Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1926-03-26

Probably no other necessity Is as
eagerly sought or 50 much needed to-
day, or carries 50 high q margin Of
profit as electric power.
''The difficulty is not in finding q
market but is in the financing and
building Of plants in time to meet the
demand. s Hence, the various power
companies strive frantically to hold
the price up believing that this policy
gives the highest returns for each dol
lar invested.
1.-THE policy Of a publicly owned
plant is the reverse. It Is to give the
best service possible to the masses at
fair return on the investment. The
policy Of city plant is to build a
power system for men and of the
masses, and not for one individual or
firm.
In following this policy the public
systems Of Seattle, Tacoma and Los
Angeles have found remarkable re-
suits: First, the demand increased
by leaps and hounds with every de-
crease in rates. Second. IN spite Of
low rates these cities have reaped
enormous profits amounting in the
case Of Seattle to total Of about
sac O00.000 Not cent Of taxes has
hen required but instead bonds have
been rapidly reduced allowing still
further reductions in rates.
Should Develop WyRooche Project
aberdeen cannot make any mistake
in building the plant it now contem-
plates, and the sooner 1t rushes 1t to
completion the sooner it win be freet
from impossible power rates and he
sooner it win build up industry and
make the home a better place to live
in. For instance, in Seattle in my own
home, l use over 400 kilowatt hours
per month. We give a rate there Of
5.5c for the first 40 XVIII, 2c for the
next 200 XVIII for cooking purposes
and 1c for all over this amount, 90
that for 400 XVIII in Seattle, l pay
$3.50 while you in Aberdeen for the
same amount of current the price Of
| $1,000, over three times as much in
Aberdeen as in Seattle.
s'In Tacoma the same average rates
apply as in Seattle and Los Angeles
also owes low rates.
Seattle pays to its own plant and
to Stone and Webster in power bills,
81, ,000, 900 annually, about half to each
concern.
"If there were no municipal power
plants Seattle would pay three times
as much, like Aberdeen is doing, or
$4,000, 900 every year more for its
light and power. The real story would
Ebe that industry and development
would be vastly less than it is and
much less current would be distrib-
uted.
5000 Additional Ranges
sThousands of Seattle citizens use
over 400 XVIII per month and thous-
ands more are buying electric ranges.
This year the Seattle municipal plant
win add on its lines about 5000 ranges
having a capacity Of about $4,000 hp.
This will give an additional power
peak of 10000 hp. This means tre-
mendous growth in current consump-
ton for the home alone.
ANeither Seattle, Tacoma or Los
Angeles have ever been able to keep
up with the demand for light and pow
er. Seattle pioneered with two gem
orators at Cedar Fails, aggregating
5000 hp and room was left in the
power house for another 1900 hp gem
orator. The demand grew 80 tre-
msndously that instead Of two gene
rators totalling 10000 hp were in
stalled and in rapid succession three
steam units aggregating $1,000 hp
were also installed.
f'Then q $4,000 hp. installation was
planned at Skagit river. Before this
plant was begun the demand rose to
such a degree that a $4,000 hp plant
vas built. This plant first delivered
eurrent TO Seattle . year ago last Sep
tember. Already the demand for
power is 80 great that another $4,000
ID plant at Skagit must Be completed