The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-10-10
BY WILLIAM c. UTLEY

BY WILLIAM c. UTLEY
n LECTRIC light for million
~ farm homes.
A whole new set of hired
hands who never get tired and
who work for very little wages for
each of these farms.
Emancipation from backbreaking
tasks for a million farmers wives.
These are the ambitions Of the new
ly formed rural Identification author
ity which has been created by the fed
eral government to extend to farms
throughout the nation the benefits
which are being enjoyed by only 1884,
300 out of 60O0.OOO of them today.
But the ambitions, If they are real
lied, will have consequences reaching
far beyond their own limits. For bring
ing electric power to million farms
will create thousands of jobs in city
factories. Manufacturers of light
bulbs, washing machines, refrigerators,
irons, radios and other appliances will
have to keep their factories humming
to keep pace with the demands of Mrs.
Farmer. And Mr.. Farmer will want
motors, milking machines, cream sep
arators and other electrical 'hired
hands," Before either of these de-
mands can be satisfied lines will have,
to be built and wiring completed.
Farmers will be able to buy these
appliances, for the government has ex-
tended the Electric Home and Farm
authority to national scope. The
EHFA has enabled farmers in the
Tennessee valley to buy appliances on
easy payments financed by the Recon
struction Finance corporation.
The government, under this scheme.
arranges for manufacturers to sell
standard quality equipment to con-
sumers at low prices. The purchaser
has to make a cash down payment, but
the EN1FA RENTS the remainder of the
cost to the dealer in cash. Appliances
may be purchased from recognized
dealers in any communities where the
power company co-operates by reduc-
ing prices for current. What charges
remain after the down payment are
spread out over three or four years
and are added each month to the Gus
toner's bills for electricity. The pay
ments are turned over to the EHFA as
they are made.
100000, 900 for Jobs
The Rural Electrification authority,
under the direction of Morris L. Cooke,
has been assigned S10O,000,00O to use
in the next year or two. Even a vast
sum like that would not go very far
IL it were used in constructing lines to
farms which are now comparatively
long way from the lines Of any power
company or municipal plant.
But there are some 100000 farms
in America today which are without
electricity. In its compaign to cleo
trify 100000 farms, the REA, accord
ing to director Cooke, will attempt to
bring service only to those in areas
where no new generating plants will
be necessary, where lines can be built
economically from source of power
which already is working.
The REA, however, will not even in
vestigare the applications of farms
where there is service in the immedi
ate neighborhood. 1t will be interested
in projects where new sectional lines
can be built to electrify whole farm
areas, but not where mere extension
of an already existing line is asked
by a farmer who lives close to 1t.
Such cases as these 1t will leave for
the local power company to develop.
AS an example of a case that is
eligible to get REA help, take that OF
group of neighboring farmers who
want electric service There is plant
in a city a few miles away, but the
power company has refused TO build
lines out to them for the very good
reason that the potential business does
NOT seem to warrant it, Power COM
panies, despite the feelings of cranks
and unreasoning people, are not in
business "for their health"
Feeling that this is fair attitude