Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-12-08

tflt IudIiO ONCl COMPANY .
Properties. Next Week Will
Take Up Rates. Service, Etc.
This is the fourth article in the
eres dealing with the Idaho Power
company, its plants, rates, business, !
Etc., and is mainly description of
he generating plants at American
Falls and transmission lines.
The American Falls power station
comprises three plants: "a in the
hiddIe of the river known as the
Island plant; (2) on the west bank
bf the river, known as the West Side
blant; and (S) on the east bank of
he river, known as the East Side
plant together being commonly called
EThe American Falls plant.
The development of this site was
pne Of the earliest conceptions of such
project along the Snake river, the
Swan Falls and Shoshone Falls hav-
tng preceded it in initial work, and
.only the Swan Falls being ahead of
bt in power production.
The Island plant was constructed
land placed in operation in 1902 by the
|American Falls Power. Light & Water
ICompany, of which James H. Brady
|was the leading spirit, and from this
|plant the power service was distrib
4uted in Pocatello and Blackfoot dur
[ing the same year. The high tension
transmission lines from the plant to
|these cities We're the first high ten
sion lines serving the public in south
eastern Idaho. The original equip
ment comprised one 1000 horsepower
turbine and one 500 kva generator,
and this was supplemented, in 1898,
| by an additional unit of one 1000 horse
power turbine and one 500 kva gen.
orator.
The West Side plant was construc-
ted in opposition to the Island plant
but, before completion and reaching
the operating stage, was merged with
it under the name of Idaho Consoli-
dated Power company, which, in 1904,
completed the plant by the installa-
ton of one 1000 horsepower turbine
and one 500 kva generator, the two
plants operating in unison until they
were tied in with-the East Side plant
,,r,o,, SC oo,,o orIatioy in 1913
The East Side plant was conceived
quite as early as the other two, but
because of the conditions of its under
taking, both physically and finan-
oially, was the last to be actively put
under way. About 1905, the Ameri-
can Falls Power company, organized
by James H. Brady, initiated the de-
velopment work and pursued it until
in 1912, when the properties were pur-
chased by the Kuhns, who organized
the Southern Idaho Water Power
company. which, in 1913, completed
the development work by the install
lation Of one $500 horsepower turbine
and one $3.50 kva generator the three
plants being interconnected and oper-
ating together.
After the financial embarrassment
Of the xuhns, the plant was pur-
chased bv the Idaho Power company
which has since operated, making i'm
provemepts and repairs to the dam
structure. installing headgates for the
Island plant, and control gates.
Transmission lines extend from the
plant easterIy through Pocatello ana
northerly TO Blackfoot; uorthefly 70
Aberdeen; and lower voltage line'
about sixteen miles south. to Rock
land
The further water power develop
meat Of the site depends upon '''
conditions 70 be CREATED by the con-
structlou OF the 4. s. =. F. reservoir
project. az present in or unse'''s'
state.
The transmission line systems ''
the Idaho Power company are iqe"'''
in eastern Oregon and southern l'''''''
agsresaflns about 400 miles n ''ns'p
noi laoludine town aud ruipi N'f'''p.
nilQo Zines Which comprise Nnoa ~
ni'es
in Nnson Az upnspl10'pn 7if''N
tHIlUla from HumHaIfaN NNN 'HII