Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-12-24
Scope In
cludes Vast Prof
ect to Save Losses
in Mining and
Moving Coal and
t h e Con S e r :
walton Of Energy.
By JOHN LATHRoP.


By JOHN LATHROP.
r Under the leadership of Herbert
Hoover, Secretary OF Com
~ merce, and with the coopera-
ton of eminent electrical engineers
and the Governors of northeastern
States the superpower survey plans
proceed toward their detectives;
The utilization OF natural water
power sites in one coordinated electric
energy transmission project in the
States from Canada to Virginia and
from the Atlantic coast inland to the
Pennsylvania and West Virginian
areas.
The turning of coal at the mouth
OF the mine into electric energy and
the transmission of that energy by
cable to consuming points.
The combining Of the whole into one
vast enterprise to save the costs and
losses now involved in transporting
coal and to utilize large potential water
horse powers now going to waste.
THE idea back Of the superpower
survey" Mr.. Hoover says, lis to elm
mate wastes now incidental to the OBJ
tanning Of energy for lighting, heating
and power, with other social values to
be derived therefrom."
Charles p. Steinmetz, chief consult
ing engineer, General Electric Com
pany, Schenectady, N. Y, takes New
York State as an example in respect
Of these plans.
This State" DR.. Steinmetz said on
Monday OF last week, has 5,333,000
potential water horse power, of which
only 1,333,000 has been developed. II
the whole were brought into use It
would save the use of $400,000,00 OF
railway equipment now necessary to
bring the coal from the mines to the
cities of this State. Another $4,000
600 would be saved by cheaper light
and power.
Developed, these water powers
would enable the shutting down of
every steam locomotive and steam en-
CINE in the State. 1t would bring us
into the electric age, which will be the
age of clean, sanitary and smokeless
towns and cities"
In recent discussions of the power
situation Gov. Miller has indicated the
efforts to perfect the utilization Of
these additional potential power sites.
The foundation has been laid" Gov.
Miller said at Lockport, n. Y, for
the development of the vast water
power resources Of the State under
private initiative, but under the eff
Client control of the State to insure full
protection to the people in distribution
and rates. A million of potential horse
power on the interior streams and two
to three millions on the boundary
streams means, If developed, the saw.
ing Of thirty to forty millions tons of
coal annually in New York State.
TT means light, heat and power for
general uses, for the city dweller, the
village dweller and the farm dweller.
1t means cheaper heat, light and
power. 1t means all of the great mod
ern conveniences. It means the elimi-
nation of drudgery for the housewife
and better methods of living for all
classes wherever they reside"
When the potential water powers
Of other northeastern States within
the scope OF the superpower survey
plans are included, the whole aggre-
gates from ten to fifteen millions of
horse power, and, If utilized, the effects
would be to release proportional rail-
way equipment for other traffic uses.
1t means a vast lessening Of the traffic
congestion now choking SO many ter
minals.
These benefits would accrue in very
large measure to the Port of New
York district, into and out from which
annually about 120,0O0,o0O tons OF
freight move. of which more than 81
per cent. is fuel which must be kept
moving all the time regardless Of the
traffic needs otherwise. When there
fore the water power sites be de-
veloped and the additional economy
wrought Of turning coal into >electrio
energy at the mines, the conditions
of living and commerce and industry
will have received benefits scarcely
conceived as possible at this time by
the people.
Inevitably in the face of these
actual preparations by men who an
nounce that they WILL and are adj
mittedly able to, execute the brilliant
plans mentioned there arises the ques-
ton:
Shall development of these poten-
tial water power sites be by Govern
ment or by private capital and initia-
tive?
AS to Government ownership and
operation Of water powers for gem
Grafton of electric energy data are
available as to the experiment IN the
province Of Ontario, which has been
regarded as one Of the best examples
extant of Government ownership and
control. Engineers who conducted the
superpower survey Murray G. Flood,
have made a technical study of the
Ontario power plan and its operation.
These engineers declare that Cow
erqment ownership and operation APP
piled In this country would strike a
blow at economic structures far bet
ter equipped to protect the public in
terests here. with the public service
commissions regulating their rates."
and that Government ownership also
would unfavorably affect shareholders
OF the electric utilities. Their con-
clusion is that tho Government Hydro
Electric Power Commission of Ontario
owes Its existence to the fact that
when formed there were in Ontario no
public service commissions such as
have been maintained in the United
States.
"a