The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15
4 GREAT IDEA.
JACKSON URGES STATE DEVEJ.
OPMENT OF WATER POWEr.
Georgia Capitalist Directs Attention
to the Wonderful Opportunities
That Confront Us.

known Augusta capitalist, delivered
an interesting address at Augusta on
Thursday before the Savannah VAL
ley Associated Farmers clubs Some
| unique and rather remarkable sug-
gestions were made by Mr.. Jackson in
his address to the farmers of Georgia
and South Carolina anent the devel-
opment OF the vast water power Of
this State.
Mr.. Jackson Is the man who built
the Augusta-Aiken electric line, the
| Bon Air hotel and has been identified
with the development of the prosper
Gus Augusta city across the river in
many other ways. He has had in con-
temptation for some time the con-
struction of trolley line from Aiken
to Columbia and We may yet see the
elimination OF this plan.
MI. Jackson's address related
largely to the water power in South
Carolina and the possibilities that
are in store for the people in this
State. He was earnest and enthusi-
astic and while the plan he suggested
Is indeed unique, he firmly believes
that it is feasible and that 1t will
sooner or later attract the sober at
tention Of the legislators and busi-
ness men Of South Carolina.
| Mr.. Jackson's address, in part, is
given below.
about 1873 the citizens of Augusta
authorized an issue of $500, 900
bonds, bearing per cent interest, to
build the Augusta canal for the pur-
pose Of furnishing $4,000 horsepower.
All OF that power has long since been
contracted for and the revenue re-
ceived from it today is more than suf-
ficient to pay the interest, not only
on the bonds issued to build the ca
nal but all other bonds for other pur-
poses. Think Of the taxes paid the
city by the factories using the power.
1t was a nervy undertaking for the
citizens, and was for many years
load to carry until the power was
contracted for. The water power be-
ing owned by the city Of Augusta was
what attracted the capitalists who
built the electric road. In my humble
Judgment the canal has served its
purpose in the old way of utilizing wa
ter powers and unless the city shortly
uses this power to make electric cur
rent 1t will awake some day to find
those who are now using it in the old
way getting electric current elsewhere
1t Is obliged to come to this. In
recent issue Of the Worlds Work
there was an article devoted to the
wonderful water power developed on
the Savannah river.
Immense Water Power.
"NOw, fellow South Carolinians,
hear what 1 have got to say. Ac-
cording to the United States surveys.
II line was drawn across South Car
olina from Cheraw to Augusta. it
would make what Is called the fall
line. On the upper side of this line
there are 100000 undeveloped horse
power going to waste, that, If har-
messed and made to drive electrical
machinery, would operate every rail-
road and piece Of machinery now op-
| in fha tot
Is not available for immediate devel-
| opment, but there are 25O,OOO horse
| power that can be quickly utilized
| and We should do all in our power to
avail ourselves Of this great blessing
| which Almighty God in His goodness
has placed at our command to give
us some Of the comforts 1 have
| mentioned.
According to engineers estimates,
| it is safe to figure on the cost of de-
veloping water power at 500 per
horsepower, and figuring on this basis
100000 horse power would cost $685.
100000. This horsepower when de-
Nelopeu VIII yield cOnSerVatiVely $40
per horsepower net, equivalent to $2,-
100000 per annum. 1t will be
long time before this great develop
ment is completed if we have to seek
| outside capital to do it, and we Of this
State individually are not able to do
it, but we as people can have our
State do it.
. Suggests State Development. -.
''The State of South Carolina could
issue $25,000,0O0 4 per cent. bonds for
this purpose and investors would inn
mediately take them. The interest
paid by the State for this money
would be $1,O00,OO0 and the income
$4,000, 600, or a net profit of $1,5OO,-
900 per annum, which would run tba