The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-14
ELECTRIC LINE
GROWTH IN Nd.
IS PICTURED
Engineers, in Convention,
Learn of Development of
Transmission Lines
GREAT FUTURE SEEN
Utilization of the Ignite
Fields Held to be Part
of Development

Development Of transmission lines,
through which electric current is
taken from central stations to many
towns and cities, was discussed at
today's convention of the North Da-
kota Society of Engineers and the
North Dakota Chapter of the Ameri-
can Association of Engineers. 4. H.
Morris, chief engineer of the state
railroad commission, discussed trans
mission line development in the state,
and J. H. Wiley, assistant chief en-
gineer, discussed power development
in the United States.
The engineers last night held
their annual banquet at the Grand
Pacific Hotel. with DIR. Keene of the
Agricultural College, DR.. Chandler Of
the University of. North Dakota and
Judge Christianson as the chief
speakers. Thorne Dickinson was
toastmastcr. Yesterday afternoon
the engineers listened to discussions
Of organization questions and an ad-
dress on the Bismarck filtration
plant by Mr.. Dickinson. Today's pro-
gram included discussion of power
plants by D. Oslund, manager Of the
Otter Tail Power Company's James
town plant, and this afternoon a
discussion on the merits Of various
types of highways.
Mr.. Morris, in his talk, gave a
chronological tale of the develop
ment of transmission lines and hint
of the future. He said in part:
"The records of this Commission
disclose that the first high tension
transmission line to be built with
in tn, State was from Bismarck to
Mandan in the year 1911. This is a
$500 Volt, 3 phase, 60 cycle, line
seven miles long of the Hughes Elec-
trio Company that mainly serves the
Mandan shops of the Northern Paci-
fic Railway. 1t however, is tied in
to the system of the Mandan Electric
Company for breakdown service"
After citing development up to the
year 1921, Mr.. Morris said:
The era Of real expansion of the
Transmission Line in North Dakota
started in 1921 and has continued up
to the present. The Tri-State Power
Company (now part of the Otter
Tail Power Company system) in 1921
200 Volt line from Wahpeton north
to Abercrombie and also west out of
Wahpeton to Wyndmere. They Sc
cured their power from the Otter
Tail Power Company at Wahpeton.
The Kenmare Light and Power
Company (now part Of the United
Power Company at Crosby in 1922
constructed a 13,20O Volt, 8 phase
line from their power plant, just
north of Kenmare, over to Bowbells
in order to serve that community.
Late in the fall they also started to
construct line. from power sta
tion at Noonan. east and north into
the town of Portal. This was done
to supply this town after its own
lighting plant had burned. This has
since been changed to $4,000 Volts
and the main power plant moved
from Noonan to site adjacent to
the Whittier Crockett Coal Company's
strip mine south and east of Moo
nan.
"The Otter Tail Power Company
started it's expansion in the State
late in the fall of 1922 when they
constructed a $4,000 Volt phase
line from Hankinson west to Cogs-
we'll and south TO Havana. The pow
er comes pa sly from their water
power stations in Minnesota and part
from the steam generating station at
Wahpeton. This line serves the
towns of Lidgerwood, Geneseo, Cay
uga, Rutland, Havana, Forman and
Cogswell. The branch running thru
Havana goes into South Dakota and
connects with the power system
radiating from Aberdeen"
"This Commission. also in 1928,
granted permission to the Fessenden
Light and Power Company to con-
struct 13.200 Volt, phase line
from Cathay to Sykeston but to date
no construction has been done.
Big 1924 Program
AhC CVVCt Ola VWOI OOAp0hy
in 1924 embarked on quite an extern
sive expansion program within the
State. They extended their $4,000
Volt, 3 phase line from Cogswell to
Cakes: built new $4,000 Volt. line
from Wahpeton to Fairmount to re-
place one on the Minnesota side of
the river; constructed $4,000 Volt
line from Forman north to Lisbon
and Enderlin; built $500 Volt line
from Oakes north to LaMoure and
spur to serve Verona and later
built spur to serve Gwenner from
the Lisbon line.
"The Midwest Power Company,
late in the season of 1924 started
and completed $1,000 Volt, 8 phase
line from their Devils Lake plant
west to Minnewaukan, and then south
to New Rockford and to Darlington.
1t is their intention to serve those
towns from Devils Lake and to stop
operating the New Rockford and
Darlington plants. except for stand
by service. This line serves Mime
waukan and Oberon in addition to
Continued on page three)