650 CONSERVATION 



suit is, therefore 9,500 horse-powers, in our rivers. The steam-power plants 



which, added to the previously stated of the country must use approximately 



minimum power, would raise the rat- 260,000,000 tons of coal per year, an 



ing of the Augusta privilege from amount considerably more than one- 



15,500 to 25,000 horse-powers. half our total consumption of coal for 



Seventy dollars per horse-power is 1907. Therefore, not only are we pay- 

 not a large installation cost in this coun- ing more than is necessary for our mo- 

 try. Some developments in the region tive power, but we are in the process 

 have cost far more than this. There- of making great and greater demands 

 fore, the value of the Augusta privilege on our coal resources, to hasten their 

 alone, on the basis of the August flood, ultimate exhaustion, 

 would have been increased $665 ooo by It will be well now to consider how 

 the adoption of proper means for sav- much cheaper is water-power than 

 ing the flood water. This is the figure steam-power. Of course, there is a 

 which represents the principal item of wide variation depending on many 

 loss in the Augusta flood, and of which factors, most important of which is the 

 neither the press nor the world made price of coal. There are places in 

 record. which coal is so cheap that the cost of 



The Augusta case has been discussed steam-power exceeds little, if any, the 

 because its application is so thoroughly cost of water-power. In other places, 

 general. Like consideration apply to the difference in favor of water-power 

 all water-powers. We have in the first may exceed $60 per horse-power. The 

 place, an amount of economically avail- State Water Supply Commission of 

 able water-power, enormous in the to- New York, working under the guid- 

 tal for the country, with rivers in their ance of one of our most competent 

 present condition of unrestraint. Sec- engineers, calculated that in that state 

 ondly, we have a reserve which may a steam horse-] ><>wer per year is $12 

 be made available by means which will more costly than a water horse-power, 

 save the flood waters now wasted. No This may be considered a small mar- 

 consideration of water-power is com- gin, resulting partly, no doubt, from 

 plete unless it comprehends the double the proximity of New York State to the 

 possession. The extent of our suffer- Pennsylvania coal fields. Therefore, 

 ing from floods must, therefore, be an we shall be exceedingly conservative if 

 index of our wastefulness of water- we use this factor for the entire 

 power. This may be accepted as fun- country, 

 damental. As previously stated, there are in use 



We, as a Nation, present the curious 26,000,000 steam horse-powers. Un- 

 appearance of being highly progressive doubtedly there is some of this so sit- 

 on the one hand, and ruinously extrav- nated that it could not at present, be 

 agant on the other. We get what we replaced by hydro-electric power. If 

 want, but the price that we pay is ex- ten per cent, be allowed for this we shall 

 orbitant. At the present time we are be making a very liberal concession, 

 using not less than 26,000,000 steam This leaves 23,400,000 steam horse- 

 horse-powers for manufacturing, light, powers which, at an excess cost of $12 

 traction, etc. It is true that there was per horse-power, gives a total of about 

 a time when steam was the cheapest $281,000,000, which the people of the 

 and most adaptable motive power. That United States pay annually for the priv- 

 day is past, or is rapidly passing, for ilege of squandering their coal re- 

 everything except marine locomotion, sources. In view of this conservative 

 and the twilight of that is not far dis- estimate, is it not remarkable that we do 

 tant. Steam-power is comparatively not use more water-power? 

 expensive, yet steam installation is con- Whether or not the people awaken to 

 stantly increasing. We persist in us- the bountiful water resources of the 

 ing expensive motive power, while mil- country, it is inevitable that the pro- 

 lions of horse-powers are going to waste gressive exhaustion of our coal depos- 



