San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
Wealth of Water Power
Opens Way for Enormous
Supply Of Electricity for
Large Industries.
By GEORGE r. WHITE
peclal Cable to the san Antonio Lig
and the Chicago Daily News

Special Cable TO the san Antonio Light
and the Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1928.
Christiania, Norway Feb. 2.-Nor
way, known the world over for hel
shipping and her fisheries is making
definite place for herself as an in
dustrial country through the develop
ment of her water power.
The age of electricity already has
placed Norway, despite her lack of
coal, in the front rank of the power
producing nations said Director Hi.
Bait of the ministry of commerce,
navigation, industry and fisheries.
To-day no other European country
has such a wealth of water power.
According TO the latest surveys.
Norway's waterfalls are capable of
producing at least 100000 horse
power, which, with reasonable expen-
diture for regulation and utilization.
may be drawn upon night and day the
year round. This corresponds to the
enormous figure of 100,0OO,OOO,OOO
kilowatt hours annually.
THAT this quantity of power may
be supplied evenly throughout the yea
is of the greatest Importance to the
industries of. the country and con-
stitutes Norway's greatest advantage
over the other power-producing coun-
tries of Europe.
Norway, with her 2.650,000 inhabi-
tants, can place at the disposal of
every inhabitant 81 horsepower, or
100000 kilowatt hours annually.
Power for Large Industries.
"Of this vast amount of power more
than half is favorably located for the
large industries. The waterfalls plunge
directly down into the deep fjords, in
which even the largest ocean steamers
can dock at piers quite close to the
power stations and the factories. These
fords offer well-protected harbors,
free from ice throughout the year.
western and northern Norway. par
ticularly, possess wealth OF large
waterfalls. The mountains in these re-
gions rise from the ocean to heights
of 1000 TO 1900 meters, while the
gulf stream, which touches the Nor
wegian coast along practically its en-
tire length, carries the warm, humid
ocean air over the high coast noun
tains. with the result that there are
many very heavy rain storms.
"Of the 100000 horse power
available through the development of
hydro-electric stations, the Norwegian
government owns about 2,OOO,OOO Of
which about 10000 horse power has
been developed. A corresponding
quantity is owned by Norwegian mu-
nicipalities. while the balance is in
the hands of individuals or private cor
porations.
'Up TO the present about 100000
horse power has been developed. Ot
this amount about 100000 horse power
is developed by public utilities which
supply electricity for lighting. house
hold uses. agricultural purposes, man
industries, street car sys-
tens. and so forth, while the balance
is consumed by the large industries.
Anew plants that will develop an
additional 100000 horsepower are in
course of construction. These are chief
u OF public and municipal plants.
Growth i'm Use Of Power.
"The steady increase in the demand
for power is clearly indicated by the
figures: In 1907 the hydro
electric plants in operation were ca
pable of producing about 100000 horse
power, in 1913 this was increased TO
about 10000 horse power and IN
1920 to 100000 horsepower.
Even when it is considered that. be-
cause of its low cost comparatively
large quantities of power will be re-
quired to meet the public demands
it will undoubtedly be safe 10 figure
that upwards Of 100OO,OOO horse
power will be left for the large IN
dustries. 1t is even quite possible
that some Of this power may be sx-
ported to central Europe. This idea