Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-30
IN THE LABOR WORLD

Testing acute interest in the recently ad-
vanced scientific proposition that steam
may be obtained from the earth. Sam
De Nedrey, secretary of the Central LABOR
Union of the District of Columbia, mas
recently learned it is promised by scien-
lists of high position that the internal
heat of the earth may son be utilized as
a source of industrial power. A pub!i'a-
ton recently received by Mr. De Nedrey
says:
"a comparison of underground tempera-
lures has been made recently and a theo-
retical increase of one degree Tor every
sixty feet has cen determined. But there
are exceptions to the rule which prove
that the earth's crust is hotter In some
places than in others. A thermometer
lowered into wells near Pit;sburg ano
Wheeling showed an increase TOT eHers
fifty feet The temperature of the Plus
burg we'll at the bottom was 129 degrees;
On the other hand, Prof. Asassiz 1ouno
the temperature at the 4.9OO-foot leVei IN
the Calumet and Hecla mine at Hougn o
ton. Nich.. to be no more than N y
degrees The Schladebach well shows a
temperature of 135 degrees at the bottom
and the Sperenberg well 11S degrees. Inc
Cornwall mines show temperature Vi
100 degrees, and al Ronchamp, france,
the temperature Of the coal mines al 3,oo.
feet is i'll degrees. It is proved beyond
doubt that. although it varies in different
localities. the heat of the crust OF the
earth grows gradually greater from the
surface inward. and upon this argument
is the theory based for new and gen.
eral source Of power.
CIT IS not merely a question of getting
steam, but a question Of the quantlty OF
steam to be had. According TO Pro1
Hallock Of Columbia hot water is even
now drawn from a we'll and used to heat
a house near Boise City. Idaho. wafer
pumped from the Pittsburg we'll was toe
hot to keep the hand in 1t. for 1t had a
Temperature of 100 degrees. But. Wnlie
the Pittsburg and Wheeling wells are
capable of heating water which has been
is sulncient to turn that water to steam,
it would require many hours or heating.
which would rob it Of all commercial
value. The great difficulty is not In op-
tanning steam from the interior or the
ca rth because that involves merely a
little extra labor in boring down into the
hot area. and 1t is comparatively as easy
to bore down ten thousand feet as six
thousand. but in order to give the steam
commercial value a method must be pro-
vided for dropping the water to the hot
area, allowing it time to heat. and We;
having it returned to the earth's surface
without interrupting it's flow for mo-
ment.
Suppose two holes were bored directly
into the earth's surface 10000 feet deer
and fifty feet apart. According to the
measurements made in the Pittsburg well
at the bottom there would be tenn
perature of more than 24O degrees-faI
above the boiling point of water. IT very
heavy charges of dynamite or some other
heavy explosive were to be lowered to
the bottom of each hole and exploded
simultaneously, and the process repeated
many times. the two holes might have
sufficient connection established. The
rocks would be cracked and assured In
all directions, as in deep oil wells when
they are shot. If only one avenue were
opened between the holes 1t would be
enough
The shattering of the rocks around the
base of the holes would turn the sur
rounding area into an immense hat
water heater. The water poured down
one hoe in the earth would circulate
through the cracks and assures, the tenn
perature of which would be more than
24O degrees, and in It's passage it would
be heated and turned to steam, which
would pass through the earth's surface
through the second hole. The pressure
of such column of steam would be
enormous. Aside from the initial Veloc-
ity of the steam. the descending column
of cold water would exert a pressure OF
at least 5000 pounds to the square inch
which would drive up through the second
hole everything movabe e. This done. the
water heater would operate itself and g
source of power be established which
would surpass anything now in use.
LAS an undertaking 1t would not be
beyond our present standards of cost.
John w. Hayes. general master work
man of the knights of Labor. in state
rpent on THE Open or Closed Shop In
the official organ of the association SAYS:
The panic which started in October. 1907
has passed The prosperity which was
predicted for months. and held up as an
election asset has at last made its ap-
pearance in the business world and is
"a apidly restoring confidence to business
people, and warrants them in bringing
forth all hidden capital and putting it
once more into the channels of trade.
This welcome news is reported in the
columns of the great daily papers In
every issue: and the workmen who have
been forced into idleness and brought, In
many instances. to the verge of starva-
ton, are resuming their old places, with
the result that general rejoicing is the
order of the day.
with this long-looked-for opportunity
to work come the rumbling sounds OF
threatened disorder and trouble from
some OF the labor leaders. so-called. OF
the building trades-men who have not
personally known what 1t means to go to
bed or see their little ones go to bed.
without supper. These men insist that
their members should decline to work on
any building with non-union men OF
in what they are pleased to term the
open shop This is. without doubt the
worst form of unionism ever invented.
and if persisted in will do more to de-
stroy the labor movement in America and
bring it into disrepute than any other one
thing that these short-sighted leaders
could do
After stating it is the function of or
ganized labor to seek a m emhership from
among the unorganized workingmen and
not use the employer as a walking dele
cato. Mr. Hayes says:
LET us stop a moment and consider
the danger which through this ''close1
shop cry is now threatening the bu Id
ing industry of this country. All men
are human, whether Worknen or en-
pIoyers and it has been amply prov ID
that the human employer will not tame'"
submit to have his rights interfered
with by the union. any more than the
human workman will permit the en-
ployer to tamper with his rights. View
rs subject we may-picture as we
may the wrongs practiced by many en-
,oyers of labor upon their workme n.
the fact remains that the right of an en:-
n'oyer to carry on a business free from
the interference of all persons 3 an N
here mt right that cannot b. taken away
Ia. ,.,;tr,. II lao