The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-01
COLOSSAL ELECTRICAL COM
pANY BEING FORMED IN
THE EAST.
CAPITALIZED at $50,0oo,o oo-To Acquire
Power Plants Up and
Down the Coast.

nal of Portland, a colossal corporation,
centralized at s50,OO0,OO0 is now un-
der process of formation in the east,
for the purpose of entering the Pa
cific coast field and acquiring and
controlling the electric power plants In
every city and town of Importance
from lower California to the Canadian
line developing the most stupendous
enterprise of the kind in the world.
The Journal, in regard to the plans OF
the big corporation says:
For more than a year representa-
tives of powerful eastern financial
houses have visited Portland and
other coast cities, keeping their iden-
tity covered and laying the founda-
ton for the creation of the corpora
lions. The project involves ultimate
ly the acquisition of developed ana
undeveloped sites for electric energy
aggregating 100000 horsepower.
Frank L. Brown Interested.
Frank L Brown, formerly of the
city of Portland, is one of the movers
in the enterprise. Mr.. Brown at one
time was employed with Staver &
Walker here, and has lately been con-
nected in various capacities with the
Clarks and Seligmans of Philadelphia,
who are the owners of the Portland
Railway company. Mr. Briwn appears
to have attained high standing in the
centers of financial power on the At
lantic coast and is said to be at work
now with others on the details Of the
big electric power scheme.
according to reliable authority, the
corporation proposed is to be named
either the Western Development COM
pany or the Western Power company.
The first tangible demonstration of it's
existence will be the acquisition of
water rights in the mountains along
the California Nevada line, where are
falls and cataracts of practically I'M
limited potential electric energy This
power is to be carried to San Francis
co by an elaborate system of canals
to convey the water to plants for the
generation of electricity.
Absorb Oregon Companies.
"Other projects will be put through
in California and the $4,000 900 con-
Germ will enter Oregon to absorb COM
panies now operating independently,
thus enabling it to secure a control of
the entire industry of lighting and cleo
trio traction.
Fred S. Morris, treasurer of the
Oregon Water Power & Railroad COM
pany, said that he knew of these plans
and that apparently there was reason
to believe that the interests behind the
enterprises are abundantly able to
float it. Mr.. Morris returned a few
days ago from New York and Philadel-
phia. While there he learned facts
that warranted him in giving full
credence to the reports that the cor
poration is now actually in process of
formation.
I know that such a corporation is
planned by powerful interests" said
Mr.. Morris, land there is reason to be-
lieve that it will be in the field before
long operating actively in the acquisi-
ton of properties and developing
plants"
Oregon Company Approached.
1t is believed that the Oregon Water
Power & Railway company's officials
have been approached by representa-
tives of the s5O,OOO,OO0 corporation.
The Pacific coast states are the
most fruitful field for the electrical
engineer in the whole world. This
opinion was given to me by a mar
competent to express himself" said ar
influential Portland man today There
are more water-pOwer sites and q
larger and steadier supply of water
tnan anywhere else 1 know of. No one
who studies conditions can doubt tna1
not many years will have elapsed be-
Tore this coast region will be ribbed
with electric lines and that. if eve,
standard railroads are operated by
electricity, those on the coast will be
Like Coal in East
Electric power here will provide
What coal does in the development O.
the Atlantic coast. The coal is mex.
naustible; the electric energy is eter.
nal.
These patent facts, familiar t,
every pioneer and discovered by ever.
TOURIST and hunter and fisherman IL
the coast mountains simply have beer
grasped by eastern capitalists ant
they propose to gain the ownership o
this wonderful resource. In securin,
such ownership, in view of the ac
cepted truth that control of transpor
tatlon and industrial energy is con
troll OF people and the corollary tina
electricity in the near future will b.
the motive power of the world. the,
Will possess a property that will be O
value so tremendous that the figure
s5o,00o,0oo, now named as the sum TO
which the company is to be incorpor
ated, will be small in comparison"
The Portland General Electric com
pany's officials knew nothing of tn
project. No statements could be Sc
cured from any representatives o
electric concerns other than that mad
by Mr.. Morris.