The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-10
Rapid Development
Electrical Industry
In State Described
CONTINUED from page ons)

tics which can be better consolidated
into their main groups. This system
is served By q mine mouth plant near
Washburn.
. a. The Ottcrtail Power company,
which has expanded rapidly during
the last year, taking over the indie
pendent light plants Of many small
companies. 1t has the greatest trans
mission line mileage of any company
in the state and 10.4O0 connected con-
sumcrs. The Ottertail recently has
purchased many power plants in the
Northwestern section of the state.
Morris said. These must be connect
cd for economical operation. which
means either the construction Of a
large steam plant somewhere on the
Red River Of the north or transmits
sion lines into Canada to tap excess
power around Winnipeg.
5. The Montana Dakota Power COM
pany, new consolidation operating
, IN the northwestern part of the state.
1t now has three different sections,
one serving Crosby, Noonan. Column
bus, Ignite, Portal, Bowbells and
Kcnmarc; another section operating
from Beach to Sentinel Butte and
receiving power from station at
Glcndivc, and the third section oper-
ating from Fairview, Montana, to
Watford City. These three systems
now arc being connected.
Day Of Small Plants Past
Analysis of the available facts
shows strong tendency toward the
elimination Of small, isolated general
ing plants since 1923, Morris said.
"This elimination has resulted in the
construction of approximately $50
miles of high tension transmission
/, line and has increased the taxable
property of the state by oyer $780,
900 on the part Of the public utilities
involved"
Calculation by these companies
has shown that their investment will
be profitable, based on reasonable
rates to the consumer or they would
not have spent the money" said Nor
ris. I'm fact in, believe, every case
where transmission lines have been
built into a town there have been
substantial reductions in the general
light and power rates then in effect
in these towns. The savings in oper-
ating costs more. than offset the car
rying charges on the transmission line
investment necessary to reach that
town."
The present tendency, Morris said.
is toward the construction Of highly
efficient steam plants on rivers where
water for condcnsing purposes will be
available. The larger plants gradu-
ally arc lowering their fuel consump-
ton to one pound Of coal per XVIII OF
power, Morris said.
Future large power developments,
Mc~.:. co;A will ho coou m tho Mis-.
so4ri river where there is an ade-
quatc water supply and fuel is cheap
and plentiful.
State Regulates Rates
Fear that consultations and merg-
ers will eliminate competition and
increase rates. is unfounded, Morris
said, "even If the power companies
should desire to take that suicidal
procedure" The reason is, he ex-
planned, that regulation Of rates is in
the hands OF the state.
Cheap coal and high cost of de-
veloping hydro-electric power make
the construction Of water power
plants inadvisablc. Morris said. Low
banks and large overflow areas COUP
j led with excessive seepagc and evap-
Grafton Of water and the high cost Of
lavinr dam foundations, added to q
lack Of uniformity of flow make the
hydro electric plant too expensive.
Hwdro-electric power would cost 8
cents per XVIII in overhead charges
alone. he said, whereas power now is
being produced for cents per XVIII
"a small steam power plants. Power
plants Of the future will use powdered
ignite coal, he said, and will produce
power for Y cent per XVIII at the
switchboard.
Gas was exhibited In the United
States III 1905 a. freak at dime
museum at Baltimore.