El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-24
FUEL PROBLEM
ASERIOU5 ONE
Discussion of It Brings Out
Project of Hydroelectric
Plant at the Dam.


as TO the ACCESSIBILITY Of establishing
an electric power plant at the Ele-
phant Butte dam to generate powe'
20 supply El Paso and the towns oil
/ the valley Of the Rio Grande between
the dam and Fabeus. This informa-
ton was disclosed at a meeting Mon
+ day afternoon at the chamber Of com
merce Of the manufacturers commit
I tee. representative of the III Pasl
Water Users association, reclamation
officials. coal dealers and merchant Is
for the purpose Of discussing the fue
problem.
IA N. Lawson, project manager
stated that the government would
make a thorough Investigation and
make its recommendation, but would
not furnish the money TO build the
plant which he estimated would COsI
approximately sl,cO9.Iu9- he said tins
money could be raised by the Water
Users association, who could then
contract for the sale OF tle power
A similar investigation was made
some years ago. Mr. lawson said, but
AT that time the government did not
believe that sufficient amount Of pow
or could be sold 90 make 10 a paving
proposition. Since that time, he said,
conditions have changed
Roosevelt Project sells Power.
The Roosevelt project ar Law
son said. receives 100000 annually
for the power sold 20 the mines OF
that district i'm Arizona The mOue-
derived or the salt River valley farm
ers from the power viii soon pay for
the dam The power Is not furui shed
constantly, because when the flow
over the dam IS stopped during certain
months there is no power. But the
mine operators are willing 20 use the
power one week out OF every three
and then use coal because 10 saves
them money
FeuI Problem Serious.
The fuel problem here is no doubt
o serious one. We are now trying 20
contract for 1000 tons of coal for our
own use"
John 81. Wyatt. president Of the
chamber OF commerce. who presided al
the meeting. stated that many Of the
manufacturers had complained about
the high cost of fuel here and several
had stated that il was so high that
their plants. He said Dr. also resulted
in many manufacturing establish
ments not coming here
smith Suggests Difficulties.
James A. smith president OF the IL
Pas0 Water Users association. said
that the question Of power plant had
been discussed some time ago. but
that at that time il was thought that
il would be q losing proposition be-.
cause not enough power could be sold.
The use Of water for the purpose Of
generating power. ne said. would re-
suit in difficulties with the state OF
Colorado because OF the excessive
amount needed TIE nearest coal sta
ton To the dam. M smith said is So
miles and 10 would cost q large amount
Of money TO operate the proposed
plant
r. l. Slmous- manager VI the FL
PasO Gas company. stated that there
has been an increase this year over
that Of last Of about q percent i'm the
price Of coal used by the company he
represents. He said that railroad
rates had not increased materially
since last year
Freight Rates Higher.
The interstate commerce commits
sion has allowed the railroads an iu-
crease OF Is cents per ton for coal
more than the rate Of last year. An
drew W. Reeves, traffic manager of
meeting Mr. Smith said he thought
this was a reasonable increase and
that the railroads were entitled 90 f.
Coal that sold FOR 50 and $3.50 last
J ear az rhe mine is this year selling
for Sf-l5, F. T. Nefr said. His COM
pany. he said. is paying 50 per ton at
the mine for anthracite coal
says Coal Prices Double.
%. p Putnam, president Of the West
Texas Fuel CO.. said that coal in the
rich Peuus ylvaull ana other eastern
fields has increased from - 20 100
percent over the price OF last year.
He said that II the manufacturing es-
adjustments were staying away from
III Pas0 because OF the price OF fuel
they would then remain away from
all other cities. because the price ~
coal had increased universally the
same
8ir. Neff said that dealers were
making about $50 per ton on the
.oal they were selling here He SAID
last week he sold q carload Of coal
and made $50 ON the deal ne said the
ear was 5000 pounds short and when
he wrote the mine they replied that
The weight was correct when i- left .
The mine. and he mad no recourse
Asks Who Gets the Money
= g. Humphreys. proprietor OF the .
'asO del Norte hotel asked who was .
getting the 81 increase He said DE .
realized the dealers here were max
uC q small profit. bur could not uu-
ierstaud why the increase was nearly .
Sd percent at the mine The speaker .
said DE did not believe the miners .
we're granted such a remarkable in
,rease In wages
r. z. Fletcher said that coal was
selling cheaper in the Tennessee and .
kentucky fields He said that 1t was
selling approximately 81 less a ton
here than iu this city. The speaker 4.
said that when the coal men conferred
With war secretary Newton Baker ar
Washington. several days ago. they
I'D agreed that So so ger ton was a
air price but that Mr.. Baker thought
Z an eNor5itaut price.
Says Mining Cost Greater.
That the oFerhead expense OF the
.oal operators IS 800 percent more this
ear than that OF last was the state /.
lent made by Alr. smith. He said the
mines have not been operating on
ull time because Of the shortage of
abor. The speaker said that the
wages Of the miners has also been i'm f,
reased- Last year. he said. coal was
icing shipped here from mines Of New +,
IeXlco. a distance of 500 miles. while
oday il is being shipped goo miles
rom Colorado.
says Makes Meals Cost More.
Mr.. HUMPHREYS said he could under
tand why Mr. Smith thought prices
mould increase, because when they
we're increased he increased the price
I his milk He said ina. some of the
Gods he is selling have increased in
ost from 80 20 200 percent. while
'nen he increases the price Of meals
emplalnts are made. He said he has
ven been forced TO reduce the price
Z meals, despite the increase on the
rice Of fOOdstuff
Mr.. Simons said that the railroads ]
ave stacked up much coal along S
heir tracks TO move troops this wear.
lie said that the people should be S
lore conservative and waste less fuel
Trying TO save on Fuel.
o. j. biutOru, superintendent OF the
outhwestern Portland Cement com
any, said that his company has speur
10000 TO make changes I'm the fuel !
apartment Of the plant which would
asult in saving in fuel 10 the ex- I