G.—ENGINEERING. 115 
automatic or semi-automatic stations, into a general network of elec- 
tricity supply, or for augmenting the output of municipal supply works, 
as has been done so successfully, for example, at Chester, Worcester, 
and Salisbury. 
The development of the many small schemes available in the 
Scottish Highlands would probably have a great effect on the social 
life of the community. It would go far towards reviving and extending 
those small local industries which should form an essential feature of 
the ideal rural township. Commercially such undertakings may appear 
to be of small importance, but as a factor in promoting the welfare of 
the State, economical and political, their influence can hardly be over- 
estimated. 
Some of the larger schemes in Scotland would lend themselves 
admirably to transmission to its industrial districts, while others, in 
close vicinity to the sea-board, would appear to be well adapted for 
supplying chemical, or electro-physical, or metallurgical processes. 
‘There is a probability that at least two of these schemes will be 
developed in the near future. One of these—the Lochaber scheme—is 
capable of developing some 72,000 continuous horse-power, which is 
to be utilised largely in the manufacture of aluminium. It is interest- 
ing to note that when this scheme is completed the British Aluminium 
Corporation will have, with their station at Kinlochleven, an average 
continuous output of over 100,000 horse-power, and a maximum 
capacity of almost 140,000 horse-power. 
The second—the scheme of the Grampian Power Company—is in- 
tended ultimately to develop upwards of 40,000 continuous horse-power, 
which it is proposed to use largely for general industrial purposes. 
Should this latter scheme be carried to a successful conclusion it is 
likely to give an impetus to large-scale water-power development in 
Scotland. Its successful operation would certainly lead to the develop- 
ment of others of the same type, which would help to provide a much- 
needed home training-ground for British hydro-electric engineers. 
While this is admittedly an inopportune moment to suggest any- 
thing in the nature of State co-operation in such developments, it may 
be pointed out that many of the Scottish powers in particular occur in 
sparsely populated districts, and that, although they would ultimately 
_ become remunerative, the difficulty of raising the capital necessary for 
their development is great. In view of their direct and indirect advan- 
tage to the community it would appear not unreasonable to advocate 
that financial assistance should be granted by the State in the earlier 
stages of such developments. If such assistance, say in the form of a 
loan maturing after a period of ten or fifteen years, could be granted, 
it would certainly give an immediate impetus to the development of 
_ Water power in this country. 
, Conservation.—The importance of water-power development from 
the point of view of conservation of natural resources requires no 
emphasis. When the value of coal purely as a chemical asset, or as 
a factor in the manufacture of such materials as iron and steel, cement, 
‘&c., is considered, its use as a fuel for power purposes, when any other 
‘equally cheap source of energy is available, would appear, indeed, to be 
unjustifiable. 
