El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-09

bine, and the water flowing through
the canal does the rest.
On some projects irrigation is carried
on throughout the year, so that power
from this source is Obtainable at all
seasons. The UncOmpahgre valley
which is a fruit raising district has
immense amounts OF undevelOped power
in drops of the big canal at the outlet
OF the GunnisoH river, the stream whose
water was brought through a range Of
mountains by tunnel six miles long.
There are unlimited quantities of this
water, and it is available for the pro-
duetlon Of electricity at all times.
ordinarily, however, the farmer
would establish plant of small size
where a drop in a minor canal was con-
Veniently at hand It might cost him
no more that $1,000, and the expense Of
running ii would not exceed $3.50 year
perhaps The number Of horsepower
developed would depend, Of course. on
the size Of the drop. ii might be from
90 to 100, and would be worth anywhere
from $50 to 800 per horsepower annu-
ally The owner could use the electrici-
" himself and sell it to his neighbOrs.
In most instances, doubtless such lit
tie power plants viii be built,by a num-
Der of farmers IN cooperation. On the
fruit raising projects the growers most
~ live on small 10 acre farms. their
holdings being so compact as to give
almost suburban aspect to the land
scape. There may be, perhaps. from Is
TO e. houses to the mile of main trav-
eled road, which means large number
Of customers for power within a small
radius. The electricity being delivered
within short distances, there is a mini
mum Of loss in transmission, and the
cost Of Operati ion is small, fewer men
being required.
Profit Not Considered.
Where these small plants are being
developed for the use and benefit of the
owners, the question Of profit does not
enter into consideration. They get their
electricity at cost, which is very low,
varying with the size and location OF
the drop, the expenSiveness Of the plant
and the number Of people using the
power.
In many parts of the country, and es-
pecially in California, great quantities
of electricity are sold by private cor
porations for irrigation and for indus
trial purposes. The ordinary rate
charged in the San joaquin valley is
five to 10 cents per kilOWatt hour. But
there are some places in the valley
where farmers who have established CO.
opedative plants of their own, get their
wire juice" for as little as SIS of a cent
per horsepower hOur-Which is euuiva-
lent TO a little more than 4-5 of cent
per kilOwatt hour. One irrigated tract
in the same region has an even lower
rate-3-4 of a cent. But this is an ex-
ceptional case, the electricity being OBJ
tained from the same lines that supply
the city Of San Francisco. so miles
away. and which can afford to work
cheap at night
Electricity is cheapIy produced in the
San Joaquin valley because Of the ex-
ceptiOnal advantages afforded by
streams which flow down from the ST.
erras The slope of these streams is
very steep, and the amount Of power
Obtainable from them is proportionate-
" great. As they flow down the noun
tain sides they are utilized for develop
ing power. Later on when they get out
OF the mountains their tiers serve for
irrigation; and, in the level bottoms of
the valley beyond, the precious fluid
is pumped out of the ground by means
Of the electricity developed in the
mountains
The economies employed are often