The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-06-20

The problem OF harnessing our rivers
and utilizing their power TO move the
wheels OF commerce and industry is
today a subject OF ever increasing
study, and II Is one fra asght with tre-
mendous importance TO the future Of
New England.
The increase in the price OF coal, the
fact, as shown by geologists reports,
that our coal supply is not inexhsust-
ible. particularly the supply of anthra-
cite. have turned our thoughts 10 the
river, have bade US try to avail our
selves OF its friendly flow and utilize
the enormous energy which IL repre-
sents.
The increased attention given to this
subject resulted a few years ago in the
geological survey making a careful ex-
animation OF the ccuntyys water pow
er and year ago the bureau OF cor
porations revised and extended the
work SO as TO show the extent TO which
water power has up till now been util-
lied. The report OF the commissioner
OF corporations, for one thing, pointed
out that the great bulk OF the water
power OF the country was on its edges
in other words, that New England.
New York and Pennsylvania and a few
south Atlantic states, together with
the Pacific, contained pretty much all
that there was OF IL.
The following are the principal riv-
srs whose potential water power is so
important to New England and which
should make II pre-eminently the
place for manufacturing opportunities:
st. croix River, Maine.
Total fall 42S feet in sou miles: drainage
area, 1914 square miles; maximum rate OF
fall so feet per mile at spragGe Falls.
Penobsoot River, Maine.
Total fall 1909 feet in 200 miles; drain
age area, 1894 square miles: maximum
rate of fall 1877 feet per mile at Chesun-
cook lake.
kennsbso River, Maine.
Total fall l,o2s feet in l3s miles; drain
age area, 6,4o0 square miles; maximum
rate of fall, l4.7 feet per mile near Moose
head lake (source).
Androseoggin River, Maine.
Total fall 2226 feet in 1879 miles; drain
age area, 1858 square miles; maximum
rate OF fall. AL feet per mile near Magal-
loway lake (source).
ssco River, Maine.
Total fall 1850 feet in iI miles; maxi
mum rate OF fall 4s feet per mule at or
near source; drainage area, l.75O square
miles.
Merrinac River, New Hampshire and
Massachusetts.
Total fall 269 feet In ITO miles; maximum
rate Of fall. $40 feet per mile at Msnches-
ter, ". H; drainage area, 4.Se4 square
miles.
Contoeook River Branch Of the Msr-
rimac).
Total fall ssS feet In IS miles; maximum
rate Of fall, 700 feet per mile at Bennins-
ton, N. H. drainage area included In
Nerrimac)
Connecticut River.
Total fall 2Oss feet in sb miles maxi
mum rate OF fall, s4s feet per mile at
Connecticut lake; drainage area, II, 26s
square miles.
Housatonie River.
Total fall $50 feet In Ia miles: maximum
rate of fall. 1874 feet per mile at Falls
Village, Conn; drainage area, l.S3s square
miles.
Labor is generally more plentiful.
particularly skilled labor, where the
conditions OF living are the best, where
there Is the best environment for the
home. the best educational advantages.
1t is for reasons such as these that
New England has such large popula-
tion Of skilled mechanics. IL is for these
reasons that years ago IL became an
industrial region almost without equal
In this country; hence ii must be that
with the development Of the enormous
power lodged in her streams and its
conversion into electrical energy pos
sible Of transmission over an extended
area there should be no question but
that this region Is to be the scene OF
great industrial expansion through the
superior advantages II will thus offer
TO manufacturers.
Hydroelectric power-ths power OF
the flowing stream converted into cleo
trical energy through the use OF tur-
bines-may not be cheaper than steam
In some places. for its cost TO the con-
sumer varies with conditions. II sell
dom runs higher than steam and in
many instances much lower-ss, for in
stance, at Rumford Falls, in Maine.
where the power OF the river thus con-
verted is supplied TO nearby manufac-
turing establishments at a cost OF