The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-07
POWER FOR
all COAST
in Rivers
Science Sees Solution OF
Our Needs in Mountains as
Oil and Coal Run Low

The great snow topped watersheds
OF the Far West are being turned TO.
by science and industry. 90 solve the
prohipsn OF the vanishing supply OF
coal and fuel oil
Out OF 60. 100000 horse power, the
potential energy stored in streams OF
the United States. 10000, 600, or two
thirds. is held In the mountains OF IL
N~sssern states. and 1t Is in these re
ccxses that in the next decade viii be
seen some OF the most gigantic en-
serprises Of American finance. en-.
gincering and labor.
steps are already being taken
which point To future hydro elcctrifi.
cation. which win make the pas,
seem Insignificant.
At the convention OF the National
Electric Light association AZ fasa.
dcna. Cal. canvas uf SO Western
power companies was embodied In a
most significant report
This report shows that before
1929 = minimum of t7io,5io.oo0 Will
have to be spent In harncssing
portion OF this mighty natural force,
while unforeseen fuel problems may
necessitatc many times that cxpendi'
ture.
Here In brief are the facts brought
cut in the report that predict tho
Inevitable conquest by American en-,
ginecrs Of the unframed mountain
streams Of the Rockies. Cascades
and Siefras.
Coal Il becoming yearly more
scarce and expensive 10 mine. It's
conservation for heating is ncccs
sAry. for II Is 80 per cent efficient
for heating. and only 5 per cent
effective for power development.
PACIFIC OIL SOURCES
APPROACH EXHAUSTION
The worlds oil supply Is bclne
tcA's limited supply has already
Jumped from 50 cents 10 81 bar.
rel. The Standard oil recently stated
that the Pacific Coast sources OF
fuel oil are approaching exhaustion.
The need OF hydro-eicctric power
for farm irrigation Is being felt In
creasingly with the demand FOR
more food For instance the Cali
1ornia rice industry grew from moth
the to a ss7.00o.ooo crop thru dec-
trio power. irrigation alone.
The paper-puip industry OF the
Northwest. and timber mills sensr.
ally have found electrlfiration safer
and cheaper.
Transportation by electricity In IN
| ~ infancy. but the Chicago. Miiwau-
Ikea and st, Paul Railway recently
demonstrated that It can haul It's
kGreat trains $50 miles over the
mountains one-third more cheapiy
~ electric power than by steam.
| The smelling OF copper. lead and
lztnc by electricity and the possible
development OF the steel Industry
NJ electric furnaces opens up vast
possibilities In this field for water
power.
WARRINGTON LEADS
IN WATER POWER
In II Western states west OF the
Rockies is ss.s per. cent OF the ma
tons potential water power. and ~
per cent Of this Is under federal con
troll
The three Pacific Coast states
mp the list with Washington hold
tng $500. 900 horse power: califor-
MIA s.25oooo. and Oregon 1000. 900
These three hold 40 per cent OF the
entire water power Of the United
States. and with Idaho and Mon.
tana can furnish 81 per cent or
as 600 horse power. The II Pa
cific and Mountain Western states
can furnish s0.7of.e 600 horse power.
or 50 per cent Of the total.
In the United States only 1876
FER cent Of the potential power has
been developed. and In the West
only IS per cent or one-sixteenth OF
possible development has been
vcached.
This supply Is not always stored
n water falls. ss in Niagara. bu,
requires piping. fluinlng and tun-
ncling. sometimes for miles. To the
tnd OF adequate development huge
amounts OF capital. on the one
hand. and federal announcement
and cooperation. on the other. are
needed.