Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-10

~ ASoO, o<--,OOO,JOO, dIQ ultlDlltS-
y S6O,OOO,OOO. The annual produc-
ton cost by 1925 is put at S2,l65,OOO
and by 1880 at S3,l90,OOO and ultimate
ly So, 100000.
lhe survey was made under an ap-
preparation from Congress and under
the direction of George Otis Smith, di.
rector OF the geological survey, with the
hearty cooperation Of the engineering
profession and of all the industries af-
fected by the proposed larger cleo
IRRIGATION. 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 investiga-
non and gave larger practical value
to the completed report. Secretary
Fall has asked the members of this
board to continue their public services
IN the further consideration of the
legal and financial aspects of the su-
per-power project. Only the engineer
ing features are presented in the
present report.
The thirty-five pages of the report
devoted to the proposed electrification
OF the heavy-traction railroads present
results OF even more general interest
than the detailed ANALYSIS of the in
dustrial use of electric power. The
question of railroad elctrification must
be decided according to the density of
traffic, so it is that of the $4,000 miles
of main line, yards and Sidngs in this
~ N,a1,
miles \could be profitable electrified.
This electrification would cost nearly
half billion dollars, but it would save
from | to 19 per cent on the invest
ment, or an average of IA per cent.
Electrification is the next step in rail
road expansion, absolutely necessary
to increase both the capacity and the
efficiency of our transportation sys-
tenn. incidentally, the annually saw
ing of 100000 tons of coal by the
railroads would greatly increase the
available car supply.
This study of power needs is for
ward-looking and throughout en-
presses with confident America optimism
the conviction that our industrial de-
velopment is to continue without check.
In his letter to the President Secretary
Fall refers to the obvious fact that it
is by multiplying our manpower by
machines that American labor can best
meet the competition of cheap foreign
labor Secretary Fall also says:
II believe the engineering facts and
economic conclusions here presented
VIII command the attention alike of the
fnanciers, railroad executives, public
utilities officials, industrial leaders, and
, others of that large group of our citi-
zens of large vision who are building
for the America of tomorrow. Our
present-day achievements have largely
ccme through our country's unparal el-
ed wealth in raw materials. The larg-
er use of our sources of energy must
be planned with every effort to avoid
waste. Had the superpower project
outlined in this report been in opera
tion in 1919, Il is believed that 25,000.-
600 tons Of coal could have been saved,
and with the rapid growth expected N
the present decade the saving possible
in 1890 by the inter connected electri-
| fication of industries and railroads
would be 50O00,OO0. However, theeo
economies on truly national scale vii
| affect not only coal, but capital ex-
penditures as we'll, and especially the
output of human energy. More AMI
cheaper electricity must surely add to
the comfort and prosperity of our
citizens, and this report on a super
power system is submitted as a con-
tribution Of the Department of the
Interior to the common welfare"