The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-06
w. Winans Freeman Ex-
plains Attitude of Inter-
ests He Represents :
TO COMPLETE WORK
NOW UNDER WAY
No Developments Started Since 1907
Because of Attitude of Two Fed
eral Administrations-Aw
More Definite Policies

The immense water power development
in this state depends more largely upon
the people than the English financiers
lecently entering this district. That was
made plain yesterday in an interview
given by w Winans Freeman, vice presi-
dent and general manager of the develop
ments now being carried on in this state.
That no developments have started since
1907 because of the attitude of two fed
eral administrations. and that it was not
to be expected that others would be
launched until more definite policies are
shaped was also statement of Mr.. Free
man.
1t has been demonstrated that the
potential possibilities of the water COM
panies in this state were almost unbeliev-
able. 1t has been predicted that the state
would be showered with prosperity from
that development scarcely Imaginable. 1t
was the optimistic belief that the water
companies would supply three states with
electric energy. However, since Mr. Free
mans return from an extensive trip to
New York and Washington different side
lights have been thrown upon the situa-
tion.
Steam Power Cheap
Mr. Freeman points out in his inter-
view, after having been asked for spe-
cific information as to the future develop
ments that steam power could be created
here with only little greater cost than
water power by reason of the cheapness
of coal in this district. Nowhere else is
coal so cheap or so available, he says.
Again the company developing water
power sites have now in view sufficient
power for all local needs for many years
| so that developments other than Lock u
and Gadsdens steam plant are unneces-
sary.
| Mr. Freeman is of the unalterable opin-
ion that the future development of the
| waste water energy of this state rests
more largely with the people than with
| the financers, and that as the whole
| proposition is a co-partnership that both
| sides should work together.
| The statements of Mr. Freeman yester-
DAY follow:
THE development of the additional
| water powers. which under riparian own
| ership, are controlled by our company,
| depends to large an extent upon con-
ditlons which are beyond our control that
any definite statement as to future plans
! is impossible
! "All that can be definitely stated at
| this time is, that the company proposes
to complete the developments now under
way as rapidly as Is possible. and to
utilize them in serving the public.
The water power development at Lock
| l2 on the Coosa river, reinforced by the
| steam plant at Gadsden, will give the
company an immediate installed capacity
| of 5000 horsepower, which can be In
| creased to 10000 horsepower by the in
| stallation of additional units at Lock Il
! for which provision is being made. These
| two plants will furnish an output OF
| electrical energy several times greater
| than the amount of electric power now
| being generated in the state. and will
furnish the industrial needs of the Bir-
mingham district for some time.
| What the future will bring forth in
| the more general utilization of the water
powers of the state is matter largely
within the control of the public, at least
much more than that of the power COM
| pany.
| MisapprehensiOn Exists
"a very general misapprehension exists
regarding the commercial value of water
| powers in all parts of the country and
particularly where cheap coal is avail
| able. The initial cost of hydro-electris
4 QtNtlOplueut is diWdyS ntSHct pei uOISt-
| power than a modern steam plant and
| frequently several times the unit cost
| Such development therefore always in
wolves high interest charges irrespective
of any operating expense.
,'.In the matter of operation: 1t is, oil
| course, somewhat cheaper to operate q
| water power plant than steam plant
| since there is no expense for fuel But
| on the other hand. the great variation IL
u-af which fba ant
put at low water to but fraction OF
the output at normal flow of the river
F, tends to offset, to a marked degree, the
| advantages OF such operation
'The capacity of an hydro-electiic de.
veoplnent must necessarily be limited b,
| the dry season output, and although this
| is greatly exceeded at other times The
excess cannot be utilized advantageouslv
except in conjunction with steam plants
which involve duplication of investment
1t must be obvious. therefore, to anyone
| who seriously studies the subject, thai
! the chief advantage of lydro-e}ectric de.
| velopment consists in the conservation
! of natural resources, and that develop
ment of water powers will ultimatel,
| be encouraged from that standpoint rath
! er than for the sake of commercial
profit. This is particularly true in Ala.
| bama, where the margin between waite,
smallest of any developed industrial To-
cation in the country due to the very low
| coal cost. So long as coal Is supplied
| at present prices, and the people are
1 willing to continue such waste of re-
| sources as well as endure the physica
discomforts that result therefrom, not
ably the smoke nuisance, the encourage
ment to develop the resources. which are
| in no sense wasted by their use will bt
| mipimized. or course. such development,
| is assured to some extent, but will bt
necessarily slow if limited by commercial
considerations primarily As the matter
stands, therefore, the state of Alabama
| which has great potentialities in hydro
electric development, is consuming its
| coal resources while its water power.
| are largely wasting away, and can never
be recovered in so far as the past i.
! concerned
ut cannot be expected that private
capital will develop these water powers
any faster than reasonable profit car
be earned thereby: the development al
ready undertaken is as extensive as Seems
| promising for some time to come ex.