical progress. It is
one of the curious facts Of modern in
dustry that to-day the running water
is not only reinstated, but has a higher
value and a more important work than
ever before. Electricity in the arts and
irrigation in agriculture have worked
the change, and to-day q steady-fiow-
ing stream has as sure q value as q coal
mine."
Taking Alabama as q single example
1t is within the memory of many yet
living that steam mills were so rare as
to be looked upon as curiosities by most
people. It.was only in localities where
waterpower, used under conditions then
prevailing, was entirely unavailable
that steam was used at ALL And meth
DDS of utilizing the waterpowewr, even
half century ago, were entirely diff
ferent from those of the present day.
Then the huge overshot or breast
wheels required high fall or they
could not be used at all, and with the
old.style tub wheels it was not much
better, for a fall of several feet was
necessary in order to get sufficient pow
or with the wheels then used.
It was while these wasteful and inef-
ficient methods of using waterpower
prevailed that steam began to take the
place Of water. The rapid development
of our immense coal fields was an act
i've factor in the work Of RELOCATING
water to the rear Then steam mills
and factories and shops began to
spring up, and waterpower seemed
destined to become thing Of the past.
The mills rotted down, the great water
decay and the embarrassed water
laughed its way to the ocean. Steam
reigned, and waterpower discredited.
Then electrical development began,
| another revolution was the result, and
water is not only regaining what 1t 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 dis
patch are three levers in the industrial
world which will move mountains, and
all of them work together for the re-
Iinstatement 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 direction. The Sa-
viour, speaking to Nicodemus, said:
1.-The wind bleweth where it listeth. and
| thou nearest the sound thereof, but
canst not tell whence 1t cometh mol
whittier it goeth."
Almost the same language might be
used about electric power. Man can
send it where he chooses. We see Its
effects in our shops, in our lights, on
| our street cars and wherever machin
cry is used The ordinary man can not
tell how it comes nor where it goes
when it's work is done A dam is bull
across running stream, machines are
erected, wires are laid, and straightway
| machinery begins to buzz, street cars te
run, and lights to spring up miles away
| as if by magic 1t is a wonderful
triumph of mind over matter.
And, as we have said, the great value
| of this power lies in the ease and GER
tainty of it's diffusion. We have JUS
read in contemporary of compan,
being organized in South Carolina witt
capital of $2.000.Oo0 to develop Ger
tain waterpowers in the Piedmont re-
gion, and the statement is made tha
towns within radius of fifty miles arr
to be supplied by the company witt
electric power. Three years ago JUS
above the city of Columbus, Ga, dan
was built on the Chattahoochee rivel
to develop 10000 horsepower. Now VIZ
are told that not more than 24O horse
power for electrical purposes is left fol
sale. 1t is practically all taken ane
more is neededs
Our own city of Montgomery is al
example of what may be done ane
| what is done in utilizing water power
| thirty miles away. Tallassee's waters
are running our street. cars, driving
! our machinery, and lighting streets ant
houses The same thing is taking place
all over the land, and we have on :
| reached the frontier, so to speak,. !
the unexplored possibilities of electric
Developments Wherever there is water
/ with a foil cnffin;opf ~ onarato a Don,