The Washington times., 1923-11-13
|. 5. [.AGS
IN HYDRO
POWER
World Survey Shows Most
Leading Nations Are Utiliz-
Ing Their White Coal.
b PHILIP A. ORNIE.

NO84s 1OE bA1C AANJOA1ty ~ eA4S
nations Of Europe, is an item Of
import. The only considerable
fuel beds are located in Eng
land, Germany and France. When
the world war put armed barriers
between State and State, this
segregation Of supply was keenly
felt by the neutrals. Germany
eked out her natural deposits
with tonnage from the occupied
region Of France. Great Britain
had to delve her own coal and
hand along some Of it to her
cross-channe1 ally.
Neutrals' Need Of Power.
Other nations of the continent,
particularly those Of Scandinavia,
we're faced by vexing problem. Nor
way and Sweden have virtually no
coal measures. But they have album
dant potential power In waterfalls
and mountain streams, and it was to
this cheap source OF power, light
and heat that they and other neu-
trails in some degree turned.
Despite the difficulty Of obtaining
hydro-electric equipment, such az
structural supplies for dams and
metal for turbines, dynamos ana
transmission lines, the industry OF
government-operat or government
tostered water power developments
went on apace.
Norway and Sweden had COM
menced to utilize this force some
years before the war. Their isolated
position during the great struggle
made further development an I'M
perative necessity. The result Is
that they lead Europe in the use OF
so-called white ccaI The success OF
their experiments has SHOWN the
way to other countries OF the ga
World. Thus hydro-electric plants
are springing up in practically every
nation. And the best developments
are found where the people tneIn-
selves are the hackers Of the projects
aa An Sweden. What the United
States could do with public owner
shin is well demonstrated by what
Sweden has done.
Snort Lays In WAhUHs
In the northern sections Of the
Scandinavian peninsula particularly
is this low-cost lighting and power
appreciated. For here artlflclal
illumination is necessary through
every hour Of the long winter.
Sweden already boasts one super
power area, and another Is In pro
cess Of establishment. 1t was az
long ago as 1908 that the hydro
electric industry was taken unoeI
the wings of the Government. Twelve
years before the United States sue
ceeded in constituting a Federal
Water Power Commission, as pro
lection against private exploitation
Of power resources and stimulus
to their development with str1c'
regulations under leaseholds.
The Royal Board of WATERWAYS
began functioning in Sweden Janu'
airy l, 1909 and in 1913 became tne
State Water Power Administrator
Because Of the increased GROWTH
of business, it was reorganlzed IN
1920. It now consists OF four de
partments, q bureau OF plant, bu
reau Of canals, jurist bureau ano
cameral bureau, the latter having
charge of the financing OF projects
returns, etc. These four bureaus
take care of everything in connec
ton with hydro-electric schemes
from their designing to their pro
lection in the courts in case OF It'll
cation over sites. etc.
Among the notable plants are the
Trolhattan, erected at a cost o.
about ST., 100000. yielding from s11
to a seven per cent return, anc
equipped with Thirteen turbines gen
Grating an average Of 169 900 horse
| power, about equal to that OF the
| long-awaited United States Govern
ment plant at Great Fails on the
Potomac, the Porjus plant, cos
about $6,1OO,OOO; return, 4.8 per cent
six units yielding $4,000 horse
power: and the Alvkarleby plant
Welding 6.5 per cent return anc
Furnished with turbines giving $4,000
horsepower. =.
Much progress has been made ir
the organization of cooperative dis
trict societies, consisting OF farmers
| artisans, ETC., purchasing power II
bulk and maintaining their owr
distribution centers.
So far as actual governmental
development is concerned, Norway
is outstripped by Sweden at thu
nresent time, but recently a large
| dana rtnent was organized under
fine crown for investigation and de
velopment Of waterfalls and rivers