The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-16
WATER POWER FOR
WAYNE COUNTY?
Great Force Of UndeveIOped
Power in Streams
THE COUNTY Is RICH IN
STREAMS AND LAKES THAT
ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
POWER FOR ALL NEEDS-A
FEW STATISTICS ON ANTHRA-
CITE COAL.

The most evident resourse of
Wayne county, although realized by
very few of the business men, of this
place, is the undeveloped water pow
er of its many streams, falls and
lakes, which infest the hills of the
county. In fact the hills are rich in
this dormant power, which has been
here through the centuries waiting
for the hand of man to release it so
that it may do the work it was
meant to do. There is enough unde-
Neloped power in Wayne county to
produce 10000 II. P, enough energy
to run all the mills and factories in
the county This natural power is
going to waste. 1t was put here for
a use and as soon as manufacturers
realize the magnitude of its value as
a power producer, dams and reser-
voirs will be built, sluggish streams
will become little torrents and the
county will prosper as never before.
Wayne has the resources to become
the industrial center of eastern Penn
sylvania. 1t is safe to say that with
in ten miles of HOnesdale there are
streams which will produce the 3d.
GOO II. p. The dam across the Wal
len-Paupac in Hawley is by no means
an experiment. 1t is a proven sue
cess and substantiates our state
ments that the other streams of the
county could be made to do the same
work. The Dexter Lambert Co., de-
velop $50 II. P, sufficient power for
all their needs. There the full dept
of the dam is not used because it is
not necessary for their use. MANY
other mills and factories in that vi
cinity and even here in HOnesdale
could be furnished with the neces-
sary power in this way and thus cut
down their operating expenses by
paying less for the power produced
by water that they are compelled to
pay for steam coal. 1t would be well
for manufacturers to investigate the
undeveloped water power resources
of Wayne county for the advantages
of waterpOwer over steam is not only
the cheaper cost but the efficiency
and perpetuality when once establish
ed. The cost of production in fur
nishing water power has been esti-
mated to be about $4,000 for cleo
trical and hydralic equipment per
horse power.
The 10000 H. p. that could be de-
veloped in Wayne county is equiva-
lent to so tons of steam coal per
hour or 600 tons of coal used per day
of ten hours. And $4,000 tons per
year of 312 productive days. The
present price OF steam coal is $3.50
per ton, therefore the 0,000 horse
power is equivalent to S46S,O0O per
year for coal II the present price OF
coal was perpetual a different argu-
ment would be necessary but on ac-
count of the limited supply OF an
thracite coal, the price is necessarily
higher every year. In 1924 it was
estimated that there were 400 square
miles of coal fields in Pennsylvania.
With the passing OF the years be-
tween that and the present time,
with no new fields discovered, the
supply has diminished rapidly. In
1909 the amount OF anthracite coal
mined decreased 3,319,410 tons from
that mined in the previous year. 1t
is stimated by the United States
+ Geological Survey that the amount of
anthracite still remaining in the
ground is 10000 900 tons and
as one ton is lost for every ton min
ed there is enough coal in the ground
to last for approximately 80 years,
comparatively short time. In half
that length OF time the price Of steam
coal will have advanced to an enorm-
Gus figure and it will be impossible
for the manufacturer to use coal for
power. He will have to substitute
something else and why not turn
back to the hidden powers OF nature,
TO the rivulets, falls and lakes OF this
county for that power at a cheaper
cost than it is possible to furnish anv
other kind OF power. The time will
eventually come when this dormant
power that remains in its natural
state will he developed to its full ca
pacity. Then, and only then, will
Wayne realize her vast resources and
become the industrial center OF