New-York tribune., 1912-01-01
GROWTH OF LIGHT AND POWER
Wonderful Progress Made in Electrical
Industry in Recent Years.
BY G.. II. Bucknan. Of William T. Bonbrieh.

The development OF the electrical indus
try during the last two decades furnishes
one Of the most wonderful chapters in all
the annals Of the worlds material prog
ress. That discoveries and inventions
which a third Of century ago had barely
emerged from the domain Of the laboratory
are now the foundation OF an industry
that has overspread the land and consti-
tute the basis of investments running into
the billions. must be accounted an impress
sive fact even in this age Of wonders.
but il is also quite within bounds TO say
that this development is still little more
than in its beginnings, and that we are
as vet on the threshold only of the era Of
electricity.
A fact which has most important bear
ing on the growth in value of electrical
properties and the corresponding enhance
ment in market price Of the securities
representing them, is that in addition 10
the rapid territorial expansion OF tho 'n-
dustry there has been an even moro re-
markable eXpa anson in the industry itself.
due to the rapidly multiplying uses of the
electric current I'm the daily work OF the
world. One by one the burdens OF the
toilers are being lifted until even now
electricity is performing a hundred tasks
that yesterday were less economically
done by tho labor of man or beast. And
so IL has come about that the electric
plant which a few years ago was engaged
solely in supplying light during few
hours Of the twenty-four, is now busy
throughout the day as well in turning the
jnnumerable wheels that supplant or
/ sl. ha
office. the store and the home. To gain IN
idea of what invention has already accom-
plished in this field It is only necessary
to visit one of the electrical exhibitions.
which have become an annual feature In
New York and other Of tho larger cities:
and IL cannot reasonably be doubted
that this development will continue until
the electric current will be set TO turn
practically every wheel in all the complex
machinery Of the twentieth century civili-
1 zatlon.
The increasing ability 10 generate and
/ distribute electric current TO meet THESE
! growing needs has been due in large meas
/ ure to the development OF the central sta
ton and the perfection OF long distance
transmission. This latter has been the
growth of less than twenty years. and there
are AT present more than twenty-five large
| companies operating high voltage lines oil
a hundred miles or more in length Dur
ing this latter period the number of GEN.
trail stations has increased with wonderful
rapidity, until at the present time here
are in the United States upward OF six
thousand. And all this marvellous growth
in the uses OF electricity, 80 far from d.
minishing the use Of gas, has been accom-
panied by large increase in its consump'
ton, amounting 10 more than 80 per cent
I'm the five years ended in 1909.
After the perfection OF the machiner!
the most important factor In increasing
the use OF these new necessities OF life
gas and electricity--has been the growth II
urban population. But the percentage OF
! increase I'm the use Of these necessities ir
the last ten years has been far higher 'ver
than the percentage OF increase In popula'
| ton. owing 20 the fact that these industries
have benefited by the higher requirement.
| of living. until now there If hardly ham
| let in the whole United States that hai
| neither electric current nor gas supply
for fine home for the ONCE or for CONNER
cisl purposes.
Thus. the earnings of we'll managed pub