The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-21
SAVING THE FUEL OF THE MA
TON

SAVING THE FUEL OF THE MA
TION.
The rapid transition of the United
States from an agricultural into an
Industrial country is. accompanied by
a large increase in power consumption
and an enormous drain on our fuel re-
sources. If we desire to save our coal
we must draw upon water for power.
Mr.. David B. Ruskmore makes this
clear in an article in Scribner's Mag
azine. He shows that in 1900 the coal
mined In the United States was APP
proximately 100000, 900 tons. In 1910
this was over 500,000,000 tons. an in.
crease of SIS per cent, although the in
crease In population was only 20 per
cent. This rate of growth, if con-
tinued for some time, spells the ex-
tinction Of our known coal deposits in
a few years. The efficiency of meth
DDS of utilizing coal for power pur-
poses is constantly being increased,
but we. are approaching the natural
| limit OF coal supplies.
| Our principal sources of power are
| in deposits of coal, peat and Ignite,
| In the supplies of oil and natural gas,
in The forces Of falling water and NOV
Ing air, and in the rays from the sun.
At some future period we may derive
power from the refined products OF
vegetable growth in the form of alco-
hol. An important distinction exists
between these classes of power. If,
the writer ayers, we do not utilize the
power stored up in coal, oil, etc, it
lies available in the earth for use at
any time. This is not true Of the
power Of passing wind and flowing
water If not utilized from day to day.
SO much force is forever wasted
/ True conservation therefore dictates
that our water powers should be de-
veloped to their utmost commercial
possibilities, and that our coal de-
posts should thus be preserved"
The available water power of the
United States at minimum flow is an.
proximately 36,0oo,oo0 horse power.
and this can be increased five or six
times by suitable storage facilities.
According to recent report by Com
missioner Herbert Knox Smith, only
100000 horse power has been de.
veloped in the United States for cleo
trical and other Industrial purposes.
Before the perfection of electrical
apparatus and the possibilities OF
power transmission, it was necessary
to utilize the water power at the point
OF development, and this reached its
greatest application in the mills oil
New England. The possibility of de
velop1ng the water power at the point
), where 1t exists, but of utilizing the
l power at the places of greatest con
venience, has been brought about b,
: the use of electricity, and this ha.
lbeen an important feature in modern
industrial undertakings. The layma,
does not always consider that cleo
tricity is not in itself source q
d power. but Is merely convenient AM
efficient means of transmitting ant
utilizing the power from some prime
mover.
:, The water powers of the Unite,
: States are naturally grouped into
9 number of more or less separat
geographical divisions. A water DOW
er depends primarily upon rainfall an
q altitude. Rainfall varies greatI
n throughout the country, and also. ur
fortunately, from year to year or tn
water which falls as rain, probabl
only about one-third runs off in til
various brooks and rivers, and it,
o. this which affords such an attractiy
~ form of power for our Industrial life
!, We need power for running our raj
- roads, lighting our cities, running ou
factories, and for a large number {
manufacturing and miscellaneous pu
- poses"
lie IN places where fuel is expensiv,
IL water power reaches its greatest d.
s. velopment. This is especially true
IL the situation on the Pacific coas
Water power must necessarily con
pete with power from other source
o. and to reach commercial success
~ must be more cheaply produced. ]
Va California a large number of ditche
mr. formerly used for hydraulic mimi
= considerably simplified the develo
!, ment of electricity produced by watt
power. New England has MANY sma
- water powers. most of which We're d
=, yeloped before the period of electri
=. ity, and which have been used espe
=. tally in connection with the texti
:. work. A large group Of water power
exist on the variable streams Of ii
ne Appalachian watershed, which *
he years lay undeveloped.
as with over 100000 horse power u
IN der their control, the Southern Pow,
company is developing from thes
\