Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-19
Citizens Meeting
Largely Attended
A. w. Shelton gives figures ON cost
OF developing power at Otter Rapids
suggests new proposition for
Building Dam
CITIZENS THOROUGHLY
AROUSED

Court House Friday evening. for the
purpose of discussing the question of
developing the power at Otter Sapids,
on the Wisconsin River, was very
largely attended, there being but few
vacant seats in the Circuit Court
Room.
The meeting was called by the
Eagle River Advancement Associa-
ton, which had invited Mr.. A. w.
Shelton, the we'll known Rhinelander
Attorney, to address the meeting
Mr.. Shelton is thoroughly posted
on the best methods and the cost of
developing water power acd trans
hitting the same by electricity.
He is one of the largest stockholders
and The principal promoter of a Com
pany which just built dam at Hat
Rapids Gu the Wiscor sin River which
is transmitted electrically to Rhine
lander, distance of six miles.
The estimates given by Mr. Shelton
which are based on his recent exper-
fence at Hat Rapids are, as we under
stand it, about as follows;
1st; Cost of building 49, foot
solid concrete dam at Otter Rapids
with Wheel pits for developing 400
horse power. $4,000 70 $4,000
End Cost of transmitting 200 horse
power to Eagle River, including
Wheels. Dynamos, Switch Board and
Electric Line, not to exceed $4,000.
Coat of two pumps and dynamos or
motors to operate same, not to exceed
$1,000.
These pumps would be of sufficient
capacity to supply the Village of
Eagle River with water for private
use and fire protection.
MIR. Shelton stated that w. E. Ed
munds, Manager of the Rhinelander
Paper Co., intended to be present and
submit proposition to the people of
Eagle River, to the effect that the
Rhlnelander Paper Co. would pur-
chase the dam site at Otter Rapids,
build dam 49, feet as above des-
cribed, and convey the same to the
town of Eagle River in consideration
Of town leasing to the Rhinelander
Paper Co. the right to control so
much of the reservoir created by such
dam as will warrant to the town 400
horse power and not reduce the head
of the dam below eleven feet.
Said proposition to be conditional
on the town of Eagle River arranging
with the Eagle River Light & Water
Co. for the purchase of the Eagle
River Light & Water Company's plant
and franchises which expire in 1917.
so that the town would be in posi-
ton to levy money to develop power,
as they are Authorized to do under
Chapter 1873 Laws of 1905, for fire
protection and for lighting the streets
and furnishing electric lights to pri-
vate consumers,
Mr.. Shelton suggested that an ar
rangement might be made by the
town with the Eagle River Light &
Water Co. So that the town could pay
for the Light and Water plant by fur
nishing power, created by such dam
for period of years.
The course thus outlined by Mr..
Shelton would substantially place the
town in this position:
For an expenditure of not to exceed
S12. 900 the town would at once be-
the absolute owner of a permanent
dam and dam site, the cost of which
would not be less than $4,000 and
machinery and pumps for developing
200 horse power, electrically, in the
village of Eagle sRiver, sufficient to
furnish light and water for city OF
from 5000 TO 10000 inha bitants.
They would own dam and wheel
pits sufficient to develop 200 horse
power more which could be offered to
manufacturing enterprises at once.
The power thus fully developed
would purchase, in few years, the
property rights and franchises of the
Eagle River Light & Water Co.
1t would be distinctly understood
that the Rhinelander paper Co. was
not to use their Interests in the dam
for developing power at Otter RaplGsY
the contract of the water thus granted
to them to be used solely to produce
a steady and constant flow in the Wis
consin river below Otter Rapids and
not draw the water below an eleven
foot head or point which would pro-
duce to the town of Eagle River 400
horse power.