Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-15

n, Wisconsin; Gov. John F. Fort, New
Gov. Martin F. Ansel, South Carolina
the constantly lessening supply of coal,
wood. oil and gas.
Where power is derived from water
powers. winds and tides only energy oth-
erwiSe wasted is used,' he said, 'and the
energy thus extracted is added to our as
sets instead of being a permanent loss, as
is the case with the combustion or coal.
1t is probable that the water power in the
United States exceeds 3O,O00,OOO horse
power. and under certain assumptions as
to storage reservoirs this amount can be
increased to possibly 1oO,OOO,OCO horse
power. Using the smaller figure of 3d.
NU.WD horsepower an Illustration, to
develop an equal amount of energy in our
most modern steam-electric plants would
require the burning of nearly 100000
tons of coal per annum, and in the aver
age steam engine plant, as now existing,
more than 6O0OOO.OU tons of coal. or 10
per cent in excess of the total coal pro-
duction 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, therefore. must be exer-
cised to insure the preservation Of our
water power resources and to secure the
maximum practicable Development
Use of Irrigation Channels.
Mr.. Putnam called attention to the sys-
tenn which has been followed in the inn
provements of navigable rivers, and In
which little attention has been given to
the development of incidental water
powers. Taking the Mississippi as an
illustration, he pointed to many Instances
where large sums Of money have been
appropriated and expended, but the ap-
populations have been in driblets instead
of considerable amounts. so that the
possibility of effectively and permanently
improving the channel and at the same
time providing for water power have
been lost.
There are many streams that are not
now navigable, or are navigable for only
a portion Of the season. that can be
| canalized and converted into streams OF
great commercial value" he continued.
There are large areas in the western
states where irrigation is essential to the
successful growing of crops. The cult
waited lands usually lie in valleys and
water is carried to them through long and
oftentimes wasteful irrigation bitches
In many cases the water could be utilized
for developing power on the headWaters
of the stream without injury to the irri-
cation interests.
I'm some cases irrigation channels can
be converted into canals suit BILE for at
least limited navigation, and where prac-
| ticable this should be done. The same
rule could be applied with profit to the
development of the water supply for our
cities This work. like irrigation. should
be carried out so as to develop the maxi
mum water power possible without injury
to the water supply.
when we consider the wide distribu-
ton of our water power resources and
what their utilization means to the pros
perity and future wealth of the nation,
1t is obvious that their development
should be wisely and efficiently encour-
aged. Any tax operating unduly to dis
courage their development might easily
delay our industrial progress to an ex-
tent that would more than offset the ac-
celebrating influence of any improved
waterways which might be constructed
| from the proceeds of such tax, great as
would be the undoubted value of such
waterways, and any direct revenue which
| the government might derive from this
source would be insignificant as compar-
| ed with the indirect benefits resulting
| from their USE
DR.. Kober's Address.
| Much interest in the morning session
centered in the address of DR.. George
NJ Kober of this city. DR.. Kober is
dean of the medical department of the
Georgetown University. and was former
| ly president of the Medical Society of
the District of Columbia. and upon his
by Improved Water Supply" he spoke
with force and conviction concerning the
economic and sanitary demands for the
publication of all streams. Typhoid
| fever alone, he said. not to mention other
| diseases which are known to be water
borne. was estimated in the census Of
1900 to have caused $3.50 deaths in the
United States during the census year
| Basing a calculation upon an estimated
mortality OF 10 per cent, the speaker
! <l,ot ~ hi 10
a yearly prevalence of 353, 100 cases of
| this disease. From this DIR. Kober rea-
| soned as follows:
IF we calculate the average cost for care.
| treatment and loss OF work to be $500 and
| the average value of human life at 5000
we have a total loss in the United States
Of $3.50. 082, 600 from one Of the so-called
preventable diseases. Mr.. George c.
| Whipple presents some striking evidence
| to indicate that loss of $4,000 for every
| tive estimate. in which case the decrease
| In the vital assets during the census
year of 1900 amounted to 1855 10000
| Typhoid in Potomac Water.
| Speaking particularly Of Potomac wa
| ter and after giving description of the
watershed of the river showing that it
supports a total population of sol .647, or
| Al per square mile, DR.. kober said:
MY suspicious that typhoid fever germs
may travel all the way from Cumberland
were confirmed as early as the winter of
1889 1880 by studying the effects of the
typhoid fever epidemic at Cumberland
| upon the prevalence Of the disease in
Washington.
Cumberland during these four months
| had Is deaths and 495 cases. Washington
| had "A deaths and about 40 cases. and
| yet the starting point was the eXcreta of
| one patient washed into little run which
| empties into the Potomac about 800 feet
| above the pumping station of the water
supply for Cumberland
1T should also be borne In mind that
during the year 1905 typhoid fever pre-
| vailed in Cumberland to an unusual ex-
! tent but, contrary to the experience of
$780, we had no increase; hence 1t may
be fairly presumed that the filtration
| plant stood as a guard between the in
| habitants of Washington and Cumber-
| land The typhoid rate in 1907 was only
| "a. 50 per 100, 600. which is the lowest rate
| ever reached, and certainly a remarkable
| reduction from 104 in 1890.
What has been said of Potomac river
! is equally applicable to the Ohio. Missis-
| sippi Merrimac. Connecticut Missouri
| and other American rivers, because they
are the sewers and at the same time the
source of water supply for nearly all the
cities located on their banks. These cit
les show. moreover. q marked prevalence
of typhoid fever. thus confirming what
has been observed over and over again,
that this disease, as also cholera, dysen-