The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-07-19

isting plant and by a margin Of
10 votes, the election authorized
expendinE s1.75o,o0o for both the
electric and water systems.
City operation had reduced rates
for electric service materially by
September Of 1894 and they've
been coming down steadily ever
since even to two notable reduc-
tons this year-one for residential
customers effective Jan. l, 1899,
and one for commercial light.
power and heat users effective
July 1.
Light Incidental Now
No one in Tacoma thinks Of
artificial light in terms of CANDLE
power lamps any more; it would
take hundreds of candles to give
even a fraction of the illumination
used in the average home today.
No average home limits its use
of electricity to lighting. Electro
city Is the slave that performs
countless other duties assigned it
through the ingenious mechanisms
that inventors of 1889 had not yet
even imagined.
Tacoma. soon after starting in
the electric business, found grow
ing demand for this new lighting
and motor energy but for many
long years bought its main supply
In bulk from private utilities.
Then came the election Of Jan.
2, 1909 when the people voted to
build the city's first municipal
hydro-electric plant at LaGrande,
on the Nisqually river, and spent
1888, 900 for the plant and trans
mission line and the Tacoma SUBJ
station. Ten years later a further
expansion was necessary and in
1919 $500, 900 was voted to buy
the Lake Cushman site west of
Hood Canal in the Olympics.
Speed Construction
The $4,000 horsepower Nisqually
plant was already overloaded be-
fore the first Cushman plant of
$4,000 was even completed on
paper and a 1000 XIV. steam plant
was built in the city. After ex-
penditure of $3.50, 900 the first
Cushman power was delivered in
Tacoma over a 44-mile transmits
sion line March %, 1926.
Still not enough current was
available to keep pace with Ia
coma's industrial demand and In
1929 Cushman's second unit,
$4,000 horsepower plant, was
started between the No. unit and
tldewater on Hood canal. As II
this were not enough, the city
constructed in 1880 a 800 horse
power steam plant for standby
protection and it has been stand
ing by ever since. ready to go
but not needed because Of the
efficiency Of the hydro plants
which can be operated more cheap
ly. II anything were TO happen to
either of the hydro plants. there's
the big steam plant and the small
err one to supplement main system
supplies.
Now have 202. 900 II. p.
At the end of 1888, fixed assets
OF the Tacoma municipal system
were rated at q value of S24, 49,
900, covering three hydro develop
ments In two different mountain
ranges. two steam plants in the
city. various substations and dis
tribution plants and general plant,
with a capacity Of 100000 horse
power of available production,
most of which Is paid for.
The system pays to the city and
state more than IL per cent of its
gross earnings as taxes, never
has defeaulted on its bonds either
a. N principal or interest pay
ments. hasn't had 10 issue any
new bonds since 1880. and has only
1000. 600 Of its old ones yet to
retire.
Yet with all this history Of con-
struction. which is still going on
the city light system has kept
on cutting its rates TO maintain
them at the lowest cost levels In
the II. s.
Those moustached and bewhis-
kered. derby and high-hat clad
citizens OF so years ago produced
in their city light idea one that has
proved today the city's most inn
portsnt asset.