The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-12
GROWING INTEREST
 IN ELECTRICITY Utilizing Water Power to Cheaper Commodity FOREIGN METHODS
Senate Statistics Show Electricity in Europe Is 50 Per Cent Cheaper Than in the United States.
 New Swedish Plants
py JoNArHAN WINFIELD

Washington, May 11.-tSpecial) )--Grow- ing interest is manifested in the utiliza- ton of water power as means of oo- taining cheap electricity in the United States According to information com piled by the department of commerce and labor. electricity generated by private con cerns in the United States Is 50 per cent higher than the cost of the same ma terial abroad It is also stated that the manufactures of electricity in the United
 States has not followed the cheapest manner of providing electricity
 From a document procured from the United States Senate the information IS contained that nearly all foreign countries have developed water power as means of producing electricity to a marked de- gree of perfection. In France. Germany Austria, England and other foreign coun- tries private concerns are given grants of franchises under government control and regulation, producing electricity al minimum cost.
 Water power developments in this coun- try are of two classes-those eontroiied
 and operated by the state and those con
 trolled and operated by private interests, Of the power increase for the year focVV horse power was made available by plants privately owned and 10.000 by the Troll- haitian plant owned by the state.
 The private activities of Sweden, which holds the European record for water power with an aggregate of 640,Do0 horse power found their field chiefly in south ern and central Sweden. The height of the falls utilized varied from seven feet to 24s feet, but they were as rule less i than 49.2 feet in height So far as IS known, the dams were in all cases built by Swedish firms and the machinery fur- nished by Swedish manufacturers. Of the new Swedish plants completed
 during the year, the largest Is that at | Mockfjard utilizing the waterfall known as Stopforsarna and developing 2o,o0o horse power from fall of 75 feet. The power is used for iron works and the fnstalla-s tion is owned by Vasterdalafvens Kraft Aktiebolag. The next largest is that at
 Forshult, developing 10000 horse power from fall of 43 feet The power Is used for iron works and the plant Is owned by Uddeholms Oktiebolag of Udde- holm, Sweden.
 Of the rebuilt Swedish plants, the largest Is the municipal plant of Skelleftea, To- cated at Ffnforsen and developing 5650 horse power from fall of 66 feet. The second Is that at Domnarfvet developing 4700 horse power from a fall of 20 feet and furnishing power to the iron works at Stora Kopparderg Aktiebolag, by which 1t is owned. This concern is installing an electrical blast furnace for the produce tion of pig iron in addition to its other large activities. The third in size is the propert yof Sydsvenska Kraft Akteibolag. and Is located at Ofre Knard. The power amounting to 5000 horse power Is produced from a fall of 32 feet, and is sold for general distribution.
 Incomplete private plants. both new and those undergoing extensive repairs and reconstruction, represented at the close xI-- - *~I ~.f x.I.. ln. .-pa power as compared with over 67.000 horse power under way at the close of 1910 Practically all of this is represented by two new installations, one to develop It. 100 horse power and the other 4600. The largest is at Ljungafors and Is owned by Stockholms Superfostfabriks Akteibolag of Stockholm, manufacturers of super phosphates and other fertilizers. The fall is 12s feet. The power is to be used in the manufacture of calcium cyanide.
 The use to which the power was put. both by private and state power plants, were: Municipal 13 plants: iron works, F; mechanical wood pulp mills, 8; paper mills, '; textile mills. 5, and chemical works. 1. The government work com- peted at the end of the year consisted of the addition of 10000 horse power at the already existing plant at Trollhattan.
 The total. possible horsepower to be found in the streams of Sweden in such shape that 1t might be utilized is vari- ously estimated at from two to nine mill lions and it probably approximates four million. The unfortunate feature is that so large proportion of this undeveIoped natural wealth Is located in the north and in parts of the country where it is difficult to utilize to advantage. With the improvement in transmission methods, however, this obstacle may in time be- come less important.
 In to lie nF erating machinery and street cars and for lighting, electricity is used in Sweden in rolling mills. mine hoists, mine drills, magnetic ore operators, the electro-chem- icaI industries and the smelling of steel
 Lately it has also been used for the re- dLction of ore to pig iron. The large quantities available have led to it's use for the operation of agricultural ma- chinery, thrashing machines, etc., and it Is proposed now to equalize the consump- ton throughout the 24 hours in cities by selling power at very low rates during the hours when the load is low. so that
 1t nay be introduced into the household for heating and cooking. and other do- nestle purposes for which, under ordi- nary rates, it is too expensive for gen. eral use. The transmission of power from Trollhattan to Copenhagen has been pro- posed and is still under consideration.
 It is pointed out that Sweden is one of the few countries in Europe that has just awakened to the great possibility of her natural resources in this respect and that consequently the rapid growth of her industries, created through the influence of her water power has been the most remarkable in the world.
 The, United States. it is pointed out las just begun to awaken to the possi- bilities of her water power, particularly ir the west. Here, according to informa- tion received through senatorial investi- gation, water power sites have been gob- bled up by land speculators and very little improvement has started in compari- son to the great number of sites held by private owners This, 1t Is claimed. rus retarded the natural development of the west, making both electricity and irri- gation very costly commodity.
 Suggestions. however. have been made to the senate committee that has under taken a thorough study of the situation and in the near future, !. is expected the United States will not only lead the vari- ous countries In the world in horsepower generated. but in the number of indi- vidual plants in operation.
 The Drunken Parliament