Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1909-07-10
POWER PROBLEM
IS one that
MEANS MUCH

The question OF power on the
desert, is one that requires consid-
cradle deep study, and M that has
caused several mines to suspend op-
erations. Steam is almost out of
the question, water alone costing
ga Of a cen per horsepower hour.
AT rates the water company make to
small mines, fuel is a big item, not
forgetting the unreliability of the
supply, and fuel famines possible as
we had a few years ago,
Pumping water is expensive ever
under the most favorable conditions,
but mere in Nevada with fuel high,
oil at S2.26 a barrel on the cars,
coal from $14 to $40 a ton, and the
cost of firemen and labor, make
steam almost prohibitive-particu-
larry when a few miles or SO from
the railroad tracks,
Gasoline at 23 cents a gallon
gives one horsepower for eight
hours per gallon, less about 20 per
cent loss for elevation of 5000 feet,
Crude oil gas producer, though
rather expensive in first cost. and
not warranted with less than 100
horsepower constant or average use,
will in a big plant reduce the cost
fully so per cen over gasoline, and
with a larger plant (outside OF at
tendance cost bring the fuel cost
: per horsepower down to about 81
j per month.
Electric power has some advant'
ages over other kinds and some dis
advantages. Its advantage is main
e ly in that it requires no attention II
operation; throw the switch and i
; is ready to use. Its disadvantage
l. are several: The power is frequently
; off. Just when it is needed, and
the mine has twenty men at worI
u at an average of / cent a minut
e (60 cents an hour, or $3.50 a day
Il is loosing 20 cents a minute. 9
~ S12 an hour in labor; for men mus
be paid while kept under groan
waiting for power. If the mine
Z making water, the pumping stol
&c and the mine begins to fill with wi
* Ter. which when a few hours 10
time drives the men from the
work it must be pumped out befoI
they can get back to work. Motto
must not be allowed to becon
damn nor wet as they will east
!. sbort-circuit and burn out. Sh
downs come without warning, al
generally catching a mine at a gre
disadvantage. Then there is dang
= of cables. cages and tracks becol
ing charged and shocks that may
!. NAV not prove fatal. Power to
:. off with a heavily loaded cage pa
way up might cause it to drop bat
:, or stop the air and ventilation
no fans etc. The expense of INSTALL
and building lines is great, VIM
,oa must have the interest item co
NO puted into operating expense a
he cost per foot"
The big item is the cost. +
ras people really figure the cost
~ horsepower, that the electric co
i'm many charges, or what it really co
of for the power actually used.
9Th, The e ate tnae lhe po"e.
panv has offered for miners to
hoists with is A cents a kfllo'
hat hour. but they have a fixed cha
we of 50 per horsepower per month
NAL being ready to serve based on
arn. rating of the motor.
and For example; A mine with a ]
mat horsepower motor on the hoist, n
May nav 50 per horsepower per mo
cht- or $500 for the 100 horsepo
will motor. just rs a bonus or pen
hen for being ready to serve, l
then wees $500 worth of Juice
=" mine must pay $500 added to
5000 or $500 per month. Nov
AN the big electric hoists IN !
tiers fornia and on the Comstoek, a
on seldom uses 10 per cent of its
was er. For example; If it takes
the horsepower to start a load an
yard rims on 50-horsepower for WI
over utes and stands idle for 10 min
to the average power is about
horsepower, over the whole te'
TX SO twelve minutes, yet the mine nj
ma nav 81 a month for 100 horsep
,ider. for the sake of getting an ave
she Of less than ten horsepower.
. her as had as keeping steam up all
when you only make a Few
TX of with the power. This read!
serve penalty on HOSTS
lowly amounts to $40 or $40 per a
color. horsepower per month. and the
the cost of the Juice" TO tha'
hters. multiply it by the months in a