The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-10

not need to make such references because there is no lack of knowledge, at least of a general kind. of the manner fin which water power is converted into electrical energy It was from the point of view of electricity that Mir. Westinghouse first had his attention called to the availability of water power through conversion into electric energy 10 furnish economically all the energy that Is needed for ma jority of the industrial plants of the
 United States.
 At Niagara Falls
 Three or four men of science who lived in the vicinity of Niagara Falls 9 years ago were persuaded that some portion, and not very large portion
 either, of the energy that is in the NJ
 agara river could be converted into elec-
 tric energy so that industrial plants
 would be established on the banks or the
 river. MT. Westinghouses attention was
 called to this proposition and with his
 intuitive capacity for reaching the vital
 point of anything laid before him he in stantly said that the proposition was
 sound from every point or View pro
 vided men of capital could be found who
 would finance it. He would take care oi
 the electrical factors. The late ]. P. Mor-
 gan instantly realized, with his intuitive capacity for reasoning, wiat the propo- sition meant, when his attention was
 called to it, so that he was adv to do
 from the point of view of finance what MT. Westinghouse said he would do from
 the point of view of the electricity.
 Within two years, turbines which were capable of converting some part or the
 emery of the Niagara current into eiee- trical energy which was equivalent to 5000 horse power in case of each turbine were installed. What MT. Westinghouse predicted respecting the capacity ol
 science to convey this energy for long
 distance Buffalo afterward demonstrated
 to have been an accurate prediction. Shortly after the Niagara plant was es' tablished. large American industry with
 which the Nate William R. Grace, who was twice mayor of New York city was identified was called upon to install ap-
 paratus in the Mysore district of India This apparatus was intended for develop ing the large gold field in the Mysore dis trict There had been considerable ad-
 vance since science and capital had shown what could be done in the way of cheal
 utilizs tion of power on the banks of the Niagara river. For science was able tc perfect a plant which converted the en- ergy in large water power in the My
 sore district into electric energy and then convey that energy for distance ol 100 miles so that it was utilized in min ing operations.
 If this could be done in India and al Niagara Falls, MT. Westinghouse was
 persua ded that there was no good reason why it could not be done in many parts
 of the south, in New England, in the far west, and in fact all over the country He
 was persuaded that with the utilization of these water powers the southern section of the country would attain the position to which her resources entitled her.
 Apparently with this view, Senator Bur- ton agrees. He has asserted that the utilization of 30,o00,000 horse power energy
 which is in the primary water powers oi the United States, entaied not only such great capitalization, but also such wise management as to make it necessary to establish these systems upon a stable and wise system of the government With in 100 years, even if there be much greater economy in the use of hard coal than is now practiced, our anthracite supply VII be exhausted But with the energy of
 our streams converted into electric en- ergy without the use of hard coal in any considerable amount. this serious eco nenic question is satisfactorily answered The senator also intimated that there are other forms of utilizing the natural resources of the country and of ending the deplorable waste which has been SC characteristic of American development
 There should be careful investigation oi those resources by government authori- ties. so that the United States can pro duce rot only lavishly, but with the high est of economies. With our resources what they are and with such scientific and economic development of them as thai what has been characteristic of Germany 1 there should be no question about tho pre-en thence of the United States among | the nations of the world within the nex | 20 years. That is thought to be the int mation conveyed hy Senator. Burton t, his colleagues in the Senate from whom he was parting.