Evening star., 1921-11-05
SUPER-P0WER PLAN
WITH GREAT FALLS
AS LINK PROPOSED
Continued from First Page)

tIleS aHected by the proposed larger
electrification. w. S. Murray of New
YORK. who has been the moving spirit
in urging the advantages of a unified
power system. was appointed chief Of
the engineering staff. An advisory
board of business men representing
the railroads and industries interest
ed added driving force to the in
tical value to the completed report.
Secretary Fall has asked the men,
bers of this board to continue their
public services in the further con-
sideration of the legal and financial
aspects Of the super-power project.
Only the engineering features are
presented in the present report.
The thirty-fve pages of the report
devoted to the proposed electrifica-
ton of the heavy-traction railroads
present results of even more general
interest than the detailed analysis of
the industrial use of electric power.
The question of railroad electrifica-
ton must be decided according to the
density Of traffic, so it is that of the
5000 miles of main line, yards and
sidings in this superpoWer zone only
about $4,000 miles could be profita-
bly, electrified. This electriflcation
would cost nearly a half billion dol
per cent on the investment. or an av-
erase Of IA per cent. Electrifcation
is the next step in railroad expansion.
absolutely necessary to increase ooth
the capacity and the efficiency OF our
transportation system. 1ncldentally:
the annual saving OF 9,OOO,00O tons OF
coal by the railroads would greatly
increase the available car supply.
Needed Industrial Development.
This study of power needs is forward
looking and throughout expresses
conviction that our Industrial develop
ment is to continue without check.
In his letter to the President Secre-
tary Fall refers to the obvious fact
that it is by multiplying our man
power by machines that American
labor can best meet the competition
of cheap foreign labor. Secretary
Falls also says:
Il believe the engineering facts ana
economic conclusions here presented
will command the attention alike OF
the financiers, railroad executives.
public utilities officials, industrial
leaders, and others of that large
group of our citizens of large vision
who are building for the America of
tomorrow Our present-day achieve
ments have largely come through our
cpuntry's unparalleled wealth in raw
materials. The larger use of our
sources of energy must be planned
with every effort to avoid waste. Had
the superpower project outlined in
it is believed that 25,000,000 tons of
coal could have been saved. and with
the rapid growth expected in the
present decade the saving possible in
1880 by the inter-connected electrifi-
cation of industries and railroads
would be 50.0O0.00O tons.
However. these economies on a
n wi q nNt
only coal. but capital expenditures as
well. and especially the output of
human energy. More and cheaper
electricity must surely add to the
comfort and prosperity of our citi-
zens. and this report on a super
power system is submitted as q con-
tribution of the Department of the
Interior to the common welfare"
Summary OF Report.
Summarized. the principal conclu-
sions reached in the report are:
The market for superpower energy
Will be furnished by the electric util-
tiles, the industries and the railroads.
The estimated requirement for energy
supplied through the electric utilities
for municipal, private, industrial and
railroad purposes in 1880 is 31,oOO.-
100000 kilowatt hours. This energy
could be supplied by co-ordinated
power system. such as is described in
this report, at an annual cost of $780,
100000 less than by an unco-ordinated
system, such as is now in use. This
amount represents the net saving
after the necessary fixed charges on
total capital expenditures have been
deducted. The cost of unco- ordinated
power production in 1880 is computed
from the cost Of the present system
in 1919. The total investment in gen.
Grating and transmission facilities for
the superpower system will be $1,1O9,-
$4,000. of which $416,346.0OO will rep
resent the value Of existing facilities
to be incorporated into the system.
Grent Sums Involved.
A study Of $4,000 manufacturing
establishments operating within the
SuperpoWer zone shows that by 1890
through the maximum economical use
OF purchased electric energy they can
save $190,000,000 annually above the
fived annual charges against the can
ital investment of $1S5, 100000 to pro
vide the motor equipment necessary
to receive and use this power. The
combined capital investment necessary
for the electric utilities and the in
dustries as of 1880 therefore amounts
to 1924 1854, 900, and this total inyest-
ment will yield annually above the
fixed charges the sum Of $429, 900, 900,
or 33 per cent on the investment.
.s.aH ',,e Sopeip poWeT zone tnere are
$4,000 miles of railroad measured as
single track; that is, including each
track of main lines. yards and siding.
OF this total about $4,000 miles can be
profitably electrified. SO as to yield BY
1880 an annual saving Of $8i, ,O00, 600
as compared with the cost Of opera
ton by steam. The car pital expendi.
ture necessary to electrify the $4,000
miles would be $4,000, 900, and the
average return upon the investment
would therefore be 14.2 per cent.