El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-28

POWER, SUBJECT
Discussion at Kiwanis Club
Brings Out Many Differ
emit Opinions.

AAA-Ag u EA0ElAAAe ~ - "a o. Aa-s pa
Butte dam for FL Paso valley were
expressed by speakers at the weekly
meeting Of the Kiwanis club Friday
noon at the Modern cafe. l. N. Law
son, project manager of the reclama-
ton service. doubted that power could
be developed at a profit; J. A. Smith,
president of the FL Paso Valley Water
Users association, said his organiza-
ton would back the movement, but
il was not its judgment that it was
feasible now; while Prof ]. W. Kidd
said no engineering problem is i'm
possible. and G. =. Putnam said II
would take all the engineers In the
world TO convince him that there is
not some way 10 develop the power at
a profit, and o. J. Binford thought a
thorough investigation OF the prOpos-
al might show it TO be practicable
In opening the meeting, Mr. Put
nam, chairman Of the day, said the
topic 10 be discussed was one OF most
vital Importance 10 the FL PasO valley
He first introduced Mr.. Lawson.
Dams Power About 10000 II. p.
we are perhaps a little more en-
thusiastic about the possibilities Of
the dam than we ought to be-" said
Mr.. Lawson The general impr essiOn
is that it could develop between $4,000
and $4,000 horsepower. with its big
drop. But with the efficiency Of cleo
trical machinery. there would be a so
percent decrease, and this would
make the dams power about $4,000
horsepower at its best We must re-
member that the dam was built for
irrigation and not power purposes.
The amount OF water released de-
Ponds on the number Of acres to be
irrigated.
Holes Built In Anticipation.
Fortunately, however. there are
possibilities at the dam The govern
ment. realizing that some day there
might be a demand for the power that
could be supplied at a profit, built six
holes that need only connecting with
electrical machinery Some years ago.
the matter was investigated and it
was found that TO create the power
and transmit it 10 FL PasO would be
a losing proposition.
Doubts Action at Present
Even now, il is questionable
whether it would be profitable. unless
coal prices go very high We have
instructed our engineering depart
ment 70 investigate what il would
cost to produce power at this time"
Mr.. Lawson closed with the state
ment that in some projects power is
being developed, notably Roosevelt
dam, from which 100000 worth per-
year is sold. However. there is no
hope OF the government financing a
project for power at Elephant Butte
dam at present. he said.
Kidd Is COnservntiOnist-
Prof. Kidd, next speaker, said he
had TO disagree with Mr.. Lawson. and
that absolutely nothing in engineer
ing is impossible He said he Ia
vOred the power from the dam. even
If IL cost as much as power from coal.
because he was a cOnseryationist and
believed in saving coal You know
the government asks us TO save every
thing. but I notice at Fort Bliss that
the government wastes more than
anyone else"
Prof. Kidd told how some years
go power was developed in the Hud-
son river and transmitted 30 miles
at cost Of nine tenths Of cent per
kilowatt-
says Figures showed Loss
AIr. Smith said the power question
had been gone into thoroughly by the
water users some years ago and the
same conclusions expressed By ny
Lawson were theirs "N hen We
figured il down. even at the low cost
Of copper and machinery then pre-
vailing." he said. the figures showed
il would be "A loss TO attempt the
power project then We did find that
We might sell power for the mines at
profit, however.
Gives Power Costs Here
Now you will remember that we
years and are fighting yet. II We at
tempt 10 use more water for power
than we would use for mere irriga-
ton, they might cut off all our water.
As TO the cost OF power, Mr.. Smith
said he was informed the stone
Webster corporation is making power
from coal in FL PasO nine tenths OF a
cent per kilOwatt-
Advocates More Irrigation
Eventually We viii be able 10 use
the dam HhnrnrnErin % HmrTa1
Mr. Smith. but IL Will be for some
thing that Will mean more 10 FL PasO
than cheaper power We VIII be able,
and the government wUult back us,
10 use it to pump water up 10 our
e. ~. which would become the finest
fruit lands in the world. The water
users however. Will stand behind YOU
in the movement for cheaper power,
although il is not our judgment that
il should be done now"
BinfOrd Talks For Power.
The last speaker heard from was o.
J. Binford, Of the Southwestern
cement plant, a big consumer of
power. The power situation now is
similar TO a silver mine" he said.
Five years ago reports on mines now
prospecting would have been unfavor-
able SO. with coal prices soaring.
our estimates Of the water power pro-
pOsals must be revised. As to the in
creased cost Of power, our bill was
about 100000 year up 10 three
months ago. but il has mounted so
rapidly that if il continues. our yearly
bill will be $500. 900. Five years ago,
power plant at the dam would have
been profitless- Today it may be diff
ferent. What we said we could pay
five years ago is much less than we
might pay today. In conclusion. FL
PasO has little 10 offer manufacturers
unless we can secure stable and rea-
souable power. We do not have that
with coal and OIL
Tells OF FL PasO's Needs.
In closing the meeting. Mr.. Putnam
said El PasO would never come into
her own until il develops a firm BUSH
ness relation with Mexico, the valley
lands are under cultivation and the
power problem is solved. Regarding
the second condition. he said he
thought il a shame that most OF our
flour comes from places zoe TO 1900
miles distant. while we do not produce
but a fraction Of the butter we con-
sumo. and we import tremendous
quantities Of fruit from California"
An invitation from the University
club to Kiwanians to become associate
members was communicated by Mr..