Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1926-10-15

SOUIHW EST +
szaI and saothetn States
~ Is the industrial States Aew
Ian increase Of Consumption It's saar
o4ar last year. but the m
ereases ere n Maryland, Florida nd
Georgia.
Household Appliances esIH
There Is an unusual volume s zzIes
this year in small motors and house,
hold appliances. and IN some instances
% per cent above similar sales Iast
year. IN some parts Of the Southern
States the increase has been a. nigh
IS 70 per cent.
Gross earnings Of the electric eann-
panies are running at q rate tals eear
IN excess Of 81 400, 900 600. Their
Eearnines in 1902 were $50 900 coo. The
companies have now about 2z5. 90 en-
Iployes and 1900 900 customers he
capital Investment IS $1,000. eco 600.
and the sale Of electric appliances is
running At the rate Of $4,000 .10e a
year.
Enters StabiIizing Period.
The industry As whole Is in stab
liking period IN the six years fol-'
lowing the close Of the war It's trend
was marked BY great rapidity in
growth and expansion. not only in
plant and equipment but il mefehan-
dizing and financing Il Is now con-
centrating on the stagilization Of these
gains, and IN better and more econom-
zeal distribution Of the output.
The trend Of the industry IS def
nitely toward super-poNer projects.
During the years Of the waF the de-
mand for greater power output vas
unusually large, and the industry was
not able to keep pace, t was not
faced with the necessity after the war
ofentering upon a large program of
expansion.
Electric plants are not usually built
until there is a demand for the power.
Such plants, especially hydro-aleetric
require heavy capital IN vestments,
and unless the power can be sold I'M
mediatele, the accommodating interest
charges win seriously involve the pro-
ject Every Indication at this time
points to the growth and expansion
of recent years having been healthy
one.
Level Rates Maintained.
Undoubtedly power is being produc-
ed more cheaply but rates have not
been brought down in corresponding
ratio. The electric industry is endeay-
oring to make all Of the improyements
and enIargements Of plant and equip
ment that are deemed necessary. and
on top Of that, pay per cent on the
Investment. Necessarily power must
be more chaeply produced, and the
rates maintained at an unchanged lev
81, if this goal is to be reached,
The tendency is toward larger cen
trial station equipment, with inter-
connecting transmission with other
smaller stations. Larger dynamos are
being built, and refinements are being
made in boilers by which the average
steam pressure Of them may be
brought to 1000 or 1900 pounds.
All over the country, especially in
New England, the Middle Atlantic and
Southern States, in the vicinity of Chi
cago and St. Louis, and on the Pacific
Coast, central stations are being link
ed with connecting transmission lines
50 that large reserve facilities may be
available at all times. The actual
generation Of electricity is only about
| 20 per cent Of the costs of electric
service.
Cities Prefer Central Stations
Plants are being more economically
located with respect to the zones which
they are to serve, and very few in
dustrial plants are failing to utilize
electricity in some part Of their plant
operations.
Long distance transmission, partic-
nIarly as a means Of supplying large
lcities with electric current, is not de-
veloping at the same pace as other
improvements and engagements in the
industry. Large cities are showing
tendency for central stations To-
Gated near at hand, with the transmits
sion wires underground and fully pro-
tected from the hazards Of breakage
and Interruptions OF service.
Biggest Projects in Southern States
Super-power projects are being car
ried out on the largest scale in The
Southern States. The growth in IN
dustrial activity in these States is be
| ing reflected in q larger demand for