PRliSIDKNTIAL ADDRESS SECTION A. 39 



manner of })rovi(linjy power is by the combustion of hydro- 

 carbons, the principal of which is coal. In England alone 

 it is estimated that 8o million tons of coal are consumed per 

 annum in the production of power. For every horse power 

 generated by water power there is a saving of about 13 tons of 

 coal per annum, if 3 lbs. of coal are allowed per h.]). hour for 

 a steam plant. Rain, including snow, is the source of all water 

 j)Ower, and after it reaches the rivers it is available for |x>wcr; 

 but whether it is possible to utilise that power economically 

 is a matter which can only be decided upon after carefully 

 considering the amount of capital required and the cost per 

 horse power year, as compared with the cost of ijroduction by 

 other means. Many laymen, and even some engineers, are 

 apt to conclude that water power costs nothing, or next to 

 nothing; but this is a fallacy which only needs investigation to 

 condemn it. Where cheap coal is obtainable it may prove much 

 more economical to generate power from that mineral, and one 

 of the finest object lessons in the Union is that of the Victoria 

 Falls Power Company on the Rand. It was originally intended 

 to generate water power at the Victoria Falls, but it was sub- 

 sequently found that it would be much more economical to 

 generate power from coal obtained from the Transvaal coal- 

 fields. In some cases it may, however, be found desirable to 

 utilise water power, even at a high cost, owing to the price of 

 coal being prohibitive. 



Another factor to consider is the possibility of having to 

 provide storage in a reservoir for generating power during the 

 dry season, when very little water is flowing in the river, or. on 

 .the other hand, the necessity of installing auxiliary prime movers 

 for generating power during dry periods. With large rivers 

 it is not always necessary to provide storage ; but with South 

 African rivers it may be taken as an axiom that the generation 

 of power direct from the river without storage during the dry 

 season of the year is almost impossible, if it is desired to obtain 

 a large amount of power during the whole year. 



A Committee, known as the " Water Power Resources Com- 

 mittee," has been appointed by the Board of Trade (England) 

 to investigate the water power resources of Great Britain, and 

 this Committee has issued a oreliminarv report, which can he 

 obtained on application to the Board of Trade. 



It is estimated by the above Committee that the ca])ital 

 cost of installing hydro-electric schemes in Great Britain will 

 be about £38.5 per effective electrical h.j). developed at the 

 power stations if the post-war prices are taken as being 50 i>er 

 cent, above pre-war prices. If, however, interest on caT>ital is 

 allowed during the construction of the works, the cost will be in 

 the neighbourhood of £41 per E.H.P. The Committee alst) 

 say that it will pay to instal hydro-electric stations in Great 

 Britain if the cost of developing water j>ower does not exceed 

 £60 per effective electrical horse power for a station capable 



