The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-15

PUKTLAND, Oct. la.-Ilhe frst steps
ever taken at any point TO harness the
tremendous waste energy Of the Colum.
bia River were initiated at the Upper
Cascades last Saturday, and when the
project then inaugurated is finally
brought TO consummation $4,000 horse.
power, or one sixth OF all the water that
IL discharged over the Upper Cascades,
will be put to commercial use In the gen.
eration Of power for commercial and
manufacturing purposes.
just what the early and furtive steps
that have been taken mean Ia cnshrond.
ed in an impenetrable pail Of mystery.
though II Is known that local reprcsen.
tatiyes OF vast capitallstic interests are
behind the scheme.
The first intimation that the great
volume OF water that pours over the Gas.
cades IL to be utilized In the industries
came to light as the result Of the fling
OF an innocent. looking document in the
county AUDITORS Office ut Stevenson, the
county seat Of Skamania county, Wash.
last Saturday, In which II. G. Ecken.
berger, OF Multnomah county. Oregon,
filed presumption Of right Of way for
ditch and location Of water for the
exclusive right OF way for lume or
water ditch from the Columbia River.
While 1t IL impossible at this time TO
learn who are the heavy interests be-
hind this project, and for what purpose
they intend to use twice rs much horse.
power Of electrical energy as Is now
created by any power plant in the north
west Including the Cazadero plantl. the
most acceptible theory Is that the North
Bank, or Hill railroad Is TO be electrified
as soon as the power plant Ia prepared
to furnish the energy, steam traction to
be abolished as rapidly as electrical
equipment can be supplied.
There are two almost incontroyertible
reasons why this theory is the only log
ical explanation Of the mysterious pa.
\pers which have been filed in Skamania
County. In the first place the plan
cleGNly sets out project of erecting a
power nume more than two miles in
length from point above the Cascades
and right along the very right Of way
of the North Bank, or Hill, road. In
the second place, the man who has fled
the application for the exclusive water
right IL none other than II. G. Ecken-
berger, general manager Of the New
York Central System, the first great
ailroad system in America to electrify
dts vast system Of lines. The immensity
OF the scheme, as shown by the horse.
power that is to be required. indicates
that it IL to be a project Of great i'm,
portance, just how big Mr.. Eckenberger
refused to say this morning.
"I was in hopes" he said, chat no
publicity would attend the filing Of this
application, because 1t may interfere
\ considerably with our plans, Lam guild
ed In my actions entirely by the capital
lists who have decided to harness the
Columbia River. The 10000 cubic feet
per second Of discharge will mean q
little more than one.sixth Of the total
discharge over the rapids at minimum
low water. just how much 1t would
mean at high water can only be conjec
tured. We will not be hampered in our
operations by back water, as Is the cast
with the power plant at Oregon City
when during freshets The amount Of
available power is greatly reduced, In
high water we will be benefited as .
matter Of facty because at such timei
there Il current Of about 20 miles an
hour at the Upper Cascades. Our people
will go ahead just as rapidly as condi
tions will warrant. / am frank to say
1t will be big proposition, but just how
big, Just who are behind It, and when i
will be completed, how much money vii
Be spent and for just what purpose i
fis to be developed, ! cannot discuss a
this time.
Il can't even say when actual work
of construction on the hume will begin