Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-07-27


made by civilization during the last
century the greatest single factor
has been the substitution of mechan
1cal energy for human labor. In pro
portion to the degree In which man Is
relieved from the necessity for devot
1ng himself to the mere struggle for
material existence, there has been and
will be measured the advance Of arts,
science and philosophy literature and
the better things which make for the
higher and nober life Of nation or Of
the world
We are living today in the dawn Of
an age in which power IS the basis for
our material progress. The productive
abilities Of our l0O,0OO,00O people are
increased by the use OF probably 1885,
100000 horse power OF mechanical en-
Iergy, not including the animal power
furnished by 3O,OO0.O00 horses and
mules. Most Of the mechanical cner-
gy Is used In the form Of electrical
current. When applied to Industrial
uses one electrical horse power does
the work Of ten men without firing
Increasing Mans Productivity.
Conservation of human labor goes
hand in hand with utilization of me
chanical energy, and utilization Of that
form of energy most cheaply and least
wastefully developed accompllshes the
maximum in freeing man from muscu-
lar toll and increasing his productive
ty In the last decade we have har-
messed for our utilities and Industrial
needs something like 100000 horse
power Of water
This accomplishment stands for real
progress, but, as compared with our
possibilities, It is not such progress as |
we should have obtained Although we
are utilizing today 100000 horse
power Of water we are annually, daily |
neglecting and wasting ten times that
amount, largely because Of our map
Iplicable laws, since most OF the water
powers not In use are under govern
Iment control, and the present laws do
not adequately make provision for
their fullest development and use
There is in nonuse in the United States
enough water power to equal, II har
messed to the wheels Of industry and
used continuously, the daily labor OF
1,SoOWOOOO men, or thirty times our
present adult population.
This nonuse of our water powers Is
a significant Illustration OF the oppor-
tunities and possibilities Of the future
of America. 1t is equally significant
Of the lack of intelligent development
of resources, employment of opportunl-
ty, and coordination of effort which
has to the present time, marked our
political and Industrial growth
Only tho Surface Touched
We have S20O,OOo,O00,000 Of accumu-
lated wealth. but we have mined only
the surface of our natural resources.
Many times two hundred billions OF
wealth lie beneath this carelessly
scratched surface awaiting only the co
ordination OF capital, labor and states
manship for its realization.
And In this development and utilza-
tion OF natural resources, particularly
of water powers, we have. for some
good reasons and some not 80 good.
fallen behind the rest OF the world. :
While we are pickering over terms OF |
legislation TO make our water powers I
available other countries have devel- 7
oped their powers and with them ere a
ated vast new industries based upon 7
scientific discovery and invention. OF r
which we have none I
We are depicting our fuel supply in I
the manufacturing sections Of the East /
and Middle West while I'm the far /
West are mountains of undeveloped 1
raw materials adjacent to unused wa r
ter powers whose development would G
mean the establishment of great new
Industries I'm new manufacturing cen. a
tiers. r
We are robblng our farm lands OF G
fertility and failing to realize the ut l.
most Of our agricultural opportunities c
because of our dependence upon for $
eign sources Of high priced supplies for G
chemical plant foods or fertilizers. I
while mountains Of phosphate rock, 4
line and Ignite in the West await a
only the magic touch Of atmospheric I
nitrogen extracted and fixed with the s
aid Of cheap hydro electricity to fur c
nish a low-priced and plentiful supply G
Of fertilizing elements. I
Millions OF acres OF lands rich in s
plant foods lie arid and waste in the r
western country which can be convert
ed into fertile and productive farms, /
gardens and orchards merely by pump {
ing onto them the waters Of the v
streams flowing through them This d
miracle Of making the desert bloom d
awaits for accomplishment only the v
laws which Will permit capital and en- Z
terprise to engage in the Harvesting Of t
these streams 80 that they can pump s
themselves onto the thirsty soil 2
Complete Preparedness, ... I