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   36     WISCONSIN RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
                               PROJECT
                   Wisconsin-3 1-Columbia
                   Wisconsin-3 1 B-Columbia
     The second group to get their project into the construction stage was
 the COLUMBUS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, which was incorporated on
 April 9, 1936, represented by Mr. John Crombie, they were among the
 charter members of STATEWIDE.
     An office has been established at Columbus, Mr. F. H. Roob is man-
 ager of the Cooperative and Miss Eula A. Wright the bookkeeper.
     The Board of Directors meet regularly in Columbus the second Mon-
 day of each month. Their names and addresses follow:
           J. A. BENNETT, President, Randolph
           LAWRENCE COLE, Vice-president, Waterloo
           CLARENCE NINABUCK, Secretary-Treasurer, Columbus
           JOHN CROMBIE, Columbus
           ALVIN DERR, Marshall
           EVERETT GILMORE, Rio
           JOHN HARTT, Columbus
           WM. MEAGHER, Randolph
           BRUCE NAsHoLD, Doylestown
     Construction was begun on this project by the Donovan Construction
of St. Paul on September 28, 1936, the first pole being set on that day.
In
connection with the pole setting ceremony, which was attended by Mr. M.
O. Swanson, Chief Engineer of the RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ADMINISTRA-
TION and State officials, an electrical fair was held to acquaint the pro-
spective consumers with appliances which they could now study with a
view to ownership. Mr. Orland S. Loomis, who was at that time Director
of Rural Electrification in Wisconsin was the chief speaker.
    Much and various kinds of delay have occurred to retard construction
progress, and the original project was not completely energized until
September, 1937. An additional allotment was granted in the same month
and the extension for which it was requested is now completed and the
entire 300 and some odd miles of the Columbus project is carrying energy.
At this writing there are approximately 600 consumers with new connec-
tions being made almost daily.
    Several men have worked as resident engineers on the Columbus
project. Mr. V. L. Anderson, the present representative, having been in
charge since August, 1937.
    The municipality cooperated with this group of farmers to the effect
that negotiations were made for the wholesale purchase of energy at a
satisfactory rate through the facilities of the city of Columbus.
    Smooth sailing has not been the lot of this group to date, but obstacles
have been met and conquered, and being that they possess the persistence
and courage typical of our cooperative farmers we prophecy ultimate
success for the COLUMBUS RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.
                              PROJECT
                   Wisconsin-8049-Dunn
    The latest electric cooperative to sign an engineering contract with
STATEWIDE is the DUNN COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE which was incpr-
porated April 22, 1937. Up to December 1st two partial allotments had
been awarded for the construction of approximately 140 miles of line.
(The total project includes 573 miles and 1,858 customers.)