The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-22
GRAND FORKS
WILL VOTE ON
LIGHT SYSTEM
People Asked by City Com.
mission to Approve NUM-
cipal Electric Plant
AFTER INVESTIGATION
Reported by Commissioners
That Diesel Engines Offer
Great Economies

Grand Forks, N. D., Feb. 22.-
Grand Forks people will vote on the
establishment of municipality own.
cd electric light and power plant at
the regular city election to be held
April l, it was resolved at meeting
of the board of city commissioners
Wednesday afternoon, says the Grand
Forks Herald.
In their ballots the voters will be
asked to authorize the issuance of
bonds amounting to $4,000, the cs-
timated cost of the proposed plant.
1t is the purpose to have plant
large enough to take care of the
light and power required for munic-
ipal purposes. The Surplus energy
generated will be commercialized.
However, it is not the intention to
install plant large enough to fill
all local commercial needs, it is
pointed out.
favorable report on power plants
using Diesel type engines was made
by the commission which recently
made tour of inspection of plants
located in other cities. The long
report cited among other things the
results gained at the Thief River
Falls electric plant, where a Diesel
engine similar to the one proposed
for this city is in use. 1t has been
found there that the maximum rate
for lighting has been cents per kill
owatt hour, while in this city the
rate has been II cents. The maximum
rate for electric power in Thief Riv-
er Falls has beeh 6 cents per kill
owatt hour as compared to cents
in this city.
The report also cites the increased
cost of electricity to the city from
the Red River Power company's plant
made necessary by the recent ruling
of the state railway commission.
j. -..e -..,.. Diesel Engines =.
Regarding the economy of the in
stallation of Diesel engines in a pro-
posed municipality owned plant the
report presents the following con-
clUsions:
According to all the figures
shown your committee, and all the
statements made by the officers of
the cities using Diesel engines, as
well as all the industrial operators
without exception, the maintenance
cost is lower than any other means
of producing power.
"They are operated in all cases by
the same mechanics that operated
their predecessors the old steam
plant.
ELECTRIC current can be produced
at the switchboard at an additional
cost over expenses already incurred |
and which are now being paid for |
such items as labor and housing in |
our own building of. not to exceed
one cent per kilowatt hour.
"The above estimate is given by
engineers who represent
turning out many hum
lrcds of thousands of dollars worth
If engines ycarl.t and who arc keady
% guarantee to make the statcmen
rood.
Estimated Cost
"The cost Of Diesel engine pow
II plant for the city Of Grand Forks,
md to make some required charges
n the water pipes from the clear
water basin to the power house and
Jumps, as we'll as lowering the
jumps to the level Of the clear water
asin and the construction of tie
n line to the state mill and other
distribution lines, will be $4,000
or which the voters of the city Of
irand Forks by the ballots are here
y asked to authorize the issuance Of
onds at the city election to be held
n the city of Grand Forks"