12 RIVER PROBLEMS IN CHINA 



channels and is losing its force, dredging in one will 

 frequently help since the water runs in the direction of least 

 resistance, or to speak more correctly the velocity always 

 tends to a maximum. 



Power Production. 



Although China possesses great stores of coal all parts 

 are not equally favoured and it is certainly only a matter 

 of time before the power possibilities of her rainfall and 

 mountains are utilized industrially. At the present time 

 this power is already being used to a very considerable 

 degree for rice hulling mills. In every one of the valleys 

 in the lower parts of Yangtse there will be found dams 

 holding the stream up 5 or 6 feet. From above the dam a 

 flume runs to a water wheel which drives a series of tilt 

 hammers and the latter beat on the rice. Speaking generally 

 the results are absurdly disproportionate to the means 

 employed and many a young Chinese engineer might do 

 worse than design improved forms of water wheel for his 

 family village. Due regard must, however, be had to the 

 materials obtainable and the limitations of the artizans 

 available. 



Undershot water wheels deriving their power from the 

 current alone, without a dam, are also to be seen but we 

 may broadly say that hydraulic power is quite inefficiently 

 used. 



By the construction of massive high dams in suitable 

 positions numerous large power stations could be established. 

 The energy so obtained converted into electricity could be 

 sent by cable to an industrial centre or employed on the spot 

 for the production of chemicals. It should be remarked in 

 this connection that all those materials popularly known as 

 chemicals are, as it were, electrified matter and derive their 

 value from the fact that they can be kept in a state of raised 

 potentiality for a considerable time under proper conditions. 

 In Scandinavia it has been found worth while to devote the 

 bulk of the hydraulic energy not required for lighting and 

 power to the fixation of nitrogen. Compounds of nitrogen 

 are essential factors to the development of life and some are 

 therefore excellent fertilizers. There is also a great demand 

 for them in the manufacture of explosives. If a scheme for 

 preparation of nitrates could be worked in connection with 

 Chinese agriculture, it would seem excellent but the financial 

 aspect of the matter would have to be worked out, and the 

 fact that the Chinese farmer has also devised a fairly good 

 system of fertilizing must not be neglected. As for 

 export the question of freight must also be considered. 



