The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-26
NO ALARM
IN THE FUTURE
Strikes In Coal Mines In the Future
VIII Create Little Excitement
on Account Of Wa
ter Power.
REvoLUTIoNIZED ITALY
Houille Blanche, or White Coal, as
Water Power Is Called, Has
Already Worked
Wonders.
REvoLUT1oNIzED ITALY

NEW YORK, March 26.-Mine trou-
bles in Europe and America, with
shortage Of coal, have
called forth reminder from technical
men that in the future the world is
likely to be far less dependent upon
soft coal for industrial purposes than
it is now.
Some statisticians compute that, at
the present rate Of coal consumption
in this country, present soft coal
fields will be exhausted in $50 years.
But before that time water power,
transformed into electrical power, will
have established itself as a substitute
for coal,-cleaner, cheaper and just
as reliable.
In Europe "houille blanche" or
white coal,'' as water power is some
times called, has already worked won
ders. Countries that are rich in coal,
such as England and Germany, are
tries that are without coal, such as
Switzerland and Italy, have abundant
energy in their rivers. At present the
coal countries lead in manufactures,
but, thanks to modern electrical pro-
|gress, the others have recently been
developing new and magic indus
trial life based upon water power.
River energy in Italy alone has
been estimated at as much as 10000
600 horse power, and in the last TWEEN
| ty years the entire north Of the coun-
try has been transformed by manufac-
turing development. Iron and copper
are smelted by electric FORCES, and
even farms are supplied with power
Milan was the first city in Europe tc
be lighted with electricity, and 1t de
rives power from the falls at Palermo
| for transportation and factories be
sides. Rome is lighted and it's stree
cars are operated by means of hydro
electric power produced at Tivoli
For South America water powe
may prove even more important thai
to the rest of the world, as presen
knowledge indicates that that cont
nent is practically without coal. Al
ready development of water powe
has begun. Lima, Peru, Is lighted b,
electricity, while Rio de Janerio, Bra
I'll, transmits the hydro-electric powe
fifty miles for its street cars, lights
telephones, and factories.
In the United States the creates
single water power development is a
Niagara Fails. where about 100000
horse power is generated and sent on
within radius of 200 miles, includin
Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and To-
onto, at price not more than hal
that of power derived from coal.
Public sentiment has settled, ono
for ALL that most of the water pourin
over Niagara Falls must be preserve
as a natural wonder; and the spec
tacle is permanently protected by
treaty between the United States an
Canada, that limits the diversion {
water to small fraction of the toti
flow
Congress is expected to pass legi
J lation at the present session carryin
out the terms of the treaty. At pre-
ent there is law which limits
; 1907 900 horse power the importatio
, into this country of power generate
> on the Canadian @de. This was d
signed to prevent the depletion of tn
Falls by Canadian power producer
but the treaty accomplishes that O
iect now, 80 that, when the preseI
law expires, there will not be nece
ray any restrictions upon the impo
tation of power.
The existing law, enacted in 1906 {
a means Of temporary protectio
pending Investigation and internatio
al action, limits power companies {
the American side to the amount
water they We're actually using VIII
= it was drawn up, $4,000 cubic feet
Y second. The waterways treaty alloy
the United States 10000 cubic fe
J Gen. Bixby, chief OF engineers, U.
army, testified recently before &C
gressional committee, that, if t
quantity OF water allowed by the tr'
ty were used, the effect would not
u perceptible in the appearance Of t
N Falls.
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