Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-08-29
SAYS
Save Copper
For Shells

Have you felt the pinch" OF war
lately? If you haven't, it is because
you haven't tried to purchase products
containing strategic metals.
At last it is realized that fighting
the greatest war in our history and
business as usuaI' just don't go to-
gether AS a result, the WPB is tight
ening the strings on our available sup
plies of strategic metals including
copper. Now copper to electrical equip
ment is as vital for carrying the cur
rent as veins and arteries are in our
bodies for carrying our blood. For
years, various branches of the cleo
trical industry have promoted the use
of bigger copper for electrical circuits
to secure more efficient utilization OF
electric power.
Several years ago. very convincing
demonstrations were made in Mon
tana cities to show that the savings
resulting from the use of No. IL IN
stead of No. IA wire for branch cir
cults would usually pay for the addi-
tional copper required in less than a
year. Likewise, it is economical to use
larger wire sizes for the main and
feeder circuits In addition to the re-
sulting economies, the extra copper is
good insurance for unexpected load
growth.
Now when electrical equipment users
are realizing more than ever the value
of adequate copper for their electrical
installations, it is going to be difficult
for them to cut to the bone" when
installations and extensions essential
to our war effort must be made. But
gentlemen, that is what we must all
do.
The electric and gas utilities have
been ordered to make no new service
connections except to new buildings
whose foundations were complete prior
to July ! and to buildings which were
wired or piped ready to receive serv-
ice prior TO that date, and these con-
nections must not exceed $50 feet. All !
other connections must have specific
approval from the WPB in Washing
ton. Unless the service is required for
some purpose essential to our war eff
fort, it is probable that the request |
will be turned down.
Furthermore, the WPB is scrutiniz- |
ing the requests to make sure that
copper conductors won't be used where |
iron would serve the purpose during |
this grave emergency. Where copper |
is allowed, they are careful to permit |
only minimum sizes rather than
size which we might consider most
economical during normal times. To-
day, we must not figure economies |
based on copper prices, when every
pound of available copper must be
saved for making shell castings
1t is just as difficult for a utility
to turn down a new customer as 1t
is for the prospective customer to
forego the comforts derived from
utility service, but this is a serious
war, and everyone is most anxious to
help win it.
If you are contemplating any new
electrical installations in your mine or
mill or plant, do your darndest to
figure out ways and means Of saving
copper Higher voltages, such as 480
instead of 240, better location Of your
load center, and more direct runs to
your equipment are a few ways to
save copper. If Montana Kilowatt can
assist you with your layout, please let
him know, as every pound of copper
we can save means that many more
castings for bullets to exterminate the
Japs and other predators.