The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-03-18

OOO IONS OF coal.
The starting of the great hydro-elec-
trio industry of New England at Yer
non and the location of the power sta
tions of the Connecticut River Power
company at points so near here that a
company at points so near us that a
100-mile automobile trip from Brattle-
boro will enable one to visit the six
generating stations with an installed
capacity of about $4,000 horse power,
and will give a chance to see the Som
erset reservoir, makes to Vermont peo-
pie all the more interesting a quotation
on the subject of water powers taken
from booklet entitled Americas Coal
Resources, issued by the First Ma
tional bank OF Boston.
The article states that we have
drawn not quite one per cent of our
coal capital and that our remaining
coal supply is probably over three tril-
lion tons. 1t says, however, that we
can not afford to be wasteful even with
this showing because coal once used is
gone forever and that unless we exer-
else careful conservation, it viii be inn
possible to pass along to citizens of the
great America of the future their share
Of this wonderful bounty.
| The article continues: An important
! factor in the conservation of our coal
resources and one that will have in
creasing influence in the future, is the
substitution OF water for power devel-
oped by coal. By means of recent adj
vances made in the transmission of elec-
tric energy, electricity developed by
water power may be utilized at dis
lance of several hundred miles from its
source and SO serve a territory en-
bracing thousands Of square mikes.
The partial electrifcation of steam
| railroads is already an accomplished
fact and some of the large railroad
systems Of the West have possessed
themselves Of great available water
power rights to generate the electrical
energy needed for transportation.
Switzerland has been making lone
strides during the past ten years in the
substitution Of water power for Goa
power. In fact, so largely has water
taken the place of coal, there, as {
source of energy for industrial uses
that it has been termed the Whit,
4 Coal of switzerland 2
"The very abundance of water owe
the greater part of the country ha1
dulled our appreciation of its value
Several years ago, a party of Zun
: Indians who live in a region in whicl
water Is so scarce that it is collected
with great effort, drop by drop, visite'
the Eastern states and were shown tn
sights in the large cities. Upon beinI
asked when about to return, wha
thing interested them the most. the,
replied that the most wonderful worl
of the white man is that by which wa
ter is so conducted that thousands o
faucets may be turned and strear
come forth.
, 1.-THE great utility of our enormou
water supply and water power is jus
beginning to be realized by us Of TIA
thirty million horse power now bein
developed from coal in the Unite
States, our government experts believ
more than one half could be produce
: by water at lower cost and with
Z saving of millions of tons of coal al
/ nually.
1t is estimated that the use of hal
/ our available water power only, wou1
1 furnish sufficient horse power to NEE
the requirements of the entire natio
even when its numbers shall have il
creased to 250,000,0 900 souls.
The New England Power compan
and the Connecticut River Power con
pany generated sufficient electricity
the year just past to displaee 10000
tons OF coal.
! If every note issued by the Ban
of England were presented at Il