The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-15
Conservation Of Water Power

al importance to the western part of
the commonwealth, for 1t will yield
electricity in greater volume than we
have ever had ii before, and presum-
ably this power will be offered to
manufacturers at attractive rates.
The area of distribution, as at pres
ent projected, is to be from the New
York state line on the west to the
town of Marlboro, in Worcester coun-
" on the east Franklin county,
which has remained the most rural
in Western Massachusetts, and which
the latest census returns showed TO
be making almost no growth in popu
lation, will probably be vitality AFFECT
ed by the new power, which will en-
able it TO compete with any other Sec
ton OF the state in Offering electric
ity for industrial uses. These are the
consideration OF the project which
first strike the attention; the immed-
s-dollars-and-cents point OF
view.
The New England Power company
is spending $4,000,000 on the present
developments, and the belief is war
ranted that they are planning to
spend several millions more in the
consummation of their ultimate pro
iects. These are vast sums, and in
dictate that the proper development of
the Deerield river could be accom-
plished only by experienced capital
lists, and never by the people in the
region affected. 1t is customary to
welcome such capitalists, to yield
them franchises and power rights
gladly and in perpetuity, and to be
content with the indirect advantages
which their investment will bestow
The Deeraeld valley has been a prim-
tive region, so far as modern power
development was concerned. The
rivers potential powers have been
recognized, but never fully utilized
They have really been an asset of the
people. Now all this has passed into
the absolute ownership of group OF
men who style themselves "the New
England Power company, Aassa
chusetts corporation, organized to de-
velop power on the Deerfeld river"
1t has cost the present generation
nothing to bring about their useful
interest in the Deerfield valley but
how much may it cost posterity?
Conservation of the national and
natural resources does not apply ex-
clusively to Alaska and the far West.
| The term and the movement which
1t represents has a strong local appli'
1 nj ho ~ Nn,4 IA oil Ia n Il
states should give it serious atten.
ton. The coal supply may last for
generations, yet, but already the cost
of mining and transporting 1t have de
veloped a pressing industrial need for
/ a substitute here in New England
Hydro-electric development is the
hope OF New England That is fully
recognized and the beginning OF such
developments as that in the Deerfield
valley indicate that the need for this
power is pressing Nor is it entirely
an industrial need On the farm and
in the home water-power is capable
of doing all the tasks of coal better
and more economically by means Of
appliances already in use. IL is nc
Jules Verne dream TO conceive of q
home where all OF the heating, cook
ing, lighting and many OF the domes
tic tasks are done by electricity, OF
of farm where the power of fallinl
water draws the plows and wagons
milks the cows, reaps and stacks the
grain. churns the butter and pumps
the drinking water for man and beast
These things are all feasible, and il
no place in America are they NOR,
possible of economical use than herr
in New England
An additional and perhaps, more vi
tai need for conserving electricity i,
pointed out by John L. Mathews il
his recent book called The Conser
walton of Water" Calcium carbide
from which the common acetylen
gas is generated, is made by placing
lime and coke in an electric rotor
and fusing them If pure nitroge
gas from liquid air is introduced int
this process under pressure the fina
result is lime nitrogen" a combine
ton Of nitrogen. lime and carbon
/, This substance, slaty gray powder
is quickly absorbed when spread NJ
on the fields. The lime sweetens IN
soil and the nitrogen is quick
drawn into the roots, stems an
leaves Of plants. Mr., Mathews say
that this is the hope, and, so far a
we know now, the sole hope OF N
fields and farms OF America. Only b
this process can the nitrogen in OF
soils be renewed and enriched. ga,
MIR. Mathews. and only by electr
power can We obtain our supply.
II is no idle prophecy to say thi
electricity, generated from stream
is TO be one of the fundamental pri
ciples of life in New England with
a comparatively short time. III
question of water and power RICH
IN long settled region like this
much involved and IL Is difficult
determine just where the public
terest can superoede the private ow
ership; but the time has already con
when IL is necessary to work out
system OF control over all rive
which are capable of extensive pow
development. The Deerheld riy
work indicates plainly how much ca
ital must be assembled for the
tasks, and might be taken to poi
to the necessity Of financing from 1
state treasures II the people are re
ly TO do their own developing r
Connecticut river possesses gre
power possibilities The proper
velopment OF them would requl
work in all Of the states throu
which It flows. Joint action by IN,