212 MONTANA 19U 



power is fed through each of the eleven plants and from which power is 

 taken by some 46 sub-Stations, varying in size from the Great Falls Power 

 Company's sub-station at Butte, having a capacity of 21,000 kilowatts, down 

 to the lowest standard high voltage sub-station of 250 kilowatts. 



"There is at present in operation a total of 1,300 miles of transmission 

 line, of which 340 miles is steel tower line and the balance is wood-pole 

 line. The transmission system covers a territory approximately 200 



miles square. 

 Lines That "From this one system power is supplied for lighting 40 



Cover an cities and towns in Montana. In addition to lighting, power 

 Empire in enters into almost every phase of the industrial life of all these 

 Extent. cities and towns. The domestic water supply in all of the 



larger cities of the State is pumped by electric power. Some- 

 thing over 10,000 flatirons are in constant use in the homes of the people. 

 Cooking by electricity is becoming v^ry popular. Over 500 electric cooking 

 stoves are in dail}^ use. Electrically driven sewing machines and washing 

 machines are in every-day use, and many other devices which tend to lighten 

 the duties of the housewife are operated by electric power. 



"The street railway system of the cities, of Butte, Great Falls, Miissoula, 

 Helena, Anaconda, Billings and the Gallatin Valley railway system all 

 receive po'wer from the transmission lines within the State. 



"It is admitted that the average cost of steam power for mining purpose 

 in the state of Montana is $125.00 per horse-power per year. In many isolated 

 mining districts this figure rises as high as $150.00 and even $200.00 per 



horse-power per year. Electric power is purchased at $50.00 

 Cutting the per horse-power per year in comparatively small quantities, and 

 Cost to the in larger installations prices for power can be obtained as 

 Users of low as $35.00 per horse-power per year. The advent of electric 

 Power. power in mining districts of Montana has meant that many a 



property which formerly operated at a loss on a steam basis 

 is now making a profit by the use of edectric power, 



"It is estimated that the advantages to be derived froin the combined 



operation of many plants due to the causes above enumerated amounts to 



at least 50% in the economical utilization of the total available power. To 

 give an idea of the value of the power which is being generated by the 

 plants of the system under co'usideration, which are now producing 49,500 

 kilowatts, it mJay be stated that to produce this amount of power from coal 

 would require the yearly consumption of 750,000 tons, which, at the aver- 

 age price of $4,00, which would apply at the points where the power is 

 used, would, amount to $3,000,000 per year. 



"When it is remembered that this value in coal is, bv means of water 

 power, being saved for future generations, and that during the next ten 

 years this saving will, in all probability, be increased some six or seven 

 times, it is not difficult to appreciate that true conservation consists in 

 encouraging rather than restricting the free development of water power. 



— Uncle Sam is liberal to those who want homes in Montana. 



