The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-11-09

every high school student knows hydroeectric
product of the weight of falling water times the
distance through which falls One thousand pounds of
water falls thirty three feet thirty three pounds of water
falls thousand make 33 900 footpounds
horse power power equals 34 kilowatts
kowa equals 075 horse almost Beyond this simple
start complexities in development begin to multiply
Volume and consequently the weight, water flowing
past given point stream varies from day to day.
son to season and year to year instance
flow, period of years. at the following points
along Jefferson and Missouri in terms of maximum
minimum flow, about as follows:
jefferson Silver Star ------~---.--- 400 times
Missouri below Hauser Lake 100 times
Missouri at Fort Peck ------------------ 30 times
Missouri at its mouth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 30 times
AS general proposition only prime power saleable
Prime power power generated and furnished
every every day in the This is the
power that comes from minimum river through lowest
outlet For river that has variation of fifty
times from low to high water flow only two percent OF total
flow is usabe
equalize the volume of flow somewhat 1t increase
the steady volume of water that be converted into prime
power up three, five fifty cent of total flow This
percentage depends factors such kind OF DAM
capacity Of reservoir amount of permissible draw down and
normal variation in stream flow.
Now the multi factor in power development begins
picture One dam equalzes the stream flow some
what increase the the second normally
contributing to such end than the first because
against smaller variation in flow Thus the process
on with each additional dam and reservoir Anywnere
from two to twenty dams and reservoirs may De required 10
fully equaze the volume of stream flow The number re-
quired will depend natural conditions and involves
much detail for discussion here.
basic proposition the house below the first
will be able utilize only small percent of total water
flow Without increase COST except requirement for larger
penstock turbines and generators the next power house below
will and produce power. This process
increases SNOWFALL rolling down hill. When there are
enough reservoirs to euaze stream flow the energy
be captured and converted longer two five or
thirty percent hundred percent It costs
build dam in equazed stable flow stream
while the amount of generates be increased any
where to two three hundred times the quantity at the
farthest up stream dam.
goes without saying, that the farther upstream this
increase in production can
carried out the times the total energy OF
flowing water the stream below be utilized by other
dams below only dams the Columbia river
the Bonneville Power Administration selling
low as mills per owatt hour Think what they will be
able to five dams installed and flow
eouazed Ditto good old Missouri under MVA
fullest possible of the principles and processes
lust described actual power production finally be
reduced to almost vanishing point is this kind of develop
ment that the value of the Babies that have been
chrstened Power into the Billion Dollar class Ell
AS this writer at the possibilities through pair of engi
work enthusiasm for the visiones
wasefu patch work substitute for VA which
posed by its opponents. JEROME o. LOCKE. 70