Evening star., 1923-06-12
POWER MEN NOTE
GREAT. PROSPERITY
Demand for Electricity Shows
industrial Boom-61 New
Plants Under Way.
BY j. G. ROfLE.
,,., Co.

Special Dispatch TO Inc Sthr-
NEW YORK. June 12.-The United
States has entered upon what prom
ices to be a period of general pros
perity, according to NJ >. Sloan'
president of the Brooklyn Eolsoh
Company, and chairman of the COM
mittee on electrical resources OF the
sstton of the National Electric Light
Association.
The electrical industry is baro-
meter of the nations business con-
ditIou." he said today. Ine pro-
ductiou curve of electric nght ana
companies shows accurately 'he
prosperity of the country. In tact' IL
does more; it forecasts the condi'ioh
of industry in general
For the manufacturing estaoiish-
ments of the United States are so
generally operated by central station
electrical energy. that heavy IN
crease in the demand for current is
proof the manufacture OF ma
terials and goods subsequently to be
sold in the markets here and abroad
This is surer proof of conditions
than a firms order books, for orders
are sometimes cancelled.
Big Demand for Power.
According to this guage. we have
entered upon what promises to be a
period of general prosperity ana
what already is period or cor,
siderable business activity. L talked
with utility company executives from
all parts of the country at the Ma
1ional Electric Light Association con-
vention. All reported the same thing
"a constant demand for more power.
G q q
This demand" Mr.. Sloan stated.
was causing companies all over the
land to increase their plants anu
equipment beyond any scale OF ex-
ransion the industry hitherto mas
attained.
There are sixty-one power plants
now in course of construction, he
added. which will have total in
stalled generating capacity or more
than $500 900 kilowatts. This means
an increase in the generating ca
pacity of the nation of more than
double the expansion recorded last
year Also. this only takes into ac-
count the big plants under construc-
ton There are scores OF small ones
being built. both steam and hydro
electric.
VIII Spend ss00.00o. 900.
The industry will spend this year
more than s600,00o,00O for new
plants, transmission and dlstrlD lDutlnS
systems. 1t Is estimated iHdl dt lHe
production rate attained during the
first five months of this year the
total output of energy in the United
States will amount in 1928 to 90
ito. 600 900 kilowatt hours.
"A sure and constant supply of
CHEAP power is one of the basic ele-
ments of the maintenance of in
dustrial prosperity. The electric
utilities have never failed in doing
their part and they will not fail in
this new era of activity if they have
the cooperation of the public"
The program of the electric light
and power companies involves bring
ing in vast sums in new capital" he
explained. Money does not grow
on bushes. We have to go out and
buy il in order to put it to work for
the benefit of the public. 1t has
been estimated that the investors OF
the country will have to supply about
$1,000. 900. 900 year for the next FIVE
years to enable the electrical industry
to meet the demands On it.
Expects Sufficient Capital.
We of the industry do not believe
there will be any difficulty in obtain
Ing this capital if the public under
stands the situation. Light and
power company securities are being
more and more widely distributed
through purchases by customers and
employees so that they are literally
publicly owned.
What I consider of vital import
snce in this situation Is that il be
generally recognized that the utilities
themselves are entitled to their share
iv,S