New-York tribune., 1906-12-10
UTILIZING VICTORIA FALLS.

In spite OF the wide difference of opinion ex-
pressed by experts regarding the expediency of
supplying the Rand with power from Victoria
Falls, preliminary steps toward the execution
Of this scheme have already been taken. a
contract has been given for some of the requis-
ite equipment to the Algemene Electricians
Gesellschaft, which is said to be the largest
electrical engineering company in the world.
From the outset # has been conceded that the
project is theoretically feasible Nobody denies
the possibility of transmitting current from the
Zambesi River to a point six hundred or seven
hundred miles distant. The chief question TO
he settled is whether or not it would pay. Mr..
Robert Hammond, a leading mechanical engi-
neer, insists that it would be cheaper to supply
the mining companies In and near Johannes
burg with power generated in that neighbor
hood by steam 1t may be assumed that the
dynamos employed TO generate current would
cost the same whether installed at Victoria
Falls or in the vicinity Of Johannesburg. 1t
also seems probable that there would be little
difference In the outlay required for the ma
chinery 10 drive Them whether water wheels
or steam engines were adopted. The proper
comparison, therefore. would be between In
terest on the investment for a transmission
line and maintenance charges, on the one hand,
and fuel bills, on the other. Mr.. Hammond is
convinced that the latter would be very much
lower than the former and his figures appear
to have had discouraging influence on Brit
ish investors
The promoters Of the enterprise declare, how
ever, that Mr.. Hammond's estimates were
based on an output of only 10000 horsepower,
whereas they hope TO find market for 10000
horsepower before many years, They imply, If
they do not assert that a greater pecuniary ad-
vantage would result from wholesale produc-
ton by hydraulic power than from CORE
spending enlargement of the scope of Mr.. Ham
monds propositon-an Inference which IS
probably open to question The advocates of
the transmission line then go on to show that a
duplicate set of conductors, which IN the United
States is considered an essential feature, can
be dispensed with-fOr a time, at least-and
the original cost thus materially reduced An
Independent system Of wires cables is
deemed necessary by most engineers as a pre-
caution against accidental interruption Of
service. To meet such emergencies the ad-
visers of the British South Africa Company,
under whose charter the work will be done,
purpose to make two provisions. At the
johannesburg terminus they would install an
enormous storage battery with a capacity
equal to the full demand Of the consumers for
twelve hours, and they also suggest the erection
Of 4 steam power station where about twenty
thousand horsepower could be developed. Rein
forcements would first be obtained according
to this plan, from the storage battery, and the
steam engines would constitute the second re-
serve.
How large a market might be found for
electric power distributed from a central sta
tiOn in or near johannesburg cannot safely
be predicted. Official statistics show that
about 100000 horsepower is actually used on
the Rand, most of 1t being supplied In small
quantities. The average cost to the consumer
is said TO be nearly 500 a horsepower an
nually The promoters Of the transmission
line do not specify the price at which current
from Victoria Falls could be sold proftabIy,
but If their plans consummated they ex-
pect to be in position to offer favorable terms
to the consumer Obviously however no one
could afford to discard his steam engine unless
large saving in the course Of a few years was
assured. 1t by no means follows that, because
100000 horsepower is needed on the Rand, an
electrical supply company could secure the
privilege Of distributing even One-tenth Of that
quantity there
An unfavorable impression has been made In
England by the award OF a contract to Il Ger
man company. The act is defended on the
ground that German banking houses support
such industrial enterprises better than do Brit
ish hhahciers. Such may possibly be the case.
ana IL Is not unlikely that the money which
has mus far been pledged was promised on the
condition that liberal share Of 1t should be
spent in Germany. Still. legitimate as such an
arrangement might be, it would not commend
the project TO British capitalists, and as yet