The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-08
GIGANTIC POWER SCHEME,
How the Debris Dam at De-
guirie VIII Be Util-
lied.
NEARLY 10000 HORSEPOWER
Assemblyman Thomas of Nevada
County Says He Has Plenty of
Capital Behind Him.

| A gigantic electric-power scheme is on
foot in the State of California, and the or
ganizers have very dextrously arranged SO
that they will have as generating power the
water from the immense debris dam soon
to be built at Deguirie. six miles above
Marysville on the Yuba River.
The Caminetti act provided for the
creation of California Debris Commission,
and Army Engineers Mendell, Buyard and
Huer were appointed to operate in Cali
| fornia, but at the same time be under the
| immediate jurisdiction of Congress.
This commission recommended the ap-
preparation of $350,000 for the purpose OF
building debris dams, and at the last Legis-
lature California alone appropriated $3.50
900, which, coupled with the $3.50, 900 that
will in all likelihood be appropriated by
Congress, makes $500, 000 the greater por-
ton of which will be spent on the dam at
Deguirie. The power generated by the i'm
mense BODY of water, which will have a
fall of $50 feet, has been practically Sc
cured by party of capitalists, who were
shrewd enough to begin the work of get
ting possession OF the same at the last
Legislature.
The idea generated in the brain of As
semblyman r. l. Thomas of Nevada Coun-
ty, and at the present time he has. with
the assistance of his backers arranged
everything so that the half-m illion dollars
spent by the Government will be practi-
cally rendered him to assist in mpleting
the scheme and preparing for the use OF
the power.
When the matter of CALIFORNIA; appro-
priation was under discussion at Sacra-
mento he slipped in a bill which became a
1oxry hot &c
at anv point where the California Debris
Commission recommends site for dam
should have sixty days after completion of
said dam to begin excavation OF works for
diversion of water" Before introducing
the bill he went to the site and located
250,000 inches of water and secured him
self in the legal steps. This amount of
rating force of nearly 10000 horsepower
and can be conveyed any distance.
When completed it will be the most
powerful electrical agency in California,
and the projectors will, as a matter of fact,
have the Government behind them to keep
the dam in repair.
Mr.. Thomas was seen at the Palace Ho-
| tel yesterday in regard to the scheme and
said:
| gin work as soon as the dam is com pleted, and
| already there is a demand for 5000 horse
power. We are only 10 miles from San Fran
| CISCO ninety miles from Stockton and six miles
| from Marysville. In radius of ten miles there
| are great many small towns and manufactur-
| ing industries that we ultimately hope to sup
| ply with power. OF course we Will be governed
entirely by the highest bidder after certain
| amount of horsepower has been subscribed for.
| have got all the capital behind me neces-
| sary to complete the plans, and it is to-day a
! bondable issue. Already outside capital has
| offered to back the proposition, but we have
1 sufficient funds as it is.
| do not anticipate any failure on the part Of
| mended nv tho epoineers or tho comnission
| as recommendations of Government commits
| sions generally prevail. They have examined
| the ground thoroughly, and the good that Its
construction will do US will not be considered