The Port Gibson reveille., 1906-07-26
WORLDS LATEN TENERGY.
POWER THAT MIGHT SERVE
SHOULD FUEL GIVE OUT.

This country-Sun May BE a ~
ture Source Of Supply.
The possible exhaustion OF the
worlds fuel supply in the near future
has brought to the front the question
OF what natural sources of energy
may be relied upon when this stage
Is reached. Already water-power,
wind-power, tidal-power, and solar
energy are being utilized on a large
scale In many ways; but OF these,
the most reliable source Of power In
the United States Is the waterfall.
There are FIVE principal water
power regions in our country. Men
tlon must be first made Of the New
England area, which Is most develop
ed and has natural advantages in
lakes, capable Of large storage
situation almost exacted by the heavy
rainfall Of forty inches per annum.
The Appalachian power area, as
yet but slightly developed, is a region
OF heavy rainfall exceeding fifty
inches per annum. and Is rich II
streams. But there are no lakes %
store power, and artificial means only
are within reach. Hydraulic enter
prise. however, is made possible by
the great slope Of the area toward
the sea.
The Great Lake region Is not very
promising unless artificial daming Is
resorted to: but the tendency is to
reduce the lake level by canals, ana
no water-head Of any magnitude can
be depended upon.
The fourth region is the Rocky
Mountain area, which contains some
great power districts. Near Great
Salt Lake the head is unusually hign'
and has allowed for special power de-
yelopment
Finally. there Is the Pacific Coast
area lying along the Sierras-running
north and southland already the seat
OF great industrial establishments
utilizing the high water heads. IL
has played an enormous part in cleo
trical power development altnoush
the storage Of water was an artificial
process.
In discussing water-power 1t Is to
be hoped that at IL horsepower per
scre-foot of stored water under an
effective head Of 500 feet, a 1000 acre
pond. stored 10 feet deep would pro
duce $4,000, 900 horsepower, or would
run q 2OO-kilowatt electrical station.
In district of fifty inches per annlm,
rainfall-as in the Appalachian dis
trict-if the water could be properly
handled. II would only require 5000
acres Of water shed to keep a 1000
acre-pond full.
Tidal power Is to be considered as
q possible extensive source OF energy
and at present there are tidal mills az
favorable spots along the coast. Inc
problem here Is mainly the effective
storage Of the power.
Wave motors have been occasional
" used, but the power Is Irregular
and obtainable only on a small scale.
Wind-power, from its general dis
tribution, is a far more valuable
source Of energy than tides or waves.
The chief objection TO it lies in the
uncertainty Of the amount, and the
variable speed OF the motor. The
average velocity OF the wind Is low,
being in most places from five 70
ten miles per hoIr, corresponding 70
a wind pressure Of two to eight ounces
per square foot, a quantity Of little
value in motor operation. Where
however, the velocity approaches NJ
teen miles per hour, power generation
viii repay the installation Of ma
chinery.
Eliminating the winds, the chief
available source Of energy on a large
scale other than hydraulic Is solar
radiation. It's full mechanical equiya-
lent Is something like 10000 horse
power per acre Of surface exposed to
the perpendicular rays Of the sun.
Outside Of the temperate regions,
where a low sun excludes this utiliza-
ton Of power, there are extensive
areas where light rainfall and meagre
hydraulic resources are compensated
for BY strong sunshine; and the wnoie
arid district Of the West Is a region
Of so per cent. sunshine, and Is Won
derfuny fertile when irrigated.
The plan for Transforming this en-
erev IS to build a mirror to heat a
boiler. and It is a parabolic structure
Of plane rectangles SO disposed that
each throws the solar image fairly /
upon the boiler. The heating Is at
short range. and the apparatus Is IN
form something like a huge umbrella /
with sllvered glasses On the inside
and a boiler (the very short handlel,
turned always towards the sun. The
reflector, therefore, Is carried on po-
lar axis. about which it is automatical-
" turned SO as to follow the sun.
Motors Of this sort are not expen-
sive. and are made up to fifteen horse
power output from the attached
steam engine; beyond this size It Is
unwieldly. It is also capable Of use
for small power purposes. II neces-
sary, a group could be coupled cleo
trically, so as to furnish power on
somewhat larger scale. II Is really a
steam plant, with the sun for the fur
mace: and the fuel bin is eliminated.
Philadelphia Record.
HYDROpHOBlA Is REAL.