The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-02-26
WHITE COAL ON ST. PAUL SYSTEM
Big Experiments in EIectrification and
Good Results Expected,

~ Sopu RESULTS expected
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Interest in the Chicago. Milwaukee e.
6t.s Paul railroad is perhaps greater In
Chicag0 Just now than in any other
r0ad centralized there. for the possi-
1ltitles or good or i'll are larger than in
thescase OF any other road. The Puget
sound extension has proved a success,
after much doubt had been expressed
by observers. but the challenging thing
now is the identification of something
Ike 400 miles OF the line in the moL&
tain country, which is now in progress.
2 small part of the electrical service
being actually in operation. The gains
out OF the Puget sound extension and
the application of electricity as motive
power are held to be an Offset to the
reduction in the dividend from z to 8
Der cent early in 1912. -.
The estimates OF reduction in cost
through the use OF electricity are al
most startling For example. on one
portion of the line where The cost mrs
been $4,000 per month for coal. it" is
inquired that the cost for theFsame SER
wee by use Of electricity Wlllspe only:
$4,000 per month. Probably this ratio
cannot be maintained throughout the
whole stretch OF road to be served by
. current.
lt Is highly interesting. however, to
see that the mountains, which have
heretofore been UGH a tremendous
problem to the railroads. are in this
instance to be more than helpful. 1t Is
the snow In the mountains, plus the
missouri. Madison and other rivers In
montana. that afford this opportunity
1Ior such a vast ~cheapening of the cost
OF operating the roads. The Montana
rover company makes the conversion,
and SO complete is its work that it will
lit copper from the mines. place il on
the trains and carry 1t to its destina-
Ion. AND the company works the same
water seven times over by having that
number OF stations along these streams.
moreover, provision has been made
Tor any possible Interruptions through
q shortage OF snow in the mountains by
the construction of a reservoir soma
thing like so miles long and constitute
Ing the sixth largest lake in the United
States. 1t would seem. therefore, that
the st. Paul road and all the indus
tries served by the power company are
We'll protected against any probable in
terruption of the service. The safe
guard OF a steam plant. to be used@in
ease OF need, vas provided early in the
imitation OF this enterprise. but it has
not turned a wheel for six years. y
Fuel and water have beeh the two 4
subjects OF special soIicitude among
q people OF the mountain states. ever
since the whites lived there in any con-
siderable number. In Montana coal is
Sl6 per ton. even the inferior article
which is used by mosti Of the railroads
and the manufacturing concerns.
Doubtless a railroad can obtain its
supply at lower figures. y and yet the
cost OF fuel Is n tremendous item. AS TO d
water, the mountainous and arid coun-
tTY Is gradually solving the problem
by means Of various devices, such az
irrigation schemes and electrical power
In accommodating n conserving the
supply. The use of these devices is ex-
tending rapidly all ove the region, and
at the same time many of the growths
which have heretofore BEEN Considered
useless or worse. are coming to be ar
ticies Of consumption by man and
beast.
All these things are contributing to
enhance the wealth, and. the import
anc of that portion of our country.
The st, Paul road seems likely to Sc
cure the first great advantage among
the railroads of the enterprise of the
great promotion concerns now engaged
In the hydro electric business.