The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-03-24
THE COUNCIL AND
THEIR POWER SITE

The city council want power and
light plant and in their zeal to Sc
cure 1t they are overlooking some
important facts.
First, they have q small popula-
ton to sell the product to and there
is already a strong firm in the field
and in possession Of the business,
furnishing power and light at prices
fixed by the state thru its utilities
commission.
There is not room here for two
power companies to operate profit
ably and the second one cannot
and sell any Of its product without
the permission of the utility COM
mission II it had such permission,
It would still have to sell at prices
named by the commission and the
commission would name the same
prices for both plants.
The city, IL it had plant, could
only supply its street lamps and the
City hall without the consent of the
commission and it would be a waste
of money to build a plant merely
for that purpose.
The city council are not experience
ed in electrical business and are not
more shrewd in hiring experts and
selecting sites and machinery and in
getting contracts fulfilled than the
managers of the corporation already
operating in the light Of long ex-
perience.
A large part of the expense of the
proposed city plant would be for
transmission lines and the world wal
now in progress has run the price
of copper to fabulous prices and Il
may remain there for years. The
lines already in operation were bull
when copper was at its lowest ebb
eight, nine and ten cents.
Practically all kinds Of machinery
are advancing in cost, due to tht
war in Europe, and electrical ma
chinery is likely to command yer!
high prices during the reconstruc
ton period which is expected to fol
low the sweeping destruction in tn
old world.
The council are now offered an,
seem to be giving serious though
to the purchase of power site TO
100000. 1t is merely a rapids II
the river, bordered by moderately
high banks and blue sky. 1t is cur
rent report, and we believe it i
true, that $3.50 represents the &C
tual outlay Of the present owner
upon it, and that was the price o
\ the filing fee. The rest Of the $50,
900 is said to be for REIMBURSEMENT
II it is for anything more than tina
we shall gladly publish it for the in
formation of the public when we ar
shown.
The probable cost of buying, de
veloping and getting the proposed
site and the proposed plant int
operation would be about quartz
of a million dollars if no blunder
were made and If materials do no
advance in price beyond presen
limits. Our present council shout,
be slow to say that blunders will
not be made, and higher prices ar
generally expected.
IL the council had the power plan
built and paid for, it is a seriou
question whether they could operat
It and keep it in repair and keep
von cash basis. Their management
and operation of the other city prop
erty, and especially the fire fightin)
equipment, does not confirm the be
lief. d
The city has not the money t.
build a plant and the law forbid
their bonding for such sum a.
would be needed to even secure tn
site and build the dam. Three mile
above the proposed site is one dan
already lying idle, and il the council
go on with their ill-advised plan
there will be another.
A