Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-10-13
HARVESTING OF THE WATERS.

| can think of no other or better title
for this letter than have used in three
former ones. for there is so much that
can be said of this wonderful industrial
development that it seems difficult TO
get away from it. and as power in this
country is the foundation stone of every
industry, it is well to give the subject
unlimited consideration.
To describe the accomplishments of
the great San Joaquin Light and Power
ments of the eleven other great electri-
cal companies of California. Nearly
every great power plant OF the state is
located in some isolated spot in the
mountains, just as is this Kerckhoff,
more than fifty thousand horse power
giant. so the average traveller sees
nothing of this marvellous industry,
There are ten power houses on this
San Joaquin river alone, and two more
planned for the near future 1t is in
deed and Interesting thought that the
same water that propels the first one
passes On from one to the other. so it
has performed its willing task ten times
over before it energies from its rock
bed into the great valley of the San
Joaquin, or as we are pleased to call il
Ms..aI, u,tl...
With all this developed power the
cry goes up for more, and still more
power houses. Last year the applca-
tons for power for pumping water on
the ranches, oil wells. industrial pur-
poses, and for light was so pressing
that the company ran behind many
thousands of applications; and this con
dition prevailed with all the other com
panes. In order to help out this condi-
ton this company planned to build at
high speed power plant in Kern coun-
ty, to be operated by steam and using
natural gas for fuel The construction
of this plant, from the first spade of
dirt to the starting of the vast machin-
cry. was performed in just five months.
This, the first unjt develops IL, 600 horse
power, and eventually will be increased
to 68 or rs, 900. The discovery of natur-
al gas in Kern county is to play
mighty part in the development OF the
great valley. This one power plant a.
lone uses 5000. 600 cubic feet per day,
and at saving. if oil were used for
fuel, of 1000 barrels per day. This
natural gas is conveyed through pipes
from the wells nine miles distant.
There appears to be no danger Of the
gas failing, as new wells are constantly
being developed. This plant is known
as the Button Willow" power plant
The company has constructed Ia room
concrete cottages there for the use Of
the employees. Every house ia equip
ped with the most modern gas and cleo
trical appliances for the comfort and
convenience OF the families. But few
SibJ hoiito Al e ~ iHiNiJ tbuiPptus Abie
plant 80 far cost 81, 900. 600, and was
put into operation June Is, 1920. An
other more than notable achievement
by this company is the eonstruc.
ton of what is know as the Kerr
River Canyon Power Plant, just this
month completed, making the fourth
since the close of the world war This
is of 200 horse power and is driver
by water from the Kern river. Thi
! same water is used directly as it passe
, from one of the great Edison plant
J just above, passing into an enormous
dam and then through a tunnel $3.50
feet in length and Ia fl. in diameter a
the rate of 900 cubic feet per second
The construction was commenced Dec
2, 1920, and completed Aug. 2, 1921, a
cost Of 81. 800, 900. There were near
ly 900 men on the job at time, all fe
and housed by the company. Thi
plant is Of IL. 900 horse power.
IL is interesting to note that all tn
} vast machinery, parts Of which weighe
/ IS tons, were transported by wire cabl
a across vice and deep gulch, whic
shows US that anything an America