San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06

When they saw they were caught the
quarter million tons Of coal, ant
more than eight billion cubic feet Of
gas, Dr.. George Otis Smith. director
Of the Geological Survey, pointed out
That quantity Of Texas fuel re.
sources exhausted each year is the
equivalent Of the developed water re.
sources OF two states--Utah and
Idahc-which do not waste with the
using" Doctor Smith said. Harness
ing Of our rivers constitute a source
Of energy on which we need figure no
depletion and form natural wealth
which will yield dividends for the use
Of countless generations
BACKWARD STATES.
Texas and Oklahoma where water
power DEVELOPMENT is contemplated are
two Of the most backward states in
this particular. The only developed
water power in Oklahoma is in four
public utility plants with 1e4s horse
power capacity. Texas is only slight
~ better off, having 81 water power
plants with 1880 horsepower capac.
ity, Of which seven are public utility
or municipal with 10,0T7 Horsepower
capacity and IA are in manufacturing
plants having 3T43 horsepower ca
pacity.
Just how insignificant this develop
ment is, is illustrated by the fact that
New York, the leading state in de-
veloped water power, has 1,Tl3,551
- lo,.rnrnS ,ra@a- ro,rcv
Yet figures obtained today at the
Geological Survey show that there has
already been surveyed in Texas alone
1000 horsepower of potential water
power. or nearly one-third the develop
ed water power Of New York. Okla
hona has $4,000 horsepower Of po-
tential water power.
Government sources warn against
too much optimism on water power
development in Teas and elsewhere
in the West, however.
OUTLOOK PROMISING.
Fact finding is the engineers first
task" the Geological Survey empha-
sized. NO amount Of optimism can
increase the total flow Of stream or
make water run up hill. Creation of
a great power system likewise depends
upon second-feet and dam sites"
Government figures In a report just
issued show that the nation is burning
up its exhsustible fuels at q prodi.
gal rate and is tagging far behind in
developing water power. the only
source OF energy on which there is no
depletion. However, there has been
a movement toward water power de-
velopment in the last few years that
is promising.
Although the total developed water
power in the United States in March
of this year was only 10,03S.655 horse
power. this represented an increase Of
951 900 horsepower or nearly 10 IL
per cent over March, 1924. OF this
increase 10000 horsepower or %
per cent, was in public utility power
plants, and 1900 horsepower. or l
per cent in manufacturing plants.
LEADING STATES.
The five leading water power states
in order Of their rank and the amount
Of developed water power for each are
as follows: Nev' York. 1.7l3sj51 :;
California, 1.j31.4S0: Washington,
SEQ. e93: North Carolina, $4,000 :;
Maine, 473,G27. North Carolina has
moved from fifth place l. 1924 70
fourth place in 1925.
The report also contains records
of the developed water power for 1924
and 1921 and the estimates Of poten-
tisl water power for 90 per cent Of
the time computed in 1924. Based on
present practice at fully developed
water power sites the undeveloped
water power will permit the installa.
ton Of the following additional ca
pacities in water wheels, expressed in
horsepower: New York, ABB, 900;
California, 7,14lGOO; Washington. a.
672.OOO; North Carolina, $4,000;
Maine, $4,000.