The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-29
The Power Industry.
Cchristian Science Monitor )

tChristian Science Montor)
 During the past year have witnessed the development of the 130,00 volt underground cable the use of transatlantic telephone, world wide application of beam-radio stations and the introduction of television. Electric heating ap- plleatlons have grown rapidly. The nonferrous metal industries have adopted the electric furnace for melting and treating, the automobile manl- facturers for steel treating and for iapanning The use of electric apparatus is spreading in con neetion with bread baking, glass making, ceramic baking and so forth. The field of development in the home and in illumination has just been approached. The next year and still the next promise to usher into use other great electrical inventions and extend the use of such power The National Industrial Conference Board re- ports that the amount of electrical power equip ment in the manufacturing industry in the United States has nearly trebled within de- cade. Senator Walsh of Montana in speech in the United States Senate estimated that the sale of electrical energy in the United States has increased 300 per cent. within eleven years
 This great increase has been the result of highly. developed engineering experience and the application of inventive genius It has been by like means that the gas industry has shown a similar growth within the past few years Gas is being adapted to many industrial operations in- cluding large-seale baking roasting, aluminium refining, metal cutting and special heating in the ceramic industries. It is also proftably used flor vucanizing tires, pasteurizng milk and dry ing lumber In the field of large-scale users for industrial purposes the present-day record of 20, 900 separate and distinct is being increased by intensive programs of research These studies and programs sponsored by gas associations and often by private companies in the interest of gas development.
 Such facts the above constitute some of the most potent arguments advanced by the utility interests in proof of the effective manner in which they developing the industry for the benefit of the general public. That the utility companies in the United States represent total investment of some SIT 300 ,00O 000 sum slight ly less than the national debt, is probably sur prsing, but great improvements cannot be had without proper financing It is represented that the total investment in the electric power in- dfstry alone is some $S,700,O 1000 900. During 1927 the United States witnessed financing for the electric companies to amount approximate ing $1,250 ,000, and during 1928 it is esti- mated that new financing for the same purposes will probably total $1,500000,000.
 Public conveniences cannot be had unless those who spend their time, their energies and their labors for them adequately compen- sated. The spent in the financing of utili- ties may have grown with surprising rapidity in the last ten years, but has the of their services. The public is today enjoying many more convenenees in this regard than was the case prior to 1914, yet according to the president of the Brooklyn Edison Company, electric energy is today IS per cent. cheaper than it was in 1914. The relative costs have been kept down as the sale of the power has increased