St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-06-25

rect us IAlAS nave DEGn WH@W
for power purposes by the old method
for generations. The dam, built ~ the
sixties, has a crest of 1000 feet. For
hydroelectrical purposes the old ca
nal was widened few years age
ard a power plant installed which
yields 1000 horsepower. In this way
the energy OF the turbulent river has
been rendered possible of transmission
far beyond the river bank. Today =
new dam is being built and engineers
are extending this canal with a view
of wrestling still greater power from
the river by leading it to a point two
miles below where another fall of sixty
feet will produce electrical energy
equal to 10000 horsepower
The power which is being developed
Of Turner's Falls is sold to a number
Of allied companies which act as dis
tributers In this way 1t reaches many
towns. including Riverside and Millers
Falls. Through the Greenfield Electric
Light company il reaches South YER
non, NorthneId. Bernardson, Deernold.
Colerain, auckland and Greenfield and
through the Amherst and Easthamp-
ton Gas companies Amherst, Sundar-
land, Whately, Hatfield, Hadley, East
hampton and Southampton. Turner's
field. 1t is aimed to extend the trans
mission lines ultimately to supply in
dustries not alone in Springfield but
in Chicopee and Westfield. In many
Of these towns, particularly Turner's
Falls, hundreds OF factory sites are
within easy reach Of this power, whose
price necessarily cheapens as the
length of transmission shortens
Another recent New England hydro
electric development is that at Rum
ford Falls. It has resulted already In
converting what was twenty years ago
q wilderness into a modern city with
a population of 10000 people. Here
where the Androscoggin river has
ninety mine foot fall a station has been
built developing 10000 horsepower.
Over a million dollars has been spent
on two great dams. Instead OF canals
the rushing waters at Rumford Falls
are led through great steel tubes into
the power station. The mills OF the In
ternational Paper company take over
1000 horsepower alone. The Oxford
Paper company consumes 5000 more
and the Fort Hill Chemical company
1,250. The Central Maine Power COM
pany, located at Oakland on the Meg
saloushoe river, In still another dsvel-
opment with $3.50 horsepower davel-
op0d and $4,000 undeveloped.
Connecticut is not without its hydro
electric development for ut Bulls
Bridge, on the Housatonic, there has
been for some years In operation
plant developing $4,000 horsepower.
Besides running the trolley lines of the
Connecticut company In Waterbury
and New Britain, the latter nifty miles
away, this power il today running sew
eral industrial plants besides local
lighting interests.
These are but a few of the most inn
portant of the central hydroelectric
stations already established and In
process Of construction in New Eng
land by which a partial utilization Of
the immense energy Of it's water
courses may be accomplished and the
power thus generated sold commercial
ly. Scattered throughout this region
at the present time are thirty-one
plants designed to sell power CONNER
cially as distinguished from the scores
Of mills which still take power directly
from the streams on whose banks they
are located.
That these stations have already had
the effect Of cheapening power to some
extent for the manufacturer there is nj
doubt. The increase of such plantn
which is bound to occur, is certain 10
have a still greater effect in this line.
all Of which will rebound to the advan-
tage of the manufacturer who seeks
New England.
Today the rates for large quantities
Of power vary from 3 mills per kill
owatt hour at Rumford Falls, Me-, to
1.6 mills In various parts Of Connecti-
cut.
II used in large quantities there lis
without question a considerable saving
over steam according to those compe-
tent to judge the results.
In order to aid this development the
Industrial bureau Of the New England
lines has collected list OF available
water power sites in New England
and already there have been many in
quiries for the same.
1t is also about to undertake care
full tabulation of all the development
work at present under way and which
will rebound to the benefit OF New
England's Industries. whose promotion
is one of the chief aims of the New
England lines.
That manufacturers are beginning to
appreciate the advantage New Eng
land possesses in opportunities for
such development coupled with her
supply of skilled labor there can be no
question. 1t was her broad rivers and
rushing streams which aided her set
Element and stimulated her develop
ment in the early days Of her history
by affording easy means Of communi-
cation and furnishing power to turn
the water wheels Of her infant indus
tries. Today these Same streams are
stored with a dynamic force which
G-K IL
will be sufficient to move her mills and
be the means Of a new industrial
growth rich In promise for generations
yet to come. And the supply Is inex-
haustibls. -