The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-21

interesting or the comparatively Ic-
cent systems to come into existence.
About one-fcurth of this power has al
ready been developed In four OF the
large hydraulic stations, and plans FOR
developing the remainder are well
worked out and will be followed as the
demands of the market increase. The
growth of the cotton mill industry In
the section supplied by this system in
North and South Carolina has been
most unusual. Power is now supplied
to over $50 cotton mills, but few OF
which were in existence at the time
the system was begun. In this case
the market for power has increased
more rapidly than it was possible to
supply it, and there Is at present a
demand for it far in excess of the
generating capacity of the system.
Besides the above-ment1oned cotton
mills, the power is used for lighting
and industrial work in forty-five towns
and villages and for a half dozen or
more street car systems A large in
|terurban system is now under con-
struction, which will take power from
this same system, and q plant for the
manufacture of nitric acid from the
air will also draw on the same source
for its energy. No better example Is
to be found in this country of the
great Industrial development which is
being brought about by the utilization
of hitherto unused water powers. 1t
is very interesting to note, however,
that due to the extreme variation In
the flow of these streams and a CON
siderable variation from year to year,
IL boC hnoy1 " ~
the energy derived from the water
powers by steam stations, which are
now being installed, and it is prob
able that with the growth of the sys-
tenn a much larger capacity of steam
units will follow"
| The state of Michigan has for years
led the world in the use of high volt
ages for electrical transmission, being
the first to use over 10000 volts. In
the course of few years the state
Will be largely covered by a network
of high tension lines, fed from its
water powers and supplying power and
light to different cities. The greatest
single hydro-electric installation up to
the present is now being constructed
on the Mississippi river, at Keokuk
Iowa:
This will have an installed gener
/ ator capacity in thirty units of ap
Iproximately 100000 horse power, and
(! Will transmit power to st. Louis an6
Burlington at present, and later may
reach Chicago and many other places
within the radius of its distributing
possibilities,
OF all the different phazes of water
power development, those in connec
ton with reclamation service of the
federal government are the most i'm
lportant.
THE primary object of the re
clamation department has been the
storage of water and its suppl,
through the canals and bitches to the
i farms. With the large amount OIL
water stored and the head which is
almost always available, the possibi1
lily for a hydro-electric development
i usually exists and in most cases thi:
has been a part of the work of the
reclamation service in its differen
i projects. In most cases the power i.
developed at the dam site, and in 9th
er cases part of it there and part of i
4 as it flows from the reservoir into the
| valley where it is to be used for If
| rigation. The electric power gener
ated in this way is largely used fol
pumping in order to reach highe,
levels than are possible by the natura
flow of the water, and partly to keel
the water from reaching the surfac,
and eyaporating.
With its long and expensive trans
mission lines and the necessary steam
auxiliary. stations, water power is no
always cheap source of supply. Ii
most cases where sufficient auantit,
Iof water is available. hydro-electri
power is the cheapest in the world
As the supply of fuel becomes exhaust
ed, our water powers will natural
enhance in value.