Evening star., 1924-07-02
ELECTRICITY GAINS
RAPIDLY IN FAVOR
Superpower Plants Meeting
Demands of Industry.
Acute Shortage.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

BY J. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, July 2.-Daylight saw
ing time, which has been bitterly and
successfully opposed by the farmers
of California for the last two years,
probably will be placed in effect there
within the next week 1t Is expected
this will be accomplished by special
orders of the governor and the state
railroad commission. The expectation
of such orders is based on the acute
shortage of electric power throughout
the state, caused by low water in the
streams. The state has been in the
prevailed almost without brea k
since last September.
The output OF hundreds of factories
and industrial plants has been cur
tailed by this shortage of power and
some Municipalities have been put on
light rations." Three-hour use of the
current for lighting purposes is the
unit allowed in some cities. Steam
generated electrical plants are in a
minority in California and in late
years electric current has become
widely popular for domestic cooking
and heating purposes.
Use of Power Reduced.
The use of power in southern Cali
1ornla has been cut about % per
cent in the industries, and as a re-
suit several hundred oil companies
now engaged in drilling operations
have placed orders for gasoline en-
sines to supplement the electric cur
rent supply. Some drillers have
made plans to install as many as
hfteen of these auxiliaries. This
tendency, 1t is felt, will increase the
ease the oil situation in the state
now burdened with heavy stocks in
storage.
a somewhat similar situation
plants along the Atlantic seaboard.
AS a result, adjustments have been
made which probably will prevent a
recurrence Of the shortage even IN
years when the rain and snow fails
have been light. This has been as
complished largely by remarkable de,
velopments in super-power lines and
arrangements for the interchange
of current in various sections be-
tween oal-burning power plants and
hydro electric stations.
Power Demands Heavy.
The building of new power plants
is proceeding at an unusual rate.
forced by the enormous increase in
demand for lighting as well as IN
dustrial purposes. The reduced prices
for electric light bulbs has now been
placed in effect by the larger manu-
facturers. Engineers in commenting
on the reduction declare that it has
been made possible by quantity out
put rather than any drop in manu-
featuring or labor costs.
The sale of the lighting equipment
produced in this country in the last
Inc
Improvement has continued in late
months without a check. The value
of the bulbs alone totaled $53,69l ,479
in 1928. and the number turned out
this year is expected to be far great
err Farm electrification has taken
marked strides in the middle west
and experimental rural lines now
have been esta tablished in about ten
states.
Power Expe rim ents Made.
On the Red Wing, Mimi, agricultural
test line costs have been figured down to
point where the farmers on the line
pay a service charge of $500 a month
and regular meter rates for power con-
sumed. Power for the experiment is
being furnished free by the Northern
States Power Company. which for time
will utilize the current generated at the
new plant of the Ford Motor Company
at high dam outside st. Paul. The
waters of the Mississippi were turned
into the turbines of the plant for the
first time this week, and the Northern
States Company will purchase the power
developed until it is needed by the Ford
Company. which expects to have the
factory in operation by January l. 1929
The great difficulty in the transmission
of electric current to the farms. accord
ing to William A. Baehr. general man.
aser of the Illinois Power and Light
Corporation. lies in the fact that it is
too expensive to tap big power lines
carrying from $500 to 100000 volts and
reduce the voltage to where the current
can be utilized for the farms. The
only feasible plan evident so far" he
said. seems to be in the building of
low-voltage lines to the farms extending
from a transformer substation in some