The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
EASTERN CAPITALISTS TO CON-
TRoL AL PLANTS in VEL. 5s5
LoWsToNEsvALLEY.
HAVE PLANT HERE
High Voltage Power Lines Of Madi.
son River Power Company to Be
Extended 70 Dakota Line, Furnish
Ing Any Amount Of Power Wanted
In Eastern Montana.

Plans of eastern capitalists to CON
solidate under n ownership the cleo
trio power plants OF the Yellowstone
valley and southern Montana and ex-
tend the power line OF the Madison
River Power company from Madison
river valley to the Dakota state line,
connecting with all the power plants
on the way, are said to be near CON
summation.
Options have been secured on the
leading power plants In Yellowstone
valley, 1t is said, by New York CAPT
~talists, who control the Madison Riv-
er Power company and own the cleo
trio light plants at Livingston, Boze-
man, Butte and Great Falls and ii
some of the largest cities Of the coun-
try, notably Detroit and st. Louis,
and these options are being taken up
as rapidly as possible.
Have Billings Plants.
Both electric power plants in Bill
ings are to be acquired by representa-
tives Of these capitalists, the purchase
of the Yegen Bros. plant having al
ready been contaminated as an
nounced yesterday morning in The
Gazette. Arrangements to secure the
plant Of the Billings Water Power
company have progressed SO far that
its purchase is certain. An option is
said to be held by the company on
the plant at Columbus.
AS soon as possible, arrangements
will be made to secure control Of
power plants in the Yellowstone val
ley east of here.
Work on the construction of the big
power line, which will go through Bill
ings and which will carry voltage high
enough to furnish power for all man
ner ct manufacturing plants, will be
started In the near future. It is pow
er from this high voltage line, power
generated in the Madison river val
ley it is said that will be used to OPP
crate and light the Northern Pacific
shops at Laurel, the contract for which
was made some time ago as an
nounced by The Gazette.
Control the Business.
It is said that after the construction
Of its lines, the company will practi-
cally control the business Of furnish
ing electric power in the entire east
ern and southern portion Of the state
and there 10 not IN improbability that
the line will be extended into neigh
boring states.
H. w. Rowley. head Of the Billings
Water Power company, yesterday
confirmed tho report that the people
who had purchased the Yegen plant
had also made arrangements to take
ever the plant ot 1is company. He
refused to say what the consideration
was and would not be quoted as to
the Intentions Of the new holders inso-
far 90 extending their power business
was concerned. The water plant. ne
said will still be- the property Of the.
Billings Water Power company. II is
understood that q separate pumping
station has been constructed for Il.
because Of the sale Of the power
plant.
The plans Of the capitalists who are
bringing about the consolidation Of
the electric power plants are said to
involve investments ranging into the
millions Of dollars. though none Of
the parties connected with the local
companies q the engineer q the new
owners, who was In billings recently,
have a. yet given out anysofncial IN
formation about the plans q the
eastern investors. The magnitude OF
the deal win only be realised when
the full plans are diyulged.