Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-06-20
INVESTIGATION PLANS Tc MAKE
FORECAST OF PoSSIBILITIES


rery of the new School of Commerce at
the University of Oregon. The experts
are to gather exact data, and put in
available form the facts and figures
which have to do with the future of
this rich and fertile section Of Oregon
The idea is, first to forecast the future
possibilities of the section in large way
and then 10 make development possible
by the placing of the correct and veri-
fled information in the hands where it
will 10 the most good. This is not to.
be confused with the old fashioned
boosting" or exploiting. II is, in.
stead, scientific preparation for cam
paign of development which consists Of
deeds, not of words.
Water Power Cheap.
Even this early in the survey there
have appeared some giant possibilities
growing out of the fact that a wealth
of cheap water power is available in
this valley. Investigation of this point
is now taking two interesting devel-
opments. One involves the best means
of applying surplus power to agricul-
ture, a problem most pertinent in this.
fertile region, and another is the pos
sibility of creating an entire new in
dustry which, in itself, would justify
the erection of the hydro-electric plants.
The industry which is under consider
alton is the manufacture of nitrogen
from the air. There are not too many
places in the world where great quaint.
ties of lime rock of the right qualities
are located adjacent to adequate water
power TO make possible the establish
ment of this industry. Professor o. f.,
Stafford, of the Department of Chem.
istry of the University of Oregon, has
made extensive investigations into the
nitrogen industry of Norway, aud has
erected elaborate experimental apparat-
us at the University, by means of whicl
he actually makes nitrogen from the
air in his laboratory. The world sup,
I ply of nitrogen, he says, is ~rapidly
shifting from the natural nitrogen beds
| of Chile to the hydrO-electric plants of
/ Norway, and he believes that Oregon is
in condition to get Il large share OF
the profits of this movement.
Other Lines of Investigation.
The other line OF investigation con
ssts of the collection of exact facts
aud figures from all places the world
over where electric power is applied to
the purpose of agriculture. The fol-
lowing data in regard to the utilization
of electric power in Idaho for the pur.
pose of irrigating, heating, lighting
power and domestic purposes, and in
Italy its successful application to plow-
hn to
are given ont today by the Honorable
H. b. Miller, Director OF the depart
ment;
In the Minidako Federal reclamation
project, of Idaho, 47,700 acres of the
land is irrigated by pumping water to
it the power for pumping having been
secured in connection with the main
work of the project. As the period
when pumping for irrigatng is limited
the Department finds itself with 0
great surplus of energy for the most OF
the year. To market this, low rates
have been made throughout the adjac
l,ent district, the purpose being to max,
the byeuses take care of Il part of th'
expenses incurred in erecting the pow
plant and thus effect a saving il
the cost of irrigating the lands.
Season Ends In October.
Irrigating begins about April |, an,
is entirely finished by October 81, Dur
ing the earlier and latter parts of thi
season the use is light. The projec
being in an agricultural region, ther,
are no manufacturing interests of mo
ment to help in consumption of power
The Department has been compelled tt
distribute the energy throughout tn,
rural sections and to the urban com
munities, for the use of lighting, fo
residences.
For heating, rate of ) a kilowat
month has been adopted during the win
ter period. This figure has been fom,
: sufficiently low to induce large mum
Der of residences and many publi
buildings to adopt electric heating.
is estimated that the rate makes tn
cost of heating appreciably less thai
the cost Of heating by means of coal il
that district.
Except for this heating rate, tn
| charge made for electricity furnishe,
p by the Government is said to be suffi
cient to pay operating expenses of tn
. plant, or tipt is the proportiona3
Q shareF and fair proportion Of tn
? maintenance and some profit beside,
| The Government tries to do no retail,
> ing the purpose beng to sell to con
; panies or groups of farmers.
2 Power Rates Varies.
e The consumers take current for heat
inp lighting flatirons and mower Tl