The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-06
JAMES B. DUKE NOW GIVING U ATTENTION ID WATER POWER Proposed Developments in South Are Looming Large
 in Eyes of Capitalists MANY ARE LOOKING
 TO WEALTH IN WEST Duke Said to Be Convinced That When War Is Over Enormous Development Will Get
 Under Way
By HOLLAND

southern industries. The congress met at Atlanta Although MT. Westinghouse rarely made addresses, yet the meeting at Atlanta offered, as he thought. an opportunity for him to say some things which he had long had in mind.
 His address was chiefly occupied with pointing out the great natural resources in water power which the people of many parts of the south possess which, he said, could easily be utilized so that this en- ergy could be converted into electric en- ergy. The water power in parts of the south, Mr. Westinghouse said, is of sui ficient capacity to furnish energy for the operation of many of the industrial plants and for highway trolleys, as well as railroad service.
 When Mir Westinghouse returned to New York, he said that if he had dropped a hint at Atlanta which would be heed ed by men of capital he was certain that a new factor of very great importance in the development of industry of the south would be obtained.
 These who seek James B. Duke do not now find him in the offices of the to- bacco industry which is identified by his name. but usually in the offices of corporation which is occupied in develop ing water power in the south so that it may be converted into electric energy. Whether or not MT Duke heard what Mr. Westinghouse said or read the ad- dress, he is certainly so acting indus trially and financially as to make it reasonable to presume that what he is doing is entirely in line with those things which were suggested by MT. Nesting house.
 A few days ago James J. Hill was quoted in a published statement as hav- ing spoken earnestly about the necessity of obtaining abundant capital wherewith to make investment in the development of our resources and also the expansion of our industries. Mir. Hill is familiar with investment of capital in hydro electric plants upon large scale in the northwest, and especially in Minnesota. For capital has been found for the pro- motion and very extensive utilization in that region of water power for the cre- ation of electric energy. In some places steam power is used for that purpose, but in almost all of the communities where this corporation is manufacturing and selling electricity for commercial purposes water power is used.
 THE EXPLOITS OF MIR. DUKE
 Several years ago MT. Duke, with oth- CTS who are associated with him, made prolonged excursion whose itinerary was through many parts of the far west. Reports were circulated soon after his return which told of his investment of capital in large amount in water power privileges in the far west. He is believed to have had his eye to the fu- ture, apparently not having any faith in statement made yesterday by a man of some authority that the reason there is not larger development of water pow CT converted into electric energy is to be found in the lack of profit.
 MT. Duke is believed to feel sure that the day is coming when the industrial growth of many sections of the far west and also the growth in population, will make it commercially practicable to es- tablish plants for the manufacture, so to speak, of electric energy which by the use of turbines and other apparatus rep resents conversion of the water power energy.
 From many parts of the south come re- ports of successful investment of capital iE large amounts in the establishment of hydro-electric plants. Leaders in south ern industries are persuaded that as soon as the European war is ended one of the first of capital investments upon large scale will be further development of plants of this kind. French and Canad- ian capital is already invested in some of these plants.
 In some parts of the east, notably upon the Connecticut river, near Brattleboro. Vt, hydro-electric plants have been es- tablished which are delivering electricity to commercial advantages to points as far away as 50 miles, even to Worcester, Mass. Some day when the New Haven company is free from endorsements it Will probably make use of water power, perhaps that furnished by the Housa- tonic river, for the creation of energy for it's electrified railroad system.
 It is, however. in section of the coun- try of which Minneapolis is the center that one of the largest investments Of capital in hydro electric plants has been made. And it is reasoned that if there can be commercially practicable invest ment of this kind in that region there is no reason why capital should not be tempted to investment in all parts of the United States in industry of this kind
 The various plants of the electric power plant company, some of them in Mime sota, some in Wisconsin, others in the two Dakotas, now utilize water wheels of nearly 50,000 horse power capacity and their transformers having capacity of lS1.CO0 horse power. The plants repre- sent some of the finest engineering achievements associated with this indus try, comparable to the great plant at Niagara Falls. although differing in con struction from that, since there is no dam at Niagara Falls, but instead an in take There is no better dam than that which has been built at Coon Rapids on the Mississippi river and the power house which is contiguous is one of the largest and best of its kind in the United States.
 What has been done in the development of this industry is believed to be only a beginning of the investment of capital in hydro-electric plants in many parts of the United States
 Many have been the comments upon the fact that MT. Duke seems now to be more closely identified, so far as her. sonal attention is concerned with a hy- dro-electric industry in the south and it's development than with the tobacco com pany. And ik is regarded as sufficient proof that he looks upon the investment of large capital in wisely selected hydro- electric plants as certain to be made as soon as the war in Europe permits large investment of American capital in any American industries or in the develop ment of natural resources.