PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

The Final Push for Power

In December 1956 several public meetings were held in Moccasin with representatives from Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and GarKane Power Company to discuss the possibilities of bringing a power line from Mt. Carmel to the area. Heaton learned later that GarKane was willing to bring a power line into the area if it could sell power to Whiting Brothers Sawmill in Fredonia. On January 9, 1957, Heaton reported two GarKane officials were out "to look over the area, to get acquainted with the land. They feel very sure the power line will be built. They are meeting with Jay Whiting. Power needed at their sawmill operation..." [1756] Negotiations dragged on with the sawmill owners. In February 1959 Heaton talked with a REA board member in Mt. Carmel about power and later wrote, "Was told the survey was made to Fredonia. The money had not been released because the contract with Whiting Sawmill had not been signed." [1757] The sawmill owners were in disagreement with GarKane over the amount of power they would commit to use (and pay for) monthly.

Still, in May 1958 GarKane Power Company official Reed Burr was in the area getting other membership applications for REA approval. [1758] Heaton reported, "A line will be built from Fredonia to Pipe [and] Moccasin. Power will be furnished from Whiting sawmill till power can be brought in from the Boulder [Utah] power plant next year or so." [1759] In August 1958 Burr assured Heaton that work would soon start on the power line from Fredonia to Pipe Spring and Moccasin. "Should have it in this winter," Heaton wrote, rather optimistically. [1760] When Zion's electrical engineer contacted Burr, he was told the application was in Washington, D.C., awaiting approval. GarKane expected to put in a 7,200 volt line from Fredonia to Pipe Spring and Moccasin.

On April 10, 1958, Heaton attended a meeting in Kanab to discuss getting commercial power to Fredonia and Moccasin. GarKane wanted to add a clause in its REA contract that would allow the company to withdraw power from the area if it had a greater demand elsewhere. This was unacceptable to local residents. On December 2 Heaton was informed by Burr that a telegram from Senator Watkins informed the company that the application and power load had been approved for REA to furnish power in five southern Utah counties and two northern Arizona counties, to build a three-unit on the Boulder project, and to construct 189 miles of transmission line.

In March 1959 Heaton learned that Kaibab Lumber Company had signed a contract with REA for power so he was hopeful that commercial power would reach the area by summer, but that was not to be. In mid-April Theodore Drye, Chairman of the Kaibab Paiute Tribal Council, told him that the Indians had granted the right-of-way for both commercial power and roadways over the Kaibab Indian Reservation. On August 18 a contract was signed with REA for a power line to Pipe Spring National Monument.

On August 30, 1959, the monument's diesel power plant broke down. The backup gasoline-powered plant could be used to operate lights only. The Heatons were without hot water and refrigeration for five weeks, cooking on a little tin camp stove and heating water outside in an iron barrel. ("Fun. NO." wrote Heaton in his monthly report. [1761]) GarKane Power Company conducted its area survey and began placing poles and stringing wire for the REA power line from Fredonia to the Monument and Moccasin in October. By late October, the power line crew had strung the line to Moccasin and was on its way to Short Creek. Heaton wrote, "Should have power here in another month." [1762] Weary after 33 years of dealing with faulty or failing generators, the Heatons could hardly wait!

On December 31, 1959, GarKane Power Company's transmission lines were strung to the monument and town of Moccasin, but then followed an interminably long delay in getting power lines to individual homes. Heaton and McKown had to wait through the winter to move into their new residences (completed in December) as the park's diesel plant did not generate sufficient electricity to power them. In the meantime, the homes were landscaped (see "Planning and Development" section). Commercial power was finally turned on in the area on April 8, 1960, although the switch from diesel generator to REA power was not made at the monument until April 18. [1763] The Heatons and McKown moved into their residences on April 11 and 12. The house trailer was returned to Zion the following week and the diesel generator was returned in early May. One bit of good news for Heaton was that his rent did not go up, but remained $10.50 biweekly, not including electricity and fuel oil. In September 1960 the old generator house was razed.