28 BULLETIN 102, 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 pow T er 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. 1 The economic gain that would come to outly- 
ing sections through the general betterment of transportation would 
1 See The nationalization of industrial opportunity, pp. 38-42. 
