The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-19

Writes Story Concerning
Trip to Bismarck and Beulah
Party Impressed With
Efficiency and Economy Of
Electric Plants
The following story concerning
the journey Of group Of York
ton, Sask., business men to Bis
marck AMI Beulah recently appeared
in The current issue of the Yorktown
Enterprise: v
Strongly impressed with the adj
vantages Of the transmission sys-
tenn Of supplying electrical energy,
the delegation Of seven who left on
Wednesday last for Bismarck, n.
d., to inspect transmission lines in
that state returned yesterday after
five days Of almost continuous
travel.
The delegation consisted of Mayor
Stewart, Councillors Hamilton,
Niilnc and Baptist. Town Engineer
Steele, Michael Pachal and S. n.
Wynn. Weather conditions across
the border were most unfavorable.
Billiards in eastern Dakota and
Minnesota tied up and delayed west
bound trains and at Bismarck the
thermometer registered IS below
zcro-thc lowest point to which it
has dropped in many years. These
conditions, by interfering with train
connections, shortened the time Of
the delegation considerably, but
every available moment was utilized
in studying the situation in North
Dakota and the information secured
will undoubtedly be Of great value
to the Council in connection with
the problem Of the sale of the York
ton municipal plant.
Welcomed to Bismarck
Bismarck was reached about 5 p.
IN. on Thursday and after visit to
the power plant Of the Hughes
Electric Co.--one Of the plants pro-
viding power for 5000 mile trans
mission systematic delegation were
entertained at dinner at the Prince
hotel. This is one Of the finest and
best appointed hotels in the west
ern states and is the property Of
Mr.. Hughes, who y associated with
Senator Walter Schlosser in the
Northern Electric Co., one Of the
companies rendering for the pur-
chase Of the Yofkton electric sys-
tenn and franchise.
The visitors were welcomed to
North Dakota by Governor A. G..
Sorlie and among the prominent cit
liens Of Bismarck who sat down to
dinner with them were Mrs E. A.
Hughes, president of the Hughes
Electric Co. and Of the Knife River
Coal Mining Co.; Senator Schlosser,
who later acted as toastmaster;
Captain Halbert H. Noyes, Of Fort
Lincoln; r. II. Morris, chief en-
= .neer Of the state railroad commits
sion; 0. w. Roberts, federal meteor
Llogist Of the U. S. weather bureau.
and 6. A. Renden, general manager
sof the Hughes Electric Co.
State Engineer Lauds Transmission
x. System
GoveN Sorlie, Senator Schloss-
r.. and Captain Noyey dsfirerSd
short addresses welcoming the dele.
cation, % which Mayor Stewart re-
piled, but the address Of greatest
Importance from the standpoint of
the delegation and the citizens of
Yorkton was that Of Chief Engineer
Morris Of the Atatc railway commits
sion, dealing with the growth OF
the high tension power lines of
North Dakota and the service rem
dered the state by these power CON-
panies. This form of development
had resulted" he said, Sin giving the
people of North Dakota largely
increased volume of more depend.
able and less costly electric power
than had been available before thei,
advent.
"Most Of the growth has taken
place since 1923 and today the state
has approximately 5000 miles Of
high tension transmission lines
mostly of $4,000 volts, $50 miles OF
new line have been put into COM
mission this past year. These
transmission lines have eliminated
125 individual transmission plants,
mostly operated by small gas or oil
engines. OF the ten large munich
pal plants in operation in 1925 only
two remain under municipal opera
ton, one of which will be taken
over this summer.
People Well Satisfied
SThe experience Of the railway
commission, under whose jurisdic-
ton these plants are operated, is
that the people generally are pref
ty well satisfied with this kind of
service, which is attributed to the
fact that the railway commission
demands high standard of con-
struction. A reduction in the price
Of light and power has been effect
ed. Rates that previously ranged
from Zoe to Ice for domestic light
have been reduced to from 12c to Sc
and cooking rates previously rang
ing from Sc to Sc to &c and 3 1-2c.
On the whole the people in the
smaller centres are now getting q
better and cheaper rate than they
previously paid any individual
plant and the. railway commission
ID well satistied with the way in
which the transmission companies
operate their services. It is IN cx-
ceptional thing to receive . COM
plant on this score"
He unhesitatingly declared that
both the state and the people have
profited greatly by the advent Of
the transmission lines, which have
made = 2l-hour service. possible for
many small communities.
Only Tive Towns Not on Transmits
sion Lines
The principal source Of power is
steam, generated in plants utilizing
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