Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-10-05
WESTERN POWER EXPANSION
Financial World Says United System
II Example of Efficiency

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financial Journal OF New York de
voted TO Investments and develop
ment Of utilities, In its current issu
devotes an extended article to West
ern power development and evolu
tlon of the central plant operation
The municipal power plant in a mod
crate sized town is pronounced 81
dazzling illusion" and the sound bus
iness system Is declared the consoli
dation of plants operated from cen
tral station, sfecially with the addi
ton OF water power to lessen fue
consumption. 1t says:
"a typical example is one notable
success In Central Kansas, the Unit
ed Light 4 Power System which fur
nishes current to an even hundred
cities and towns in Kansas and Ne.
brnska and Is about to add twenty.
six others as soon as contracts can
be arranged. Thr larger communi-
ties had their individual plants and
some still retain the local distribu-
tion, buying the current at the city
limits: the others have for the first
time all the advantages or "a hour
current and kerosene and gasoline
lamps have been abandoned. Start
ing with a single power plant with
n dam on the Smoky Hill river the
transmission lines have reached out ;
three other power plants, two on the
Blue river and one on the Upper Re-
publican on the Kansas Nebraska
line have been added. all connected
by transmission lines and managed
as whole. These hydro electric
plants have a capacity Of 10000 h.p.
and their area served Is over one
hundred miles in length and sixty
miles wide Associated with it are
gas plants in the larger cities; 1t fur
nshes current. for twenty-five mills,
several small factories, one city troll
ley line and one interurban line.
Utilization of water power Is but part
of the ecOnomOy; over 80 per cent of
the labor formerly employed to
maintain the separate plants has
been eliminated,-and the service Is
equal to that of any city in the ma
ton instead Of being affected by
local conditions that made 1t inter
mittent and discouraging In the
smaller towns. Considerable loss Is
involved for the communities and
there is a large number Of more or
less decrepit power plants for sale.
"In addition over 600 farms are
supplied with current, either from
the communicating transmission
lines or from rural lines reaching
along the country roads. These
farmsteads have at an installation
expense Of approximately $500 light
and power for the residence dwell
ing, barn, pumps and even use the
current to operate the grain separa-
tors during threshing season, cutting
the cost Of harvest by One-fourth or
more. The farmwife is enabled to
enjoy labor saving appliances such
as her city sister uses and 1t has
added materially to the satisfaction
of farm life, while at tho same time
adding to the income of the com
pany.
"An unusual success in home
financing has been attained by this
company although the entire proper
ty has valuation of $7,5OO,OOO 1t
is entirely financed within the terri
tory served; outside aid was found
to be too expensive and appeal was
made to the customers and investors
at home with the result that capital
has been secured for the entire eX-
pansion. Chiefly this has been by
means Of per cent preferred stock
sold either on the installment plan
at 81 a week or for cash. The Gus
toner ownership lea has been
stressed in the company's stock sales
department and large proportion
Of the consumers is also investing
in the company. In the taking over
IF private plants this stock has also
)een accepted and the towns that
nave become customers have also
many investors in the institution,
adding a sentiment favorable to the
pest service. The employees Of the
company are also largely holders OF
he securities and as they are under
requirement to save at least ten
,er cent of their wages-an innova-
ion worthy story by itself-many
re adding to their investments In
his direction. But the big thing Is
hat out in a rural sectiOn-no city
eryed out Of the 100 has over T.
90 population-it has been possible
o finance the undertaking with
ONE money. Hundreds of farmers
re investors and while they were
It on oil, stocks and other promo
ion schemes they have found this
egular dividend payer, not divi-
end having been missed in the fif-
cen years since the inception OF the
"a valuable factor in the develop
lent of the territory served Is the
sc of current. 1t has made villages
AXE on the comforts and activity OF
new life and the Industrial activi-
les of the entire territory have been
multiplied.
"The interior will eventually be
oyered with these central compan-
-. radiating transmission lines car
10 for the surrounding country and
ne towns and villages. Many new
over plants will be established