Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-06-15

This line connects through the Gear
q Alene mining district Of Idaho wffh
the lines Of the washington Wat
rover Co. Thus in an eanerwpucv ~
may bring power 70 Montana from
the great generating systems OF east
eTn Washington But we are not even
limited to that broad course. Those
systems are connected with the me-
work OF the Pacific coast companies
tapping for us, II need be, the vast
water power resources Of the Puget
Sound country and all Of western
Washington and Oregon. So, even Il
Montana should again suffer the
raVages OF drouth, the power require
mentS OF the section would be served
from mountain and seacoast areas
having many times the precipitation
OF our own state"
Diversity Increased
President Bird pointed out that IN
Montana the power resources of the
Missouri and Yellowstone systems are
mixed across the continental divide
with those Of the Columbia to insure
a constant source Of power for Mon
tana industries at all times and during
any emergency The mighty Missouri
river system Of dams Is now directly
connected through transmission lines
with the plant at Thompson Falls and
the great Kerr dam near Poison, On
the Columbia's headwaters, thus add
ing 70 the power backing for our in
dlstries the inexhaustible flow of Flat
head lake.
Power companies seek diversity OF
rainfall conditions in order to assure
q high maximum Of constant power.
In Montana the diversity presented
within the state itself, across the con-
tinental divide, is vastly augmented
oy the power resources represented In
the tremendous rainfall along the Pa
cific northwest coast.
Bird recalled that during the water
shortage of 1887, before the Kerr dam,
utilizing the outflow of Flathead lake,
had become part of the Montana
Power Co.'S system, the demand OF
.he mining industry for power grew to
large proportions. The big load IN
hat industry conceded with the
1routh. At that time important guam
titles of power were transmitted into
Montana from Pacific coast sources.
The benefit and the insurance In hav-
ing power resources available from
numerous watersheds Is apparent to
III who study hydroelectr1c power
problems. Montana industries have at
heir command the power originating
N both slopes OF the continental d.
ide and on all the mountain ranges
md watersheds between the eastern
lopes Of the Rockies and the Pacific
cast.
For National Defense
Our mining industry may again be
by the government as q
asic industry for the national de-
enSe. This industry IS among the ma
ions largest producers of copper and
inc, both essential war materials. The
Industry also produces large quantities
f silver and its output Of lead, gold,
admium, white lead, zinc oxide. ar
enic, sulphuric acid ana phosphate
J important All Of these also are
sgarded as essentials for war defense.
During recent years the extensive
hrome deposits In the Red Lodge and
districts have been the sub
sct Of investigation and in case our
nported supply of this important eIe-
lent should be cut off, it is entirely
OSsfble that these deposits would be
eveloped and a chrome industry es-
ablished in Montana. Chrome Is an
ssential alloying element In stainless
nd other high-grade steels. The pro-
uction of both manganese and chrome
equire large quantities Of cheap
over.