Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1955)
Tribune Medford United Press full Leased Wir United Press Full Leased Wire SECTION TWO MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1955 Pages 1-10 Northwest Utilities Agencies Looking To Steam, Atomic Power tor Future Use Editor's note: This is the last of thr-e articles describing the requirements for new electric power generation in the Pacific Northwest and what the region utilities have planned to meet these needs. ' By HENRY G. CURTIS United Press Correspondent Seattle PJ.Rj The Pacific Northwest's utilities agencies are looking to steam generation and even atomic power for fu ture electricity in the face of "obstacles" to hydroelectric de velopment. The Washington State Power Commission expects to produce 1,200,000 kilowatts of electricity in steam plants by 1964. Sig nificant power for atomic re actors apparently is for the more-distant future of the reg ion, but a serious s tu d y of atomic possibilities is underway. In most cases, hydroelectric power is cheaper than steam power and far less expensive than atomic power now possi ble. But power dams take from three to eight years for con struction: and not nearly enough hydro projects are being started to provide sufficient power for the immediate future. Factors in the way of dam construction include fisheries problems, objections to reservoir flooding, the question of com pensation for sites. These ob stacles to hydro development Ere serious enough to turn the hopes of the region's power en ergies to steam generation for power. The Washington Power Com mission did not get from the 1955 Legislature the $275,000 it requested for initial work on steam power plants. But the agency plans to carry on its work with operating funds and through issuance of revenue bonds. The commission's "most con servative" estimate is that 1, 200,000 kilowatts of steam pow er will be needed by 1064. This power would be augmented by seme secondary hydro power which would be too unreliable to be sold without being firmed up by the steam. "Design of steam plants should be undertaken at once," says a report by J. Frank Ward, managing director of the State Power Commission. The planned program is for a start of con struction on two steam power units in 1956, and these would be producing power in 1958. By 1964, eight units would be com pleted, turning out the required 1,200,000 kilowatts. The steam units would be built by the power commission. Their output would be sold to and distributed by the North west's utilities. Plans call for steam plants which could burn coal, oil or gas, whichever would be most available at any time. Washing ton's coal industry looks to the power plants as a market for the product of its mines. Experimental atomic plants are being developed in the East and the Washington Power Com mission follows c 1 o se 1 y any atomic developments in the gen eration of power. Ward says, however, that atomic power probably will not replace con ventional power in the foresee able future, Power producers and scien tists estimate the cost of an atomic reactor at twice that of conventional boilers for the same power output. Operating cqsts, too, would be higher for the atomic reactors, which would produce power at a cost of $5.60 per kilowatt per year. A steam plant can do the same job for $3.60. More A-Power in Future Atomic power costs can be ex pected to decrease as technology improves, and atomic reactors for production of electricity will become common in later years. Speakers at the American Power conference at Chicago this spring estimated that only two per cent of the new power plants built by 1960 will be atomic, but by 1970 the atomic reactors will account for 14 per cent of the annual increase in power production. And, said the speakers, 65 per cent of the power plants built in the year 1980 should be nuclear. The Pacific Northwest prob ably will need its share of these atomic power plants. If the area grows in population and indus try as expected, the Northwest will need power from wherever it can be obtained. STOLE WRONG CAR Denver (U.R) One - armed Kenneth M. Townsend, 43, re leased from jail where he was held on a drunk charge, was re arrested after he stole a police patrol car and drove it 87 miles with siren blowing and red lights flashing. MARKING OF A MAJOR MILESTONE! llpilii Jlttiie 4, iss5. jrtv.wwAv.'