Discussion on “some problems of high-voltage transmissions” (Steinmetz) and “characteristics of protective relays” (Hewlett). New York, March 8, 1912. (see proceedings for March, 1912)

David B. Rushmore: I want to say a few words about “some of the new things in power transmission. President Dunn mentioned the waterpower part of it — water is often spoken of as “white coal.” We are now coming to a situation of black water, that is, we are going beyond the development of waterpowers for power transmission, and one of the installations under consideration, which is just being put in, is one of the most interesting phases of the present power transmission. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, the oldest of the anthracite companies in the Pennsylvania field, is just in the process of installing the first steam station in the East for purely power transmission purposes. They are going to be within easy transmission distance of both New York and Philadelphia, and ultimately will have a steam turbine plant of 120,000 kw., as their plans are at present. In future they may exceed that capacity. Their plans are to transmit power, for local distribution largely, for cement mills at first, and also, presumably, for the lighting of the towns through which they will pass, and possibly reaching into New York or Philadelphia, or both.