Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-11
The Power Pool

Ihe worlds greatest "power pool" which 10 now
supplying electric current for the entire Atlantic sea
board mad extends as far west az Chicago was recently
completed when electric generating stations with o
combined capacity of 100000 horsepower effected q
loop intersection with a $4,000 volt transmission line
between Kingsport, Tenn, and Saltville, Va. This
loop connects the great hydro-electric resources Of the
South and the steam-generated plants of the North.
The gigantic "power pool" is described by the men
who have organized 1t as the worlds greatest inter-
connection Of electric generating stations. II does not
include the metropolitan district Of New York, but it
includes all other great cities Of the country. such as
Boston. Philadelphia. Chicago, Atlanta, Birmingham,
and will soon include Detroit.
The American Gas and Electric Company recently
built the last links in the line which roughly forms a
1000 mile triangle from Boston 10 Chicago to Pensa-
colda, Florida, supplying current for the great industri-
nj service. Electrical engineers have pronounced II the
most ambitious undertaking in the history of the cleo
trical industry. and predict it will prove a very i'm
portant factor In future development Of the indus
trial and mineral resources Of the huge territory it
serves.
The completion Of this line provides q loop, or
double circuit, facilities for the transmission Of electric
power as needed between systems covering the south
eastern states from Tennessee and the Carolinas to the
Gulf and the extensive interconnected transmission
lines reaching through the Virginias, Ohio and Indiana
into Illinois and Michigan. In the event Of any acct
dent affecting a line, and even the line in trouble can
dent affecting a line, service can now be looped around
the trouble by way Of the other line. and even the line
in trouble can be fed from both ends TO the vicinity
Of the interruption. The importance Of this new in
ter-connection in the need Of industries for reliable
electric power is very evident.
The new intercOnnection balances the load between
hydroelectric and steam generated plants, which IS
OF great Importance TO power users. In the event Of
lack Of rainfall, with consequent power shortage in
the hydro-electrie territory, the steam electric gener-
ating plants can be made available to supply the
shortage, and Mt times of surplus hydro-eleetric energy
available in Southern districts it can be used in the
territories Of the fuel-burning Companies instead Of 60
ing to waste. This means conservation of coal re-
sources to a degree which cannot be calculated at the
present time.
The result Of this "power pool" will be the rapid
extension of industries throughout the area affected.
Heretofore those industries depending upon electric
service for their power; have been handicapped by the
occasional failure Of service and the high rates. The
consolidation Of the hydro-electrie and steam generated
plants will assure uninterrupted service at the mini
mum of cost, and this cannot fail to be a factor in the
development Of industry and the consequent develop
ment Of national wealth.