The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-10
C0AS I
INDUSTRY IS
BOOMING
Electric Companies Prosper
As Water Is Plenty for
Power Needs

NEW YORK. Oct. TO- Electrical
conditions on the Pacific coast are
now better than they have been Tor
several years past. In fact, thiN -
the first summer in some time thet
the reservoir Of the hydro electric
Generating stations In the high
Sierras In California are full ana
ioverflowing. After long period OF
electrical shortage. due to prolonged
shortage OF water, California H.,
! electrically, once more enjoying
plenty and prosperity.
Also in the Pacific northwest the
domestic consumption OF electricity
Is greater than ever before and i
lis expected that this consumption
will double within the next FEW
years. These are some Of the OBJ
servations Of r. NJ, Feiker, vice
president OF the Society for Electsi-
cal Development. who Is just back
from the coast where he spent SIX
weeks studying conditions Of the
electrical industry.
For the first time in five years
the water reservoirs of the Cali
fornia hydr0-electric plane which
furnish power Tor the coast and
valley cities and farms are now
running over Mr.. Feilker reports.
Last winter there were heavy snow
falls In the mountains, and as the
result the electric service COM
pantes which operate the hydro
electric plants are sending out their
statesmen to show customers how
they may use more electric current.
Success in Saving
During lest fan and early winter,
because Of water shortage, the sales.
men In the southern section Of the
State devoted their time to showing
customers ways and means Of using
less electricity. They did such an
excellent job In showing how cleo
tricity could be economically used
that now they are working overtime
to keep up with the power oppor-
|tunities for increasing the use Of.
the white coal OF the Sierras.
THE Pacific coast and California
in particular" Feiker states. de
pend upon electricity in about the
same way that the ante beIlum
South depended upon slave labor.
With no deposits of coal It Is cleo
tricity which produces the power
used for the irrigation of the Sac
ramento. the San Joaquin and the
Imperial valleys. That is, 1t pumps
up the same water that was
originally used to operate the hydro
electric generating stations but
which when 1t reaches these valleys
is 80 feet or 50 below ground.
likewise, the development Ut the
food packing plants 81 California,
the ship yards and the fabricating
plants which manufacturers with
national distribution are now 0per-
- L. - H.
ent upon electricity. Further, cleo
tricity IL literally used In The nome
all along the Pacific coast for
heating as well as for lighting and
cooking purposes.
Northwest Booming
"In the Pacific Northwest found
the electrical industry TO be health
Ter than many others. There. the
domestic consumption Of electricity
Is steadily increasing. Electrical
men expect that this increase will
continua and that, within q few
years, 1t will be double WlnaL 1t In
now. All along the Pacific coast
electricity Is used for household
purposes to q much greater extent
than practically anywhere else In
that within q very few years cleo
tricity wal not only De used for
home lighting. cooking and cleaning,
but also quite generally to heat
homes and domestic hot water
supply. In Seattle during the past
year the number of electric ranges
In use has more than doubled.
1.-THE Pacific Northwest, while not
dependent, az California Is, upon
the SHOWS of winter tor its water.
power-produced electricity" Feiker
says. "is equally dependent upon
electricity as the fundamental source
OF domestic and commercial power
and the electric utilities ara rapidly
extending their service In all direc,
tons. One such plan In to carry
electricity by high-powered trans.
mission lines across the mountains
into Idaho and other sister states"