The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-21
WATER POWER
L.
[BY HUGH L. "COPPER"

BY HUGH
J stemmed only by an increase of wages
in this country sufficient to keep GU
present foreign labor If the fore
going is good reasoning, then are W.
not now in zone OF shortage Of la
Dor that will affect the coal suppl.
and price and affect materially ever,
, other walk Of life, especially agricul
ture and manufacturing?
The above question may we'll be
asked. An analysis of government
statistics shows that, where we arc
now paying $14.20 per capita per an
mum Tor coal for our population, by
1910 we will be paying $3.50 pei
capita. This means a constantly in
I creasing tax on all our people, from
which they have the right to relief il
relief is possible. Reliable data show
that the efficiency of steam power de-
velopment has practically reached its
maximum. II this is true, and the cost
or coal Is to go up and the needs OF
the people for power are constantly
increasing, how can the situation be
relieved? The answer is, by the de.
velopilent of our water power as rap.
idly and as fully as it can be accomp.
lished without any sacrifice Of the
public interest.
! Let us now, having considered the
necessity for water power. see what
the important facts are regarding it.
The average cost of a water power per
horse power may be taken at about
| five times that Of steam, and in addi-
ton the difficulties of raising money
and the cost Of money for water pow
ers are much greater than for steam,
because the steam plant is free from
flood hazards in construction and
operating periods and it can be con-
structed In small units about as the
market requires, whereas the water
power usually has to be greatly over
developed and then wait for it's mar
l1et to grow up to it, thus entailing
large additional interest costs while
securing and waiting for business
The water power requires for opera
ton about one-fourth the amount of
labor that steam power requires,
therefore the water power conserves
labor as well as coal.
The United States government estf-
mates show that 60 100000 horse pow
er now undeveloped in the United
States. Probably 100000 of this
horse power is worth developing un-
der present conditions. AS to the
value of the 15,o00,0OO horse power to
our people when its development is
completed much can be said The
larger proportion of this undeveloped
power is in the south and west, where
there are room and need for great in
dustrial expansion If the south and
west are to enjoy the Industrial ad-
that obtain in New England
Fifteen million utilized horse power
the conservation Of about 1O0,-
100000 tons Of coal per annum, costing
at this time about 1925, 900 annual
ly in the boiler furnaces, and the con-
servation of the labor Of about 100000
miners and steam station operatives
for other uses; $225,000,O00
would buy 2,250,O00 acres of good cul-
tivated farm land. Suppose, instead
Of wasting, as we now are, 1925, 900, 900
worth Of coal and labor per annum, in
some way we We're destroying 2,25O,-
900 acres Of our farms every year, how
long would 1t take our good voters to
make a noise that would be heard
and acted upon in Washington, to the
end that the farm destroying would
cease? And yet that in effect is eX-
actly what is going on today in the
water power field. The 100000 labor
ers would be available for other safer,
more useful. and healthful employ
ment. affording general relief to the
agricultural and manufacturing indus
tries.
The developme nt of our remaining
water powers is not only important
from a coal and labor saving stand
point, but from the standpoint as wei,
Of new industries that We need in the
United States which cannot be based
on coal or oil power. Among such in
dustries are the manufacture of fer
tilizers. nitric acid for explosives,
many electro-chemical products, high
grade steel, irrigation pumping. and
other general and very useful indus
tries requiring cheap power that are
now unable to locate here. over L.
$50 900 horse power has been de-
veloped in Norway and Sweden in
the last ten years for the manufac-
ture Of nitric acid and fertilizers, and
no similar progress has been made in
the United States. We now import !
more than $50,000,O00 worth of mater
ials a year for fertilizers and explos- |
ives in this country. all of which could |
in time be produced in our own coun-
try 1t is common report that de- !
signs are now being perfected in Can !
ada for the development of water !.
power where American capital TO the |
eventual tune of about $4,000, 900 /
plans to manufacture fertilizers and