The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21

The progress which has been made
in carrying on the hydro-electric de-
velopments of the Appalachian Power
company 81 the New river, in Car
roll and Pulaski counties. Va, Is in
dicated in the accompanying Illus
trations showing the conditions at the
time OF the latest reports from the
company, of which II. NJ. Byiiesby.
of Chicago, Is president. The APP
palachian Power company was or
ganized In 1911 for the purpose OF de-
veloping the water power of the rev
river and distributing IT by electric
Transmission throughout southwestern
Virginia and Southern West virginia
The company has acquired fve sop
arate power sites, aggregating total
fall of 225 feet. producing between
$4,000 and 100000 horsepower. Two
of these power sites now in process
OF development. which together VIII
produce $4,000 horsepower, are known
as developments No. and NO. g.
The territory centering on these
power Developments Is rich IN many
varieties of minerals. 1t includes
the famous Pocahontas coal fields, to-
gether with iron mines. zinc, copper.
salt and gypsum mines and glass
sand, many varieties of clay and other
minerals. The availability of water
power for use in connection with the
development of these properties will
undoubtedly stimulate the Industrial
growth of the various communities
sAerved-
In addition to the mining develop
ments. the location is we'll adapted to
the establishment of cotton mills,
woodworking plants and other indus
tries The territory is we'll provided
with transportation facilities by the
Norfolk and Western. Virgtnian,
Southern and Chesapeake and Ohio
railroads The construction Of mod
ern highways Is making good pro-
gress In this section, several hundred
miles having already been built. Dur
ing the past ten years all the towns
and cities in the territory nave
shown a rapid growth in population
and commercial activity.
The Appalachian Power company
has already acquired the electrical
properties IN the towns OF Marion
Wytheville, Pulaski. Bluefeld, Poca-
hontas, WEIGH and Keystone, all with
In fifty miles of the power develop
ments. The electric lighting. railway
and power systems of these towns
will be provided with power from the
/ developme now under construc-
ton.
High-tension transmission lines are
being built from these developments
to the Pocahoatas coal fields. to Blue
! field and to Roanoke. and such lines
will also be constructed to Martins
| vile and Danville toward the south.
| east and to Saltville farther west
/ These high-tension lines will operate
/ at 900 volts. and will feed sub
stations at the various load centers
/ which will lower the voltage for dis
| tribution through secondary lines te
/ the various power consumers. At the
4 present time sub-statio1s are being
( built for operation by these high
4 tension transmission lines at Roanoke
/ Pulaski. Blueiield. Switchback, Coal.
/ wood and Saltville. In addition. there
will be number OF low-tension sub
stations located at the various center.
/ Of load in the coal fields, and Al
| Wytheville and Galax contracts FOL
delivery of power have already bea'
secured: also from the Roanoke Rail.
way and Light company. at Roanoke
/ Va; the Pocahontas Consolidated Col
lieries In the coal fields. the Virginia
I'ocahontas Coal and Coke company
| the American Coal and Coke com
| pany, the Zenith Coal and Coke
company, the Crystal Coal and Cok'
company, the West Virginia Poca han
tas company. the Coafdale mines and
other operations in the coal fields
BY the terms of the contract with
| the Poeahontas Consolidated Col
lieries company. the power compan,
acquired the use OF its 7,500-horse'
power steam plant at Switchback. w
Va. which will be used as a reserve
and to supplement the power from
the hydraulic Developments Thi'
steam reserve will be in addition Il
that available from the various steam
plants OF the utilities purchased b,
the power company and also to thu
steam power available from the steam
plant OF the, Roanoke Railway ant
Light company.
/ Development No. 2, which ~ nov
under construction, consists Of ~
overflow dam fifty feet Ia height o.