COAL v. HYDRAULIC POWER

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1920, Page 2

COAL v. HYDRAULIC POWER

10 THE EDITOR. '

Sir,—-Some, correspondents are still wedded_ to coal for the 'generation of electricity, in spite of the abnormal increase in price,/ and the. scarcity of that cioinmodity, with-all the risks "attaching "thereto. Another feature which appears to bo overlooked is the big increase in the 'wages bill pertaining to the stoking.and handling of coal, and ashes, as well as tho smoke nuisance. ° x'he coal advocate reminds one of the last dying kicks of the supporters of horee trams and gas-lighting before electricity came into its own. The chief advantage of coal over a hydraulic plant is the lesser capital required for installing-, as engine^' are invariably cheaper than a hydraulic development, with all its dams, reservoirs), pipes, water wheels, and possibly a long transmission line. When coal and labour combined were more dependable, and practically half the present cost, the margin in favour, of many hydraulic propositions was not groat; in fact, where coal was cheap and (he hydraulic development costly, theodds worked out in favour of coal.- The great increase in the cost of coal and labour has, -however, completely changed the relative merits of tho two systems. Apparently. Wellington's coal, bill last year exceeded _£50.000 for trams and'lighting, representing intare.?fc on a million of capital. From present indications, it will not bo long before the ooal bill for these services- will reach £100,000 per annum, equivalent to a capital investment of 1-2,000,000, which is much in excess of tho amount required for obtaining greater power from the Upper Hutt j-cheme; apart from the lessor liability for interruptions duo to strikes.

The increasing cost of coal, and attendant charges, will have the effect of causing many "small water powers to be developed, which would have otherwise remamed dormant. With tho advancements which have teen made in the - electric transmission of power, it is rniito practicable to.link up a number of comparatively small powers, miles- apart, to provide a greater volume of power, which oMi bo similarly distributed where required. Ihere OTUS t He a numb»r of possible powers along both sides of tho Tnrarua and Kiialuno mountains, from, say, five hundred horse •ipwa.rds, which no doubt J" 11 k? all utilised some day. Although tho Mansarmo m«v be the greatest; it ;s not tho only possibly powor in this locality. Ihe Corporation, authorities would bo well advisad-to obtain rough survey ot all possible powers lyinir within' the city sphere, fay. as f«r as Otaki, and. if possible, secure them' for the city, in 'ho same manner as Dunedin secured the Leo dtrfiam on my rsconimenrlarirm. /here is no gainsaying the fact that Aiano-anao. will not mart a!' requirements for long, while the W->.ikarcmoa.na and lYaikato poirae are too"remote, involving too much risk of interruptions, as well as the long and rastly transmission lines, lhcse powers will bo required ° nearer horns as time goes cn.~l am, etc.,

J. ORCHISTON, M.I.E.E. 17th Apr:!.