Evening star., 1924-01-27


Industries cannot adapt themselves
TO seasonal use, but seasonal water
power can be used to save steam any
time. But all this means that power
must flow freely over state boun-
daries without legal tmpediments'
Our state laws in many cases mill
tate against this free fioT. Our states
do have rights in the matter, but
their rights can be protected without
blocking the development Of the
nation.
Three years ago the federal gov
ernment undertook an exhaustive
study into the possibilities or sucn
development in the northeastern states.
This demonstrated the savings IN
these ten states resulting from a CO.
ordinated and fully developed cleo
trical power system by the time II
could be erected could amount to
conservation Of about 5o,000,o00 tons
Of coal per annum; that saw
ing could be effected OF more than
$500, 600 900 per annun at an addl-
tional capital outlay of about $l.25o,-
100000. In this area we: are TO-DAY
producing something like 5000, jOO
horsepower by direct steam and indi-
vidual plant generation. substantial
part of which could be transferred to
central generation with great econo-
my. Since that time, while little has
been done in this particular area,
great progress has been made in the
southeast and west in interconnec-
ton, fully demonstrating its values.
Electrified Railroads.
With the crowdirg Of our popula
tion in large areas we are faced with
most difficult questions IN the devel-
opment of terminal facilities and the
handling Of traffic on our railways.
There has been some electrifcatton of
transportation. The engineers who
have made systematic superpower
surveys are convinced that great
mileage OF the railways in congested
areas could be electrified at substan-
ttal economies in operation and with
enlarged service, IL We should secure
this greater and more economical
, power development.
The indirect results both human
and material are even more import
ant than such figures as 1 have given
would imply. They take no account
Of the vast losses TO industry and
commerce from actual interruption
and threatened interruption of fuel
supplies TO our several hundred thou
sand independent power units; no ac-
count Of the relief of shippers from
our already overburdened transpor-
tadon and terminal facilities; no ac-
count OF the increased production of
| our factories from cheaper power; no
account OF the larger extension Of
power into farm and home; no ac-
count OF the reduction OF physical la
Dor and increase of comfort.
To secure the rapid adoption OF
these demonStratedly possible results
is Of profound public Importance
Every time we cheaper power and
centralize its production we create
new uses and add security to the pro-
duction of commodities: we increase
production; we eliminate waste; we
decrease the burden of physical effort
upon men. In sum, we increase the
standards of living and comfort Of
all our people.
Super-Power Practical.
Super-power development is no
promoters dream. It is in actual
action over limited areas and with
more constructive state laws It would
spread rapidly. 1t goes without dis
cussion that the public interests In
these developments must be so pro-
tected that the great benefits do inure
to the consumers.
Another great development is that
of the Colorado river where the prob
lem is one Of combined reclamation
and power. In the drainage of this
river five million acres can be brought
into cultivation through irrigation
and. incidentally, some five million
horsepower can be developed. The
first Of the projects is now econorni-
cally ripe and that is the construc-
ton Of dam somewhere on tho low
er Colorado that will control the
floods Of the river. store its seasonal
flow for the irrigation of 100000
acres, and develop approximately
500, 900 horsepower for distribution
In Arizona and California. Another
such great power development Hes In
the Columbia river basin at Priest
Falls. The government has already
undertaken the development Oh the
Tennessee river at Muscle Shoals. All
these projects should be advanced to
early consummation.