The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-15
FAITH IN WAFER PONER
France Utilizing Natural
Force in War-See Great
er Benefit in Peace.


sociated Press 1.-The water power o
the Alps, the Pyrenees and the cen.
trail mountainous region is playing 9
big role i'll the military effort of France
and will have an even greater share
in the after war economic struggle.
Many new hydraulic power plants
born of the war needs, are turning out
shells. chemicals and other necessities
for the army. Many others. born Of
the coal famine and its lessons will
replace the steam power after the war.
France utilized 13 per cent of it's to-
tai estimator natural water power in
per cent in July of last year and the
proportion is every day increasing.
Competent engineers fix at 4,600,O00
horse power the energy France could
secure from its waterfalls at low wa
ter while 100000 horse power is the
estimate for average seasons. The to-
tai steam energy used in France before
the war was only about 100000 horse
power divided among about $4,000 cs-
Establishments.
The water power of the Alps has
given the name Of the vale of Alum
mum" to the Valley of Arc, where 49,
900 horse power is used Transforming
alumine into aluminium bars. la Ro-
manche in the wild valley from Bourg
d Oissons to Point dc C1aiz is the
valley of carburet and metallic al
Toys absorbing $1,000 horse power.
Electric steel plants are concentrating
in the basin of the Airy where one
concern has installed Il complete mill
with electric furnaces run by turbines
of $4,000 horse power. Seven impOr-
tant new plants are being built in the
region of Grenoble.
In the valley of the Durance new
plants asgregating $4,000 horse power |
for the electro chemical industry are
under way, while above Modane one OF
the biggest chemical works in France
has acquired rights to about 10000
horse power of waterfall that will be
utilized speedily.
Hydraulic electrical plants in central
France have saved the family ribbon
industry of Saint Etienne. The little
home shops had begun to disappear
unable to compete with the mills. Elec-
trio motors of Il quarter of a horse
power have set this domestic oecupa-
ton going again, keeping at home men
and women who would otherwise
be driven to the looms of the big mills.
Little motors are used all through that
region for cabinet making. Had they
not existed before the war, it would be
necessary to invent them or something
equivalent for the use of MANNED SOL
diers
The electric motor is counted upon
also to solve the problem OF farm help
in regions accessible to current. Co.
operative societies are being formed
to buy current for distribution among
the members; the installation of "A
power station is being considered by
help such projects Is now being con-
sidered in the Chamber.
Electric energy for Paris brotight
from the Alps is the most ambitious
project for the future. A dam IS yards
high in the Rhone at Genissiat, back
ing the water up II miles to the Swiss
frontier, will furnish fall sufficient
to operate II power station of $4,000
horse power and 10000 kilowatts.
The energy is to be transported to
Paris in the form of an alternating cur
rent under Il tension of 10000 volts.
The line of transmission will be 3D.
miles long. xs0
one hundred and twenty million
francs is the estimated outlay--the
cost of about a day and half of war
to France.
This enterprise would alone econo-
mize 100000 tons of the 20 million
tons of coal France imported annually
before the war. Engineers figure that
current bought from the Swiss from
tier could be sold with sufficient prof
it in Paris at centimes kilowatt
hour; an economy OF about so per cent
on the cost of current produced by
steam before the war.