FOREST LANDS FOB THE PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS. 



97 



which have been made to derive a satisfactory revenue from existing powers 

 do not justify any such prospect. The many and various practical difficulties 

 in exploiting these powers are rarely appreciated by those who have not en- 

 countered them in actual experience. The cost of water-power development 

 is restricted to narrow limits, if it is to compete with coal. An engineer of 

 high standing, whose life work has been connected with water-power develop- 

 ment, says: 



" I am advised that, with good coal at $2 per ton in this territory, the cost 

 of fuel per horsepower per annum (300 days of 24 hours each) is less than 

 $8 for producer gas engines and for steam power about $12.50 in large size 

 equipments. In many localities coal will cost even less than $2 per ton, allow- 

 ing thus a still wider margin. If we now consider the usual and unavoidable 

 handicaps and incumbrances to all water-power installations, such as floods, low 

 water, ice flow, back water, etc.. we have conditions which will make it a 

 serious study for any power consumer to determine if the balance is not con- 

 siderably against water power in that particular territory, at this time, from a 

 purely commercial standpoint. At any rate it must be obvious that no such 

 rate as $20 per annum per horsepower can be paid to the Government by any 

 power user for the right to draw the water only, and besides this, stand the 

 expense of installing and operating the water plant." 



Another hydraulic engineer of national reputation says : 



" I think that as a general proposition the suggestion that all water powers 

 to which the Government consents should pay royalties, and especially where 

 the parties own their riparian rights, would tend to defeat the development of 

 most water powers and would certainly very much curtail the number of water- 

 power developments. I am impressed with these conclusions because of the 

 present difficulties in financing good water-power propositions." 



In Power, May 19, 1908, is an article by Henry Docker Jackson, in which a 

 critical comparison is made between steam and water power. In this article 

 occur the following tabulated estimates of cost of installation and of annual 

 operation, based upon a (theoretical) installation of 1,000 horsepower. The 

 costs are averages of a number of different plants : 



PLANT COST. 



Building and works 



Engines boiler, etc 



Turbines and generators 



Transmission lines, etc., 20 miles 



810,000 

 i 48,000 



I 15,000 | 17,000 

 j 40,000 



I 73,000 134,000 



FIXED CHARGES. 



COST PER HORSEPOWER YEAR. 



100 per cent load factor 

 75 per cent load factor . . 

 50 per cent load factor . . 



88 per 

 cent. 



Water, 

 95 per 

 cent. 



$24.82 820.90 

 39.92 ! 32.00 

 54.60 i 45.00 



72538 AGR- 



