The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1906-11-16
Engineer Rice, of Seattle,
Reports FayOrably on
the Project
POWER FROM TUMWATER FALLS
The Report Says Road Would Net
$4,000 Profit After Paying
Fixed Charges and
Interest First

Interest FIRST
Year
From a report of the board of direc-
tors, dated Nov s. signed by M. o.
Tibbits and Thos. Bollman, respectively
president and secretary, of the Big Red
Apple railway, the following extract is
taken:
Before capitalists can be induced to
embark on any undertaking it is always
necessary to present the matter to them
in an accurate, intelligent and compre-
hensive manner To do this requires a
most thoro analysis of all the phases of
the subject, In regard to this proposed
project not only was it necessary to get
reliable information to present to capt.
alists but also to determine to the salts
faction of ourselves and yourselves,
whether the money invested would be
safe and would return a satisfactory
profit.
Mr.. Rice and his assistants spent
some two weeks in the valley for the
purpose, as he says, of getting all in
formation necessary to enable me to re-
port to you as to the probable cost OF
construction and maintenance OF such
and undertaking, as well us the reye-
nues to be derived from the operation
of the same.
Under the head of Power Mr.. Rice's
report says;
- 'One of the first things to be taken
into consideration in the operation of an
electric railway is the power. After
looking the valley over, we concluded
that at the present time the most eco
nomical place at which to avail our
selves OF water power would be in the
Tumwater canyon, Immediately west OF
Leavenworth. We looked up Peshas
tin creek and found that there is not
sufficient power available there to oper-
ate proposition such as we are con-
templating. At the present time we
figure on putting in 4 power house at
| Leavenworth, using the falls in the
Wenatchee river Immediately west OF
town. Twelve hundred horsepower
developed at this point will be sufficient
for all needs at present. 1t can be IN
creased by the addition of one, two or
three power units.
SIN regard to the location of the line
Mr.. Rice says:
sour investigation has been with a
view of getting the cheapest line to
construct and the most economical to
operate and maintain, at the same time
placing the line in such a position as to
cover the greatest producing territory
so as to give each farmer minimum
haul to get his produce to the railway
''The location of the road has not
been definitely determined upon. This
cannot be done until other preliminary
SURVEYS have been made. The general
idea is to construct the trunk line on as
easy grades and in as direct line as
possible, thus reducing the cost OF con-
struction and maintenance to the mini
mum, and where necessary, to run
. spurs or loops out into the different set
Elements to gather up the business when
it is too far removed from the trunk
line. He says that line can be built
so as to place a station within mile OF
of every farm and that the country
would be developed to an extent that
would permit of family to every five
acres While it is not possible to fore
tell exactly what the receipts for any
railroad will be, still it is possible to
form a very close estimate OF the
amount of business that may reasonably
be expected
"a careful estimate is made in his
report in reference to the present pro-
duction of fruits and vegetables and the
tonnage from same; the amount of bus
mess from the hauling and distribu-
ton of wood, lumber and fruit boxes;
the revenues from the sale of power for
various uses, such as operating mills,
machines, factories, etc, at Wenatchee,
Cashmere and Leayenworth; also to
farmers in small units for running
pumps, ETC., and for lighting purposes;
the income from electric lights in the
towns along the line; the amount OF
business from the flour mills, cannery
and ice plants; the amount of passenger
traffic, and in fact all the present
sources from which business will be de-
rived.
1.-THE annual increase in production
is also figured out upon which to base
estimates for the future. He says: "A
large passenger traffic would be built
up which would tend to build up We
natohee. Cashmere and Leavenworth
and center there, and furnish very
profitable source of revenue. The can
merry and storage warehouse would be
developd and large business could be
done in connection with either one or
: both of these plants.
"The cost of construction is arrived
at by figuring out in detail the expense
80. l. 4 f..lI