American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-29

LdIktmtht-One nj 70 Be Installed
/ in Near Future.
Big things are in prospect in the way
OF Development Of the power resources
of American Falls. The horsepower
now developed Is $500. This is to bs
increased to 1880 BY the installation
of new unit.
Work will not be long delayed start
ing this Development The present
maximum capacity IS required to meet
present needs, and the annual increase
OF current required for the past sever
al years has been p per cent. The
improvements 70 be made will take
into consideration this p per cent an
nual increase and provide for future
demands for an even greater increase
The recent filing Of a one hundred
million dollar mortgage by the Idaho
Power company, covering its plants,
franchises and other property in the
towns Il serves in southern Idaho and
southern Oregon, foreshadoWs big de-
velopment It is evident that Ameri-
can Falls is 10 be the scene Of a part
Of this big work. That the minimum
Of the near future is ID be almost five
times the present maximum affords
ample room for conjecture That q
big demand for power. which does not
nov exist, will soon come, is a reason
, able conclusion No ordinary demand.
; such as supplying current for light
; ing or power in the territory served
: by the American Falls plant, can be
, the cause OF this great increase OF ca
; pacity. One thinks instinctively OF
: the eleetrifcation Of the Oregon Short
, Line. Of an electric smelter which has
' been dreamed OF for years. OF Of pos
: sible large demands for manufacturing
: purposes either at American Falls or
= somewhere within the territory reach
ed By the wires from the American
Falls plant.
! Whatever the cause for this devel-
opment may be for the present It will
remain mystery. All that is known
is that Improvements in the hydro
: electric generating plants at American
!. Falls will be made, and that the ca
! pacity of the near future is fixed al
$4,000 horsepower.
There are three generating stations.
one Of 1000 horsepower capacity, one
OF 1000, and a third with unit install
= lations Of $500
The first two mentioned supplied
all demands between 1901 and 1913
u In 1912 the building Of the third sta
r tion was begun At that time all the
T, underwater excavations for buildings.
r all necessary work in connection with
=, headrace and diversion dams vas COM
10 pleted for a unit installation OF $4,000
IN horsepower. All that will now be re-
r quired is an enlargement OF the build
ig ing and the placing Of new units until
the maximum OF $4,000 is reached
re The Idaho Power company will. by
is adding other units. practically double
a. the present capacity within the next
? few months, but the natural increased
G. demand as indicated By the past. will
y compel other additions within two OF
in three years.
r When nature decreed that American
As Falls should be the site OF a great pow
L er plant she did a good job in arrang-
N ing for inexpensive development. Every
ie drop OF water that runs in the river
lg can be utilized for turning turbines
ie with comparatively small expenditures
Te A noted engineer. who had spent years
is in hydro-electric investigations. a few
IT years ago said that American Falls,
L So far as he knew, vas the cheapest
developed hydrO-electric proposition In
BY the world. In other words. the condf-
at tons we're so favorable That il cost
al less TO develop horsepower OF ener-
gy here than anywhere else
o. One advantage this plant has over
at most others is that the more reser.
er vOirs built 10 conserve moisture for ir.
be rigatiOn the greater the minimum flow
OF OF water. The low water period used
a 70 be in midsummer Il has nov beer
by transferred TO midwinter. The rea,
a son is that the flood waters Of sprins
as and early summer are penned up il
re. reservoirs and released in July ant
ly August for the benefit OF irrigatOrs OF
al the great government and Carey tracts
IS the MinidOka and Twin Falls Soutl
i'll Side and North Side projects locates
re below American Falls. Every drop o
a water they receive must run pas
is American Falls.
so z. A. WOOdhead is in charge a. th
ATS generating plants. having come TO tax
Est charge upon the completion OF II
h third station in 1913. With three as
ats sistants he keeps the machinery ruu
or ming smoothly. and with Eery little il
ley terruption.
ne Some day. if not in the near futur,
M American Falls may be the scene c
busy factories. Il has cheap poEe
m and many raw materials good ShiI
ing ping facilities. and the developmer
)od OF the west can hardly do other tha
result in making use OF them