The Washington herald., 1910-06-12
Report Covers Year 1907 and Conn
parsons Show Growth OF Enter
prise in Five Years-Corporate
Light and Power stations Number
10000, Isolated Plants e5,OOO.


Foregoing are figures gathered by the
Census Bureau regarding the character
and extent OF the electrical industry in
the United States. covering the calendar
year Of 1907. similar census was taken
in the year 1902, and a bulletin about to
be issued by the bureau gives interesting
| comparisons showing the growth OF tho
industry during the five-year period.
The bulletin is entitled. Second United
States Census OF the Central Electric and
Power Stations" and the material was
compiled under the supervision OF WI
liam NJ Stewart, chief statistician Of
manufactures.
Central station Defined.
The central electric station is defined
as that which, exclusive OF isolated cleo
trio plants. furnish electrical energy for
lighting and heating and power for min
/ ing. street railways and various indus
| trial purposes.
! Central stations are classed as ''com-
/ merciar' and municipal" the former
being those operated under private own
ership, whether by individuals, compa-
MES. or corporations. and the latter being
those operated by State. city. or other
local governments. except those operated
especially for Institutions.
With reference 10 the municipal sta
tons, the report states that these plants
are generally established primarily 10
furnish current for lighting public build
ings. streets. and parks. Their field OF
operation IS. however. much Ike that Of
the commercial stations.
The census takes no cOgnizance Of cleo
trio stations operated by the Federal
| government or Of those operated pri-
| marily for State institutions.
/ II is noted in the report that the Gg-
ures given for the central stations do not
represent the entire production Of cleo
trical energy. To arrive at the aggregate
II would be necessary, il Is stated. 20 con-
slider also the electric railways, telephone
and telegraph lines. electric police-pauOl
and fire-alarm systems, and the isolated
electric plants
In the first chapter OF the report. Il Is
stated that the tendency to sell electricity
for general commercial use IS constantly
| increasing among electric-railway COM
| panies,
In 1902, there were 251 railway compa-
MES which furnished electricity for light,
power. and other purposes. These COM
panies reported an aggregate income Of
/ 81. 1854 from the sale Of current In
1907 there were $50 railway companies IN
this class, and the income from the sale
OF current amounted TO S2o,093. 800.
In 1902. the annual output Of all electric
stations and electric railways amounted
| to 476s, 5S5,5l2 kilowatt hours. In 1867
the output OF the two classes Of stations
/ was 1851 400, S37 kilowatt hours. the in
| crease in that year as compared with 19l2
being 5,s52,s71 80 kilowatt hours, OF
1227 per cent In 1902 the output by
electric railways formed a. per cent OF
the total but by 1907. the proportion FOL
such railways had fallen to AZ per cent
| Regarding the isolated plants. the re-
port states that for the purpose OF light
ing and furnishing power for factories
hotels. or other enterprises a large guam
THY of electricity is generated in plants
which are operated for the exclusive
| benefit OF their owners. Some OF these
plants sell limited amounts OF current
but they were established as adjuncts tc
other forms of business.
Number of Plants Grows.
The number OF commercial and mu.
nicipal plants increased from $500 in 1870.
TO Ala IN 1907. the Increase amounting
to 1.G94, OF S02 per cent The applica.
ton of the same rate of increase to the
estimated number OF isolated plants il
1902 gives an estimate OF $500 for 1907.
Referring to power or generating plants
the report states that The number of PR
mary power or generating plants was not
called for in the schedule used for report
ing central stations in 1907, but some idea
Of their number may be had from tht
fact that the returns showed Alb plants
equipped with dynamos for the genera
ton Of electricity. OF the Ala station;
reported in 1907, 227 had no generating
equipment, while 113 had more than one
power plant. This latter class reported
357 generating stations.
There were. in 1907, according 10 the
report, upward OF $4,000 individuals
companies. corporations. and municipal
tiles, exclusive OF isolated electric plants
which reported the generation or utiIiza
ton of electric current in what may b
termed Commercial enterprises"
These industries represent an outstand
ing capitalization Of S6,209 TAG, 753. o.
which amount, q, 1867, s3S, S26 is credited
TO central electric stations-S5, IA, 70, o.
TO electric railways. ssl4,616O04 TO com
mereial or mutual telephone companies
and $25s,o SIT to telegraph eompanie s
the latter item including $50. 726.242 thi
capital stock of wireless telegraph com
panies. The capitalization Of the H10
independent farmer or rural telephone
lines and Of the 1,15 electric police-pa
|. troll and fire-alarm systems could not b.