St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-06

in the Twin Cities. For some weeks his
surveyors have been making observa-
tlOns, measurements and surveys of the
Mississippi between the two cities with
the view of ascertaining what amount
of water power can be extracted from
the falls and rapids, how it can be most
economically used and whether it would
be practicable To use it as a means of
generating electricity. A charter was
granted soma years ago by congress to
the Mississippi River Improvement
company, which gave it the right to
utilize the waters of the river between
st. Paul and Minneapolis for almost
any beneficial purpose. The owners of
the charter have never availed them
selves of the privileges they posse SIS
under it. The amount of
POWER NOW RUNNING TO WASTE
in the falls and rapids has been variously
estimated. J. j. Hill, speaking of It
recently, placed 1t at %, 900 horse power.
Mr.. Willard says that If his engineers
report it TO he as great as has been rep
resented he will acquire a controlling
interest in Mississippi River Improve
ment company, and at once erect plant
10 Oe run by tillS power.
Nv hen this is dOne," said he, al will
furnish electric power, light, and per-
hapS heat to the two cities at rates much
lower than have ever been known in
any city in the country" The whole
matter hangs upon the findings of those
engineers who are now examining the
water power. If tney find that there
is as much power as there is reported
to be, Mr.. Willard will go right ahead
and push matters to a conclusion as
rapidly as workmen Can build the
planl. If their report does not bear out
the statements that have been made,
other arrangements for obtaining gen
erative power will be sought. Whether
they will be found or not cannot be
fOretolds [ do not think" said Mir.
Willard. "that any one in st. Paul or
Minneapolis knows about this project
of mine. They know that | bought a
controlling interest in the electric light
and gas light companies. but for what
purpose has never yet been made
known. There is no reason why it
should not be known now, as my ar
rangements are In such condition that
nothing but
VAST CAPITAL CAN FoREsTALL ME,
and am not afraid of that. 1t is an eX-
pensive job | am undertaking, propos-
ing to supply two cities containing over
100000 people with light and power, bnt
that is what propose to do, and | shall
give it TO them for a lower price than
light and power were ever furnished in
any other city. The development of the
project depends largely upon the report
of the engineers who have been in the
field for several weeks. My knowledge
of the water power of the Mississippi is
obtained from hearsay. Ii their report
shows ME that it can be utilized to ad-
vantage, shall buy controlling inter-
est in the company that now
owns the charter granted by con-
gress, and at once proceed to develop
the falls and turn the power produced
by them to the best advantage" The
provisions of the charter granted by
congress some years ago to the MissiS-
sippi River Improvement company are
being carefully studied by Mr.. Willard.
His presence in Washington is brought
about by his desire to thoroughly famil-
iariZe himself with the details of the
charter and the conditions under which
it was granted. He will spend some
days perusing the records of the pro-
cepdings of congress at that time. all
reports of committees and other docu-
ments connected with it, after which he
will, in all probability, leave for st.
Paul in a few weeks, to
LOOK THE GROUND OVER HIMSELF,
and make final arrangements for
erecting the plant. Its lOca-
ton cannot be decided upon
until the engineers report Is received
and the ground examined by experts.
but it will have to be somewhere on the
river bank between the two cities. 1t is
apparent that this scheme must cost
many millions to develop, but If, as Mr..
Willard says, power and light can be
furnished at very low figures and be-
come universal in homes and factories.
there Is no doubt that there are millions
in it.