The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-08-13

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built. It generates 5000 horse
power, but only about 40 per cnt or
it is used in summer and SO per cent
in winter. The total available power
now is 1000, but by installation of
the machinery it can be increased to
$1,000 without additional expense on
the site itself
Power For 80 Towns
This plant supplies power and
light for American Falls, Pocatello,
TT. Hall and Blackfoot, and when
completed by the addition OF the
other units it would be capable of
supplying six additional Pocatellos,
six more Ft. Hall, six Blackfoots and
six more places like the home town Of
American Falls, and still have as
much more power going to waste as
it would be using, or If country peo-
people went to using it, it would
serve as large rural as suburban
population. At present the company
cannot find enough customers for
their product. Like the producers of
potatoes, they hav good product
and there are plenty of people want
ing the product, but it costs so much
to get 1t to them, they are letting it
spoil on their hands. It costs SO
much for transmission lines and for
maintenance of them, that it is
questionable investment to extend the
lines out through the country and
the suburbs of the tows.
Aberdeen and Rockford
They expect to extend their lines
to Aberdeen and Rockford soon, and
that will leave gap between the two
lines of over 20 miles. Rockford will
be reached via Blackfoot When the
gap is connected there will be less
danger of going without lights after
thunder storms because either side
can be used to carry current around
to the other line.
The Power House
The party visited the building in
which the unit is located, and in the
upper room were given a demonstra-
tion of how the great water gate is
raised and lowered to control the
flow. A man sitting at the keyboard
on the lower floor pressed button
and there was flash in the top
story as a switch went into position
with snap. A SO horse power motor
started some heavy machinery, the |
cogs roared and whirled and the mas
sive gate with is feet of pressure
against it obeyed the will of the man
at the switchboard below, rising and |
returning to position according to
his touch.
In The Room Of Wonders
A spiral steel stairway leads to
the lower floor, and some official
joker maintains neat sign at the .
top of the stair, HE who enters here
leaves hope behind It was hot in +
the lower room, and massive machin-
cry gives the impression of great ex-
pense and fine engineering Natur- |
ally the visitor approaches the great /
whirling wheel operating within a |
easement where the electricity is /
generated, and he gets no more in
sight into the mystery than did the I
Chinese statesman in Washington 80 /
years ago who on being shown
demonstration of electrical power
said, What then, is electricity"
While two American statesmen and
an electrical engineer were explain
ing to him that it was subtle energy i
and that none of them really knew
what twas, he said, What mater
ais are used In its manufacturer"
For answer they looked at the line
If agitation and confessed that SO
ar as they could determine. 1t was \
made Of nothing at all. The wise |,
,hink was persistent student and
lsked If he could have portion Of Il
t to examine or to feel of or to an
Ilyze into its component parts, and