The La Jara chronicle., 1906-11-16

I a
pacity Of 10000 horsepower, and it is
expected that at least half of this will
be in operation in from fifteen to eigh-
teen months. The present plans con,
template further developments as rap
idly as the market for power demands
them, which will have an aggre regate
capacity Of $1,000 additional horse
power. The plans for this work are
already completed, and the company
has financial backing which will en-
able ii to construct these plants as
rapidly as the market for power de-
mands them.
In addition to these properties,
from which we can generate 10000
horsepower, We have acquired various
other water rights which will permit
of the development of at least 10000
horsepower more, but the time when
these developments will be undertaken
will of course depend upon the demand
for power in the parts of the state it is
proposed to reach by the transmission
lines of the company.
Tine first plants to be built are in
the center of a territory Of 10000
square miles. which can readily be
supplied from the two plants. with
transmission lines of moderate length.
der, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties,
Leadville. Cripple Creek and, in fact
all the mining districts, cities and
towns from Grand Junction on the
west TO Denver on the east, the Wyo-
ming state line on the north to Pueblo
on the south.
AS in a large part of this district
the cost of making power by steam
I'll al 10 hiph
believe that the supply to these places
Of large amounts of power at prices
much below the cost of steam power
will be of great benefit to them all.
The policy of the company will be
broad and liberal. We fully believe
from our experience with with similar
plants elsewhere that the introduction
OF electric power, at moderate price,
with all of its advantages of simpli-
city and fieMbility. will be a potent
agent in assisting in the development
OF enterprises of all kinds. We realize
that the ultimate growth and prosper
ity of our company will depend on the
growth and prosperity of the districts
to which We propose to supply power,
and our policy. therefore, will be one
to encourage development
We can think of nothing, except
possibly the railroads. of greater gem
eral public benefit to the industries of
Colorado than large supply of moder-
ate priced electric power, and it seems
to us that the establishment of a con-
struCriye enterprise Of this kind. where
the profits derived from it are shared
between the company furnishing
power and those using It, should com
mend itself to the public.
Tho u-1rL- y1uR.-ra Ion 10 1F
great magnitude. and construction will
continue over a period of a number of
years. AT Gore canon it will be neces.
sary to construct a tunnel four miles
long for conveying the water from
the intake in the river to the power
house. The water conveyed through
this tunnel will be dropped through
pressure pipes to the wheels with a
head OF about $50 feet.
AT Glenwood similar construction
will be employed. but the tunnel there
will be about ten miles long. and the
head ubtainable 400 feet Immense
power houses of the most modern and
up-to-date construction will be built,
and transmission lines constructed to
convey the energy from the power
houses to the various points of
use at pressure OF probably 10000
volts. These lines will consist of stcel
towers and copper cables. and will be /.
built to Withstand the severe conditions |
Of climate and weather prevailing /
throughout the mountainous regions, !
so as TO insure continuity of service.
The construction of the long tun- I
nels, which will be twelve by fifteen
feet, is, Of course. an expensive under ]
taking, but, when once completed. they I
will be permanent and the plans will
not be subject to the Interruptions
common to plants Of this character, ]
where wooden fumes and open canals |
arc used.
Taken as a whole, this is the larg- |
est undertaking of the kind ever |
started, and if the plants are properly |
and managed it should |
prove profitable to the company and |
Of inestimable value to the state as a |
whole. 1t is prophesied by those who |
are making most careful study of the |
subject that it will not be long before |
the trunk lines of railroads will be |
operated over the Continental divide |
by electric power, and the establish
ment Of these great power plants will |
bring this about more
quickly than if the railroads had to de-
pend upon making their own power.
1T seems to us that Colorado Is to
be congratulated upon an enterprise of
this character, which brings such a |
vast amount of outside capital into the |
state to be spent in way which can
not help being Of great benefit to the
state at large"