Evening star., 1927-10-14
POWER CAPACITY
OF NATION GROWS
Average Factory Workman
Has Strength of Four
Horses to Help Him.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, October 14.--Electric
power plants installed in factories,
mines and quarries have actually
decreased since 1919. But the total
power production of the Nation has
increased by 10,000,000 horsepower.
This increase in the country's prime
power capacity has come about
through expansion in the plants of the
electric power and light Industry.
These statements weer made today by
Paul S. Clapp, managing director or
the National Electric Light Associa-
ton. They found hearty agreement
amnog the delegates to the Southern
Appalachian Power Conference, now
in session at Chattanooga, Tenn.
InterConnected electrical systems,
providing what is known as super
power, Mr.. Clapp added. are the best
means yet discovered to utilize the
combined resources of water and fuel
and permit the advantages of their
use to be distributed over the widest
area. Through the engineering ad-
vance in long.distance transmission
Of current, Americans today are wit
Messing an almost complete revision
Of the ways of living. Superpower.
the electric men say, is developing
the super-American wage-earner, the
superhousewife, the supertactory
worker and the superfarmer.
-Four Horses" to Help.
In seven years factories have taken
steps to put at their disposal $500, ,000
horsepower. In the Southern Appa-
lachian field each factory worker now
has at his disposal Alt horsepower
in electrical energy. while the average
for the country at large is A horse
power
Electrical men declare the outstand-
ing accomplishments of the Nation
since the war have been the gain in
productivity, the maintenance of high
wage levels and the advance in stand
ards of living. Increas sed use of cleo
trio power, they say, has contributed
to this. In the seven years the De-
partment of Commerce estimate that
the production OF factories has in
creased rs per cent, while the number
OF workers required has fallen per
cent. The volume Of current used has
gained % per cent.
The rate Of increase in the use of
electricity in the homes has risen 1873
per cent. In the last year electricity
was brought into 1.250,000 homes for
the first time, and such service now
is available to 6S,000.000 people, ac-
cording to the Appalachian delegates.
In no country in the world are there
so many electric washing machines,
irons and vacuum cleaners and re.
frigerators in use.
In the last three years los, 900 farms
have been hooked up with electric
power and light circuits. The South
has taken up the lead in this move.
ment, with Alabama especially promi.
nent. America cow uses more electric
power than all the remainder of the
world combined and the power pro-
ducers feel this IS largely due to the
development of superpower systems.
Success in Mississippi Valley.
They point to the success with
which the Mississippi Valley was
served during the floods. When power
houses in the flooded regions were put
out of commission lines were hooked
up between Oklahoma, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana,
so that service was maintained. In
1925, during the severe drought, the
inter-connecting links Of North and
South Carolina. Georgia and Alabama
kept factories operating.
Euoilc uLIIlty companies nave
proved their ability to profit under
existing rates, and satisfactory growth
and earnings are to be expected for
some time to come, according to New
York bankers. Investments in the
industry approximate now $17, 900 ,OOO, :.
600 and the present system of rate
makings Is based on a fair return
upon the reproduction value of the
property involved. The present down.
ward trend of reproduction prices
therefore, would seem to indicate DOS
sibiy slightly lower rates in the
future.