Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-09
WATER WASTE

az @'ANAAiSAPcl ANuSOC VI 0SOA
which is a statewide organization,
composed mainly of executive Of
1icials of Georgia cities and townss,
formed and operating to improve
urban conditions in this state, has
launched campaign in behalf of the
development of the states latent
waterpoWer resources.
This movement is not only timely,
but it has been too long deferred,
and it should have the active as
sistance of every citizen OF TINS
state, because there is not one but
who would receive direct benefit
from its success.
The league has compiled data
showing that the water courses of
Georgia are capable of supplying I'M
der harness, 100000 horsepower of
hydro-electric energy, and that up
to July, 1919, only 100000 of that
potential horsepower had been de-
veloped.
The rest of it, 100000 horse
power, is day by day running to
waste-doing harm rather than good.
Within the last few months enough
water has fallen upon the hills and
valleys of north Georgia, to turn ev-
cry factory wheel run every railroad
train and trolley car, and to supply
electricity for lighting and domestic
power purposes, for every home, ur-
ban and rural, from Rabun Gap to
the Gulf of Mexico, if it had been inn
pounded to be liberated as needed,
and if our streams had been equip
ped to convert it into electric cur.
rent!
Properly controlled, what a bless
ing that water would be to the peo-
pie of Georgia!
AS it is, it is menace to the in
habitants of the valleys and loss
to the entire state.
Every year Georgia suffers heav-
ily from floods not only IN prop
erty actually destroyed by the over
flowing of its rivers, but tremen-
dous economic loss occasioned by
the enforced idleness of mills and
industrial plants employing thousands
of workers.
The Chattahoochee flood of only
a few weeks ago is case IN point.
Practically every unit OF such an
nually recurring loss could be avoid
ed by the controlling of our freshet
waters by impounding them in res
ervoirs, and it could be converted
into immediate gain by utilizing
those waters as white cOal' for the
manufacture of electrict current.
In addition to the immediate and
concrete value of this hydro-electric
energy, it's employment would release
hundreds of thousands of railroad
cars that are required to transport
the millions of tons of coal the state
now consumes in the operation OF
its industrial establishments and rail
TRANSPORTATION facilities, making
them available for creative com
merce.
The announced campaign under
taken by the Municipal League OF
Georgia has as its objective:
First: Cheap hydro-electric power
for use in city, town and country.
Second: The reclamation of the
flooded lands of Georgia.
Third: The elimination OF the
mosquito and malaria in this state
and,
Fourth: The extension OF naVlga.
ton on the navigable streams OF
Georgia.
1t is predicted upon the sound as
sumption that, working together and
in cooperation with the people OF
the state, our municipal communities
can do as much for Georgia as those
of Ontario, Canada, by the same
method and process have done for
their province.
In the province of Ontario, the
league informs us-where the state
and municipalities cooperating sup
Div their own current, farmer has
been able to light his house and out
houses and operate his dairy and
light machinery on bill Of $50 for
electricity for the year. The aver
age bill for electricity for home IN
Toronto, the capital of Ontario, for
2 month is 80 cents. This is IL
cents less than the lowest bill pos
sible in Atlanta and in Georgia
where the minimum bill is one dol
lar.
This movement ought to succeed
and to insure its success every tax
payer, every householder and every
voter in the state ought to give
mis- support.-The Atlanta Constitu
fiou