THE FORESTER. 



175 



on the public lands both easier and cheaper, and is very desirable; 

 but the main obstacle to more rapid development than that which is 

 now taking place is not lack of a new law but lack of a broader 

 market for power. It is at least doubtful if either an amended law 

 or private ownership of the public power sites would result in any 

 general or material increase in power development in the Western 

 States in the immediate future. With rare and minor exceptions, 

 existing power developments in these States are far in excess of 

 market demands. The Forest Service is being constantly importuned 

 to extend periods of construction on power permits on the plea that 

 there would be no market available for the power if the project were 

 developed. The per capita use of water power in electrical develop- 

 ment in the three Pacific and the eight Mountain States is far in 

 excess of that in any other section of the United States, and more 

 than five times the average for the United States, as a whole. The 

 development in the Pacific States is about 180 horsepower per thou- 

 sand of population, and in the Mountain States 120 horsepower, with 

 a balanced average of 160 horsepower. New England, which is next 

 in order, has- less than 40 horsepower per thousand of population, 

 and the whole United States about 30 horsepower. 



The following table gives the number and classification of permits 

 outstanding and the estimated average output in horsepower at 

 minimum stream discharge: 



Water 'power on the National Forests, June 30, 1915. 



