The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-02-15
AMERICAN FALLS DEVELOPMENT

The extensive work which the
Idaho Power company has started
at American Falls for the enlarge
ment of the east side power plant
discloses much of interest, and is an
other indication of faith in the
future of the state.
The scope of the undertaking and
the plans for its carrying out are OF
such magnitude and so varied that it
is not possible in brief article to do
justice to the subject. 1t will not
conflict with the plans Of the big
reservoir project, as the location of
this work is below the site of the
proposed big dam.
Big Construction Camp
The power company has estab-
lished quite an extensive camp to
care for the working force of
seventy-fve to $50 men or more, as
the stage of work requires. This
camp comprises dwelling house
for the resident engineer, six bunk
houses, mess hall, kitchen, bakery,
refrigerator room, storeroom, ware
house, machine and blacksmith shop,
wood working shop, bath houses,
6uOW6TS, 0l0CLIIC l6ut, Wdtcl dHu
sewer systems. This all promises
much for the welfare and comfort Of
the men and for rapid and efficient
work.
A storage yard near the railroad
depot in American Falls will care for
the heavy lumber, gravel, cement, |
steel, machinery, etc. Two stiff-leg
derricks will be installed, one for
handling gravel, the other for the
heavy machinery; also a power
loader for placing gravel on trucks
for delivery to the power plant.
From the storage yard to the
plant, distance of about three
quarters Of a mile, the power COM
pany is constructing a new roadway, |
requiring grading and crawling of |
practically it's entire length. This |
will provide direct and level road |
for hauling and relieve the city |
streets of the wear and tear of heavy
trucking.
The principle followed in all this
preliminary planning and work, and
to be followed turnout the develop
ment-getting the works into opera
ton in the shortest possible time
is to cut down the cost of money
during construction, a factor in the
economies of the situation which all
public utilities take into first con-
as it results in saving Of
costs and ultimately their lessening.
The first thing on the program
after the establishment of camp,
will be the 'unwatering" of the river
bottom where the new machinery is
to be placed The foundation work
will be done about forty feet below
the water level, and two large Golfer
dams will be constructed for this
purpose. Pumps will be in operation
night and day to keep the foundation
location as free as possible from
water.
Heavy Concrete Work
The structure which will enclose {
he hydraulic works will be of con-
crete, requiring some 5000 cubic I
Yards, sixty-eight feet by eighty-two
'eet by sixty feet high. In effect it :
will be block of concrete within [
which two 90O0-horsepower turbine
wheels and other hydraulic machin-
cry will be encased, with tunnels and
shafts as means of access. On top of
his STRUCTURE Will De the Two new
5000, horsepower electric generators {
ind equipment, housed within {
netal-coyered building.
This is a new and most economical
ype of construction and is called the
outdoor type" and while achieving |
equal, if not greater, efficiency, is S
much less expensive than ordinary S
ypes, which is further evidence of
he economies practiced by well or =
,anized public utilities, the aim of
which is to reduce costs, which are
effected in the electric service bills
o the users. I
1t is intended to make the power I
liant and it's grounds an achieve a
nent in which the community and c
tate will have great pride. r