A Country Run by Electricity.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1921, Page 4

A Country Run by Electricity.

VEVEY. Nowhere else in the world is electric power so generally used as in Switzerland. In a small town like Lucerne, with only 40,000 inhabitants, to take one example, only 20 small houses are without electric light. There are 7 electric bakehouses, 1,000 electric motors, 3,500 electric stoves for heating, 2,000 electric cooking stoves, and over 5,000 electric irons in use among the inhabitants.

But in consequence of her highly Organised electrical power Switzerland lias been passing through a crisis which promised to develop into a catastrophe unless a prolonged spell of rain brought early relief.

Not since September last had rain fallen in any quantity until Saturday’s downpour, and the 300 electric-power stations dotted over Switzerland were reduced plmost to impotence. To cite an example, tho huge power-station at Muhleberg, near Berne, which normally producers about 64,000 h.p. has lately been capable of producing only 5,000 h.p. Switzerland’s greatest water rescue is the Txlontalersee, in the canton of Claris. Normally capable of furnishing 50,000 h.p. daily, this lake in a few days would have been almost dry. The loss of such a huge amount of power would l. e keenly felt, were it not that Swiss industry is now suffering great depression. The shortage of electrical power has particularly affected the newly constructed electric railways, many of which have been obliged to considerably reduce their train service. In this respect the important Loetschberg line has probably suffered least, hut even here steam power has occasionally been resorted to. Strange to say, in the Gotharcl region, the water supply has been practically normal; and the Ritomsee, which produces much of the power for this district, was recently in a state of overflow. While the drought lasted, Swiss public opinion was much opposed to the exportation of electric power to Germany from the Laufenberg station on the Rhine. From this source, by international agreement, German industries receive something like 200 million kilowatts per hour. In an endeavour to remedy their poitcr shortage the Swiss ire busy constructing powerful electrical stations in different parts of the country. When completed, the North Last station in the Waggital Valley expects to produce in winter, 110 million kilowatts per hour. This undertaking will cost something like 54 million francs (about £2.350,000) to complete. Another station which will draw its water force .from the Grimsel lake <6,000ft.) in the Bernese Oberland, is expected to furnish 220.000 h.p. brom the lake to the power station will lie a direct drop of 4,000 ft

The electrification of the Swiss State railways being now in progress, another station is to he constructed at Aids teg, on the St Gothard line, which will produce another 50,000 h.p.

In French Switzerland, a very powerful station on the Barherine is now in construction. To-day Switzerland pays £lO a ton for its cord, and although a big fall in prices is shortly expected (and notwithstanding the heavy cost of electrification) it is considered that electric railway traction will prove a great economy.