Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22
Great Increases in
Electric Current Use
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

The use of electric current is increas-
ing throughout the United States and
the most impressive gains are being
shown in the lines which first were de-
velOped through utilization Of this form
Of energy.
The largest gains, according to a sur
vey by c, M, Wilmington, utility ex-
pert of Pynchon q Co., and a statement
by the Department of Commerce, have
taken place in the domestic field. This
takes in domestic lighting, heating,
cooking and the operation of labor -saY-
ing household devices. = .r
4 k&&
Increases have also been registered,
according to the department, In the
other lines of electrical consumption,
but the striking gains come from those
stable old supporters of business, "Pater
Familias," Household" and Constant
Reader" There are now well over 49,
oOO, 900 homes wired for electricity in
the United States and there is every In
dication that by the end Of this year
this number will total approximately
20, 100000. The improvements have
been particularly noticeable in farms,
which have been wired for electrical
utilization at q rate which has doubled
the total every three and q half years.
Electric light and power companies of
the United States, which have beer. dis
cussing the affairs of the industry at
San Francisco this week, have reported
an increase In the sales of electricity
for the first quarter of 1890 of 700 900, :
600 kilowatt hours, or 9 gain of "a per
cent, compared with the corresponding
period OF 1929.
The revenues received by the producers
OF electrical current have shown an
even more striking advance, gaining
$26, III, 600, or So per cent, as compared
with the corresponding period of last
year. The amount Of current used for
domestic service showed an increase of
395,OOO,0 900 kilowatt hours, or I4.4 per
increase was the commercial lighting
service used by business ofices, stores,
theaters and hotels, with q gain of So
per cent.
Industrial power service advanced
5000 900 kilowatt hours, or less than
per cent. Failure TO register a larger
advance undoubtedly was due to the
business depression prevailing through
out the period. Railroads and trolley
lines showed decline in the use of
current. This probably was due to the
incursions OF the bus lines into the
short-haul transportation field.
There are now some $50 900 American
farms wired for electricity. This COM
pares with 166,140 at the end of 1898.
California leads in the number of farms
supplied with current, followed by New
York and Ohio, but Montana has shown
the biggest gain in the past year.
About 350,000,000 large tungsten fila-
ment bulbs are sold in q year This
number does not include the miniature
lamps such as are used in flashlights,
automobiles and in surgery. There has
been marked increase also in the
number OF lamps used for purely decora-
tive purposes. Lighting designs have be-
come an. integral part OF skyscraper
decoration.
The development OF aviation has in
creased the amount of current used for
nood-lighting OF airports and In the
flying beacons which mark the air
routes: A large gain has also been at
tributed to fioodlighting In the field Of
sports, base ball, tennis and scores of
other games being played by night as
we'll as by day.
Electrical refrigeration is accounting
Tor large amount Of current use. One
electric utility alone sold $50 carloads
OF refrigerators, totaling Is 100 units, in
Six-week campaign this year.
Production OF electricity throughout
the world Is estimated today at 100000
000,000 kilowatt hours, of which this
country produces 20 per cent. The
worlds electric light and power bin can
not be definitely estimated, but it Is
Appropriated at 1000, 600, 900 annually.
1t is estimated that between 9800, 900 600
and $1,000, 5000 of American money,
has been expended In the development
Of electric power In other countries.
-
The ELECTRICAL utilities VII have to
raise additional millions Of dollars 70