Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-29

~ BIRMINGHAM, Ala, April 24-The other
X day woman, carrying on her back
~ and head dry goods and millinery to
the value of perhaps two hundred and fifty
dollars, most of which was wasted, so far as
the ends of warmth, comfort and modesty
were concerned, was seen to stoop in the mid
die of the street and pick up stub of lead
pencil two inches long. This she placed in
her handbag with the air of one securing
treasure.
That woman, with her perverted sense Of
economy, might stand as symbol of the Bir-
mingham industrial district, and, in way,
of the whole American industry, which stoops
Iaboriously to grub up the little treasure of
it's coal, while it let's the great treasure OF it's
water power go to waste.
Here in Birmingham the fact is driven
home with special force because many OF the
coal mines are located beside the rivers, and
magnificent natural power goes roaring past
the very mouth of the mine where men grub
away at the banks of coal that can be made
into power only by an enormous expenditure
of human labor.
Birmingham is one section which has fully
awakened to the value Of it's water power.
The fact that development is not more rapid
is due to the slowness of congress in passing
bill which will make it possible to develop
water power on navigable rivers.
Meanwhile, Birmingham has one great
water power development on the Coosa river,
made under a special law passed by congress
in 1907. If there is anyone who still doubts
that water power can save human energy ano
thereby make the necessities of life easier to
get, he might profitably make study of this
plant.
1t is built in a region where coal is more
abundant and easier to mine than in any
other section of the United States, so that
the steam plants with which it completes
operate under the most favorable condition.
This power plant is furthermore located on a
shallow southern river, having somewhat
irregular flow. AS source Of water power it
is infinitely inferior to many of the western
mountain streams, with their huge cataracts
and steady flow of water.
Yet this Alabama water power plant which
is operated by twelve men working in two
shifts, is able to produce $4,000 kilOwatts
of electrical energy, which comes to $500
kilowatts per man An adjacent steam plant,
which gets it's coal from it's own mine right
at it's door, employs in the mine and the
power plant 270 men in two shifts and pro-
duces 10000 kilowatts of power, or "a kilo-
watts per man.
This comparison leaves little to be said.
If water power plant can so completely
Guido a coal-burning plant rigth here in the
stronghold of king coal, what will 1t mean to
the industry of the United States when all
our available water power is harnessed and
working?
Of course, water power cannot possibly
take the place of COAL We need every bit
of our coal for cooking, domestic fuel, and
other uses. Burning coal to produce power
where water power is available, is waste of
precious substance which never can be re-
placed once the present supply is exhausted.
1t is waste we cannot afford.
Water power development, if properly con-
trolled, cannot fail to mean lower prices for
light, and for manufactured products. The
water power development here has reduced
the cost of electric light in various neighbor-
ing towns from 1 to 40 per cent.
Considering how vital matter to every
consumer is the use of water power, it is
surprising that few Americans understand
how the water power in this country is con-
trolled.
The great majority of the streams in this
country which could be used for the develop