Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-08-09
DEVELOPING VERMONT WATER
POWER.

An interesting story on the develop
ment of the water power of Vermont
is told in the last issue of the United
States Investor, periodical devoted
to fancial news. The article is as
follows:
"It is fact that the development
of water power in the state of Yer
mont, under the modern method of
high tension transmission has been
neglected to 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.
''It is we'll known, also, that the
state of Vermont is peculiarly favored
by nature with an abundance of natural
water powers, and yet it is only with
in comparatively recent date that
the attention of capital has been
directed toward it.
sit is interesting to learn that five
New England states have SO per cent
of the water-developed manufacturing |
power, while New York state has 80
per cent, or nearly two-thirds of the
water.developed manufacturing power
in the country.
San expert in water power matters
has stated that Vermont has the posi-
bilities of developing 10000 900 in horse
power, or the power which can be
generated by 100000 tons of coal
annually. What the development of
this have amount of power would mean
to Vermont is almost beyond belief.
Few states of the Union compare
with Vermont in respect to the number
of rivers and streams flowing from the
SUBMITS of the Green Mountains and
| it is doubtful if any area in the coun-
| try, of less than the thousand square
miles, is so we'll watered as this state,
and which is one of the two states in
the Union in which water generates
more power than steam.
ION account of this neglect of the
development of cheap power. Vermont
is farther behind than any of her sister
states of New England in manufacture
ing, but the time is near at hand when
this situation promises to be reversed,
to some extent at least, for during the
past two years considerable progress
has been made by outside capital to
take advantage OF the splendid oppor-
tunities which the state affords for
the acquisition of it's natural resources
for the creation of electric energy.
Zone of the foremost developments
at the present time is that which is
being undertaken by the Hortonia
Power company and it's subsidiary,
the Eastern Vermont Public Utilities
corporation. In our issue of March II,
1916, we referred to the undertaking
in which the Hortonia Power company
is engaged, and it was about this time
that the Eastern Vermont Public
Utilities corporation was organized
under the laws Of Vermont with the
object of taking over certain hydro
electric property of the Judkin Electric
Light company at Barnet, which
%o ifc iofo
locality the Groton Electric Light &
Power company and the Ryegate
Light, Heat & Power company.
'These plants are to be further
improved and developed and are just
being united. Developments of other
hydro-electric properties are to be
made at Danville and vicinity with
.. the construction of two power stations.
''The Eastern Vermont Public UtiIi-
ties corporations main transmission
line connecting Danville, Ryegate and
Bethel is to be constructed this sum-
,, mer, and, we are informed, the COM
pany already has application for larger
amounts of power than it is able to
supply from Individual consumers and
; the large quarrying section which it
. enters. This company will supply the
, Woodbury. Granite company and other
! large Quarrying operations and has
municipal contracts for lighting num-
erous towns in the state. All facto-
rles which 1t operates are perpetual.
! ''This company was organized by T.
/ NJ. Dyer & Company, of New York,
] who also organized the Hortonia Power
company, which is making splendid
J progress in the development of electric
energy in the central and western part
of the state connecting up the magnet
ic iron fields on Lake Champlain with
the great slate, marble and granite
? quarries, kaolin and tale belts of
central and western Vermont. This
{ company owns five hydro-electric plants
and several steam generating plants,
in fee, and by option, undeveloped
water power to the amount of 1.7S5.
horse power.
"As Vermont's Industrial future is
closely allied with the development OF
her water power resources, these enter.
: prises ought to be of much assistance
} in attracting new industrial enterprises
that will assist in making Vermont one
,, of the greatest industrial common.
ties will be afforded for the establish,
ment of many mills and factories.
, with the development of Vermont
} water power on a large scale and the
production of electricity comparatively
small cost, it will be possible fol
thousands of farmers of Vermont to
light their homes and barns by electri
city and use electric power for the
operation of farm machinery and TO,
domestic purposes. The possibilities
, of industrial development are equally
as great and the time promises to be
not far distant when the state will be
something beside a summer tourist
region and agricultural section.''