. . A summary for our 58,620 customers served through 10 divisions in 68 communities in five states FORTUNATE to be located in the rapidly growing West, California-Pacific Utilities Company has reached the quarter-century mark and confidently looks forward to an even greater expansion of its customer roster and utility services. Essentially, its story has been and will continue to be the story of the oncoming West With the utmost faith in the future of its territory and in its own capacity to meet the demands of that growth, California-Pacific Util ities Company pledges anew low-cost, efficient oper ation in delivering even better gas, electric, water, and telephone service to thousands of homes and hundreds of business enterprises and industries. 1 PRESIDENT EASTERN OREGON DIVISION AUSTIN tEt tT$ CANYON CUV cove CtCrN GNtrt MINES NINES MBtft ISIAND CftT JOHN DAT LA GIANOt IONG C1EFK MHXCAl SPtlNGS T. VEINON noith rowoet roNoosA VtAltiC CltT SENECA SUMMEIVtUC $UTEt UNION SOUTHERN OREGON DIVISION ASH t A NO CANVONVHlf CtANTS FA&$ CtAMATM FAltS EDOtO myitis ctccr ttooie OSCKItO VA1CNI SHASTA DIVISION WEAVER VWC DfVISrON WCAVftVlltS IASSEN DIVISION UNTINGVtUf CHESTfl MEKONG JANESV1IIC JOHNSTONVtUE UTCXFIEID 3TAN0ISM SUSANVtttf WFNOEl WtSTWOOO WESTERN STATES DIVISION Oil IN. NCV. coxeviue. wn. IUO. NEV. MAI AO CITY. KMMO PAIAD4SC. NfV. WE US. NEV. WENOOVft, NfV. WtNNEMUCCA. MCV. COt USA DIVfStON AMUCK ie COIUSA GI'ES MAlWftt mince tou WIUIAMS BENICIA DIVISION CNtClA MAP JUNCHOH HENDERSON DIVISION WNDfRSOM NEEDtES DIVISION MICOtES (CM NElSON (NfV SAtOK NCV4 e. EASTERN rt focuano" OREGON DIVISION ZJ0fHi ( S J f SOUTHERN ' W -OREGON DIVISION " J Ai i- I M-,, y S A A VJ t V SHASTA 1 I tt r WEAVER VIUE m rWicki 1 lAArst 7d,vision WV,S,CV Wyoming colusa DIVISION f C&t, I I I BENIOA I msNO 9 1 5 HENDERSON l ? V V 35- DIVISION I MOOVHI MM - Sj nzona I New! NUMBER AND LOCATION OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED IN 195 California 22; Idaho V, Nevada 9; Oregon 35; Wyoming 1 TOTAL 68 NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS: Gas 15,813; Etoctrk 29,166f Water 4.961; Tlephon 8,680 TOTAL 58,620 "oi n rnp7 r? cj? Loj lLAAuvj A l LI So Different Than Ordinary Blankets! AUTOMATIC BLANKETS Buy Now At Savings! IT TWIN SIZE formerly 44.95 . . (Above left) Ordinary ' blanket. Small area of warmth, created by 'your body beat. You huddle in cramped position. (Right) G-E Blanket. All over warmth, main tained for you automatically." Yoa stretch out, relaxed. FULL SIZE (Single control) Formerly 47.95 .... FULL SIZE (DuqJ control) Formerly 57.95 .... 44 95 (Above left) Ordinary electric blanket Lumpy, wide-spaced ther mostats; uneven, spotty protec tion. (Right) G-E Blanket. Uni formly controlled warmth; no lumpy thermostats, no unprotected areas. Check these new oufslanding features 9 New, softly illuminated bedside control .Winner of the National Home Safety Award Single and double bed models, completely washable Your choice of five high-fashion colors: Citron Gold, Garden Green, Rose Pink, Dresden Blue, Sprout Green. v Choose the degree of warmth you want on the Sleep-Guard bedside control, then enjoy a constant steady warmth all night long no matter how warm or cold your bedroom may become. All this is done automatically. Nylon and Rayon Blanket S98 Reg. 7.98 Size 72" x 90' A real buy In luxurious beauty and warmth. Made of rayon and nylon, finished With a smooth, velvety surface soft to the touch and lavishly bound in wide, perfect-matching rayon satin, handsomely packaged. COLORS: Rose-pink, light green, red, yellow, lilac, blue, harvest and forest green. Irregular of North Star Camden Pattern 17.98 If Perfect 2 Size 72"x90" All woo!, woven for long wear, and deeply nap ped. Rugged and practical, they will stand up under hard usage and repeated washings. The tiny flaws will not affect the long-wearing qual ities of this North Star irregular. COLORS: Pink, sky blue, white, light green and sunflower. 5 Will Hold Your Selections In Our Convenient Blanket Layaway I lUil.M. 1h I UTILITY W SERVICE DOWN CAUfe KNiA-PAe i rto UTiLiTtss Company MEDFORD OREGON I
