The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15
POWER RESOURCES.
Their Conservation Is Discussed by HI.
st. Clair Putnam.

Their Conservation Is Discussed by III.
st. Clair Putnam.
Washington, May 15.-The con-
servatfon of power resources was dis
cussed by H. st. Clair Putnam Of New
York at the conference Of governors.
He spoke in part as follows:
Where power is developed from the
combustion Of COAL wood, oil or gas.
our natural resources as such are de-
stroyed and they cannot be replaced
exceptinG tosa limited extent. Where
power i54ex4ved from water powers.
winds af1tides, only energy other
wise was<3 is used. The energy thus
extracted Is added to our assets in
stead Of being a permanent loss as is
the case with the combination of
coal. 1t is probable that the water
power In the United States exceeds
1000, 900 horse power and under GER
tain assumptions as to storage reser-
possibly 100000 horse power.
Using the smaller figure of 100000
horse power as an illustration, to de-
velop an equal amount of energy in
our most modern steam-electric
plants, would require the burning of
annum, and in the average steam
engine plant, as now existing, more
than 6O0,0 100000 tons Of coal, or so
per cent in excess of the total coal
production Of the country in 1906.
The supply Of water power is
limited, however, when the rapid rate
Of increase in our power requirements
is considered, and great care, there
fore, must be exercised to insure the
preservation of our water power re-
sources and to secure the maximum
practicable development. Where coal
is the source of power, electric trans
mission and distribution greatly re-
duce the amount burned to perform
given mechanical work.
Fuel Economy.
This discussion would be incom-
plete without mention Of the great
possible fuel economy that may re-
suit from the use of gas and other
similar engines. The ordinary en-
CINE utilities not more than four or five
per cent Of the heat energy in coal,
and our best modern steam electric
plants show a heat efficiency not ex-
ceeding 10 or IL per cent. With the
gas engine the heat efficiency can be
more than doubled, and still higher
efficiency seems probable with higher
other possible improvements. This is
a most promising field for develop
ment, and 1t Is entirely possible that
the gas engine may revolutionize our
method of using fuel for the produce
ton of power.
Where water power is the source of
supply the great gain which results
from electric transmission is the
utilization of water powers remote
from power markets. Where several
veloped 1t becomes possible to utilize,
in conjunction with the larger and
more cheaply developed powers.
others which, considered independents
ly, could not be utilized to advantage.
In the improvements which have
40 Ill v3xy1 %D4
tie attention has been given to the de-
ve1opment Of the incidental water
powers. On some waterways, as in
several Instances on the Mississippi
river, immense sums of money have
been appropriated and expanded on es-
pecially difficult portions of the river.
If this money could have been made
available in large amounts, instead of
by driblets over periods Of many years,
water powers of great value could have
been developed and the navigation eff
fectively and permanently improved.
Possibilities In Canada.
There are many streams that are
not navigable, or are navigable for
only portion Of the season, that can
be canalized and converted into
streams of great commercial value.
There are large areas in the west
ern states where irrigation Is essential
to the successful growing Of crops.
The cultivated lands usually lie in
valleys and water is carried to them
through long and often times waste
full irrigation bitches. In many cases
the water could be utilized for devel-
oping power on the headwaters OF the
streams without injury to the irriga-
ton interests
In some cases irrigation channels
can be converted into canals suitable
for at least limited navigation, and
where practicable this should be done.
What has been said upon the subject
OF irrigation canals applies to the de-
velopment of the water supply for our