The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-12
U. s. HAS VAST WATER POWER
By HOLLAND


 New York, october Especial )--Dr. Edward G. Acheson, who discovered the process by which carborundum can be obtained from two inexhaustible natu- ral products and who also discovered the method by which artificial graphite can be secured, was so busily occupied with very important experiments and tests he is now making that he was un- able to take part in the recent conyen- ton of the American chemists. He was today to speak of the work of the Amer ican chemists and especially the ad- vances they have made toward the utiii- zation of the inexhaustible forces of na- ture so that these may be made to serve mankind.
 Among other things pr. Acheson said that the United States has an inexhaust- ible power producing resource in It's water supply and he Is confident that, in due time, capital in cooperation with men C. science will make use of much of the water resources of the United States especially in the south and in the far west.
 1t was subject of frequent comment amorg the chemists at the recent con- vention that the very great water pow CTS of the south and of the west have not yet been utilized excepting in very small degree for power producing pur- poses. The energy of the water can now be conveniently and cheaply converted into electric energy whereby not only power and light but also the intense heat which is necessary for the further de- ' yelopment of industries through the use of electro-chemical methods can be se- cured Furthermore the use of water power upon a large scale will tend greatly to economy in the use of coal. The day is not very far distant when our resources in anthracite coal will be exhausted if the present rate of con sumption is maintained. So also 1t IS possible to make computation which would fix approximately the date when our supplies of bituminous coal will De exhausted if the increasing demand for it Is maintained.
 The chemists also spoke among them- selves with some concern lest the United States lose it's leadership in electro chemical industries. In 1897 Lord Kelvin visited the United States chiefly for the rurpose of inspecting the newly estab- lished electro-chemical industry at Nj agara Falls. Lord Kelvin had heard au- thcritatively of some of the wonders which utilization of electro chemical methods at Niagara had aiready achieved in American industries. The evening before Lord Kelvin's departure to his home in Scotland he spoke with enthusiasm of those things which were shown to him at Niagara Falls and at tempted to forecast the future of indus try in the United States based upon eloctro-chemical methods. He said that this country had at Niagara Falls stu pendous water power. of which avail could be made in vastly increasing this new industry. This could be done, Lord Kelvin thought, without seriously im- pairing tho scenic beauties of Niagara. We had, he was sure, established our adership in this new industry.
 American chemists are now apprehen- sive that unless there be a much greater use of water power for the development of electrical energy this country is to witness the transfer of our prestige and e-eminence to Norway and to Canada because much cheaper power is avail able there.
 l No one knows. not even the officers o1 ! the government. where the plant whicf Congress has authorized for the extrac- l tion of nitrogen from the atmosphere if I to be located. Presumably it will pe somewhere in the south and possibly al such place as Is contiguous to excellent l water power. For power is necessary l and high degree of 1t. in order to se cure the electric heat which is essentia for the extraction of nitrogen from tht atmosphere. The process by which thiI can be done is discovery of an Amer X Iican who utilized, or tried to, some O the power furnished by the Niagara cur trent but he was unable to persuade capi
 tai that the atmosphere furnished an in exhaustible resource whence all the nj ,| frozen needed for the commercial activi ties and at this time for war purposes
 could be secured.
 l Norway. however. accepted the proces
 and 1t Is understood that Canada | llikely within | short tims to estabiisl
 nitrate producing plants. presumabi'
 utilising some part of canada's share I ( the Niagara current
 There ars marvsls as yet only diml' pictured forth In the minds of the chem ' TIT which Vill by ana hy beeonq xle