animals, the supply of power, as is well known, is derived in our own times
first and foremost from coal of diverse kinds, mineral oils, different vegetable
substances, above all wood, and from waterfalls.
Mineral fuels. Nothing during a thousand years has altered the conditions
of human life to such a degree as the use of mineral fuels, which
began to be used, in an increasing degree as the latter half of the 18th
century. Thanks to this, it has now become possible in a short time to transform
into productive energy untold supplies of power, which have been
stored up during endless ages of the world’s past history. And it is the
inhabitants of the great coal countries which have in our own days
taken the lead both in intellectual and material progress. Sweden has been
compelled to utilize considerable portions of her products in the purchase,
from lands, more happily situated in this respect, of coal for her rapidly
growing industries. For instance, in the beginning of the decade 1890, 90
kilogrammes per inhabitant were imported, 812 kg. in 1910, and 765 kg.
in 1912. Cannot this be changed?
On this point we have, in the first place, two natural resources to consider:
the occurrence of coal in Skane, and the peat-mosses distributed over
the whole country; but also possibly, in the tracts of Vastergotland among
others, mineral-oils, and the wood-spirit which can be obtained from the
deciduous products of our forests.
Coal. The district in North-West Skane which is coal-bearing has a
probable extension of about 800 square kilometers, with a coal supply
of certainly 106, conceivably about 300 millions of tons, that is to say,
enough for a few decades to supply Sweden’s present needs. The comparatively
low proportion of best quality coal in the strata makes it, nevertheless,
impossible to produce it economically, without at the same time
extracting lower qualities of coal, and the valuable fire-proof clays which
occur with it. The problem, therefore, that has presented itself and still
continues to do so, is how to discover a satisfactorily extensive use for
these products. By, e. g. creating an increased export for the products of
the clay industries, or by the utilization of inferior qualities of coal in the
production of iron, or by generating electric power it is possible to increase
the production beyond the somewhat more than 300 000 tons which has
been the result of the last few years. I f one can succeed in maintaining the
home production of coal at about. Vis to V20 of the total consumption, which
has been the case of late years, one ought to be fairly satisfied. This,
however, is so small a fraction of our needs, that the question arises
whether no possibility can be found of bettering this state of affairs.
Peat. It is anything but easy to estimate the value of the peatmosses
for the next few decades; and for a longer period it is of no
purpose to make any calculation. We are aw'are' that extensive peatmoss
areas exist over the greater part of the country, but the main
question, touching the economic worth of this source of power, involves to
quite as large a degree two other factors. One is the extraordinary tenacity
with which peat substances hold water, the result of which is that
a great amount of energy is required to dry the peat; this of course entails
considerable outlay in a country where the summers are usually short
and very rainy. The other condition which so largely prevents the utility
of peat as fuel is the proportionately small and thin layers in which it
occurs, even in the greatest and, to a large extent, the majority of the
moss beds. When one reflects that, even in good and prepared peat-fuel,
the amount of energy averages barely half that of coal, while the ash refuse
is considerably higher as a rule, it may readily be inferred that the
“peat question” does not come into the category of easily solved problems.
On the whole, it is beyond dispute that the question is unsolved as yet, and
one cannot reckon with any certainty in the near future on peat as a
source of power, in any other sense than that those industries which are
favourably located near peat-mosses suitable for fuel may be expected to
extract from it, more or less advantageously, a considerable proportion of
their necessary power, Apparently it will be a long time before any
appreciable portion of the country’s requirements in this respect will be
met by such means. On the other hand, the importance of peat-moss beds
as cultivable soil are probably comparatively greater, but this is not our
present subject.
Shale-oils. Another mineral fuel may possibly come into use in the
future, viz., the oils which are incontestably to be found in the Silurian
shales of Vastergotland and other provinces. At present the question of
working these to such a purpose is in the initial stages, but it has been
taken in hand, and the remarkable success achieved in utilizing such
fuel in Scotland and France appears to open up the probability of success
in Sweden too. In that case a considerable proportion of the demand for
motor oils etc., can be met. The Silurian shales which are combustile
(1 500—2 600 calories) contain as much as 6—8 % of oils and a considerable
quantity of sulphur (6—9 %). The latter could also be worked
up into valuable artificial fertilizers.
W a te r-p ow er . The greatest and most important store of energy in Sweden
manifestly consists of its waterfalls. Through the abundance of
water-courses, through the multitude of terraced falls, through the numerous
lakes whose waters are capable of regulation, and through abundant
discharges, the country should be one of the best endowed in the world in
point of water-power. The remote situation of a large proportion of its great
falls, the long winter in the districts where certain of these are located, and
the small height of many falls are circumstances which in certain
cases reduce their value. It is to be observed that about 3-5 million horsepower
can possibly be utilized in the next few decades. Of this estimated
total about 850 000 horse-power will probably have been harnessed by
1915. At the present moment, waterfalls produce more than half of all
the mechanical power in the country, a fact which clearly illustrates their
enormus importance for the entire economic life of Sweden.