The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
Could HaveLOWer Rates Even
Than Ontario Towns
Cheaper Money Needed

1t is entirely feasible to draw 2,000.0 900
more horse power from the Niagara
River, below the Falls, half of which
would be OIL the New York State side
of the stream: that an additional 200,-
900 or 100000 horsepower could be
tapped from the river above the Falls
without seriously damaging their
scenic beauty; Chat 100000 horse.
power could be had from the ST. Law
renee River IN the neighborhood OF
the Long Sault Rapids: that $4,000
horsepower could be realized from the
surplus waters Of the State Barge
Canal. And the Federal authorities, az
well as New York State engineers,
have reported that there are thousands
OF horsepower undeveloped along the
many rivers and creeks within our
borders.
Putting the latter conservat.vely at
100000 horsepower II would seem that
we have at hand. susceptible Of utiliza-
ton, about 100000 OF unused horse
power in our waterways, representing
the annual equivalent of 10000, 900
tons of coal.
Halted by Public Sentiment.
Public sentiment has played n con-
spicuous part heretofore in arresting
water power development. Opposition
to commercial interests and the fear
that natural beauty might be marred
have together constituted the funda-
mental reasons for the antagonsm. In
I thoughtful discussion Of the national
power situation published by the di-
vision Of mineral technology Of the
United States National Museum we
| are told:
1.-The source of disapprobation lies
In the lack OF vivid apprecia. ton as
| to the matter Of need. coupled with
the attendent imputation OF surrender
| to vested interests. Accordingly the
water power situation cannot be salts
| factorily cleared up until the need for
the systematic development of this
resource is firmly established: until
freight congestion. flreless homes,
foodstuff costs and other intimately
personal issues are seen to be genu-
inely involved; until the opportunity
for the restricted furtherance of spe-
cial interests. financial or sectional,
has been eliminated.
Until these conditions have been
met attempts to promote the develop
nlent. Of our water power resources are
bound to result in Intellectual COM
promises
Prepared More Than a Year Ago.
In passing let it be said that this
bulletin was prepared before we fel,
the pinch of the last twelve months
and most of us have since had brought
home to US those very things which
make II clear that we should moi
neglect any source of energy which will
help TO make US independent OF coal.
The authors Of the bulletin in ques-
ton have assembled some illuminating
facts, and have put them in a way tc
he readily grasped by the average
reader. "A hydro electric station. once
established. is largely self-containet
and automatic in operation. There are
no periodic items of cost for fuel, fo
, its freightage. haulage. handling. anC
the like, such as associate themselve
with the operation OF steam powe
plant
so. apart from such incidentals a
administration. insurance. taxes AM
depreciation. which together bull
small, practically the whole burden o
, gross operating expense is that as
sumed at the outset in the gu'se o
, initial cost and perpetuated in tn
form OF interest money"
! In proof of this the authors hav
, cited a comparison. printed nearl
three years ago in the Proceedings o
the American Institute OF Electricd
Engineers. the unit of analysis bein
plants OF 10000 horsepower, with al