124 BULLETIN 102, VOL. 1, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



sumed, more raw materials are required, more goods are produced, 

 more coal is freighted. 



The distributive generation of electric power was natural enough 

 and the only practical procedure so long as the use of electricity was 

 small. But that time has passed. Electricity is now a commodity 

 in everyday use, with a large and steadily growing aggregate de- 

 mand ; to adhere to the original practice bespeaks obsolescence. Such 

 escape as has been made from the confines of stagnation has been 

 almost wholly in the direction of hydroelectricity. So, in spite of the 

 great amount of talk and publicity that centers around the water- 

 power issue, there is more evidence of basic progress on this score 

 than may be found on the side of coal power. All that may be fairly 

 said in dispraise of the progress of this country in respect to water- 

 power is likewise true as regards coal power. In fact, this country 

 does not face a water-power problem as such; the issue is more 

 broadly a power problem, of which water power constitutes only one 

 important segment. 



Objection may arise at this point that a systematic generation of 

 electricity in coal fields is prevented by technological difficulties in 

 the way of long-distance transmission of power to the points of use. 

 It is true that there are many open problems in long-distance service 

 of this kind, but these are by no means insuperable; yet, granting 

 them full weight and considering merely what has been already ac- 

 complished in connection with hydroelectric transmission, we find 

 that transmission lines 100 miles in length are common, while 

 those up to 250 miles in length are known and regarded as prac- 

 tical. If we accept say a 200-mile radius as a present standard, and 

 consider the distribution of the coal fields of the country in relation 

 to the centers of population, we find that circles may be drawn around 

 centers of coal production which will embrace a considerable area 

 and much of the industrial territory of the country. Thus on the 

 basis of present technical attainments alone, with no allowance for 

 improvements under way, a large share of the current power demand 

 could be supplied directly over wires from the coal fields. 



Such a change in practice would operate to the relief of transpor- 

 tation and on this score contribute a country-wide advantage. But 

 it would also create special industrial opportunities which would fall 

 only within the reaches of the transmission systems. Hence to plan 

 a comprehensive development of the areas in proximity to coal fields 

 would be to emphasize and accentuate the advantages of environment 

 which are already proving hurtful to the economic growth of the 

 country as a whole.^ The economic gain that would come to outly- 

 ing sections through the general betterment of transportation would 



1 See Nationalization of industrial opportunity, pagen 134-138. 



