Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-25

improvements. In the plant of the
Great Falls Gas company that viii
mean the doubling of the capacity OF
the plant and the expenditure OF
$500, 900 was announced Sunday by
William A. Baehr, president OF the
company, ON his return to the city
after a northern trip. The construc-
tion work will be done next season,
although a small part of 1t may be
begun this fall.
Plans of the gas company which
have been definitely decided upon call
for the doubling of the capacity of the
manufacturing equipment, at least
doubling of storage capacity and doub-
ling or better of all other equipment
of the plant. New sections of the
city are to be opened for service by
the gas company extending its main
lines, a total of some 10 miles. I'm
der the new plans, to be completed in
construction work by next fall, Bos-
ton Heights will be connected with
the gas lines and an extension viii be
carried to the west side. When the
new First avenue bridge across the
river was built, the gas company made
arrangements to have a main laid
with it, with the result that this is
NOW READY 10 tOU1ttI Will am VII
this side of the river and the mains
will be extended on the west side Of
the bridge. Some additional lines will
be extended in a relatively minor way.
definite plans for which have not yet
been announced.
Expects Double Population
The increase in the facilities of the
gas plant, Baehr announced, are due
to the fact that the present plant has
a pronounced increase in business;
that there is a growing demand for
the use of gas in new phases; and
that the city in five years is expected
by Baehr to double in population. de
said that he expected the increased ia
c%ilities to care for the demands of the
city in growth for five years and felt
that a prediction of a population of
10000 for the city in that time was
conservative.
Coupled with the extension plans Of
the company, be announced plans for
the extension of interests In the com
pany to it's employees under the most
modern industrial lines-an extension
of interest in which the residents of
the city will also be offered a similar
opportunity.
"When we made some extensive ad-
ditions to our Great Falls plant a
few years ago, we felt that we mao
met the situation for several years
said Baehr. 1--WE made it modern in
every respect, as economical in op'
Grafton as possible, and we expected
that it would be a long time before
we would have to make additions.
"We were mistaken. | have beer
so impressed with the future of Great
Falls as it is now plainly written that
now with the growing demand upon
our service, I have not the slightest
hesitancy in approving the construc-
tive plans for enlargement.
Predicts Big City
"The Great Falls plant is some
thing of a baby Of mine, but in this
matter I'm proceeding on just colo
facts. Great Falls is going to be
whopper of a city. Some of the mer
I have talked with say it will have
100. 1000 persons in five years, and II
1t does that it will double again IL
mot many more years to follow
Mark this-Great Falls will be the
city of Montana. l think it will bt
the city of the northwest excepting
only the Pacific coast towns and the
Twin Cities.
Our extension plans are made pos
sible by the sharp recovery that has
marked public utilities since the war
We suffered then because of all indus
try. we could not raise prices and yer
materials and everything we used were
going up. Railways and industrial!
felt that, but with utilities there was
an important difference. That posi-
ton was followed by revival. 1t was /;
revival due to the growing demands
for service, due in part to the reall.