ELECTRICITY FOR THE RAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12868, 2 January 1906, Page 3

ELECTRICITY FOR THE RAND.

The African Concessions Syndicate lias been in consultation with the leading American and Continental* engineers and experts on the subject of the transmission of power from the Victoria Falls to the Witwatersrand. These authorities (says Renter) have unanimously expressed the opinion that the scheme .is npt .only quite feasible, hut would be commercially Successful, especially as the. climate of South Africa is one of iri the world for"! the transmission of power. With reference to statements that the volume of water in the Falls is hot sufficient to produce the necessary power, i£.is pointed out that even in "the driest season; yet experienced there is, .sufficient water to pro-: duce 50Q.000 horse-power," while at- present the Rand only consumes some 15,000.horse, power..; r> At Si the Falls. there is an available hejui of about 330 ft., and if more than 500,0.00 .is. needed, it could be easily obtained by catting a canal fifteen to twenty" miles in length to a point lower down, .-where, itliere would be a head" of 1000 ft., wouldbe sufficient to produce 1,000,000 .horse-power. The construction of such a canal,would present no difficulty., The beauty of the Palls would: in no way: shffer.- By -tlie adoption, of this scheme it is' furtlier pointed out, power could be supplied to the mines more cheaply than in any other way.. The importance of this can be gathered from the fact that at present over £3,000,000 is spent annually on'power on the Witwatersrand, and anything .which tends to cheapen this yeatrly toll - woulfL. neqessarQy have a - great effect on -the-profits of the mines. 'l*'. The scheme is regarded as a potential factor towards a. South African revival, for the reduction of working costs resulting from its adoption-would, it. is urged, go far to re-establishing public confidence in South African enterprises. ,