The Washington herald., 1917-12-19
URGE GREATER
WATER POWER
Hugh Cooper Tells Holland
Labor Troubles Can Be
Reduced by Mills.

None OF the leaQlIk E4PCII AANhOAA-
ties upon the development Of hydro
electric power has gained higher
reputation than Hugh L. Cooper. His
entire professional life has been oc-
cupied with a study of hydro-electric
as well as the construc-
tion Of some of the important hydro
electric plants. He Ii understood to
have been the engineer in charge of
the Niagara Falls development upon
the Canadian side. So high was his
reputation that he was commissioned
by the du Pont Company OF Whining
ton TO make investigation into water
powers at the time when this COM
pany was contemplating two years
ago, were the government at WASH
.inston to permit II, use Of some OF
our water powers for the operation
of a great plant which, through the fix
alton of atmospheric nitrogen, would
be able to supply the government and,
In fact, the farmers with all the
nitric acid needed both for war and
for agricultural purposes.
Mr.. du Pont Is one of a member or
leading hydro-electrie engineers who
read with qualification the brief rec
Ommendation contained in President
Wilson's message to Congress with in
tent to persuade that body to adopt
legisla tion which will make 1t possible
to utilize some part at least Of tile
government water powers.
Labor Shortage Acute.
Recently Mr.. Cooper stated that all
over the world people are suffering
because of the high cost OF living.
This alarming increase in cost is to
great extent due to a shortage of food
supply. In order to increase the sup
ply OF food the chief need is for labor.
Nevertheless, the labor supply in the
United States is being reduced below
normal by war demands.
Therefore, Mr.. Cooper is convinced
that If we can devise a method
whereby our labor supply can be in
creased We can thereby take one of the
most important steps toward a reduc-
tion In the high cost of living.
After an exhaustive study Of the
subject, Mr.. Cooper Is convinced that
by the harnessing of our water powers
the United States will be able to con-
ssrve labor and produce better living
conditions than can be obtained by
any other agency. Presumably Presi-
dent Wilson, whose attention has only
recently been turned to the use of our
water powers. is of a like opinion to
that entertained by Mr.. Cooper. For
the President must have been in
formed by a member of his Cabinet,
Secretary Lane. that in the United
States there exist today 35,O00,O0o of
water horsepower which is daily
going to waste. Had the development
Of water power which was earnestly
urged by engineers some ten or twelve
says we should now have an addi-
tional 100000 water horsepower at
work. while at the same time public
interest would be protected because
the public will fix the rates to be,
paid for this enormous amount of now
unutilized energy.
III a recent communication made
for the ears of men of science, Mr.
Cooper estimated that the great
body OF consumers in the United
States would IL our water powers
were sufficiently developed now be
enjoying a saving of at least $780,
100000 annually in their power bills
But even more important than this
there would be. according to Mr..
Cooper's estimate, at least 100000
working men who are now oc-
cupied in taking coal from the coal
mines, coal which. when burned
to produce energy, finds its way to
the ash pile. That coal after il has
produced energy is gone forever,
whereas water power if occupied in
similar employment is not lost, for
our water powers are inexhaustible
At least hundred thousand
working men who are now miners
would be available to the govern
ment for other purposes.
Farmers Would Benefit.
In the communication Just referred
to Mr.. Cooper asserts that had our
water powers been even in some small
Apart developed. say about the equiva-
5ent of 100000 water horsepower.
no Industrial class in the United
States would receive greater benefit
than the farmers. For the farmers
would no longer be anxious lest the
supply Of fertilizers be used UP with
out any prospect Of replenishment.
There are some s274OO0Oeo worth Of
railway equipment now hauling coal
which would be available for other
and equally important services.
Some OF the best authorities are
strongly inclined to agree with Mr..
Cooper in the assertion he has re-
Gently made that today il is even
more important to conserve labor than
to conserve coal.
Mr. Cooper does not make this as
general statement without any
proof. For he makes use of the lat
est government statistics that are
available including those of the btu
miuous coal mined in 1915. In that