Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-17
BY Guido Rossati.

49, -
In 1s47 Richard Golden. while
visiting Massimo d'Azeglio in Rome,
and discussing with him the economic
disadvantages of Italy on recount of
her lack of coal, to D'AzegIio's query
What car Italy do without coal?"
retorted. pointing to a cloud in the
sky: There is your steam" Cob
den, by this answer. foreshadowed the
great possibilities OF Italy for water
power development. That vapor, up
on coming in contact with the chilling
atmosphere Of the Apprentices. or of
the snow-capped Alps, resolves itself
into rainfall, abundant enough in the
Pc valley and somewhat less in the
peninsula. "ts
The interchangeable confguration
Of italy is favorable to the creation Of
important hydraulic energies. Els
pecially so in the southern watershed
of the Alps. feeding its numerous
rivers and lakes, with means Of regu-
lating the flow and fall Of water SO
as to produce hydraulic energy of
continuous potentiality, at convenient
cost.
The development Of these resources
is due, in large measure, to the dis
coveries and inventions of eminent
Italian engineers and scientists. Italy
has long been pre-eminent in the cleo
trical feld:through the efforts Of such
familiar name as Galvani, Volta.
Pacinotti, the inventor of the electro
magnetic machine, the ~forerunner of
the dynamo, and Calico Ferraris.
who discovered the rotary magnetic
field.
The inception of the h~ydro-electric
industry in Italy dates from the close
r ~ tho OIL, NANfv~, Thn S~rk ~1a~f
was established in 1892 by the Anglo
Roman society at Tivoli for the cleo
trio lighting of Rome. :, Origina lily
1000 horsepower we're transported to
Rome, a distance of sixteen miles.
Later, plants at Tivoli and in other
parts were further developed to their
present capacity Of $1,000 kilowatts,
with a capital investment Of 40 mil
lion lire. Six years later the Edison
company Of Milan completed the
Paderno plant, by which 1900
horsepower furnished by the river
AIDA. were conveyed to the Lombar-
miles. Since then notable progress
has been made both in the amount Of
power generated and the distance, at
which it has been transmitted.
Numerous plants have been establish
ed: many Of considerable Importance,
such as the Adamello, generating
from a fall Of 5000 feet. 10000 horse
power. at q $4,000. voltage, conveyed
to Milano, a distance of SO miles: and
likewise the Tirano plant, conveying a
similar amount, at 10000 voltage. a
distance Of IS miles. To the original
1000 horsepower of the Anglo ROM
an company were added. with the
Terni-Rome plant. 10000 Horsepower
at $4,000 volts. transmitted over ~
miles. The Grossotto plant. in VAL
! tellina, increased by $4,000 horse
power, at'55,000 volts, carried nearly
100 miles distant. the Milan supply;
| and the Italian Electro-Chemical
company has since transported from
the Abruzxi to Naples. over a distance
Of 112 miles. $4,000 horsepower at a
tension OF $4,000 volts.
These are but a few examples of
ItAlys hydro-electric plants, estab.
lished by over 40 different concerns.
representing a capital, from a maxi
mum of i65 million to a minimum of
maximum Total generating power ca
pacity Of 100000 horsepower, several
from $4,000 to $4,000 horsepower,
and many from $4,000 horsepower
upwards. ~.
The ready response of capital, ia
vored by liberal legislation, has
made this development8possible. with
plants comparing f%avorably with the
largest Of the kind abroad. and uns-
tary cost of the energy made con-
stantly cheaper.
Electric energy in Italy shows for
the decade beginning 1893 an increase
Of 665 per cent, from 86.750 to 511.-
900 kilowatts. of which 800, 900 horse
power hydraulic. 1t had increased in
1916 to 1i064,00o horsepower. This
represents; but a small part OF the
available fes0urces OF Italy. estimated
at q totaIssof 100000 horsepower, OF
which absut 100000 already IN
course oil, development, ana the ball
ance vet t6 he planned,
Before sa4the war. the Germans,
through the Aligemejnes Electricitaets
G~esellschaft. secured a. hold onsItaIian
industry but, since the outbreak Of
the 4 the Italian government has
not merely broken the Teutonics hold,
hut has proceeded with an actiye
watsr-power policy. Confessions Tor