New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09

dltions. Not only is 1t doing this, but
II Is putting the farmer more directly IN
touch with profitable markets either IN
the immediate neighborhood or further
away by making 1t possible Tor him 10
tap the trunk lines. Naturally, this IS
increasing the value Of suburban proper
ties and carrying into sections OF the
South the spirit Of development anu
enterprise which would still be absent
but for the advent OF the hydro-electric
power plant. People living away from
these infiuepces don't appreciate the
impetuous changes that are pelng
wrought IN this manner in the Southern
states thus favored by water power.
CONCENTRATION OF CONTROL.
To return to the study OF the manu-
: "a cturing" and the commercial Aspects
NJ water power, we must not forget that
NJ the present utilized 100000 horse
power only 26 per cent Is generated anu
used by manufacturing concerns-tne re-
naming "a per cent Is sold by commerciai
enterprises or used by public service cor
porations TO which we pay tribute either
d,rectIv or indirectly. It is because OF
this very fact that warning mas oeeh
sounded against the increasing concehtra-
ton OF the control of power sites Al
ready ten groups Of interests, ana THESE
closely interrelated, control SUBSTANTIALLY
60 per cent Of the present total de-
veloped commercial water power In this
country: and these same enterprises DOM
mate sites capable OF practically douphhg
npnar
vice. In fact, the Bureau or Corpora-
tons reports that the foregoing group
own or control and operate street rail-
ways In no fewer than Ill cities and towns
In this country, electric lighting plants IN
669 communities, and gas plants IN h'
towns and municipalities. These COM
panies supply power to municipal lighting
plants In many instances, and not rev
Of these are among the most important
industrial centres In the states involved.
More important, however, Is the fact that
In manv of the communities within our
boundaries all the public utilities are con-
trolled by the water-power interests!
The casual citizen must not think that
water power necessarily means low
cost source Of energy. 1t Is not by any
means equivalent to free coal delivered
without charge to a power plant
NOT NECESSARILY CHEAP.
The mere fact that the water flows on
month in and month out and right by
the door OF the hydro-electric station
does not mean cheapness a matter Of
course, although 1t may mean that to a
much larger extent to the manufacturer
who utilizes the flow to turn turbines
which directly move the machinery Of his
establishment. Electric generators are
costly apparatus. and the transmission
circuits are expensive to install and TO
maintain, and business warrants these In
vestments only when the consumption Of
energy Is substantially equal to the maxi
mum output and nearly uniform in It's de-
mand. Apart from this there Is the heavy
outlay involved In damming and con-
trolling the waters. and the minimum flow
must be equal to keep the bulk Of the
plant productivity active for the major
part Of the time. But circumstances may
make electricity developed by water power
low priced commodity.
Out in Idaho Is the town Of Twin Falls,
located on the Snake River. It has some
thing like 5000 inhabitants, and Its pres
ent size is mainly due to its abundance of
cheap electrical energy. Electrical heat
ing is not commonly an inexpensive way
Of mating q house warm. but In Twin