The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-08-22
UNCLE SAM ANXIOUS
TO DITCH BUSINESS
HEATING AND LIGHTING PRO
VIDE NO PROFIT IN
SOUTHERN IDAHO.

BOISE-The government of the
United States is going out of the
business of supplying power for heat
ing purposes in Idaho, and signs are
not wanting that it may also grad
ually retire from the lighting business
All this is indicated BY recent develop
ments on the Minidoka tract, the only
section in Idaho where the govern
ment supplies electric energy.
The only reason the federal govern
ment ever undertook to supply power
to the individual other than for irriga-
ton pumping was because it could do
so at practically no cost, especially for
heating, as it was thought the heating
load could be carried at a time when
the power was not needed for pump
ing.
1t was regarded as being cheaper
to supply the service than to even
partially suspend operation at the
plant during the winter months.
Recently meeting was held at Bur
ley, which, with Rupert and Hepburn
has been supplied with power from
the government reclamation plant
Representatives of the government
were present and went over with the
Burley council the subject of power
Rate Increase Nearly 100 Per Cent
The reclamation officials stated that
rate almost 100 per cent if there was
any way the government might con
tinue the service.
They also stated that it would BIZ
necessary for Burnley to build sep
arate station for distribution of the
heating current The Burnley Herald
in discussing the matter says "Thi:
would cost the city $4,000 which tn,
council says is out of the question"
! The Burnley Bulletin in commenting
on the matter states that under the
circumstances "the towns on the Mini
doka project must look to some sourc,
other than the government powe
plant at the Minidoka DAM
The Jerome Bulletin in handling TIL
subject says: "The government nov
seems to be taking the position that i
has been furnishing the power at les
than cost. If this be so, then perhap
the private corporations have not beer
the constituencies holdups they hav
been accused of being"
1t is probable the towns on tn
reclamation project will arrange TO
power for lighting purposes and othe
commercial uses from some othe
source such as the Idaho Power com
pany. One of the papers in that dis
trict points out that, while the rate
of the power company are necessaril
higher than those of the government
which has supplied electric energy a
less than. the cost of production, al
investigations have shown that the,
were based on very small percentag
of earning.
Not Practical for Heating.
Last winter a hearing was held il
Boise on the subject of heating witt
electricity. Experts were present from
western universities and some con
nected with the federal government.
They all agreed that heating b,
electricity was impracticable becaus
of the large volume of power continu
ously required and the cost of furn
ishing it. They declared coal was tn
proper fuel in this country. leavin:
electricity for commercial, domestic
and irrigation purposes.
Apparently the United States gov
eminent has come to this conclusion
and will discontinue the use of powe
for heating. The question of furnish
ing power for other purposes is still
in allegiance, but. because of the actua
demands for pumping, it is possibl,
that service will be suspended by TIT
Government