Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-11
WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY.
MarveIs Of Perpetual Power Possible
In Running Water and Big Falls.

III mummy vvdkCT ana obS avs.
When you venture among the huge
generators ana convertors in electric
plants at Niagara, along the streams
of the Sicrras. or in the Appalachians.
YOU set conception, vaguely of the
presence and potency of the infinite.
In no phase of Americas dynamic
progress las there been a sWitter adj
vance or one meaning more to our
civilization than in the electrical field.
The mills of the gods at last are
grinding East.
At the Centennial Exposition in 1876
there We're two electric light exhibits.
The crowds that attended that mod
ern fair returned to cities which in
an incredibly short time were flooded
at night with electric light, and which
transported the wondering population
in ears run by electric power.
Tile progress within the last five
years has been more striking than in
the preceding twenty-five. Conspicu-
ous in this mighty change now trans
forming our civilization is the con-
version of water power into electric
light and energy. 1t is estimated by
engineers. and the estimate has been
checked up by competent authorities.
that there are available in the water
falls of this county 30,00000J horsepow-
er units Of electric energy. Think of
it, S9,oo9. 900 horses that will toll night
and day without fatigue forever for
coming America.
That number of horsepower. which
our streams can supply. is equivalent
t. an annual consumption of 5000
100000 tons of coal. which has alarmed
many conservators, represents in pow
er Only a little more than half of the
stupendous energy plunging down the
rapids and cateracts of this country,
And wonder of this Incompatible
supply of power and light for mans
industry. comfort and luxury is that
he can use it without ever exhaust
ing the supply.
Should he at some time exhaust the
coal deposits, and should the indus
tries which consume that fuel multi
ply vastly more than their present
superb volume. the watercou-ses of
tits country could readily lift the
whole burden and continue to whirl
all of the wheels in our continental
prosperity and advance.
Recent successes in long distance
transmission along copper wires of
electric power read like chapters from
the Arabian Nights" The power
lines radiating from Niagara are fire.
qrleEtly described as the browning
career in mans successes in harness.
ing the visible to the unseen. 1t is
true that the street cars in Syracuse.
165 miles away, and the lights in that
CITY, are operated from the Falls of
Niagara: but the greater part of that
stupendous energy is used locally. and
only per cent. of the available pow
er in the water is as yet utilized.
Niagara's full measure of power which
can be utilized industrially is equal
to 100000 horses. Niagara. in fact.
will give life and light to hundred
or more cities in America.
One American transmission system
showing the possibilities awaiting us
in this electric age is in northern Cali
fornia. where the power is carried
232 miles from an electric station IN
the Sierras to communities on the
coast.
In a heterogeneous spiderWeb sys-
TEN of wires, with Los Angeles as the
centre, more than 100 miles of trans
mission lines all told are used. All
parts of the country are being similar
~ electrified. The system with its
centre in Boston covered in 1885 an
area one-cighth of square mile. To-
day it covers more than 500 square
miles, and it's greatest expansion has
been in the twentieth century. Its
light and power supply thirty-livc
cities.
The demand of America for electric
ity is so great, and the increase in that
demand is so constant, that one of the
most stupendous opportunities con-
fronting our people is in the water
power of the continent awaiting con-
version into light, heat and power.
Every stream possessing water pow
er will finally be harnessed to industry
in America. and this power, which is
to be perpetual. should be held in per-
petuity for the people.
The water power Of America is tine
course of vast ocean of energy.
which no industry should be permitted
to monopoliZe. 1t Is as if we allowed
the Atlantic companies to charter the
sea and levy tribute on the public for
the incoming of the tides.
Federal and municipal conversion of
Americas titanic water power at cost
into electrical energy. to transform
our industry would introduce into our
civilization a new element of progress
and prosperity and vastly lessen the
cost of living.
The only water wanted in America
enterprise is water power, and the
people should have it all.
Electricity is eternal. and its energy
the power of the unseen-should be
the common heritage of lnankind.-B.
W. Harbolt in The Bridgeport Tele-