The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-09

K NcS5s,- Pm falls. transmute their
g.Zy : !. !. ! !. ]. ! . q. i !. ! !. !. : ! J
power to electric ener-
~ Vol gv and transport this
M HGl to turn the machinery
IN ~ of man is now an old
iASlAa-nS1(Gl story. But the extent
NSZg4 Nv to which the work is
being carried and the
wonderful devices it employs are new
enough to challenge attention. That
fbis. process. may destroy the loveliness
of some Of the earth's most famous falls
is possible. Even Niagara has Deeh
threatened. Against the power com
Danies who are wreaking this havoc has
gone rp a storm of protest. Thus is
beine fought over the old battle be-
tween the utilitarian and the lover OF
nature. In the case of Niagara 1t IS
probable that some ground Of compro-
mise may be found between beauty ana
use. but other celebrated waterfalls,
notably the lovely cascade at TlVoii,
Italy, are already ruined
All over the earth hydro electric pow
er houses are being established Even
in the heart of Africa a tumbling cata-
ract is soon to be changed into motor
force. The Italian government has
taken this work out of private hands,
just as it has taken the railways, and
itself is Transforming the waters flow
ing from the Alps and Apenuines into
measured ampere and volt. All Europe
is being furnished power from the
streams and mountain cascades. Soon
gravity viii be turning the dynamos of
the world.
Nowhere is this work bringing forth
more marvellous results than in the
United States. The power houses al
ready completed or under process of
construction at Niagara it is estimated,
will in time turn out 100000 horse
power. This would run all the street
cars, surface, elevated and subway in
the entire country. True, much of this
power is being utilized in Canada, but
commercially and industriaIly the Do
minion and the republic are not so far
apart, even if they are divided by a pO-
litical line.
In many other of the western states.
and in fact in all parts of the country,
similar power houses are in existence or
are being constructed. The energy
locked up in the streams of America is
incalculable Much of it can be trans
formed into electric force Let those
who have been worrying about a possi-
BILE exhaustion of the coal supply turn
to the streams and be comforted. And
how much cleaner and more quiet is
this electric power than that generated
by coal and steam! 1t takes no great
stretch of the Imagination to picture
silent, white and beautiful cities of the
future whose motor force, light and
heat viii be furnished by distant cas-
oades in the form Of hydro electric
energy.
Science in its highest form becomes
romance. The great savants are poets
who write their epics Of power and
lyrics of light all over the cities of the
earth. Modern inventions appeal more
to the imagination of man than did the
old myths and tales of warrior heroes
and human gods. In the scientific Won
ders of today the artistic and utilitarian
meet. Yet eve are but babes in prog
ress." We are only on the edge of the
wonder world that science is still to
discover. Thus the beauties of the cas-
cades viii only be lost that they may
be born again in more marvellous and
dazzling forms.
Nothing ever accomplished in the his
tory of electrical development is more
interesting to the American public thar
the supply scheme which has the great
natural force of Niagara as its power
center. On the western border of the
state of New York an army is being as
sembled in line, and it has already be-
gun its march toward New York city
that most reliable of all the worlds
markets for the sale of power. 1t is ar