CHAPTER XI 

 ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION 



Management. The measure of financial success attained in a 

 hydro-electric development is to the greatest extent measured 

 by the skill and judgment of its management. The department 

 heads should study the men whom they employ and also the prob- 

 lem of handling them to the best advantage. It should 'be the 

 object of the department chiefs so to dispose both men and 

 material that their possibilities will be best realized. An ade- 

 quate system of records should be kept showing what the several 

 departments are doing, and promptness and completeness in this 

 respect should be insisted upon. Regular meetings between the 

 department heads and their men is advisable, and many com- 

 panies have inaugurated suggestive systems by which suggestions 

 for the improvement of the operating and service conditions are 

 invited, prizes being given at regular intervals for the best sug- 

 gestions received. 



The organization of a hydro-electric company naturally varies 

 considerably, not only depending on the size of the system, but 

 also on the nature of the same. An idea of the extensive force 

 required by a large company such as that of the Great Western 

 Power Company, is obtained by referring to the chart given in 

 Fig. 406. 



Operating Force. The selection and maintenance of an 

 efficient and reliable operating force is also essential, as upon the 

 same depends the quality of service rendered. Most modern 

 systems of any size have a method of operation which corresponds 

 to that of a train dispatcher on steam railroads, and where many 

 different plants are attached to the same network, this becomes 

 practically necessary. A load dispatcher is located at some con- 

 venient point, which often is not at a power-house, and is placed 

 in charge of the whole system and personally directs every opera- 

 tion in all stations. He is in telephone communication with all 

 operators and keeps a record of the changes and connections made 



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