Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1906-07-11
REPORT OF
BOOSTER CLUB
COMMITTEE
New Project Will Benefit
RitzviIle.
BIG BEND ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Committee Reports Fine Location
for Townsite. High Water
Power and Rich Farm
ing Lands.
BIG BEND ELECTRIC RAILWAY

q A committee appointed at the last
meeting Of the Booster Club to deter
line what could be done in regard to
e electric railway reported tonight
The Booster Club endorsed the report
good thing for the people of Ritz
2. The result Of the committees in
.gation is as follows:
We. the undersigned members of
.-pmittee of five appointed by the pres
ent Of the Booster Club to investigate
re Big Bend Electric Company's pro-
.ct. situated near and at the confluence
of the Columbia and Spokane rivers. do
hereby report that we saw the same and
believe what information was asked was
given with good cheer and in frank
and honest manner.
I'VE found before us a gigantic pro-
ject-all that company could wish. viz:
At the confluence of these two rivers
they are assured of the government
deciding 800 acres of the Spokane reser-
vatlon for and which is one of the finest
townsites the eye could gaze upon, rising
IN the Spokane river in terraces to
ight of about 100 feet and more
adual slope toward the Columbia,
about twelve springs flowing from
'arious parts Of it.
about quarter Of a mile up the
skane river is the narrows. BY dam.
e the river at this point where the
lie Q1rh Sfda ri 70 n hatnht IS
gives an immense horse power to
utilized. The water can be backed
up stream for some distance without
causing any damage. there being no low
land approximating this point.
Gust above the power site or dam is
Old Fort Spokane. the buildings of which
which are expected to be sold soon,
afford an elegant amusement resort loca-
ton. We were informed that when one
railroad is given patent right on Indian
reserve by the United States government
no other railroad can approach within
ten miles of it on said reserve. This
company has tracts laid one-tenth of the
distance across the reserve, the lawful
requirement. and have the grading done
to the power site. The object is to con-
tinue the road into Spokane. the logical
point involved. as by so doing they will
lay their rails from that terminus, there.
by saving about S25 900 in freight alone
rather than haul it from Davenport.
at is claimed from the spot selected
on the Columbia for boat landing the
stream is navigable tor seventy miles,
which upper country has an abundance
Of timber mines and agricultural land.
Sawmlls can be built along the river.
Down the Columbia there are quite
number Of irrigated tracts. To reach
these profitable fruit ranches it is the in
tention to use boat at present Four
acres Of this land sold for $1,000, three
acres OF which was orchard bearing fruit,
the other acre being hillside We be-
lieve this company has sufficient power
to furnish every town. farm and section
of this part of Washington with power,
and especially enough for trans porta-
ton.
1.-THE stock is pooled-none issued-at
present. The present officers and work
men are paid so much per day for actual
time spent and take payment in stock at
par---SIoo per share.
1--WE recommend Ritzville citizens to
give it hearty support, believing it the
only system that can be induced to cross
our country to Snake river, and the only
one having water power to do so, which
enables them to give great reduction in
all rates and to bring more trade TO our
town. Hoping. if they come this way,
Ritzville will be selected as terminal.
Respectfully submitted.
Up. w. Yearsley, A. F. Rosenoff, Julius
Siemens."