The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-28
OPTION IS TAKEN
ON WILLOW CREEK
Power May Be Generated for
Ogden at Willard, ID
Miles Distant.

The first active steps looking toward
the establishing of municipal power and
lighting plant were taken yesterday when
the special committee appointed by the
city council some time ago and which
was given authority TO purchase water
rights and land necessary for the same,
closed a deal whereby they secured an OPP
ton on the water rights of Willow
creek. in Willard canyon. Box Elder cOun-
ty and a quarter section of land at the
mouth of the canyon upon which it is
proposed to erect the power plant. 1t is
believed that within two years time Og-
den will be able to furnish its residents
with electricity for all purposes at a
greatly reduced price from what they are
now forced to pay.
For months the special committee of the
council, of which Samuel Thomas of the
Third ward is the chairman, has been
working on the lighting proposition. The
first plan to suggest itself to this COM
mlttee was TO secure the necessary power
from Ogden river in Ogden canyon. When
it became generally known that the COM
mittee was considering such a project,
the Utah Light & Railway company,
which now has virtual monopoly on
the electrical power and lighting bust
ness Of Ogden. filed applications with
the state engineer for additional water
rights in the Ogden river, it being the
intention to divert all of the water from
the river at a point above where ii was
proposed TO ulNert II Tor the city pant
1t was argued at the time that this move
on the part of the corporation was moth
ing more than a scheme to defeat the
municipal lighting proposition. On account
of the protests sent in to the state en-
gineer. the Utah Light & Railway COM
pany abandoned its plans after its appl-
cations had been returned for correction.
willow Creek Investigated.
While all this was going on the ceun-
ell committee was busy looking else
where for power that would serve the
same purpose. Frank Moore and Bryan
Barker of Willard called the committees
attention to the power that was going to
waste in the Willow Greek in Willard
canyon. Steps We're Immediately
taken by the committee to in
VestiSate and later acquire il. In doing
this the cOuncilmen surrounded their
movements with secrecy, in order that
their plans could not be interfered with
a second time. Yesterday, however, the
committee consisting of Councilmen DIR.
G.. A. Dickson. a. II. Moves. Sam Brown
ing, Samuel Thomas and representatives
of the press. went to Willard by automo-
bile. At that point they abandoned the
autos for horses and on horseback the
whole ground was covered
After following a road. which is mere
ly mountain trail that winds its way
up 10 the dizzy heights following to a
great degree the course of the creek,
which it crosses and re-crOsses at frequent
intervals, the site of the proposed dam is
reached At a point where two branches
of the stream combine, the combs of the
mountain are such as to form almost a
complete breastWOrk for the dam, which
it is proposed to build.
Wood and Steel Pipes.
From this location the intention is to
construct a wooden pipe line southwest a
distance of 1900 feet at a grade of fifty
three feet to the mile. This will carry
the line to a place near the mouth of the
canyon, where at the present time a por-
ton of the water that makes up Willow
creek flows over perpendicular stone
wall fully fifty feet high. Here the pipe
line will take an abrupt turn to the north
west and down to the site of the pro-
posed power house, a distance of LOS feet,
in which there is a fall of 1850 feet. 1t is
the intention to construct this 105 feet
of line. from the power house to the high
cliff. of steel pipe. This will add ma
terially to the cost of construction, but
on account Of the high pressure it is
claimed to be absolutely necessary.
At the present time it is estimated that
there is fully thirty second-feet of water
flowing down Willow creek. OF course,
this is considerably reduced during the
months Of July and August and perhaps
a portion of September It is figured.
however, that a sufficient amount of
water can be conserved in the large power
dam to carry the plant through the dry
season, and in this way afford a plentiful
supply for the entire year Recent meas
urements taken during the dry season
have shown that there are eight second
feet of water in the stream, although it
is claimed that six years ago when the
Telluride Power people were looking at
the same proposition the measurements
were less. 1t is also claimed that the
great fall from the high cliff to the
power house will be a detriment rather
than in favor of the project, it being as
serted that when the fall is greater than
$50 feet it is impraCticabie, owing to the
necessity of additional and costly machin-
cry. Notwithstanding this argument it
is firmly believed that the matter as out
lined will be carried through successfully
although additional Investigations of the
project will be made by the special
committeeman from the council before
the deal is closed