Of even greater value than her coal as a factor in the industrial development of TACOMA is the utilization of the enormous water power which has its origin and source in the snow-capped and glacier-buttressed dome of Mount Tacoma. The mountain from which TACOMA takes her name is an inexhaustible reservoir of power whose efficiency is immeasurable. TACOMA lies at its feet and is the natural outlet and market for its harnessed energies. Science has discovered the means for the conversion of water power into electrical energy transmissible over a wire from the place of its generation to a convenient point for its application and use. There is a loss in transmission which increases with the distance. Therefore TACOMA, which is the nearest seaport and railway terminal to the mountain from whose dizzy heights torrents of water rush ceaselessly to the sea level, is favored by her geographical position in the use of this power. There are numerous streams which make a descent of thousands of feet within fifty miles of the city. Capital has been enlisted and freely expended in the work of generating power for industrial and transportation purposes, besides current for light and heat. [Illustration: Puget Sound Power Company’s Plant. 1—Power House, 3 Units In Operation. 2—View of Flume Line. 3—Penstock Line and Power House. 4—Placing Water Wheel and Rotor Shaft in Bearings. 5—Intake and Dam at Head Works. ] POWER PLANT AT ELECTRON. The largest plant in the world for the generation of electric current by water power, with the single exception of the power plant at Niagara Falls, has been installed during the last eighteen months by the Puget Sound Power Company, of TACOMA, at Electron, twenty-eight miles southeast of TACOMA, near Lake Kapowsin, on the Tacoma Eastern railroad. The work of installing the power plant at Electron was commenced early in 1903. The first unit of 5,000-horse power was ready for trial on April 14, 1904, and before the end of July, 1904, four 5,000-horse power units, making a total of 20,000-horse power, were completely installed and in commercial operation. The Puget Sound Power Company is owned by Messrs. Stone & Webster, of Boston, who control and operate the Tacoma Railway & Power Company, the Tacoma and Seattle Interurban railway and the Seattle Electric Railway Company. The plant at Electron was installed in order to furnish power for operation of the urban, suburban and interurban railways of the Puget Sound cities and to market the surplus to other power consumers.