East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-03-01
Increase in Electric COmpany's
Charge Forces State to Con-
slider Installing Own Plant.
COAL COST ALSO BIG
ITEM or EXPENDITURE
Institution Paid Out $l2,9l3.-
So for Coal in 1920 Despite
Very Favorable Coal Con-
tract.

II electric power can. be developed
n, umatllla raplds on the Columbia
river. one OF the big problems con.
fronting the management OF the Eas'
ern Oregon State Hospital VIII be SOW
ed The institution is threatened WIN
n serious advance In both fuel cost
ana lis charge for electricity. SO se-
rious has the Increase in the electric
rate become that the state mas pro-
vIded an appropriation for generator
of It's own in case OF need. The mon
ey Is included in the appropriation
Just passed by the legislature ana was
obtained on the strength OF the iact
the Taclflc Power X Light company
has nearly doubled the charge Tor
power supplied TO the hospital.
Electric Rate Advanced.
For the year 1920 the institution
paid the company s24is.64 ior juice
hut AT the rate now being asaeAsso
anm,nHt -tlse institution the nlli ier
tsai win be approximately 5000. II
"a asserted the company is charging
the state higher than its published
,ariff and more than some other local
nsers are paying. Dr. McKef~ay. su-
nsrlntendent. is Of belief the state
can provide it's own generator and
n,annfaeture electricity from coal at
a lower rate than is asked BY the eiec-
trio company.
Coal Cost s12,0fs.53. !.
The state hospital originally used oil
Tor fuel but so high has become the
nrioa of fuel oil that coal is now oe-
ing used with an oil supply on manu-
as n reserve. The institution uses
about 30 cars of coal year ana al
nresent has very favorable eon'ra''
coal is bought at the Rock Springs
mines for s2.iO per ton ana Is oJss."s
tess laid down in Pendleton. Ihe
contract will provide sufficient coai 70
last until summer when It VIII De nee
essary 10 contract anew. 1t Is feared
,he nrice then obtainable will be high
er than the instssution Is now payihs'
Ffremen Used.
Frcm what Is known OF present
nrices for coal to large users Y Is pos
s,bIe that the hospitals fuel bill, under
new contract may run to $2O,OoO q
wear. This OF course Is the bare cost
Of fuel and does not include the labor
expense involved in heating by coal
Three flremen are used In the opera
tlou OF the hospitals heating plant
which labor cost would OF course De
reduced in the event the institution
could be electrically heated throuS'
mower from a SOURCE like the propos'
ed Umatilla rapids plant.
States Are Concerned.
The large sum being paid By tn
atata for fuel and electricity is cite.
10 show that the state of oregon has
particular interest in power fron
IImatilia rapids beca,ae It has q larg
ana rapidly growing institutions 10
Gated close to the project. In Wash
ineton there is a penitentiary to b
supplied. Assuming that the wall
Waila prison Is paying as much q
the local hospital for power and hen
Il may be seen the two states are pay
ing something like sb0,0OO year
this score under prices now In force 9
soon to apply. such being the case
is evident that both Oregon an
washington could afford to excl
themselves with view to hastenin
development of the umatilla rapi'
project.