Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-08-04
DEVELOPING WATER POWER.
Harvesting of Streams in Vermont
Neglected Until Recently 2,000,-
Horse Power Available.

An interesting story on the develop
mcnt of the water powers of Vermont
is told in the last issue of the United
States Investor, periodical devoted
to financial news The article is as
follows:
cit is fact that the development of
water power in the state of Vermont,
under the modern methods of high ten
sion transmission has been neglected
to a greater extent than in any of the
other New England states and that it
is only recently important steps have
been taken to remedy this
cit is well known, also, that the
state of Vermont is peculiarly favored
by nature with an abundance of natu-
raj water powers, and yet it is only
within comparatively recent date
that the attention of capital has been
directed toward it.
"lt is interesting to learn that five
New England states have 30 per cent
of the watcr-developed manufacturing
power, while New York state has 80
per cent or nearly twothrds of the
water-devclopcd manufacturing power
in the country.
can expert in water power matters
has stated that Vermont has, the posi-
bilities of developing 1000, 000-horse
power, or the power which can be gen
Grated by 100000 tons of coal annu-
ally. What the development of this
vast amount of power would mean to
Vermont is almost beyond belief.
"Few states of the Union compare
with Vermont in respect to the num-
Der of rivers and streams flowing from
the SUBMITS of the Green Mountains,
and it is doubtful if any area in the
country of less than the thousand
square miles, is so we'll watcrcd as
this state, and which is one of the two
states in the Union in which water
generates more power than steam.
con account of this neglect of the
development of cheap power, Vermont
is farther behind than any of her sis
ter states of New England in manufac-
turing, but the time is near at hand
when this situation promises to be re-
vcrsed, to some extent at least, for dur
ing the past two years considerable
progress has been made by outside cap
ital to take advantage of the splendid
opportunities which the state affords
for the acquisition of its natural re-
sources for the creation of electric en-
crgy.
"One of the foremost developments
at the present tine is that which is
being undertaken by the IIortonia
Power Company and its subsidiary, the
Eastern Vermont Public Utilities cor
poration. In our issue of March II,
1916. we referred to the undertaking
in which the IIortonia Power company
is engaged, and it was about this time
that the Eastern Vermont Public Util-
tiles corporation was organized under
the laws of Vermont with the object
of taking over certain hydro-elcctric
power plants and further developing
and improving them. This company
has taken over the hydro-elcctric prop
erty of the Judkin Electric Light com
pany at Barnet, Vermont, which sup
plies several towns in its immediate To-
cality; the Groton Electric Light &
Power company and the Ryegate Light,
Heat & Power Company.
"These plants are to be further i'm
proved and developed and are just be-
ing united. Developments of other hy-
dro-elcctric properties are to be made
at Danville, Vermont, ana vicinity,
with the construction of two power
stations.
'"The Eastern Vermont Public Utili-
ties corporation s main transmission
line connecting Danville,. Ryegate and
Bethel is to be constructed this summer
and, we are informed, the company al
ready has applications for larger
amounts of power than it is able tC
supply from individual consumers and
the large quarrying section which il
enters This company will supply the
Woodbury. Granite company and other
large quarrYing operations and has mu
nicipal contracts for lighting in numer
Gus towns in the state. All franchise,
on which it operates are perpetual.
''This company was organized by +
NJ. Dyer & company, of New York
who also organized the IIortonia Pow
er company, which is making splendid
progress in the development of electric
energy in the central and western par
of the state connecting up the magnet
lie iron fields on Lake Champlain will
the great slate, marble and grant,
quarries, kaolin and tale belts of cen
trail and western Vermont. This com
pauy owns five hydro-electric plant
and several steam generating plants
also, in fee, and by option, undevcl
oped water power to the amount of IL,
15S-horsc power.
GAS Vermont s industrial future i
her water power resources, these enter
prises ought to be of much assstanc
in attracting new industrial enterprise
that will assist in making Vermont on
of the greatest industrial common
wealths of New England, Opportuni
ties will be afforded for the establish
mcnt of many mills and factories
with the development of Vernon
water power on large scale and tn
production of electricity at compare
; lively small cost, it will be possible fo
thousands of farmers of Vermont t
light their homes and barns by electri,
ity aud use electric power for tn
operation of farm machinery and fc
domestic purposes. The possibilities G
industrial development are equally q
great and the time promises to be NJ
far distant when the state will he som,
thing beside a summer tourist regio