Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-23
SAYS TULSA IDEAL
WATER POWER CITY
Hughes Enthuses Chamber of
Commerce Heads Over
River Project.

Just as happily as Tulsa is situated
in the center of the worlds greatest
oil and gas belt, so is the city most
favorably located to reap vast benc-
fits from water power with which to
propel local industries when this
present failing gas supply is depleted
or too gh-priced for factory fuel. IN
the belief of T. c. Hughes, former city
engineer, who addressed directors Of
the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce yes
terday
To Supplant Gas
Grave fears that Tulsa soon must
seek other power Inducements than
cheap gas with which to lure more
factories here, caused an invitation to
he issued to Mr.. Hughes that he might
suggest how this city may become the
center Of the greatest river -harnessing
power project in the southwest The
engineer spoke at the regular weekly
luncheon of the Chamber in the pri-
vate dining room Of Hotel Tulsa.
There are but two points along the
Arkansas river between Tulsa and
Arkansas City, Kan, where the proper
kind of power plants may he located
to good advantage" Mr.. Hughes said.
Both of these locations. fortunately
are situated in close proximity to
Tulsa. one of such plants should be
nlHCeu At Nav tllN ana announcer at
Ralston, Okla"
Cost $4,000. 900.
II Tulsa desires to become the CEN
ter for great water power adequ"t te to
operate the present factories and other
industries which may be induced to
come here, two such plants as would
be needed, may be installed, copper
distributing lines constructed at a
total cost including engineering fees
of approximately S2,30O,000, Mr..
Hughes pointed out. This would pros
vide for operation and depreciation
expenditures of $4,000 and en-
gineering cost of 100000.
From such plants a combined ca
pacity 0s approximately 1000 horse
power could be developed. This
power could be sold If all was dis
posed of for from $50 to $500 a
horsepower per year. a total net In
come thus could be provided of APP
proXimately s4GS, 200. This of course
/ would be possible only in case the en-
tire output was sold. In ten years
time the plants would have paid for
themselves and net profit in excess
of 20 per cent. Mr., Hughes contends
Serve Other Cities.
He proposes to sell this power to
other cities including OklShoma CITY,
Guthrie, Pawhuska, Arkansas City and
scores OF smaller towns. No other
city has such an opportunity to take
advantage of a natural asset. the cn-
gineer believes. The river has been
here 100000 years and will he just
as good as power producer In the
same number Of years In the future.
Following the detailed address ny
the engineer, President X. y. McFar-
| lin OF the Chamber of Commerce,
proposed that a committee be ap-
pointed at an early date to further
| the project outlined by Mr.. Iiugnss.
A motion to that effect carried unan-
imously. Grant Stebbins, President
McFarlin Mark Carr and other
prominent Tulsans at the meeting
were especially impressed with the
possibilities disclosed in the water
power line. They believe the project
feasible and pledged their willing
ness to assist in making Tulsa not
only the worlds greatest oil and gas,
but the water power city as well.