The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-09-14
MORE CHEAP POWER, KEY TO our . ;.

in 1851, according to Mr.. Walker
@. the data which we have indi.
Gates your needs will have grown
about 33 per cent above the previous
1850 year :"
Continuing, Walker said &c. In
the two years 1913 and 1949, the
Bureau has completed over 300 miles
of new 115-kv transmission lines and
121 additional miles have been placed
under contract for completion next
year. This includes the Fort Peck
Williston line >. the Glendive- Miles
City line . and the Havre- Shelby
line. At Fort Peck a third general
ing unit of $4,000 XIV capacity will
be in operation before the end of
the year, increasing the total capacity
of the plant to $4,000 XIV. Work on
Canyon Ferry dam and power plant
is proceeding satisfactorily, with in
itial generation expected late in
1853"
Referring to the obnoxious wheel
ing agreements entered into by Oscar
Chapman and Montana Power, Walk
er said arrangements have also been
completed to connect Canyon Ferry
Plant with the Fort Peck transmits
sion line at Great Falls.
THREE PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Three panel discussions were held
Wednesday morning.
Harold Ebaugh, Havre; Ambrose
Measure, Kalispell, and Harry L. Bill
lings, Helena, discussed preservation
of Co-operatives Against Political At
tack with particular emphasis on
anti-public power measures before
the 1851 legislative assembly. The
panel also included a review of the
source of political attacks on co-ops,
the power trust-financing of NTEA,
and what courses of action are open
to combat such attacks in the future.
The second panel discussion, pub
lie Relations and Member Education"
developed much of the answer on
what must be done about such at
tacks. The panel, chaired by r. H.
Gatiss, Kalispell, along with Orval
Gentry of Big Horn Electric Coop
and Gus Norwood, secretary, N. w.
Public Power Association, Vancouver,
Wash, led to the conclusion that the
REAs have been doing an exceedingly
poor job of public relations and men,
Der education. The panel, like other
speakers of the day, emphasized again
and again that REA officials must
consider this program as an integral
part of the operation of their COOP
eratives.
To improve public relations and
understanding, Chairman
Gatiss noted that in his area a CO.
operative council is presently in proc
ess of being formed. The council will
include the several oil, creamery and
grain co-ops in Flathead county, as
we'll as the Flathead REA co-opera-
i've of which Mr.. Gatiss is manager.
Max Mathews, Huntley, briefly re-
yiewed the history of Coop Activi-
les, coop council in the Midland |
empire, providing a common meet
han 5000 coop members in the six
counties of the Yellowstone area, in
information to those from
'ther areas who are interested in
orming similar associations.
AS an aid in member education,
1r. Norwood strongly advocated the
distribution of Marquis Child's latest
ook, History of Rural Electrified
ion." The book, written under spon-
orship of the National Rural Electric
;o-operatives Association, will be
a couple of months hence,
t 35 cents per paper bound volume.
Third Wednesday morning panel,
Wage Levels and Working Condi-
ions," reviewed wage scales paid by
lontana REA co-ops, union contract
tatus of about half of Montana's
lectric co-ops, and a comparison of