Evening star., 1934-01-19
PREDICTS INCREASE
IN FREIGHT TRAFFIC
Report on st. Lawrence
Project Foresees More De-
mand for Electricity.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated FreSS.
BY 1850 there will be a demand for
the moving Of $50 billion ton-miles Of
freight by the country's various trans
portation agencies and a demand for
1,1O3 kilowatt hours of electric power
per customer, if present trends. con-
tinue.
These are two forecasts made in an
interdepartmental report to President
Roosevelt in which the long-range ef-
fects of the proposed st. Lawrence
seaway upon the railroads and electric
power industry are considered.
While the power figures were pre-
pared for New York State, where tpt
st. Lawrence current chiefly would De
distributed, they also have a direct In
terest in the Tennessee Valley, at
Boulder Dam and in the Columbia
River Basin, where similar develop
ments are taking place, particularly in
the Tennessee region, where steps are
being taken to increase the use Of cleo
trical appliances.
The report quotes Interstate Com
merce Commission figures showing that
railroad freight ton-miles increased
from an average of 167 billion in the
five years 1901-1905 to an average Of
430 billion for each Of the years 1925
to 1880.
Increase Is Big.
From this trend. far from forecastine
a gradual decline or extinction of the
railroads, it is judged $50 billion ton
miles of freight traffic will need be
moved by various transportation agen-
cies in 1850 This would represent an
increase of 200 billion ton-miles over
the 1929 peak.
The increase alone. it is pointed out,
would be so times the probable seawa!
traffic.
The report also points out that tn
1920-1929 period was characterized o
increasing traffic between the Atlant'~
ard Pacific coasts via the Panar-
Canal saving an estimated 5000 000,0f
in freight charges. and yet by the bes
consecutive record of dividend pay
ments by the railroads in their histor''.
An average Of a billion dollars year /,
dividends and interest was disburse !
in that period by the railroads.
The gross and net income OF Westtrn
railroads also tended to increase, It Is
pointed out. despite increasing inland
waterway traffic.
Factors taken into account In fore
casting electric power development In
clude population growth, increase in
per capita consumption. increased u7o
of appliances. rural electrifcation. rail-
road electriflcation, and development Of
electro-chenical and ctro-metallur-
/ gical indus ries. All Of these trends are
/ upward
/ Would Double Market.
From 1920 TO 1880 the number OF
residential lighting customers increased
| from 100000 to 10000 600, while the
average annual use per customer IN
! creased from 339 kilowatt hours to Sol
| in 1882. The trend indicates l,l03 kill
| owatt hours used per customer by 1850,
without the possibility Of lower electric
/ rates or lower appliance costs taken
I into account.
The two trends in New York State,
/ 1t is forecast. would double the pres
ent domestic market for electric power
! there.
In two years of depression the num-
Der of electric refrigerators increased
| from 1850 900 to 4.220,O0o. an increase
| in demand for electricity by ,460 000.-
| 600 kilowatt hours. A similar expan-
sion o. 100000 in number Of electric
ranges meant a market for an addi-
| tional COS 900 900 kilowatt hours
| From 1923 to 1882 the number OF
| farms in the New England and Middle
/ Atlantic States receiving electric serv-
! ice increased $50 per cent
The General Electric Co. has esti-
| mated therA is a potential market for
| appliances in homes that would use 49,
| 00,o00000 Kilovatt hours Of current
/ annually. The same company antici-
pates a need for 100000 additional
klowatt generating capacity in the
country by late 1885.
! The Edison Electric Institute has
. pointed out that at the present develop
! ment Of appliances the ultimate pos
/ sible domestic consumption Is 10000
} kilowatt hours per customer.