East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-05-16


Announcement was made yesterday
that rights OF way for a power house.
flume and water privileges on the
South Fork OF the Walla Walla river,
several miles above the present power
plant OF the Northwestern Gas and
Electric company, have been secured
by the trustees OF the Washington and
Oregon Traction company a syndi-
cate OF local capitalists, which intends
to build a 5000-horse power plant In
the near future, says the Walla Wal
la Union. Forest Supervisor ]. NJ.
Schmitz returned yesterday from
several days trip OF inspection OF the
vicinity where the new plant will be
located, and while there he approved
the application OF the company ask
ing for a flume right of way through
the wenaha national reserve.
The new company has been organ
lied for some time, and plans have
been in process of formation for sew
eral weeks to erect a power plant on
the Walla Walla river. When COM
pleted the power house of the Wash
ington and Oregon Traction company
will be capable of generating 5000
horse power, and will represent an ex-
penditure Of approximately half mill
lion dollars. The promoters of the
new power plant intend to furnish
power for and operate the future elec-
trio lines OF the Walla Walla valley
and surrounding territory. Rights of
way have already been secured by the
company for a roadbed TO the summit
OF the Blue mountains about 80 miles
distant from Walla Walla.
Although It is not definitely known
Just what the next move will be. those
who are in a position to know say
the line will probably be extended to
the Wallowa valley on the one side Of
the Walla Walla, and to the Columbia
river on the other. thus placing east
ern Washington and oregon in direct
communication with tide water.
Tremendous Force.
Forest Supervisor Schmitz, when
speaking Of the site for the proposed
new plant, said yesterday afternoon
that in his judgment the Washington
and Oregon Traction company would
have a much better located power
plant than that Of the Northwestern
Gas and Electric company and onsI
-whieH would not be SO difficult to
construct. The application filed with
Mr.. Schmitz by the company for the
flume rights of way places the intake
some five or six milts above the site
Of the proposed plant, inside the We
naha national forest reserve. The
new power house will be located SIM
liar to the one now operated by the
Northwestern Gas and Electric COM
pany. being situated, as 1t will, at the
foot of a bluff on the side Of which
will be an immense reservoir. A huge
steel pipe, capable Of resisting tre-
mendous pressure, will carry the wa
ter from the reservoir down several
hundred feet OF steel piping to the
wheels in the power house. where the
mighty force gathered in the fall will
create at least 5000 horse power.
Begin Work at Once.
Members of the company have been
anxiously awaiting the approval of
Mr.. Schmitz OF the application for
rights Of way through the forest for
several weeks past, and 1t is believed
that actual work on the new power
house and flume foundation will be
started at once. To anyone who has
seen the present power plant on the
Walla walla river an adequate idea OF
the new plant can be obtained when
II is stated that the capacity Of the lat
ter will be just twice that of the for
mer.
With such an immense amount OF
power II is probable that the company
will not only build a road connecting
the interior Of eastern Oregon and
Washington with Columbia river
points. but that branches will be built
In other directions and eventually the
whole Of the Walla Walla valley and
country tributary will be literally
gridironed with eectric roads. What
value these roads have to a country
can already be seen in the wonderful
change and improvement which has
taken place in the country between
Walla Walla and Milton since the in
auguration Of the Walla Walla Valley
Traction company's line. Land values
have risen 70 a marked degree. and
the whole country has appeared in
an entirely different aspect. With an
electric line connecting the Wallowa
and Grand Ronde valleys with Walla
Wala and the intermediate country
improved to a high state, It is esti-
mated that the products Of the coun-
try will be increased many fold.
The new enterprise Is being finan-
ced entirely by local capitalists, and
IS under the direction and manage
ment Of board Of trustees composed
OF E. s. Isaacs, Max Baumeister, c.
K Holloway Allan H. Reynolds, Sam
uel Drumheller John Smith, w. A.
Ritz and John L. Sharpstein.