Hydroelectric power development in Russia

As a result of the development and successful operation of high-tension transmission lines in the United States, interest in electrical engineering progress in this country is rapidly growing in Russia. This has been stimulated by the recent investigations of Professor H. J. Ryan and Mr. Ralph D. Mershon. The Ministry of Ways and Communication at St. Petersburg has become interested in a scheme of hydroelectric power transmission which will involve the electrification of suburban divisions of the state railroads, and the subject is now under consideration. As some doubt seemed to exist in the minds of some of the officials as to the reliability of a 100,000-volt transmission line as compared with a 60,000-volt line, the latter being the highest in use in Europe, telegraphic inquiries have been made of some of the leading men in the electrical engineering profession in America as to the comparative merits and reliability of the two lines. Professor M. A. de Chatelain, of St. Petersburg, an Associate of the Institute, and one of the most enthusiastic exponents of hydroelectric development in Russia, has been invited to make a demonstration of some high-tension transmission experiments with new types of insulators and different sizes of conductors before the officials interested. The advance of electrical engineering in Russia is likely to open a new and extensive field to American engineers.