The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-03
EAST SIDE NEWS !:
FACTS ABOUT
THE DAM

Evening Times One Of Great Mag
nitude and Much Significance to the
Residents of That Section.
So many garbled reports have been
published regarding the development
of the water power in the Red river
valley in the town of Louisville, Red
Lake county, about 10 miles north
east of Crookston, of which an ex-
change account appeared in the Even
ing Times recently, that an authentic
account of the. plans in connection
with the biggest scheme for harness
ing the power of the Red or Red Lake
rivers ever evolved will w of more
than passing interest, as it means
more in the way of inducements fol
the location of new industries in
this city and Grand Forks than any.
thing of the kind ever planned in the
northwest.
Deeds Secured.
Senator A. D. Stephens of Crookston
has owned the site of the water pow
er, or the property upon which it has
been located, for the past six years,
and recently has purchased more
land in that vicinity, having secured
the deeds to total of about 1000
acres This land was necessary as
the erection of the dam, to give fall
of from 80 to 40 feet, will result in
the overflow of from 1000 to 1900
acres of land, the lake that will re-
suit being about one and one-half
miles wide and three miles long.
A Big Expenditure.
This land has all been secured and
bill has been introduced in con-
gress granting license for the con-
struction of the dam. Engineers from
St. Paul, Minneapolis and New York
estimate that 5000" horse power can
be developed by the expenditure of
from 100000 to 100000 and there is
twice this capital available if it is
necessary. All that has been done so
far is the driving of a few piles, but
early the coming summer active
work OF construction will be COM
menced and the work will be prose-
cuted as rapidly as possible with the
idea of having the power available at
the earliest possible date, in 1907, if
there are no setbacks in the work,
and year later at the very latest
Power to he Permanent.
The power will be perpetual, just
as great in the winter as in the sum-
Her.
Means Much to This City.
The plan of the promoters of the
scheme means everything to East
Grand Forks because cheap power
will be available for industries that
will locate here, and this inducement
is one OF the prime objects of the de-
velopment of the power at this time.
Steam power is high because of the
cost of fuel. Cheap soft coal is not
available, hard coal is high because
Of freight rates, and the supply of
wood is gradually growing less and
prices ascending at corresponding
1atio. The new plant will solve, the
power question OF this city.
The cost of the power is not the
only item, as with cheap electric pow,
er the cost of installing manufac-
turing plant is greatly lessened by
avoiding the necessity of installing
expensive boilers and engines.
Main Towns Connected.
The main line conducting the cleo
trio current Will be run to Crookston
and on to this city and Gentilly.
Fisher and Mallory will all be con-
Eected up for electric lights or other
uses Lines will be run to all other
valley towns where the demand is suf-
ficient to warrant the necessary out
lay of erecting poles and wires.
Trolley Lines.
The construction OF the monster
Plant will also mean the consumma-
ton of the plans for a trolley line
connecting Grand Forks and Fargo
with Crookston, and the initial steps
have already been taken in connec-
ton with this scheme by Chicago pro-
motors who are interested with near
by capitalists. There will be ample
power to run such a system in addi-
ton to all the other demands and it is
confidently asserted that the long
talked of trolley system will be in
operation by the middle of the sum-
mer of 1908.
An Artificial Lake.
T The development company will also
spend considerable sum in beautify-
ing the artificial lake. All stumps
will be removed and an immense
leach with a fine landing will be con-
structed. A small fleet of gasoline
launches will be put in commission
on the river and summer resort at
the lake will be made popular. This
lake, located thirteen miles from the
city. will also be pleasant auto run,
and 1t is expected that large num-
Der of cottages will be erected in the
near future and eventually the place
is destined to be one of the most pop
ular summer resorts in northern Min
nesota, because it, is SO easy Of access
from Crooksto4.
Biggest In the State.
The water power to be developed
will be the second largest in size in
the state of. Minnesota. The Koochi-
ching power is greater, but it is not
fully developed. There willsbe MOTH
ing to compare with it in northern
Minnesota, the big plant at Taylor's
Falls being the only one that exceeds
it in capacity.