Evening star., 1923-11-10

was passed the total water power OF
the country amounted to 100000
horsepower Since then licenses ana
permits have been issued for new
projects amounting to 1900. 900 horse
power. There have been completed,
or put under construction. plants ag-
gresatins 100000 horsepower;, yer, Ap. sp.
Federal Power Commission totaling
21.500. 900 horsepower.
Mr.. o. c.. Merrill, executive secre-
tary of the Federal Power Commission,
prophesies that 1T is only a matter
when. through the natural expansion
OF adjacent local groups OF plants
and lines, we shall have in the east
ern United states a superpower sys-
tenn rivaling that OF the Pacinc
coast"
x 4 4
The United States geological sur
vey finds potential hydroelectric
power yet to be developed amounting
to 27.s43.o00 minimum horsepower
and 53.s05,000 maximum. The max
imum totals per region are New Eng
| land. i, COS, 600: middle Atlantic. 2.48s,-
| 900; east north central. 100000;
west north central 1,s5C.o0o; south
lAtIantic, .4.s57,000; east south central.
!, 1864. 900; west south central, $4,000;
mountain, 16,13I. 900. and Pacific, 23.-
07S.000. 1t Ia notable that the total
of the Rocky mountain system and
| the Pacific coast states amounts TO
over $4,000. 600 horsepower, out OF the
grand total for all the United States
of 53,905.00e. What will the great
far west do with its opportunity
within the next ten or twenty-five
years?
l. II
Water power is not going to dis
place steam power 1t will save mil
lions of tons of coal. which should
cheaper the cost of that form Of
fuel to all consumers. Not only will
il replace the coal in furnaces, but it
will save the cost of the coal used in
carrying coal from the mines to the
point of consumption. But electricity
costs more in transmission than is
generally understood-in the copper
required as conductor in long range.
In California, it is transmitted ESQ
miles, but at enormous cost for the
plant and the transmission wires.
Secretary Merrill says: Many people
do not realize that when q hydro
electric plant is erected. less than
half the cost of the combined gen.
Grating. transmission and distributing
system has been incurred. Still few
er people realize that from 70 to 80
per cent OF the costs OF delivering the
current to the resident consumer is
incurred after the power has left the
generating station"
r = i Z
This last statement puts a damper
on the Edison-For plan to burn
coal at the mouth of the mine and
of hundreds OF miles. To run such
enormous furnaces would require
rivers of water for condensing. There
is one great furnace on the Ohio
river, which literally runs the whole
Ohio river through its steam con-
deasers. How many locations are
there where mine and river are In
such close proximity?
There have been many other sources
OF power tried out but none has
proved practical for large plants One
system in experimental use has been
to trap the tides. in large reservoirs
and let them out at low tide. while
the trapped water was forced to es-
cape through power-producing ma
chinery. The plan has not proved
practical. since twice a day 1t was
out of seryice-at low tide-and much
of the rest of the day it was of small
power.
Sun power is a scientific plaything
with present means OF capturing il.
Windmills are only for farmers and
very small units. The day may come
when wood alcohol can be safely
made on farms. from waste vsgeta-
ton. but not while the Suicide Club
is SO active, under the eighteenth
amendment.
Copyright, 1928, By Paul v. CoIltns)