Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-29
THIS CITY ALEADER In
GREAT WATER POWER
DEVELOPMENT WORK
Announcement Concerning
Cramp Notes Directs At
tention to Firms Change of
Policy in Engine Construc-
ton.
tIOn.

| aHalrs or this company, which have been
handled in such a manner as to be able
\ to meet its notes in advance.
When William Cramp early in the last
| century founded the famous shipyard
which still bears his name, he apparently
had dreams of mighty armaments to be
constructed and with. what pride they
would carry the American flag to all parts
| of the world and thunder forth tons of
steel in defense of it, II necessary. His
| vision came true in more than one way,
for the Cramp-bult ships were the
cracks" of the American Navy, and at
Manila and Santiago poured forth their
bolts in fulilment OF the vision.
With the dawn of a new century, how
ever, the successors of this great mind
realized that the wonderful opportunity
Of the business man OF America was not
in the building of engines of destruction,
but those of development; and few peo-
Pile in Philadelphia know that the VIM.
Cramp G. Sons Ship and Engine Building
Company is one of the foremost design
ers of hydraulic turbines for the develop
ment of water power in the world-an
industry which Is being exploited by the
comparatively newer form of investment
known as Public Utility.
The first effort of private enterprise to
develop the water power of this country
to make 1t salable commodity was
made in 1890, at Niagara Falls, where
a company known as the Niagara Falls
Power Company began work on hydro
ata N,,t- iat, %
exceed in size and Importance any which,
up to that time, had been constructed,
either in the United States or Europe.
When 1t Is remembered that up to this
time turbine of greater capacity than
1000 horsepower had never been construct
ed and this effort called for 10 units of
bO00 horsepower each. II Is not surprising
that the venture created quite little IN
terest. 1t is not generally known that 1t
was our own Philadelphia concern which
was awarded this contract and carried 1t
out to successful completion.
NIAGARA FALLS PLANT.
Success OF this venture advertised the
possibilities of this kind of endeavor to
the moneyed interests throughout the
country. and with their usual celerity
they seized the opportunity with avidity
The first important work attempted, after
it was thoroughly demonstrated that this
was a safe field for private investment,
was the Canadian Power Company, which
in 1900 at Niagara Falls constructed
plant which. although only two units were
planned, yet each one called for a ca
pacty of 10000 horsepower. The Cana
dams followed up this effort with the
construction of larger plants capable of
delivering 1880 horsepower.
BY this time investors ARE quite IA
miliar with this form of security and
dealers had no hesitancy In offering them,
and, as result, water power sites
throughout this country and Canada were
eagerly sought.
The most important of these have been
the Huronian Company, Ontario. 1065O
horsepower: West Kootenay Power and
Light Company, British Columbia, 600
horsepower: Toronto Power Company.
$1,000 horsepower; st. Lawrence River
Power Company. New York, "a, 600 horse
power: McCalrs Ferry Power Company
uater the Pennsylvania Water and Power
Company, McCalls Ferry, Pa, 81, 600
horsepower; Central Colorado Power
Company, Glenwood, Col, 1900 horse
power; Great Western Power Company
California. 1900 horsepower; WASHINGTON
Power Company, Spokane, Wash, 81. 600 |
horsepower; Tennessee Power Company,
10000 horsepower. and the Appalachian
Power Company Virginia. 5000 horse |
power.
These are just few of a great many
corporations which extend from Alaska |
to Porto Rico and from New York to |
British Columbia, and the figures mem |
toned above are merely the initial in
stallations. Since that time a great many |
of them have doubled their capacity
The most recent developments have
been the Mississippi River Power Com
pany at Keokuk, Iowa which has Il
units Of 10 Il0 hOTSapnuar !
which is the largest plant of its kind in
the world, and the Cedar Rapids Manu-
featuring and Power Company at Mon
treal' which has nine units capable of
delivering 1880 horsepower each which /
Is the largest turbine in the world this
company being the greatest development
of its kind in Canada.
TURBINES ARE BUILT HERE.
AS a matter of information 1t may be
stated that so per cent. Of the impor-
tant turbines installed by the various
companies on this continent We're con-
structed by the |. p. Morris Company,
which is the department of Cramps that
constructs this form of machinery
Philadelphia capitalists were among the
first TO recognize this field of activity as
a probable use on funds and perhaps
the companies in which Phiadelphians
better, than any of the others. Their
Efforts have been usually confined TO
he envrOns of our own country, where
he possibilities are almost unlimited
Meanwhile, the investor is becoming
more and more familiar with this form
# security and the bankers managing
he properties experience very little diff
iculty in disposng of their wares
William Cramp. II he could come back
% this mundane sphere now, with the
greater part of Europe engaged I'm bloody
strife would no doubt fully expect 10
ind the great plant which bears his name
Dusily and exclusively engaged in the
building of ships Of war. What would
pc his surprise TO tind that the activities Z
# the plant were largely engaged in the
construction OF mighty engines OF peace
md Industry And while the apostles OF
conservation are busy urging the passing
II laws TO restrict the use OF our natural l
esOurces. II Is interesting 10 note that /
'anada, which has been jealous TO guard
md foster its infant industries was quick
% perceive the opportunity offered and I
perhaps as a result Is bit in advance .
II US i'm this particular industry of de-
clipping water power
Needless TO state Il would be far better
o have our resources developed along in |
elligent lines. where the risk Is borne by .
ne promoter and investor, than 70 allow |
over which has a might behind Il which
y man can gauge 20 lie dormant at our
.arV doors I 1