The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-01-22

Rising. as most OF our Southern
streams 10. In the Appalachian range,
heretofore protected by noble and
dense forests. our streams have boast
cd not only clear and pure waters,
but have had regularity of stream
now that Is exceptionally even at all
times Short flood periods, in spite
OF the heavy rainfall common to the
AppaiacEians: short periods OF ex-
,remc l,w waters This feature is of
very decided advantage for power do
velopment. as the minimum now of
the streams must govern the amount
of power possible 10 develop TN a COM
mercial basis where. as in the case of
those streams reservoir capacity is
not o6ta!nable.
II IL estimated that we have be-
tween two million and four million
Horsepower In our Southern streams.
worth annually, when electrically de-
veioped. from s4o.ooo.ooo to $780,
100000. In no part Of the country
docs q more ready or stable market
for power exist and this coupled with
the exceptional advantages Of rela-
lively low development cost, freedom
from ice and snow troubles so COM
mon in Northern powers. has result.
cd In sosnc notable electric power
plants in the South.
Such plants as the Virginia Power
Company at Richmond; south
I'm Power Company near Charlotte.
N. c.: Savannah River Power Com
pany at Anderson. s. c.; Columbus
Power Company at Columbus, Ga.
Atlanta Water Power Company at
Atlanta. Ca. and many others OF
equal Importance throughout the
South are splendid examples OF bust.
ness enterprise. and their contribution
to the material progress Of tho south
and thoir economic value and import
ance to the section are just beginning
to be recognised and appreciated. In
no small degree arc they responsible
for the south's growing Importance o.
a manufacturing center. Forest per-
pstuation means their salvation and
their growth. Without forest long
drought periods exist. reducing their
capacity enormously. while heavy
f'oods which now tho forests hold
back. will become increasingly more
frequent and destructive.
A prominent southern engineer
stated only last week that the de-
forestation meant at least 20 per
cent. les power In our streams. Re.
duccd to dollars. this means an an
nuai ioss OF sis.ooo.ooo to sss.ood.-
600!
The dcforestation already done Is
having it, bancfui effect already. for
not only are foods more frs.,uent and
m"re damaging. hat our streams arc
rapidly Milling With rand and silt from,
their source to their mouth. These
doods caused In one year $ls.0o0.000
damage In the South alonc. and un-
t9ld and incalcuiablc damage TO Ter.
tile low grounds. to county roads and
highway bridges. 10 our railways. etc.
An area OF 900 square mile. Of fer
tile territory n annually erodGd AMI
forever Lost. this erosion finally NIL
Ing our rivers and harbcrs and rap
idly making crooks Of what were once
streams.
The danger tp the water supply Of
our cities and towns ts q reai and Sc
rious que. Our streams are not nat
uraily Slt-bearing. but Just contrast
their present appearance and coiAi-
ton now with the stream you remem-
ber short 'an years ago. and you
can readily see what - per cent. OF
forest cutting means. What will 100
pcr cent Of cutting mean? These
streams are now full o. sand. sedi.
ment OF all KINDS. muC ant ''etrftuS O.
washed lands. increasing enormously
the difficulty OF publication. 20 that
we face not only shortage Of water
during long drought periods, but un-
known dangers in what we do got.
Thc city engineer oc Augusta has
just stated that their woter rower ca
al has received In the past eighteen
months more sand and silt than in
all the thirty years previously. If that
Is the case what Wi, cutting off tho
50 per cent. of forcsJ cover
mean to Augusta and mean to other
southern cities similarly situated?
This sand and debris. after filling
the upper portions OF these streams.
inaily washes to the lower waters CT
tho navigable portions and Is not