East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-03-23
ELECTRICITY AND COAL.

When the world reaches the end
OF its resources in coal. then the
only thing which will keep future
generations from freezing will be the
water power. which they will have.
TO generate electricity"
This note of warning was sound
ee by DR.. Charles Proteus Steinmetz
one of the greatest scientists of the
age and the genius of the General Ell
ectric company, in answer to the
question of what is to become of us
when the coal supply is exhausted.
The next generation will see the
time when even soft coal is exhaust
ed" continued DIR. Steinmetz. THE
available supply of anthracite coal
will not last very long We have al
ready approached the end of wood
"a fuel. The forests have been de-
stroyed, wasted. Oil is 10 insignifi-
cant in its available supply to come
into much consideration.
when the water power is all uti-
lized there viii be no more rapid
creeks and rivers; they will all be
slow-moving pools, connected with
1
will be no more catracts. for the wa
ter Will be dropped from one level
tc another through tubes TO turn wa
terwheels.
There will then be no question
OF saving the beauty of nature. The
electric power will be needed for
heating. cooking, keeping the peo-
pie warm. II will then be a ques-
tion of saving the life of the human
family, and that question takes pre-
cedence over the beauty of nature.
But l may say here that it need
only take precedence; the beauty of
nature need not be overlooked en-
urely. The countries of Europe have
pointed out by numerous examples a
lesson that America has yet to learn
that the erection of power house
need not mar the landscape.
If, however, we continue to ruin
our rivers so far as the DEVELOPMENT
is concerned, as we have done in the
part, I do not know what the future
generations are going to do for light.
heat and power. We cut off the for
ests of the watersheds. and, as a
consequence, many rivers have low
water for good part of the year.
/ Many people think that the pre-
( iServation OF forests and of water pow
! er is q question OF the future. They
are willing TO let future generations
worry over it.
They would be surprised TO know
( that already the Hudson is a river
OF the past for the generation OF ell
( ectrical power The Connecticut and
other rivers are going the same way
Whenever a noted scientist like
DR.. SteinmetZ announces that the
coal supply is very limited and go.
ing fast there is always someone Il
/ dispute the fact The United State.
Z Geological Survey has recently issu.
ed lis annual coal chart showing tn,
! production Of coal by states from the
year 1914 TO 1910. The figures re.
late wonderful history of its growth
and with what rapidity We are con.
SuminG our coal supply.
In 1914 a total OF % tons of Goa
was produced in Pennsylvania. Ii
1915 the percentage Of increase wa.
good but still only so tons were TAX
en- out. BY 1895 over 100000 ton.
were mined in the two states pro,
duCing. In 1850 the figure haC
reached LOIS tons In 1876 il wa
SS,eSo,0o0 tons. At the end of tn,
century it was ees,ss4.Os7 tons. II
1905 it was sse.722,ss5 tons II
1907. which it was supposed woulS
remain the record year for some tim,
the production was 4S0.S6S.4a4 tons