Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-09-08

TN the marvellous material progress
made by civilization during the last
century the greatest single factor
has been the substitution Of mechan-
zeal energy for human labor. In pro-
portion to the degree in which man is
relieved from the necessity for devot-
ing 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 nobler 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 10O,O00,00O people are
increased by the use Of probably 1885,
100000 horse power Of mechanical Ell
ergy, not including the animal power
furnished by 30,O0OO0O horses and
mules. Most of the mechanical ener
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 accomplishes the
maximum in freeing man from muscll-
lar toll and increasing his productive
ty In the last decade we have har-
messed for our utilities and industrial
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 inap-
plicable laws, since most of the water
powers not in use are under govern
ment 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, if har-
messed to the wheels of industry and
used continuously, the daily labor Of
1900, 100000 men, or thirty times our
present adult population.
This nonuse of our water powers is
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 opportuni-
ty, and coordination Of effort which
has, to the present time, marked our
| political and Industrial growth.
Only the Surface Touched.
We have $2OO,OOO,O0O,OOo 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 it's realization.
And in this development and utiliZa-
| ton of natural resources, particularly
| of water powers, we have, for some
good reasons and some not so good,
| fallen behind the rest Of the wOrld.
| While we are pickering over terms of
legislation to make our water powers
available, other countries have devel-
| oped their powers and with them Gre
! ated vast new industries based upon
scientific discovery and invention, of
which we have none.
We are depicting our fuel supply in
the manufacturing sections Of the East
and Middle West, while in the far
West are mountains of undeveloped
raw materials adjacent to unused wa
| ter powers whose development would
mean the esta blishment of great new
! Industries in new manufacturing cen.
tiers.
| We are robbing our farm lands OF
fertility and failing to realize the ut.
most of our agricultural opportunities
because Of our dependence upon for
| eign sources Of high priced supplies for
chemical plant foods or fertilizers
while mountains of phosphate rock
| lime and Ignite in the West await
only the magic touch of atmospheric
nitrogen extracted and fixed with the
aid Of cheap hydro-electricity to fur
nish low-priced and plentiful supply
Of fertilizing elements.
i Millions of acres Of lands rich II
plant foods lie arid and waste In thu
western country which can be convert
ed into fertile and productive farms
gardens and orchards merely by pump
ing onto them the waters Of thu
streams flowing through them. Thu
miracle Of making the desert bloom
awaits for accomplishment only thu
laws which will permit capital and en-
terprise to engage in the Harvesting O.
these streams so that they can puml
} themselves onto the thirsty soil.
Complete Preparedness.
II Behind a complete preparedness
whether industrial or military, must b
. the complete machinery OF an indus