The Alaskan., 1927-12-09
EXTENSIVE

or plant at Blind Slough was really a settled thing, and while there was So much talk about it, did any one take a piece of paper and figure out what we were to get for our money. We don't think any one did or we would have quit right there and then. The layout, in first cost, stands us S1I5, 1000. It is supposed to give us 500 horsepower. For the sake of argument we'll say we do get 300 h. pat Blind Slough. W ell then, if figures don't lie, we paid for this little electric plunge at the rate of S23O per h. p. When you realize that this is from double to three times as much as any Otn CT kind of a generating system would have cost, doesn't it strike you that either the city had mighty bum engineering advice or was hell bent on spending money? And the upkeep of this, as managed, is away beyond the cost of any other sort ot a generating system. Seemingly, We have the whitest kind of a white elephant on our hands and with every switch of it's tail the thing is eating its head off.
 The thing doesn't function, it's unreliable, it has caused no end of discomfort and worry, it's breeder of damage suits and it stands us today nothing more nor less than an expensive toy with the paint worn off and the body all dented.
 There was some talk of trying to sell the whole affair to a private company. There isn't any man nor company of men who are going to pay $23O per horsepower for any kind of generating system. And particularly a system that is as full of blow holes as this one is.
 What are we going to do about it? We'll have to keep it-or scrap it. We'll have to heavily tax our selves to keep the thing going if We are to judge by past performance and it is evident we can't look for much better results without a greater outlay of money.
 That there is whole lot wrong in management is plain as a pike staff In the break down of the Blind Slough system is the little current that the oil engine auxil- iaries distribute around town fairly apportioned? Hardly. The electric range in the Home Cafe seems to get it's current right along when practically all other ranges are cold and juiceless. Does this eating house pay any more for it's current than the other places? Do the oil engines run for it and the bakery alone {? Do about all of the houses and bus mess places have to fall back on candles and oil lamps that there may be lights and heat in the res- taurant and a few other favored quarters? We want to know.
 That the technical and mechan- ical personnel of the light and pew CT business is sadly harassed there is no question. The break of last Friday was one that couldn't be helped and the labor and hardships caused thereby were hard and severe. But where does the head and tail come in in the general distribution, from the oil engine auxiliary, around the town.
 Evidently affairs have got.an ia such shape that there is a difficulty in getting down to fair and square schedule. Presumably, the City Council is the boss of the arrange ment and of city distribution. Any way, it is to the Council that we look to and no odds where inefici- ency lies it is to that body that our troubles go. Very likely MT. Me- Kecknie has all that he can attend