El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-17
POWER PLANT
ATDAM ASSET
FOR Ell PASO

las Cruces, n. n, Dec 17.-De-
I YelOpment Of Elephant Butte power
and its effect on FL Paso was dis
cussed here by H II. Brook, presi-
/ cent Of the Elephant Butte Irrigation
district who said
~El Paso Will be by far the great
I est beneficiary OF the proposed Ele-
] phant Butte power development Few
! citizens realize accurately what COM
I paratively unlimited. dependable and
/ cheap power means 70 the growth Of
{ the city.
''Of course. the power plant and
/ lines would be owned By the farmers
/ or the upper and lower valleys and
/ the cash earnings would be credited
\ 20 operation and maintenance charges,
] mus relieving 70 substantial eN-
] tent the annual burden on their
] land and naturally increasing its
Z value II would improve living con-
Z ditiOns in the valley and encourage
] the growth OF a large number OF
] agricUlturally dependent Industries
such as cotton gins. -four mills, can
f power would build up FL Paso's inn
mediate local territory into a region
{ OF prosperous homes with small hold
{ ings devoted 10 intensive agriculture.
WIN Ala FL Paso.
'The cash earnings and incident
land value enhancement and agricul-
turaI development viii be small as
compared with the benefit 70 FL Paso
as an Industrial and manufacturing
center Agricultural earnings ulti-
mately find their way 70 FL Paso and
win be one OF the big benefits TO
the city.
''The plant at the dam viii furnish
roughly twice the power now used
by the combined Industries OF III
Paso and can be sold to large users
at price materially lower than
power can be produced by coal or
The prospective manufacturer is re-
by a steam plant thus reducing the
capital required for his business
which difference in capital would
often be the turning point upon
whether new business would be
started or not This lessened capital
would also affect the profits OF bis
business. The low cost, cleanliness
and convenience OF electric power
VIII be the means Of establishing
hundreds Of small manufactures
garment and clothes making, novelty,
specially and chemical works and a
host Of similar lines
Enormous Saving Of Coal and Trans
portHtfon.
at present the industries OF El
Faso are wholly dependent on fuel
hauled several hundred miles,
prolonged railroad or mine strike
would be a disaster TO them. A
hydro-electric plant requires but few
men and IL IS not conceivable that
a strike could affect its production
more than a very Few days Incl
dentally attention should be called
70 the conservation OF our national
resources in the saving OF coal and
transportation required. Based on
an efficiency Of three pounds OF coal
10 the klOWatt hour. which is not
aften exceeded by the big plants and ]
plants, the saving Of coal by the |
plant at the dam would be roughly /
10000 tons each year
The cost OF fuel Is constantly I
changing. The cost OF hydro-electric /
power is practically stationary. The /
operating cost is but a small percent ]
OF the total cost, which Is largely in
terest on investment and deprecia-
man ufacturer IS not faced with a
fluctuatiug power cost that at some
time may make his business unprof-
table and force a failure.
II 6sellahility OF Power supply
e how about winter power and re-
liability Of servicez II a contract can
be arranged between the irrigation
districts and the stone Webster com
pany OF Fl Plso whereby the latter's
plant can Be used as a standby plant
the winter power problem VIII be
solved and the power users given al
most double the present assurance or
steady dependable power The long,
trans issiou line from the dam us
niles, which IS one OF the big factors
lf cost entering into the question OF
he power development will be OF the
most permanent. modern type, having
two complete circuits 70 reduce
chances OF Interruption This line
complete with the two circuits. sky
wire, telephone circuit, steel towers.
stc- viii cost $4,000 per mile, OF
i1.15o, 600 for the line 70 FL Paso.
VIII Attract IuduEtrieE-
The advertising value OF this
abundance OF cheap power viii be an
enormous asset in stimulating the
growth Of the city. At present, with {
an Inadequate water supply at high
prices and with power dependent
lpon long distance, fuel supply at
.luctuEtlng and generally increasing
prices, Fl Pas0 Is at a serious dis I