The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-15
AND A HEAP OF ADVISORS

MIssoULA. Jan. 14.--Tho recent period
Of darkness which this city has expert
enced has renewed the complaints which
have previously been expressed regarding
tho local electric light plant. Tho concern
has for several years been insufficient for
;hc amount of work required OF il, and
the number of lights furnished has Tor
months been greater than the sizo OF
the plant warranted. As long as tho ma
chinery is in good order, the service of the
company is not so had, bat when one
dynomo gives out or one belt breaks
there is always trouble. there being no re-
serve power 10 fall back upon, and some
of the lights in tho city arc turned ont
until the damage is repaired. Last w"ck
three of the dynamos gave out. having
been worked to their fullest capacity Tor
several months, and the city was iilum-
mated by dim coal oil lamps and spluttcr-
ing candies.
When the question of a now contract
for the city lighting come up for discus
cussion IN the city council last month.
there was some opposition to a renewal
of the existing contract unless the light
company would give guarantee that the
quality of the lights would DO improved.
and one alderman insisted that tho COM
promised dam across Hell Gate river.
These objections were not considered,
however, tho aldermen in favor of the
extension of the contract arguing that
the surcst way to secure tho promised inn
provements was to give the company an
assurance of business in tho future SO
the light company was given now con-
tract for five years and the city is still
supplied with what is probably the most
unsatisfactory light of any town IN the
state. Even Stevensville has n better
lighting system than Missoula.
IL is admitted that the plant of tho com
pany is an expensive one to operate. Its
location is unfortunate and it's machinery
is antiquated and nearly worn out. Tho
building should have been abandoned
years ago and last spring, when it was
topping on tho brink of the swollen river,
there were many fervent prayers that
the stream would rise n few inches higher
and carry the whole outfit down To
Thompson Falls. But there was some
thing wrong with the prayers, for the
water receded and the old shack still
stood. But IT was left leaning over at a
perccptblo angle and there are good
grounds for tho belief that next spring
will finish It. If providcntially tho water
rises high enough. Not many
weeks ago. one of the attaches of the gen
cral office of the company in Butte spent
fow days in this city and during his
visit he requested n STANDARD reporter
to show him tho local plant of his com.
pany. This request was granted and tho
reporter took the gentleman over to the
end of tho big bridge and pointed 10 tho
topping brick shack. MY God! Is that
our outfit? ?" was all he said. He wouldn't
20 down. IL looked too dangerous.
The other day a man who is a practical
machinist and electrician spoke to the
STANDARD representative of a plan which
he has for furnishing tho city with cheaper
electric light. His scheme is to go up the
Rattlesnake little way and put in n tur
bine power plant. Here, he claims, he
could generate sufficient electricity e
light the city at cost which is surpris
ingly small compared with the present
charges. lie says that the only argument
for retaining the plant in the center o
town is that there is a big saving in line
wire. .. But he states that the difference in
the cost of operation would more thar
offset this expense. The plan, as he pre-
sents II, appears feasible enough aud
aught TO DO investigated by some og tn,
kickers against the present system. Il
they find the scheme practicable, they
could take il up and produce chcapcrl igh
themselves. but if It Is not practicable
they should stop their kicking.