New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
England Sees Coal
Saving in Greater
Use Of Electricity
Comprehensive Power Dis
tribution Plan Outlined by
London Board of Trade

In view of the drastic action taken
in the United States to meet the acute
shortage of coal, much interest at
taches to the plan proposed in England
to conserve the coal supply by means
OF a comprehensive scheme for the gen.
Grafton and distribution of electric
power as a way of obtaining better
utilization Of available fuel supplies.
Recently the coal conservation commit
tee of the London Board of Trade un-
dertook "A careful survey of the problem
of national power supply. The sub
stance OF the report made of the com
mittee's findings is set forth by "The
London Tines:
In the first place, the report lays
emphasis cn the need for largely in
creasing--5y two or three times-thc
amount of power used in industry. 1t
states that IN the United States the
amount OF power used per worker is So
per cent more than in the United King
dom, and j. the workers in trades where
the use OF power is limited. or even
impossible, were eliminated, it would
probably be found that in the United
states the use of power, where it can be
used, is nearly double what it is here.
On the other hand, the standard rates
OF wages are higher in the United
states, living conditions are better. and
there is little doubt that the average
purchasing power of the individual is
greater than it is in this country
largely owing to the more extensive use
OF power, which increases the indivi4
uals earning capacity. The best cure
1of low wages Is more motive power:
or from the manufacturers point of
view, the only Offset against the in
creaslng cost of labor is the more ex-
tenslve use of power. Hence, the solu-
t!on or the worAman's problem, and also
mat of his employer is The more ex-
tensive use of motive power. The coal
at least su,O00,OG0 tons annually. con-
sumed for the production of power. in
clud'ng railways, would produce at
least three times the present amount Of
power II it were used economically.
Electric Power Necessary
mat the most economical means of
applying power to industry is the
electric motor has been settled conclu-
slvely during the last fifteen wears.
ne problem, therefore, is not so much
how to apply the power TO the tool
or process as how best to generate
IIectrlc power; and RS Great Britain
uoeS not possess in appreciable ouan-
tity either water power. oil. or natrral
Gas' 1t resolves itself into the most
economical production of electric
power from coal. Since the introduc-
lloh oi the electric motor as the prin-
elpal agent for driving machinery
mere mas been a great tendency to
generate the electric power required
az cehtfai stations. but while in one
or TWO industrial districts genera
tlon and distribution are being de-
Ve!opeu Oh correct lines, it remains
Nue that. as regards the country as
d whoie, the requirements of each mu-
tf:lc.pal area, each railway and each
thho'ory tho . are dealt dealt with separately, with
me result that the average size OF
generating machine employed is not
more tnan tentll-p probably not more
man q twentieth-of what it ought tn
oe. In such conditions economy in
coal consumption is impossible. The
SITUATION produced has reciprocal CON
sequences and a cumulative result On
account of the preponderance of small
elec5rcity supply stations and the
small size OF the generating machines
elhployed' with consequent low econ
'"i SA ., railway COM
panles and other large power users in
many districts are still compelled to
run power plants of their own. TAX
ing 'he country as whole, the use
oy many manufacturers of their own
plant still further reduces the avsr-
age size Of power-g generating ma
chimes. ma
The use of electric power generated
IN central stations for all classes of
y, Sork-not only motive power, but also
'leG'r ro-metallurglcal and electro chem
a. "a, processes would show a consider
able increase with the decreasing coe+
't electricity SO generated. The effest
cumulative; Increased coal economv
implying a correspondingly decreased
selling price of electric mower ~
;Ieases the load on the large powar
'iaht' while the increased consumptio, !,
u electricity and improved load factor
produce in their turn a further economv
n coal consumption by improving the
,onol1ions Of load, thus justifying the
Use OF the largest electric generating
nacnlne. In fact, the only way IN
vhlch pubic supply stations can secure |
ne business of supplying all the power
lsers IN given area is to have gener-
ting machines much larger than tho /
Individual manufacturer can find use
or.
Conditions of Cheap Supply
The conditions of supplying power at
ne lowest possible price throughout
he country are:
(D The power users in each indus
rial district must be supplied from one
nterconnected electrical power dis
r!bution system.
W Large generating machines. of
lot less than 10000 horsepower must
'e used, and erected in the best pos
ible positions for economical produc
Ion. In the more important industrial
lstricts machines of $4,000 horsepower
night be advantageously used.
(3) Power available from surplus gas
n waste heat should be turned into
Electrical power on the spot in local
'lants feeding into the main distribu-
ION systems. Waste coal-that is, coal
Which 1T does not at present pay to
ring to the surface-could also he
lsed on the spot where transport was
ne ruling consideration.
On account of the compact nature If